This was our first visit to Turkey and we fell in love with the people and the place. The Rainbow is situated on a hill overlooking cesme bay. There are lots of steps, and a lift that takes you up to your room, but you do need to be prepared to go up and down stairs to reception.
We were also in self catering in a room at the front of the hotel overlooking the bay, which was fine. We paid an very reasonable package for the holiday and thought our accomodation was ansolutely fine for our needs. The staff were lovely. They were all very attentive and helpful: cases were carried up and down stairs for your without having to ask. Everyone wanted to practise their english, and we thought the staff and the Turkish people in general were warm, friendly lovely people who put themselves out to give you what they thought you wanted. We were not in Turkey to live as we do in England and this was the great pleasure of our trip. No flies, no cats, a lovely pool, and a wonderful turkish bath where you can have the traditional hammam give you the full treatment.
Cesme is a lovely harbourside town still unspoiled by tourism : . No drinking problems or european lager louts thank goodness, just lots of lovely turks talking chatting, trying to make a living. Everywhere we went we were ofered apple tea, and a chat. Go with an open mind : be respectful of their beliefs and you will come back with some wonderful memories and an address book ful of turkish freinds.
The hotel is at the top of the hill it is only 10 minutes gentle winding walk down into the town through some fascinating winding streets full of ancient and modern apartments: turkish carpets draped out in the sun to air. 10 minutes back up agai ..maybe 15....Its such a mix of ancient and modern which we thought was its charm ..not a sterile little holiday village for th tourists. You can wander down in the evening to find everything and anything to buy or eat. We would far rather stay here than the big hotel in nearby Iliiaca which although the beach is lovely (You can get there in 10 minues on the dolmus) is in the middle of a very small strip of shops. Only night life there is provided by the hotel.
Hop on the little minibuses (Dolmus) to visit the local beaches fishing villages and ancient sites. If you are reasonably fit with a sense of adventure you will love this place. Big ferries go across to the greek island of chrios which you can see, also lots of boat trips from the harbour that will take you round the bays. You can organise your own tour to Ephesus (2 hours away) through a little travel agent in nearby Iliaca. Its heaven. Cant wait to go again.