GUEST REVIEWS

Wonderful relaxing accommodation” We wanted to spend four nights in Olympos having visited it on previous holidays but had stayed in nearby Cirali. Situated on the Lycian Way, Olympos makes an excellent base from which to walk. We chose the Saban as it had good reviews on both Hostelbookers and Tripadvisor and we liked the guests enthusiasm for the food provided. We were shown to our cabins which faced down the valley and set in gardens amongst orange and lemon groves. Although compact, each cabin had a comfortable bed, air-con, a set of drawers and coat hooks plus a tiny bathroom with shower (plenty of hot water). The family run Saban is well situated in the centre of the village backed up to the mountain, just a few minutes walk to the Olympos ruins and a further 10 minutes to the beautiful beach, there are bars with live music a couple of minutes away. The camp has plenty of places to relax, reading in the hammocks beneath the trees or lounging in the cardaks in the garden (the traditional Turkish raised platform with carpets, cushions and low table) which were provided with warm blankets as the weather was exceptionally cold for autumn. It is a very relaxed, laid-back place with guests from all over the world giving it a friendly atmosphere. Meral is an great host, friendly and knowledgeable, her cooking was excellent, we had a good Turkish breakfast including omelettes each morning and in the evening, hearty soups and tasty dinners worthy of an expensive restaurant, you certainly wouldn't go hungry here. My only criticism is that, being October, the food went cold as it was laid out buffet style. Olympos is quite easy to get to from the main road as there is a half-hourly dolmus which will stop outside each camp on request. Buses come direct from Antalya, Kas and Fethiye along the coastal road.

“Relaxing is the Right Word We stayed at the Saban as the last stop on our fortnight in Turkey - the chance to walk in the mountains and on Cirali beach, and enjoy the chilled atmosphere of Olympos. Our choice of the Saban was a good one - credit to the staff who were excellent during our stay, with a special mention for Meral who was always on hand with helpful advice (and the odd beer!). The food is very, very good but on a chilly evening can go cold quickly - maybe some way to keep it warmer could be adopted, especially later in the year? The cabins were functional, clean and tidy - the bathrooms being compact. It was a very pleasant surprise to find the ancient site of Olmypos had been cleared of hundreds of years of undergrowth and neglect, and you can now see the city properly - not like on our previous visits. Overall Olympos is well worth visiting, and the Saban is an excellent choice if you do. I would recommend that, if you like plenty of people around you, and therefore more of a buzz, you visit in the main season - it gets very quiet in October, which suited us, but may not suit everybody.

“Amazing food, great location, great price!” It was definitely the best choice to stay in Olympos, we arrived pretty early in the morning and it seemed like there was no place for us, anyway they offered us buffet breakfast for free and could drink tear or coffee. We stayed at the dorms since I heard are better because of the AC. The common areas are very nice, like open huts with pillows and tables all of them within the wifi range. But for sure the best is the dinner, omg! It was AMAZING... i loved the food, very diverse, and abundant, they light the fire place for the dinner which gives it a great feeling. Its location is pretty good as well since is like 300 meters from the entrance to the park - beach. 100% recommended!

“Lovely little gem.” We only had one night here and wished we'd had more! Cabins were cute, clean and quaint. Setting is unique and relaxing. Felt like we were camping. Breakfast and supper were delicious!! Home cooked meals, mmm mmm! Fresh food right from the hostesses garden. She showed us her herb & veggie gardens as well as orange and lemon trees. Supper around a campfire then a beer and wifi access in the surrounding cabanas set alongside the creek. Very neat little place with friendly and laid back staff and lots of personality. Hostess speaks excellent English and German.

