Dear Rough Guides
We were touring around the Northern Aegean coast area earlier this month and we followed your recommendations to visit Babakale, the most western point of Asia. The two category 2 hotels you listed in the port were not very attractive (that is, they were a bit too basic for us), so we drove back towards Gulpinar. About 3kms along the road, where you mention the beach with the private holiday homes on the hill), there is a sign to the 'Altinkum Motel'. This turns out to be the only place to stay in Akliman, at the foot of the hill, which is really just one unasphalted road with some holiday homes. But the motel is a revelation; it looks like a Swiss chalet, the rooms have ensuite bathrooms, and there is a bar and terrace restaurant. The place is run in the summer by Basri and his wife Nur, who are incredibly friendly and hospitable. Nur does the cooking, and Basri entertains with stories and music (he plays the Suz - I think I have that right). Rooms are 60YTL per night with breakfast. I would thoroughly recommend this place, not just for the motel, but also because it is in such a special place; the views over the Aegean are stupendous and the beach is one of the best we came across - it was practically deserted in mid-September, but there was still a bar open all day!
The details are:
Altinkum Motel
Tatil Koyu Gulpina/Ayvacik
Tel (0286)747 05 04-747 00 08
aklimanmotelaltinkum.com

Thanks
Sheila Maister