Uludag Orman Koskleri

“Orman Koşkleri” are located in Sarıalan, 1,650 meters above sea level. I booked 2 nights in January 2024 at one of the small mansions (1 double bed + 2 single beds). It snowed during my stay and the atmosphere was lovely, so I extended my stay for one more night. In this review I will shed some light on matters that might be of importance to those who fancy this type of getaway. Before booking, I went through online photos as well as many of the published reviews and was encouraged by the abundance of positive comments. The negative comments were very few and, after my stay, I think that some of those comments were unfair. The online material tells clearly that the mansions are simple cottages fulfilling basic needs as I will expand below, not 5-star luxury hotels It appears that some reviewers had high expectations. I went there with a fair certainty about the features of the place and my findings were not far from my expectations. This review applies to the small cottages, the bigger ones might be different. Outside the main entrance door, there is a small terrace with a bench and a fireplace for grilling. Inside, the cottage consists of a ground floor and an upper floor. In the ground floor there is a living hall (about 5m x 3m) containing a 4-seater sofa, 1-seater armchair, dining table with 4 chairs, and a kitchenette corner with utensils etc., mini refrigerator, electric cooker, kettle, and a washing machine. The toilet and shower enclosure are also located in this floor. A wooden stairway leads to the upper floor where you’ll find an open space with 2 single beds, and a small room with a double bed. What I liked: - The overall atmosphere of the place is stunning. It is truly enclaved by a forest (“Orman Koşkleri” means “Forest Mansions”). - The huts are spread on the sides of a paved road, so you can park your car in the vicinity of your hut. Make sure you have tire chains if you’re coming in the snowy season. - A fully-fledged Mosque is available within a walking distance (hot water ablution, Friday Prayer, and women’s hall). - Reception office is also within a walking distance. Availability of English-speaking staff is a great advantage. You can communicate with this office via mobile numbers (including WhatsApp) since the small cottages are not equipped with landline phones. - The compound is adjacent to the Telefrik (cable car) station. Here you can take the cable car up to Uludağ or down to Bursa. You can find some shops here too (grocery, snacks, souvenirs, garments). - At the center of the compound there is the main restaurant where you can have your breakfast (preset, served to your table) and where “à la carte” lunch and dinner can be served too. The menu includes raw meat if you prefer cooking/grilling in your hut. The food is good and the staff members are great. You can also have your meal delivered to your room against a small additional fee. Note that this restaurant is not open all-year-round. Check before booking. - The hut is very well heated even in extreme cold weather. A gas-fed water heater (combi) is located in the ground floor and provides hot water to the faucets/shower and to the wall-mounted radiators. Additionally, a wide fireplace simulator capable of injecting hot air is provided in the ground floor. - The pillows are firm and I like this type. I cannot sleep on feather-filled pillows. The mattresses are firm too. - The size of the shower cabin (1m x 1m) is good. Areas for improvement: - All upper floor windows do not have blackout curtain. Early daylight will wake you up even if you want to sleep a bit more. - The TV size (perhaps 28”) is small for viewers sitting 4 or 5 meters away. The size suitable for this distance is not less than 70”. - Many of the occupants, if not most, are international tourists, either English or Arabic-speaking. Yet, all TV channels are Turkish. This is not acceptable. Numerous free international/Arabic channels are available and the management should rectify this shortcoming. I, personally, was extremely disappointed for not being able to watch my favorite news channel. - The access to media is further aggravated by the non-availability of Wi-Fi in the cottage. You have to rely on your own personal data package and your own mobile/pad. This matter needs to be fixed. - The electric cooker type is old (resistor type), taking an awfully long time to cook a meal. New infra-red type is available at low prices in the market. Replacement is recommended. What I had to live with: - The internal wooden construction is not robust and does not provide sound insulation. Any squeak in any bed can be heard all over the cottage. Any footstep in the upper floor will produce a squeaking noise, small but noticeable. This is inherent and cannot be eliminated, so don’t expect privacy. Conclusion: The fee per night is not exorbitant but not cheap. For such a fee, larger TV, internet, and international/Arabic TV channels would be minimum expectations to a non-Turkish tourist. I conclude by admitting that the cottage experience at “Orman Koşkleri” was great and you should not miss it if you happen to be in Türkiye, particularly in the winter.