Grand Ucel Hotel Reviews

Hello,

Just returned from an excellent 2 x week break in the Grand Ucel on Ovacik. My wife and I and 13 year old son.

The hotel is owned by Polat and his English wife Rhiannon.

The hotel is just a 10 minute Dolmus ride from Hisaronu (1.75 lira, or 5 lira for 3 x people.A taxi carrying up to seven will charge just 8 lira).

We booked an Apartment that was equipped with a large double bedroom, and equally large lounge area with two stout sofa beds. The "kitchen" was just a couple of electric rings, but there were enough glasses, crockery, cutlery & pans, but we never cooked a thing, eating out each day. We did have, what I consider essential, a Fridge!! I believe there were fridges in other rooms as well as Apartments.

We booked some 6 months ago, direct with the hotel. We seen the advertisement in the CSMA brochure, but all details can be found on www.granducel.com, where the UK phone number (Rhiannon) can be found. With us booking early we received free breakfast. This was a Turkish breakfast, cereals such as Corn Flakes & Coco Pops, dried fruits, melon, boiled eggs, or scrambled sometimes, a hot dish such as mushrooms, sliced potaoes, sausages. Cold meats and cheeses, lashings of tea & coffee, bread and various syrups: maple, peanut, jam, honey etc. We were pleasantly surprised how good it was, we never missed a breakfast.

The hotel was spotless and staff very friendly, especially the reception and breakfast staff. Nothing was too much for them and they could arrange anything for your stay.

Transfers from Dalaman airport can be arranged and again are cheaper than an outside travel company or taxi.

Again from booking early we had free passes into the Water Park next door. Absolutely marvellous and made our holiday as it kept our 13 year old lad happy.. As it is about 20 lira for entrance this really was a great bonus for us, and the slides are quite superb. There is a Snack Bar, which was reasonable.

We never ate in the hotel, aside from breakfast, but people who did said it was very good. The hotel has occasional night entertainment and are adding to the itinerary each year. But as H. is on your doorstep, it wasn't really an issue with us.

Overall, it was definitely one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in, and as this was our first visit to Turkey, it has left us wanting more. we will definitely return.

the hotel is great very clean, not too close to the town where it can be quite noisy, very good for young children with the water park and teenagers and you can catch a bus to olu deniz, fethiye and hisaronu for very cheap you just put your hand out and they stop, dont hessitate just go i promise you youll enjoy every minute of it. oh and the good thing it is an english women that owns the hotel shes very nice. it is very hot here aswell great for catching a goood tan!

Have just returned from one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in!

The Grand Ucel was very clean and friendly. We went to Ovacik last year and loved it so much that we returned this year. We booked this Hotel because of the Waterpark and we were not disappointed. We were BandB but we never ate the Turkish breakfast, we just bought the English one at £3.50 or got toasties (£1)from the wee snack place to side of the hotel. We ate out a few nights but the food from the a la carte menu in the hotel was so good and so reasonably priced that we ate there most nights. Safety boxes are £1/day and Air Con is £3/day (ours had been left on!!) The waterpark did have restricted opening (10.30-12.00 1.30-6.00) but if you went 1st or last thing it was quite quiet. The flumes are great! There were loads of loungers and most had cushions. The drinks at the bar were dearer than a lot of the pubs though. The exchange rate at the hotel for sterling was one of the best with no commission.

The Jeep safari (booked through Karakoy tours at £12) was a brilliant day out. Mind and take sweets to throw out to the kiddies when you pass through the poorer parts of town! Kaya Ghost town was great too (but hard work cos it's all uphill!). We got a taxi there (£10) but the Dolmus also runs there for a lot cheaper. Its about 5 lira each to get in but politely ignore the jewellery sellers cos they are very persistant! The 12 island boat tour was a very long day out but was enjoyable cos they stopped at a lot of islands and let you off to swim. The Monday market had great designer fakes but again they are quite pushy. Females on their own did get a lot of unwanted attention from the marker sellers but I never noticed this anywhere else in the resort.

We went to Alex's Cocktail bar for drinks most nights. (Across from Robin Hood) Alex and Emre are so friendly and the drinks were really cheap. I would recommend a Blue Lagoon fishbowl! Our pal Tam works in Altis Flame and he is the friendliest guy in the whole of Turkey! Say 'Hi'!

Hisoranu is about 20 mins walk away or 1.5 lira on the dolmus. Just put your hand out and stop one outside the hotel (opposite side of the road) There are loads of pubs restaurants and shops here. The dolmus also goes to OluDeniz (about 2 lira) and this is where the beaches are (Bobs, Billys or St Nicolas were recommended to us). We went to Bobs and the water was very clear and there were no waves at all! The blue lagoon is also there but you need to pay an entry fee. We never went but we took a pedal boat out to it and it looked lovely.

For the 2nd year in a row we loved Ovacik. The people are so friendly and everyone recognised us from the previous year. The prices are really cheap and everywhere takes English notes. They will give you change in lira, or sometimes even pound coins! It was 44 degrees a few days but it never felt it because there is a lovely breeze.

My only complaint is that my daughter got an ear infection and the chemist totally overcharged us so do please watch the prices! We were too trusting and it cost us almost double! We only bought from shops that had prices displayed.

If you have booked this hotel I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. We are booking up again for next year! Also, remember the Salhan hotel along the road (sister hotel) which also has 3 flumes which were always quiet.

apartmetns are very spacious and spotless [we got to our room at 8 in the morning and went out after a sleep from 11 till 1, when we got back room had been cleaned AGAIN] all staff spoke good english including night staff and maids. hotel facilites are excellent with 2 large pools both with childrens setcions and a 6 slide waterpark., four reastaurant/seating areas, 2 pool side bars and a third bar with tv. very pretty surroudings. hisaronu WALKABLE inf 20 minutes, 10 minutes dolmus ride. lots to chose from and all at reasonable prices. fetihye 20 minutes dolmus ride, very traditional. olu deniz for me was nothing at all to shout about. kaya was a brilliant day out exploring the ghost village, all guides spoke good english. overall hotel and ho9liday was brilliant,

will definatewly be going back. hotel should be 4* however only 3*!

Just returned from our first visit to Turkey and what a wonderful experience it was. The Grand Ucel Hotel is definitelt 4* plus - The staff could not do enough for you, Clean sheets and towels every day a joy to stay there. An added attraction if you have children is the new miniture aquapark - all free and situated far enough from the main pool area not to diturb other residents. With the dolmus'(local minibuses)on the doorstep and so reasonably priced made travelling down town to Hisaronu(a lively area of bars and restaurants) or a trip to OluDeniz - a stunning beach area with turqouise sea and fine white sands just ten minutes away easy and cheap to get to.
We found the Turkish people so genuinly friendly and so helpful - miss the last dolmus back to your hotel (usually around 12.30 am and the proprietor of the bar or restaurant you're in will often insist on driving you home).

Places we recommend - to spend at least one day of your hols lazing on Billy's Beach situated on the lagoon area of Olu Deniz beach - oposite Hotel Meri. If you telephone him he'll even pick you up free of charge (0532 316 34 18 or 0252 617 00 17).
A trip to the port of Fethiye is a must! Picturesque marina and lots of atmosphere!
As is a trip to Saklikent - one of natures natural beauty spots!
The only minus we found was waiting for our flight home at Dalaman Airport - be warned! Go prepared with drinks and food in case of delays. The prices at the airport are scandalous - £3.50 for a can of coke and £7.00 for two beers!!!

We always rate a holiday by if we'd return - with our experience of Turkey and more especially the Gran Ucel Hotel it's not a case of if we'll return but when!!!!