“best family holiday ever!” May 2013 We (2 adults, children aged 12 and 17) travelled here after going on a fabulous 3 night gulet trip with alaturka travel from Fethiye to Demre and as part of the deal they drop you in Olympos. This was a fabulous place to take our kids. They made lots of friends from all around the world as there is a dorm room with lots of back packers next to the communal area at Sabans. It was one of the best holidays we have ever had. (we are the kind of family who like layed back home made fun - not into high rise hotels and shops!) I am veggie and the food was plentiful and delicious. My son found people to go rock climbing with, we played cards and back gammon, went dancing at a place called Bull Bar. The walk down to the beach takes about 10- 15 minutes but is BEAUTIFUL. We found the sea warmer than it is in Wales in the summer - very clear. There was loads of wild flowers and wildlife. The actual 'resort' is small - I guess it gets busy in the summer but in May it was wonderful. We rented a small bungalow with a tree house right next door for the kids. Meral the owner is so lovely - I want to go back NOW!

“You'll regret NOT staying at Saban's!” Saban's topped the list in many aspects over other places we've stayed at in Turkey. Rooms: we booked a private bungalow, initially for 2 nights but loved Saban's so much we booked an extra night. The room was spacious, with very clean bathroom and even a cot (not that we have a baby) and cupboard. The full length mirror was very handy!! Fitted with air con so very comfy. Food: the BEST food in Olympos! No joke. The price if the rooms may be slightly more than others in the area (only slightly( but the fact their day rates include breakfast AND dinner more than compensate for the difference. Both meals are buffet style so you can eat as much as you want, though we never had to go back for seconds at dinner as you have at least 8 or 9 choices of food, PLUS there's a diff soup every night. We stuffed ourselves, every dish was delicious. The aubergine salad was the best I've had in Turkey. Also, they don't stinge on their meat at all, we had loads of chicken (whole pieces!) on our second night and a whole fish on the first. Breakfast was more exciting than at other places we've stayed at in Turkey, they make you a fresh Omlette when you walk up and order it. Service: meryl who runs this place was the main reason we lives it so much. She was always smiling, laid back, nothing was ever too much to ask, her response to everything was - that's not a problem. Bar: the alcohol prices were a bit expensive here compared to other places in the area. But you don't have to drink here, there're other treehouses and hostels within metres of each other, so you can opt to find cheaper options. Or go to the super market and grab a large beer for 4.5TL instead of the 7TL charged at Saban's. We actually spent quite a bit if money at Savan's bar but it was just do nice relaxing there that we didn't care about the prices. Thank you meryl and saban! You made our stay in Olympos a fabulous experience. Woud love to stay there again! Ivan and Xiao

“Amazing food, amazing value” A friend and I stayed here for 3 nights. The location is within walking distance to the beach. The food here is amazing. Such good value getting breakfast and dinner included for such a low rate. Loooooved the dinners. Very chilled out place. Olympos is beautiful. Highly recommend staying here. Staff very friendly.

“We love this place” First stayed in 2010, had a brilliant time. Came back in 2013; they remembered us! Sleep in a pinewood box, lounge the day away on cushions in the shade. The cooking is brilliant -- breakfast and dinner included. Very thoughtful owner's handled thoughtfully my cousin's dietary restrictions. Our 3- and 5-year-old stayed free-of-charge. But mainly: come here for family-oriented care in wonderful Olympos, for circa 20 EUR/night.

“GREAT place to stay” Unfortunately I could only stay one night in Saban's tree houses but I just loved it. It's got an amazing common area, relaxing hammocks, DELICIOUS food, lovely people and a great atmosphere. Besides that it's only a 10 minutes walk away from the beach and easily connected to any buses. Thanks for everything and hope to see you again soon

“I didn't want to leave... ever” I had the best five days ever at Saban. I don't know that I would have had such a good time in Olympos if it hadn't been for this place - the owner Meril was one of the main reasons myself and many others in my dorm stayed much longer than we planned. I met the best bunch of people here and we hung out for almost a week, with Meril coming and going from our bungalow for a chat. The food is AMAZING. Really, really delicious and varied. This is a great place to chill - no-one's trying to push you to go on bad tours or do anything other than have a beer and go to the beach. Loved it.

