"I am a long-time guest of Voyage Sorgun, and I am intimately familiar with the hotel's past quality of service and the privileges it offers its guests. I most recently had the opportunity to stay there again between October 18-22. However, during this visit, I regret to say that I observed that the hotel has begun to deviate from the quality it had in previous years and is now in need of extensive renovation.
First of all, I would like to state the following: I am writing this review not to criticize the hotel, but because I want Voyage Sorgun, which we have loved and preferred for many years, to reach the level it deserves again.
Rooms and Common Areas: Renewal is Now a Necessity
The hotel rooms are now seriously showing their age. The furniture, various fixtures in the rooms, and occasional creaking noises, all contribute to a lack of comfort due to the overall aging structure.
During our stay, we had the opportunity to chat with guests who had been at the hotel for about 20 days and, like us, had been choosing Voyage Sorgun for years. They were staying in a suite. They also stated that the rooms had been suffering from the same problems for a long time, and although they were now familiar with these issues, no renovations had been carried out.
The fact that this issue isn't limited to the standard rooms indicates that the hotel as a whole needs a renovation.
The seats in the lobby area are also quite old and worn. I've been seeing almost the same furniture since I first came here years ago. Some show noticeable wear and tear and deformation. I believe that a high-end hotel like Voyage should have a much more modern, well-maintained, and stylish reception area.
Room Cleaning: A Service Deserving of Appreciation
While I mentioned that the rooms needed some physical renovation, I would like to emphasize that we were extremely satisfied with the room cleaning and housekeeping services.
The fact that our rooms were cleaned and tidied twice a day, and that toiletries and other necessities were regularly replenished, was truly excellent. It was a very nice touch to find our room clean, tidy, and thoughtfully prepared every time we returned.
The housekeeping team's meticulousness, organized work, and attention to guest comfort certainly deserve praise. Despite the hotel's physical shortcomings, it's pleasing to see how well the cleanliness standards are maintained.
I would also like to thank all the housekeeping staff for this successful service.
Main Restaurant: There has been a serious decline in food quality.
One of the biggest disappointments of our stay was the main restaurant.
Compared to previous years, I've observed a significant decrease in the variety of food available. But the real problem wasn't just the variety, it was the taste of the food. Many of the dishes seemed quite bland, tasteless, and carelessly prepared.
The variety of pastries available for breakfast, in particular, was quite limited compared to previous years. It's truly unfortunate that this is the case at a hotel like Voyage Sorgun, which has built a certain standard in terms of gastronomy.
In conversations with long-time hotel guests, we learned that they shared similar opinions. They even said that instead of eating at the main restaurant, they mostly used the 24/7 restaurant. We also started making the same choice during the rest of our stay.
The point I want to make here is that we're not the only ones who have noticed this decline in quality. The fact that other guests who have been choosing the hotel for years are also experiencing the same issues is an important matter for management to consider.
Elevators: One of the hotel's biggest problems
Another topic I definitely want to address is elevators.
Having only two elevators in such a large main building is, in my opinion, a serious lack of planning. Waiting for the elevator, especially during rush hour, can be really tiring. Waiting times can sometimes reach 10-15 minutes.
Moreover, the elevators' operating system is quite inefficient. Sometimes, both elevators heading to the same floor causes guests waiting on other floors to waste more time.
It is unacceptable that elevator use is so problematic in such a large, high-end facility. I believe this issue should definitely be given priority in future renovation projects.
Lack of Spa and Heated Pool
I think the spa area is quite small compared to the hotel's capacity. Especially during busy periods, a larger, more modern, and comfortable spa area where guests can relax would be a much better fit for Voyage Sorgun.
Another significant drawback is the lack of heated pool facilities.
For guests staying during the second half of October, pool temperature is an important consideration. I understand the hotel is closed during the winter season, but I believe guest satisfaction should be maintained at the same level even towards the end of the season.
Especially during these dates, having at least one of the outdoor pools heated would significantly improve the holiday experience. The lack of this option is one of the biggest drawbacks of off-season accommodations.
Employee: Voyage Sorgun's Strongest Aspect
Despite all my criticisms, there is one point I particularly want to acknowledge: Hotel staff.
In my opinion, Voyage Sorgun's biggest advantage is still its friendly, attentive, and solution-oriented staff.
I would especially like to sincerely thank Çiki Ahmet, Osman, and Beyza from the reception. They were all extremely friendly, polite, and helpful.
I would also like to thank the other managers, supervisors, and all the employees whose names I can't remember at the moment. Their attention to guests, their friendly approach, and their willingness to help are truly commendable.
It was also very valuable for us that they allowed us to use our room for longer than the normal check-out time on our departure day. We also thank them for these kind gestures.
Maintaining the quality of the staff was one of the most important reasons why we chose this hotel, despite all the shortcomings.
Beverage Quality and Cocktails are Excellent
Another area I'd like to evaluate positively is the quality of the beverages.
The variety of alcoholic beverage brands and overall quality were quite good. In particular, the preparation and presentation of the cocktails, and the quality of the ingredients used, met our expectations.
Despite our disappointment with the food quality in the main restaurant, we did not experience the same negativity with the bar service. I welcome the maintenance of this standard.
Conclusion: The satisfaction of loyal customers should not be guaranteed.
I believe Voyage Sorgun has built up a loyal customer base over the years. We are one of these guests too. However, I sometimes get the feeling that the hotel takes the satisfaction of its returning guests a little too seriously.
Perhaps the fact that guests who have been choosing the same hotel for years don't complain much means that some shortcomings are not given enough importance. But it should be remembered that loyal guests are the ones who best know the hotel's history, its past quality of service, and what has changed over time.
I don't think a hotel can maintain the same level of success indefinitely solely through its brand name or past reputation. Especially with the increased competition among high-end hotels today, establishments need to constantly innovate and maintain their current standards.
Voyage Sorgun now needs a comprehensive renovation. The quality of the rooms, lobby furniture, elevator system, spa area, and restaurant should be given priority.
We don't want to gradually move away from this hotel, which we've loved coming to for years. However, encountering the same problems with each visit and noticing that some services have deteriorated compared to the past inevitably leads us to consider alternative hotels.
I certainly don't want this comment to be perceived as malicious criticism. On the contrary, I would like to ask that these be considered as the sincere observations of a guest who genuinely loves the hotel, knows its past quality, and intends to choose it again in the future.
What Voyage Sorgun needs is not just a physical renovation, but a revitalization of the special and privileged experience it has offered its guests in past years.
I hope the hotel management will take this review into consideration. We want to continue coming to Voyage Sorgun, but we also want to be able to experience the same excitement and satisfaction again.
I would like to thank all the staff once again, especially the housekeeping team, for their hard work."
