Emin Efendi Konakları — Hotel in Hatuniye Mahallesi

Many of the reviews (including guide-book 'Top picks') led us to book Emin Efendi for our stay in beautiful Amasya, and certainly the grand character of the place is beyond doubt. The room was large, comfortable and beautifully situated by the river - so no complaints there, and it's a very convenient location.||||The big let down, from check-in to check-out, was the staff. Having travelled very extensively in Turkey for 25 years, I have come to know how incredibly hospitable the Turkish people are, especially those in the hotel and restaurant industry dealing with tourists. Even if they speak little or no English (and my Turkish is limited), the smile and genuine desire to make a guest feel welcome always shines through. Sadly, there was not a hint of that at Emin Efendi. From serious-looking long-faces upon check-in, to the staff turning on much-needed lights at night in the annex we were staying at across the road when we asked - without so much as a 'hello', 'sorry' or 'good night'. Breakfast felt almost like sitting at a funeral wake, with the three staff we saw all extremely unhappy-looking, and not a single 'Gunaydin' (Good Morning Greeting). Check-out was much the same, and all-in-all left a bad taste of the whole stay.||||I have no idea whether there are management issues, or whether the staff are just tired of seeing tourists... I hope it's neither - but I do know that this place cannot and should not rest upon the laurels of previous good reviews by becoming unfriendly or complacent. Turkey's real magic is in its wonderful, warm people - and so to encounter the absence (indeed, the opposite!) of this for a stay in such a character-filled place was a deep disappointment. ||||We'll certainly return to beautiful Amasya; we certainly won't return to Emin...

Amasya is not exactly on the foreign tourist radar which, in some ways, is a pity as this town is a delight. It has history – ancient tombs, citadels, mosques –and is set in an idyllic location surrounded by mountains with a river running through its’ centre. It also seems to be the wedding capital of this part of Turkey!||||Emin Efendi is set amongst the relatively few remaining beautiful historic Ottoman-style houses that line the waterfront. It occupies various buildings, the most popular being sited right on the riverbank overlooking the river and watermills that still operate. So, like ourselves, be sure to request a riverside room. Ours jutted out over the river, and with five tall windows, offered uninterrupted views of the waterway and city beyond – magical at night. Our room was large, with a shower only bathroom and comfortable in a faded, old-fashioned way, with wood panelling and decorated ceiling. Maintenance could have been better as neither the bathroom nor bedside lights worked.||||The hotel’s restaurant is a popular venue for guests and groups alike. It was definitely the ‘happening place’ of an evening. The meal we had there was accompanied by live music – not to everyone’s taste – and was adequate but hardly sensational from a western point-of-view, but then foreigners are still a bit of a rarity there. Breakfast service was distinctly ‘hands-off’ but nevertheless offered a decent enough cold spread (no hot eggs etc) aimed primarily at the domestic market. There was a choice of ‘do-it-yourself’ coffee and Turkish tea but no fruit juices of any kind. The only cold drink was water.||||Service was efficient rather...

Although this is not high level hotel, this is a very characteristic hotel in Amasya,||The breakfast and dining room is nice and makes you feel at home. The personnel is very kind, maybe a bit slow, but does the job. And is very friendly.||The hotel has rooms in several facilities in the neighborhood of the lobby. Rooms are mid size, mostly quite old, but clean, and everything works.||The area is very quiet, and the quality of sleep was good.||||The bathrooms are small, but everything works. This time my room (have been here several times) was on the river, first floor. the view was nice, and the river flows water (helping the sleep) and fresh air in the night.||||The wifi works only in the lobby, free.||||for 100 TL this is not exactly cheap, in a city like Amasya, but it is very nice for the location and the breakfast, that is made of...