“Wonderful place, exactly what it promises.” We loved our stay at Saba. It's a 15 minute walk to the beach down the only dirt road that comprises Olympos. Our bungalow had a large double bed, and, thank god, good AC. (Can't imagine not having air conditioning there, but maybe that's just us). The owner, Miral, (sp?), is very cool, and great to talk to. There's something about the design of Saban that leads to meeting other guests and forming friendships, which is always a big plus. The dinners were of wonderful quality. After 6 nights at Saba we were a little tired of the food because it repeats itself after a few days, but still delicious and plus, it's hard to cook for that many people every night. The one word I kept hearing out of every guest's mouth at Saban was, "relaxing." Saban is extremely relaxing. Stay more than a night. Get into the slow pace of Olympos, and also be sure to visit some of the neighboring towns and beaches. We went to a beach in another village about 15 minutes drive from Olympos, and the beach was cleaner and just as beautiful. Olympos' beach is gorgeous but ironically, even though it's a national park, there's a fair amount of litter toward the back of the shore that is a pity. Nonetheless, the water feels amazing and clear and you can swim for hours there. So glad we went there.

“Great find!” Spent one night here on our way to Olu Deniz from Goreme. We were greeted warmly as we arrived tired from our long bus ride and told to have some breakfast while we waited for our room to be ready. There were many hammocks and cushions to sit on and we relaxed happily while we waited. We had chosen a basic treehouse- 3 mattresses on the floor with shared showers and toilets a few meters away. The room was unbearably hot when we arrived, but what do you expect in the middle of August in Turkey in a treehouse! The window had a lovely view of the surrounding mountains, and it was a bit like staying in a cubby as a child- very cute! It cooled down nicely by the time we returned in the evening and was perfectly comfortable to sleep in. I would recommend paying extra for an air conditioned room if you're staying for longer than a night though. Olympus was gorgeous- we loved the ruins, the surrounding scenery and the beach. Saban Tree Houses was in a perfect location, very peaceful and we wished we had another night there to truly experience it and relax. Amazing value as we payed less than $20AUD each for the night, including our 2 breakfasts and an amazing buffet dinner that had a great selection of foods. A wonderful experience.

“Relaxing" This place is very relaxing. Hammocks, and mini decks, you can lay around in all day. There Is not much else to do in Olympos than layabout. The food was great, had a fresh made omelettes in the morning, and home cooked meal for dinner, all included in the price of th bungalow.

“Fantastic value” Booked 2 nights here but ended up staying 6. The place is fantastic for just kicking back and relaxing, comfy hammocks and treehouse lounges aplenty. The owners are lovely and the price includes an awesome buffet breakfast and an equally amazing buffet dinner; you will not go hungry here! I've paid more for a single meal in the city than I paid for a bed in the dorm with the two meals provided. A great way to stretch your money.

“Soo Relaxing" Sabans was an amazing place to kick back and relax and enjoy Olympos, Meral is an outstanding host and makes everyone feel at home. If you are not motivated to walk the short distance to the beach, you can hangout in the comfy guest treehouses in the garden.

“Home away from Home I stayed for 10 days and soaked up the last of the sun, great food, terrific service and advice and a pretty good red wine. I loved the trip to the beach through the ruins of old Olympos, the colour of the water and the friendliness of the locals. I have told everyone I meet to go there to chill and I want to go back again too.

“Wouldn't want to stay anywhere else in Olympos” Spent a week here and looked forward to the wonderful buffet supper every night. The "treehouses" are small wooden shacks on stilts of varying heights with mattresses on the floor (think a kids' clubhouse). The bungalows are basic cabins with a/c and a small bathroom with the usual shower-gets-everything-wet-setup that, if you've done any traveling in this part of the world, you should be very familiar with. The shared bathroom and shower buildings are very clean, should you decide to use them instead. The shaded grounds are full of lime and pomegranate trees, and a few chickens scratching about. Since hammocks, tables, and hang-out cabanas are plentiful, there's not a lot of space-sharing and you don't naturally interact or converse with your fellow guests. I didn't think this was a problem at all, but if you want to meet people, you'll have to take the initiative. There are dozens of options for accommodation at Olympos... some of them looked dusty and dingy, others pumped out music until late at night. Saban is clean and quiet and I can't imagine finding a place that served a better supper or breakfast (which is included in the price).

