Swissotel Grand Efes Izmir

The services were absolutely on par with the exquisite nature of the hotel. Amazing breakfast too! Their hostess, Alana, really made my mornings feel special and her kindness helped me mentally prepare for a hard day of work each day I was there.

I booked this hotel due to high ratings and attractive photos, expecting top quality and no hidden costs. Reality was disappointing. At check-in I was shocked by the unexpected deposit demand- no clear mention it was hidden between a whole paragraph, hard to find, where the price was shown as final with all fees included. The receptionist insisted the rate was “too low for two people” and pushed breakfast hard despite my clear refusal. We compromised: I paid only half the requested deposit. I repeatedly asked if a contactless phone payment (Apple Pay) would allow instant refund at checkout. Each time: “No problem, come 15 min early, we check minibar and return it immediately.” It was a lie. At 3 a.m. check-out (early flight) they said refunds only start at 9 a.m., no physical card= no instant return, transfer takes 3 business days. Mr. Ismail Balaban (shift manager?) and the receptionist showed zero empathy or willingness to help. To this day the deposit hasn’t been returned and no one has contacted me. Worst part: the hotel created the problem but takes no responsibility to fix it. Only I have to chase, email and fight to recover my money. Room: very comfortable beds (only real positive), broken bathroom scale, rusty bathtub plug, constant beeping from bathroom 24/7, average indoor pool. Housekeeping staff were genuinely kind and helpful. For a 5-star hotel this level of unprofessionalism, dishonesty and lack of accountability is unacceptable. Price-quality mismatch is huge. Never again. Avoid if you value your time, nerves and money.

Alara and Eyup are wonderful ! They provided great service in the restaurant as we were able to learn things about Türkiye over our nice conversations together.

We would especially like to thank Chef Fatmanur for making our stay even more special. Her dishes were always fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. You can truly feel the care and passion she puts into her work. She was also very kind and welcoming, which made every breakfast a pleasant experience. It was clear that she takes great pride in what she does, and it really shows in the quality of the food.

Great experience. The omelette prepared by Chef Özlem was very well made and enjoyable. The service from Gülistan Gözde and Simge Erman was attentive amd friendly, contributing to a pleasant visit. Overall, a solid place to lunch and one I would recommend. I will come back soon.