Kempinski Hotel The Dome

This was our second stay at Kempinski The Dome, and it is actually the first hotel in Turkey that we have chosen to return to. We really appreciate its peaceful atmosphere, which makes it perfect for a relaxing vacation.

Last year we stayed in a Lagoon Suite, and it was absolutely fantastic. The room was modern, spacious, with high ceilings and a beautiful view. This year we were a group of four, so we booked a Golf Royal Villa.

The villa comes with several nice benefits, many of which are also available with the Lagoon Suite, such as discounts on cabanas and spa treatments. In addition, the villa includes a private buggy to get around the resort and unlimited access to Sofra by the Lake restaurant.

I really enjoyed the dinners at Sofra by the Lake. The food selection was good, and the evening service was pleasant. However, I cannot recommend this restaurant for breakfast or lunch. The service was honestly disappointing. The waiting times were very long, and the staff often looked as if they were annoyed that guests had come. This is simply not acceptable for a hotel of this level, and I sincerely hope the management addresses this issue.

Unfortunately, I was less impressed with the villa itself. It feels a little outdated, and throughout our stay something kept breaking: a door handle came off, the air conditioning stopped working, electrical outlets failed, and even the refrigerator had issues. The villa has direct access to a shared pool for three villas, but I actually preferred the Lagoon Suite pool from our previous stay. The landscaping there creates much more privacy and a more relaxing atmosphere. Because of this, we spent very little time at the villa and instead discovered our favorite place in the resort were the cabanas on the pier. Cabanas #1 and #10 were excellent. They are spacious enough to spend the entire day there, with plenty of both shade and sunshine. The pier itself could also benefit from renovation. The ladders feel unstable and become very slippery, which is a safety concern.

I mentioned this in my review last year as well, but I still believe the outdoor public restrooms need renovation. They do not match the standards of a luxury resort. On the positive side, I really liked the renovation of the fish restaurant, it looks fantastic. I also felt that the live music has improved significantly compared to last year, which made the evenings even more enjoyable. Housekeeping has improved a lot since last year.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to several members of the team who made our stay truly special. A very special thank you to Mert Odabasi. For the second year in a row, he has gone above and beyond to make our vacation more comfortable and to make us feel genuinely welcomed. People like Mert are one of the reasons we keep coming back. I would also like to thank Kadir, who looks after the villa guests. He helped organize a birthday celebration that I will never forget. His kindness, attention to detail, and willingness to help made that day incredibly special. Last but not least, I would like to recognize Elif for her professionalism. She was always courteous, efficient, and attentive, and it was a pleasure interacting with her throughout our stay.

Despite the points above, I genuinely enjoyed my stay and would happily return again. Kempinski The Dome remains one of my favorite hotels in Turkey. I truly hope that my suggestions will be taken into consideration because, with a few improvements, this hotel could be absolutely outstanding.

Best regards, Angelina

An amazing place with great people.

All is nice (atmosphere is relaxed, the rooms are clean, service is good and kind), it’s not that expensive, nights are quiet and good, location is near other hotels and best location ever