“Sublime Saban” Run by hardworking owners brother and sister Ali and Meral, "Saban" is a great place to chill out and only a short walk to the beach. My gal and me took bungallow number 33, located in a quiet rear area of their site. at 50TL per head INCLUDING the buffet evening dinner, we thought "Saban" to be great value. Meral's dinner is utterly delicious. Differing delicacies every night made it a culinary adventure well worth returning for, and we WILL return. Good WiFi/Internet access in the public/dining/seating areas but not in the rooms - No problem for us. An organised evening trip to see the flaming methane "Chimera" bursting from the mountainside in the next door valley is well worth it, BUT make sure that "Saban's" bus driver drives sensibly ! on our trip, on the way there the young driver drove like an idiotic lunatic. In the dark he threw the vehicle around tight corners at excessive speed, scaring passengers and making some feel sick. I spoke to him sternly before the return journey and he finally drove sensibly. Very foolish behaviour ! Andrew Bruce / Dumfriesshire

“Good confort in a great and quiet place” We enjoy spending a night in one of the bungalows of the Saban houses. You can choose between various categories of prices and confort. Ours was a bungalow for two person with a comfortable bed and bathroom including air-conditioning... included in the price was an excellent dinner and breakfast! All that for something around 39Eur. We really recommend that place!

“Best place to stay in beautiful Olympos valley.” i stayed in many places in Olympos.But this is literally the best.Even with a 6 months baby we had a very relaxing vacation. İts a bit far from beach but all the places are far away from beach you can stay.anyway its so great to walk to beach(around 15 min) through the ancient ruins of legendary Olympos city. And yes home made food..Excellent..

“Great location, hosts & food.” We very much enjoyed our stay at Saban Tree Houses. The owners are very friendly, relaxed and happy to help, and the meals (dinner and breakfast are included) are sensational. Not far from the ruins and beach. We walked to Chimera (3.5 hour round trip) although the owners will organise a tour or transport for guests if needed. We loved it so much we stayed an extra night.

“Great stay, clean, highly recommend” the place is a 10 min walk from the beach, lovely staff, the lady speak fluent english. lovely person. we stayed in a treehouse, very clean, and actually comfy. toilets and shower were outside and clean the price includes breakfast AND dinner, food is very good. excellent value for money. DO NOT switch you light on at night if you dont want all the insects to come if you dont like insects, dont go. not that i like them but showering before night fall and using the light of your phone was perfect - no insects around much, couple of ants here and there. i ghighly recommend it - very relaxing place full of flowers, lemon trees

“Wonderful!” Saban is more than just cosy log cabins in a peaceful garden setting. It is the whole package..the food is amazing and Meral is so friendly and helpful. She will look after you to the best of her ability...nothing is too much....she can advise you on your day trips..even offers to show you if she has time...i highly recommend a stay at Saban and you will truly unwind

We arrived late, and with one phone call we were picked up from the main road and brought home. Dinner that night and every night was fantastic. We met so many interesting and varied people whilst we were there and were sad to leave. We knew before arriving we wanted to stay longer, but everyone we met extended their stay. It was an absolute bonus that the volcano stopped us from flying home. We took the next bus back and stay in our second home for another week. What a wonderful place to be. I can't wait to go back.

I have not been back to Olympos since having a family but for many yrs in the 90s stayed at Sabans.. I loved this place so much... And Meral was Such a warm and friendly person... I will return....Robin...xxx

i knew that if i finally escaped, i'd want to return.

My son (6) an I had an amazing holiday at Olimpos. We loved staying with the Karatas family who made our stay a tremendously pleasant and relaxed experience. Ali, Meral, Huseyin, Ben and Cengiz were ever so friendly and helpfull, as well as both their mothers. Yes, the food was great (actually more than great), but it was everythingtoghether that made it just perfect! The location, the scenery, the lovely and well maintained facilities, the elaundry and airport service, the smiles on everybodies faces (each day!) and the total relaxation this place offers. Thanks to you all again!