The Stay That Ended Our Trip on a Sour Note
Kaş was the destination we had saved for last, the final stop on a journey through Türkiye that had taken us to 15 different accommodations, each with its own charm. We had hoped to end on a high. Instead, we left counting the hours until we could check out.
We arrived in searing heat with two young children, expecting at least a warm welcome. Instead, we were met by a woman who spoke only Ukrainian — no Turkish, no English — and could only communicate through a phone translation app. We’re fluent in both Turkish and English, but neither was an option. From the outset, even the simplest exchange felt like a challenge.
She warned us not to drink the tap water. In every other place we’d stayed on this trip, we were provided complimentary bottled water — a small courtesy, but an important one. Here, there was nothing. No welcome bottle, no jug in the fridge. Just a laminated sheet informing us we could buy a 15-litre container for €15–20. With no nearby shops and 35°C heat, we had no choice but to get straight back in the car to find supplies.
Later that evening, we tried to cook for the children, only to find the stove didn’t work. The gas bottle was not working (You need to turn a physical bottle and off), and the numbers provided for assistance went unanswered. My husband eventually found the same woman downstairs, who admitted she didn’t know what to do and called her daughter, Anna — one of the owners.
Soon after, Anna’s husband, Erdem, rang. I explained that we had no functioning stove, and no way to communicate in Turkish or English. His response stunned me. He called me “weird” and “strange” for expecting those things in a very defensive way, including the ability to speak to someone in the national language. He then told me, “If you don’t like it, pack up and leave,” despite it being 8pm with two distressed children.
Anna arrived shortly after with a replacement gas bottle. But ten minutes later she returned, saying Erdem was wanting a list of all my complaints. I told her I would speak with her once my children were settled. To her credit, she respected that and left.
The disappointments didn’t end there. The online listing stated the apartment had a washing machine — it didn’t. The attic layout, with low sloped ceilings, made the kitchen and dining area awkward to use. The showers were cramped. The pool looked murky. The nearest shop is 2.5km away, up and down hills that’s not realistic on foot with children.
The only bright spot was the cleaner. She went out of her way to help, even offering to wash our clothes at no charge to make up for the missing amenities. Her kindness stood in stark contrast to the owners’ attitude.
Kaş itself is worth visiting. But this property, in its current state, is not. We left disappointed, frustrated, and certain of one thing — we won’t be back.