Here you can find out what other guests have thought of their holiday at Villa Hanorah. There are various ways that guests give feedback and include email, online reviews, letters and entries in our guest comment book in Dikili. The guest comment book is where guests tend to write their most detailed reports and this year we intend to scan it onto this site. For the last year most guests have left feedback in this way so the current feedback on the site is where it has been received electronically.

he Griffen Sisters 10/5/04 until 17/5/04 (rebooked
October 2005 & 2006)

Dear Sharon & Gokhan

We would like to thank you for a fantastic holiday in Dikili. Everything
went smoothly from start to finish. The villa is lovely and was much nicer
and bigger than it looked in the pictures. We were very impressed with
the welcome book which contained so much information we had fun reading
it every evening during our stay. Zeynep and Suleman made such a difference
to our trip and were very friendly, kind and helpful. As you know we hired
Suleman to take us on several excursions including Bergama, Candarli, Avyalik
and Kaynarca mud. We enjoyed them all immensely and were even taken on
a private tour of Candarli castle after Suleman arranged for someone to
unlock it just for us, just priceless. Bergama and Ayvalik are amazing
places and we felt like princesses after our mud bath. The food in Dikili,
Bergama and Ayvalik was outstanding and so cheap we could hardly believe
it. I would also like to thank you for planning our itinery in advance
and advising us of the best places to go in our week in your villa. We
spent many of our evenings sitting on the porch terrace overlooking the
garden which was very peaceful and relaxing after our busy days. We would
have no hesitation in recommending your villa holiday to people, indeed
we have been accused of boring our friends and family on its merits since
our return. Thank you so much for such a lovely holiday we will definitely
be visiting Villa Hanorah again and give our regards to Zeynep and Suleman.
Chris & Nora.

The Bowen Family 17/5/04 until 31/5/04

The villa was lovely and very
tastefully/comfortably furnished, the surrounding area beautiful, the people
exceptionally friendly and the food & drink
excellent. We are sure our comments will reflect our positive experiences
- it was one of the best holidays we have ever had and we would recommend
it to anyone!

Suleman is a wonderful chauffeur and an interesting/fun companion. If
people did nothing else, I would recommend they booked the following trips:-

Bergama – Pergamum -

Ayvalik (via Seytan Sofrasi) & Cunda Island

Bademli

The Kozak Villages

People might think it better value for money to ‘hire a car’ from a cheap
car hire company, but they’d waste a lot of time trying to find their way
to places, or finding places to park or trying to understand signs etc, etc.
Suleman was full of surprises, including, obtaining the key for Candarli
castle (which is closed to the public) so that we could have a look inside.

I hope, amongst this waffle,
you find some constructive comments which will help you and Gokhan build
up a very successful business. We feel quite privileged to have been part
of its ‘beginnings’ and would very much like to afford another trip to
Villa Hanorah in the not too distant future. In the meantime:- Zeynep,
Suleman ve Goksell benden selam soyleyinuz, Sheryl, Paul, Rebecca & Rachel.

The Cameron’s 28/6/04 until 12/7/04

We were well received by your
in-laws and looked after too by your neighbours I’ve never known
such hospitality and we have traveled and been made welcome but not like
this.

We found Dikili laid back, uncomplicated,
tranquil, with friendly people and good facilities. It’s beautiful beaches and bountiful history is
breathtaking. Dikili and the surrounding areas have everything from an abundance
of restaurants to archaeological remains, plus superb shopping, eating and
drinking options, there’s is something to suit everyone. We enjoyed
going to Dikili’s harbour to watch the sunset most evenings. Here you
find several beach front bars, cafes and market stalls scattered along the
charming, pedestrianised promenade which stay open until the early hours
of the morning. We did not see much in the way of clubs/nightlife which suited
us as it catered very much for couples and families. We sampled a few of
the local restaurants, which serve traditional Turkish cuisine. We haven’t
got a favourite they were all fabulous.

We found the trips to Bergama, Avyalik (fantastic fresh fish), and kozak,
and all the unspoilt coastlines offered fascinating sightseeing opportunities.
It has wonderful surroundings and breathtaking mountain scenery. Dikili beaches
are quite, perfect for soaking up the sun completely undisturbed.

The town centre offered a fantastic choice of
bustling shops selling a variety of tempting Turkish crafts, jewelery,
carpets etc. and not forgetting the market/bazaar for bargains. It was
well worth a visit.I would describe Dikili, as relaxed, traditional, cultural,
sophisticated and cosmopolitan. This resort is ideal for anyone looking
for a quiet holiday destination with good facilities available. We intend
to return.

