From US$75 per night
– The window seat, with fantastic views, perfect for reading or relaxing
– The shower stall is semi-enclosed, I managed to soak the entire room with the second showerhead though this could be avoided with a little more attention.
The old saying of arrive a guest, leave a friend is true of Ayasoluk Hotel. The friendly and chatty Kurdish management staff and the smiling young girls who cater to your every need do their best to make you feel part of the family. They go out of their way to help everyone who crosses their path. I was even offered free reign in the kitchen, should I desire a midnight snack or some such.
Ayasoluk is a fresh face on the Selcuk hotel scene, opening mid-2014. It’s a lovely family run boutique, designed and built by the Turkish and American owners. The hotel sits on Ayasoluk hill, amidst quiet village backstreets, an area steeped in history. Within a minutes walking of the centre of Selcuk, Ayasoluk provides a pleasant oasis from the world, allowing you to relax in the lovely courtyard and take in the views.
From the deep blue swimming pool, and from most of the rooms, you can see all the sights the area has to offer – the Virgin Mary’s Chruch, Artemis Temple, St John’s Cathedral and the old Castle, Isa Bei Mosque and the Seven Sleepers hill are all within view, and most within walking distance. The ruins of Ephesus are hidden only by the hill.
The rooms are cosy and well designed. The 17 rooms each have their own unique features, some with fireplaces, French balconies overlooking the village or comfortable window seats, perfect for whiling away a few hours reading. Light switches are within easy reach of the comfortable bed and there’s a superfast USB charging point to save you from all those adapters. There’s air conditioning and heating but I also like the touch of a ceiling fan.
The décor is colourfully Turkish inspired, with handmade Turkish carpets covering the hard floors. If you see something you like – ask to take it home. Carpet selling has been in the family for generations and they own a carpet shop in town (though there’s no pressure to buy).
The breakfast spread is varied and tasty and in the summer time the restaurant provides lunch and dinner service which is also popular with outside customers. I joined the staff for family lunches and can attest to the good work of the chef.