We can’t thank you enough
for the experience and Villa Hanorah was beautiful. Please pass on my regards
to your in-laws and should you ever meet your neighbours please sent our
regards too.

Best wishes

Millie & Aaron

The Whewells (Ebay Bidders) 12/07/04 until 26/07/04
Rebooked Summer 2005

Hello,I just thought i would drop you a line to let you know what a fantastic
holiday we had at your villa all of us had a great time and I cannot praise
your in-laws enough.On the flight home a lot of the other passengers were
complaining of being hassled all the time at the big resorts but one of the
great things about Dikili is not just the absence of any hassle but also
the laid back lifestyle and the lack of the tourist hoardes.Next year we
are due to return to America on holiday but as soon as we find out when our
holidays are and providing we can persuade Jonathan to have a split holiday
we will be booking your villa again hopefully for the last two weeks of july
if you will allow us to return.Once again thank you for all the help that
you and your in-laws have given us to make this holiday one that we will
remember,we have stayed in numerous villas in America as well as all over
Europe and i must say all that all the hard work you have put into yours
as well as organizing the trips and the use of the Mysia hotels facilities
makes your villa the best organized we have stayed at and we would not hesitate
in recommending your villa to anybody.

The Youngs 02/08/04 until 16/08/04 – Rebooked
Summer 2005

Dear Sharon and Gokhan we would like to express our real thanks for the
wonderful holiday we had at Villa Hanorah, it is a real gem. Spacious, well
presented and full of modern equipment, it lacks nothing. The neighbours
were so welcoming and friendly showering us with all sorts of help and Turkish
food to eat. The town of Dikili is delightful, it is a real find, unspoilt
by foreign visitors, it is a resort where the Turkish people are friendly
helpful and hassle free. The beaches at Dikili, Bademli and Candarli were
all beautiful with soft sand and clear water. I also tried the discovery
dive and it was unbelievable a real must. It was great to have use of the
Hotel Mysia pool, which we ended up in quite a few days. The Tuesday market
was a riot and you could spend all day looking at the unbelievable selection
of items on sale, real bargains to be had here. We traveled to Bergama, which
was very interesting, and to Ephesus, which was about 2 hours in the car,
but well worth the drive, it is the jewel of Turkeys ancient cities. We would
also like to thank to Suleman and Zeynep of the help they gave us it was
great to have helping hands if needed. This was the fourth time I have been
to Turkey but it was by far the best holiday we have had anywhere, we simply
did not want to come home and we all want to come back again soon. You real
have done a really great job with the villa and deserve all the success you
will have

Best Regards Ken , Lindsey, Emily & Christopher

NOTE LEFT BY CONNOR (age 9) IN VISITORS BOOK
11-18 Oct 2004 written down by his aunty and emailed to us. They have also
just re-booked for May 2005

I really enjoyed Villa Hanorah. It was great fun with Suleman and I would
like to thank him for taking me out on trips.

I went to Suleman’s village
and played football with Turkish children. On another day we went to a
hot spring in Bademli. While we were in the hot spring, suleman got talking
to a fisherman. When we came out, the fisherman invited us on his boat
and took us on an hour long trip around an island. The sea was so beautiful
and clear you could see right through it.

Almost every day I went swimming in the Mysia Hotel pool which was really
good.

One day when we were walking along the beach, my Aunty Linda got stung by
a wasp on her toe. A Turkish lady came to the rescue with some ointment.

I bought my Nan some lovely
earrings from the jewellers in Dikili and I’m
looking forward to giving them to her.

Thank you to Suleman and Zeynep for making us so welcome and I hope I can
come back next year when I will be 10.

Linda from London Repeat Booker May 2005

“This is my 2nd trip to Villa
Hanorah. I had a fantastic time 6 months ago and had to return as there
were so many beautiful places to visit. Definetly the place to come to
get away from the restricted package holiday crowds, good for couples interested
in culture and beautiful places rather than nightclubs and also for families.
Dikili is the real Turkey. As Dikili is not a major tourist spot, it is
amazingly cheap to eat out and to shop. The villa is fantastic, fully equipped
and we didn’t want
for anything. It is definitely a home from home and is a lot better in real
life than in the pictures and the description of the villa. We made full
use of all the facilities, choice of sunny & shady terraces, BBQ and
the fruit trees in the garden. All day long around the villa you hear the
sweet sound of chirping birds. There is even a facility to order 20 litres
of water (£1) for delivery by bike directly to the villa The villa
is in a great location, right opposite a 5 start hotel with a fabulous pool
- brilliant for children and the beach is only a 2 minute easy stroll away.
Most of the locals speak limited English, which adds to the experience. I
always brought my phrase book everywhere and have also learnt some Turkish
which is a bonus. Excellent idea of the owners assisting with arranging days
out during the holiday. We had some great tours with the private chauffuer
Suleman to Bergama, Ayvalik Bademli, Kozak and various hot springs which
are abundant in this area. The Kozak village is where the owners family live
and truly was very memorable and well worth the trip to see how Turkish people
live. The village is high in the mountains, rural, the panorama is literally
a sea of dark green. Zeynep cooked us a lovely lunch and took us around to
meet some family members. Everyone made a fuss of us, bringing out çay
(tea) and even more food. It felt like most of the family knew we were visiting
and made sure that they all saw us. The mosque is spectacular and it was
an honour to be welcomed in to see it. The trip to Bademli included visiting
a remote spring off the beaten track by a cliff that was reached by going
through the olive groves. A local fisherman took us around an island for
15 million TL (£6 for 5 people). There are massive villas built into
the island, one based on a castle them with its own castle wall, another
resembling Queen Hatchesput’s temple in Egypt. There is a very exclusive
looking restaurant on the island that looked like a fabulous place to spent
the afternoon looking out at the clear water. The Tuesday market in Dikili
is excellent for fresh produce. Being a Londoner, I had forgotten the taste
of real fresh fruit and veg. My 2 trips to Villa Hanorah have restored my
faith in Turkey as I had been put off after 2 previous visits to resorts.
The people here are genuine and it is great that the owners have arranged
for local contacts if you need them, and will stay away if you want them
to. Looking forward to my 3rd trip to Villa Hanorah!! “

Sarah Manchester July 2005

“A beautiful villa with excellent facilities, in a lovely
area. The villa feels like a home from home: stereo/CD player, playstation,
computer access, telephone, dishwasher, fridge-freezer, etc. We loved having
two verandas: the first an upstairs suntrap ideal for catching the sun during
the day and cooling down at night; the second a shaded porch great for when
the sun is hot. Also very convenient is having a washing machine and lots
of drying space: we each took only a few outfits, leaving lots of space in
our suitcases for the bargains we acquired at Dikili’s rightly famous Tuesday
market! The beds are really comfortable and for a quick nap during the day
the sofas are wonderfully comfy too. I can’t recommend the villa and the
totally lovely family that runs it enough: Suleyman and Zeynep ensure that
everything goes smoothly from pick-up at the airport to departure a fortnight
later, and they do so with friendly charm and true hospitality. “

Davina Mckay October 2005

The villa is wonderful, a real home from home so we took advantage of the
local markets and delicious produce on a few occasions and cooked at ‘home’.
The attention to detail provided in the villa made all the difference from
the collection of books, videos, DVD’s to the dressing gowns for those chilly
evenings (not that we had any!). We ate many times in Dikili sampling as many
of the fresh fish and kebabs as is possible in two weeks. The ‘kebaps’ bear
no relation whatsoever to those in the UK, all of them were delicious and we
have come back significantly heavier than when went. Dikili is also a very
good base to get to the surrounding sights – we particularly loved the Kozak
mountain village, Bergama and it’s Acropolis, Avyalik, Cundy and all of the
coastal villages from Dikili to Candarli. We hired a car for the two weeks
so were able to fully explore the area at our leisure. We fell in love with
this part of Turkey and intend to rebook again next year.“

John & Joan June 2006

My wife and i both over 80 recently
returned from a 14 day holiday at the Villa Hanorah.
We went with no qualms whatsoever due to the admirable service we received
before setting out All our questions were answered promptly and positively
and puts most of the large tour companies to shame.
The villa itself was probably the best we have stayed in in over 30 years of
travel It certainly surpasses the illustrations on the web site One of its
best features is that you require something to hand and there it is eg
matches for candles [We did not have to use them ] .A modern washing machine
with all the accessories saves a bomb on laundry as does the very extensive
welcome pack on arrival.An added assurance if you are elderly is that the
adjacent hotel provides assistance if required eg doctor and you can use
their swimming pool
It is an ideal base for exploring the historic and interesting region eg
Troy .A hire car is useful [fuel a little dearer than in the UK ]but not
essential as the cheap dolmushes and longer distance buses are both cheap
and plentiful .Their modern buses and stations put ours to shame .
Perhaps the most endearing feature of Dikili is the unending kindness and
helpfulness of ordinary people :language no barrier .You are back to Turkey
30 years ago and we did not hear an English or foreign voice in 14 days.
You want to avoid rip offs then come here An average three course meal for
two about £18 but fish and wine would increase this as they are expensive.
But of no consequence as Turkish cuisine equals that of French ‘a little
known fact and the excellent Efes or Tuborg beer is inexpensive. GOLDEN
RULE -If the Turks are in a restaurant even if it does not look posh in you
go .This place is fun .Where would you get your toe nails done in the Uk for £1.74p ;here in a barbers [we pay £25
each ] or alterations to two pairs of
quality trousers [cost here £45 ] for £5 [in uk £17 ]and
taken by hand to
the hole in the wall tailor’s shop .This leaves aside the fun to be had in
the Markets
At the end of the day you know you are 100% certain to return to a haven of
peace where everything works down to the obligatory visiting cat

GREAT PLACE.GREAT HOLIDAY.GREAT PEOPLE

Doug from USA August 2006

Villa Hanorah is a lovely two bedroom, two bath residence.
It has high quality facilites including granite countertops, a dishwasher,
cloths washer, and a full set of kitchen utensils. It is well decorated,
clean, and the beds and couches were comforable. The owner was very supportive.
The location is close to the sea and having support from the Mysia hotel
is of value. The hotel helped arrange for a doctor to come to the villa to
look at my daughter. All the neighbors were very friendly. Dikili and the
area attractions will keep you busy. I do recommend having a rental car since
it is a long walk into town from the villa and to most of the attractions
other than the sea. I would enjoy booking Villa Hanorah again and staying
in Dikili.

REVIEWS ON OTHER WEBSITES

Reviews from Responsible Travel

Click here
to find out more about responsible travel reviews and star ratings

reviewed 30/06/06 by Sam Lafferty – Some stories to tell the grandchildren,
I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your
holiday?

The most memorable part of the stay was meeting the owner’s family. They were
extremely charming and hospitable. The villa is beautifully furnished and there
is a pretty garden and terrace where you can lose an evening enjoying a bottle
of wine. Also, the surrounding coastline is striking, particularly Bademli
and Candarli.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking
this holiday?

I would recommend travellers hire a car to explore the surrounding countryside
and coastline. Visit the nearby ruins of Pergamon in the early morning when
it is less crowded.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local
people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

We only had a short stay, however, it did not in any way damage the environment.

4. Any other comments?

I would give the villa four stars.

reviewed on 17/10/06 by Catherine Mukhopadhyay
- I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your
holiday?

Finding the beaches deserted, the hotel we used almost deserted and therefore
having all the facilities to ourselves, seeing the sites in Cappadocia.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking
this holiday?

Hire a car, get better road directions than we did, use turkish airlines internally
- quick and cheap.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local
people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

In a way it did, as the villa owner uses people locally to clean and drive.

see the reviews on responsible travel

Reviews on Review Centre

By nmckay from
London on 5th Feb 2005

nmckay’s Ratings

Date of stay	05/2004
Board Basis	Self catering
Tour Operator	N/A
Accommodation	10/10
Customer Service	10/10
Food	10/10
Resort	10/10
Location	10/10
Value for money	10/10
Overall rating	10/10
Recommended	Yes

Good Points

Uncommercialised area, uncrowded sandy beaches, good value for money, friendly
locals, historical sites, delicious food, good for older people, great customer
service

Bad Points

Transfer 2 hours from the airport

General Comments

Villa Hanorah was advertised as an uncommercialised area of Turkey and boy
it did not disappoint. I went on holiday with my sister Chris I am in my 60’s
and she is in her 70’s.

We are both interested in Culture and History and this promised both with the
added benefit of several thermal spas.

Dikili was wonderful with sandy un-crowded beaches, friendly neighbours, and
delicious great value food.

We travelled to see some historical ruins in Bergama a short drive away and
were amazed at the Acropolis, which is situated on the top of a hill. Good
shoes were necessary especially at our age but it was well worth it. There
was hardly a sole about and it was one of the most wonderful sites I have ever
seen.

We also went to see a Genoese Fortress in Candarli which was unlocked just
for us can you believe it.

Other places we visited were Cleopatra Beauty Spa and Bademli, which I thoroughly
recommend.

The greatest aspect of our trip was the friendliness of the locals and I now
have a real understanding of the Turkish culture that in 3 previous trips to
commercial resorts I never found.

Review of Dikili, Villa Hanorah Turkey

• Review 1 of 2

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