an original hotel near gallipoli

When making preparations for a visit to gallipoli and you are looking for accommodation you should have a look at this typical hotel. The Gallipoli houses offers accommodation for 20 guests and is the most typical hotel within the gallipoli national park and beyond.

The Sunday Herald Sun, April 19, 2009

The war put the tiny, forgotten village of Kocadere, deep within the park on the map; the peace has brought Anzac tourism. It was a Turkish army post during the campaign and now contains the Gallipoli Houses, a small hotel in a village full of stone houses, farm buildings, a mosque and enough roosters to wake the remaining souls at dawn.
There is no other development like this within the park, so the Gallipoli Houses worth was immediately recognised when it opened in 2007. The Australian Department of Veteran Affairs has booked it for 10 years during Anzac peak times.
The 10 rooms are stylish and minimal : the bathrooms large; and the terrace made for sunset drinks. Owners Eric and Ozlem Goossens, a Belgian and a Turk, worked in the travel industry in Istanbul before building their hotel, and are steeped in Gallipoli knowledge.
From the dining and sitting room, lined with framed maps of the battlefield and windows overlooking the heights, the red flag of Turkey can be seen flying over Scrubby Knoll. Mustafa Kemal had a command post here, and nearby is the furthest point where Australian scouts private Arthur Blackburn (later a VC) and lance Corporal Phil Robin pentrated immediately after te landing on April 25, 1915.

by Jenny Stevens

Dear Eric and Ozlem,

Cherie and I would like to thank you very sincerely for the most wonderful stay at your home, and a most rewarding time at Gallipoli.
We appreciate all your assistance, information, transport, - not to mention the meals.

Best wishes,
Alison Smith
First Secretary & Consul
Australian High Commision UK

Alison Smith - Australia/UK - April 2009

Dear Eric,

Just wanted to say thanks again for a really wonderful stay last week. It was fantastic from start to finish. I've been snowed under with work since getting back and I will be for the forseeable future, but I will do my best to get a report up for you on Tripadvisor when there's eventually a lull in the storm. In the meantime take care, and if there's ever anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to let my know.

Sean Bizley - UK - April 2009

Dear Ozlem and Eric

What a visit – I would have no hesitation in recommending anyone to “go independent” and visit the Peninsular using The Gallipoli Houses. The drive from Istanbul is very straightforward and the welcome from both of you, not forgetting the cats, is something we will both remember for many years to come. Your central location looking up to Gun Ridge is ideal and the accommodation together your wonderful food left nothing to be desired. The bonus was Eric’s in depth knowledge of the events of 1915. A big thank you to you both and please let David know we are coming back for his promised tiger shoot!

Here’s to our next visit.

Best wishes

Pete Helmore - General Secretary - The Orders & Medals Research Society

April 2009 - UK

Hi Erik and Ozlem

We have just arrived back in Australia after a wonderful, but long holiday. For both of us the highlight was our visit to Gallipoli. It was really special to be able to see where my pop had spent time so long ago and to get a far better understanding of what all of the troops endured. The national park is such a pretty peaceful spot -far too nice to have fought a war in, but a fitting and peaceful memorial to all of those resting in it.

Your accommodation was fantastic and the location great for exploring the National Park -far better than staying in Cannakale. Ozlem you are a fantastic host and great cook. One of the best meals for the whole two months was the moussaka that you cooked. Far nicer than the stodge that passes for moussaka in Australia. Any chance of the recipe please? -just hanging out to taste it again. It would be great if you offered cooking lessons - they would be a big hit.

Erik we are sorry to have missed you but really must thank you for your advice on our itinerary for our short stay in Turkey - we followed your suggestion and it worked out very well. We had a good balance between driving and looking at attractions, kept away from big cities, (except Istanbul) got to see some great things, and meet some great people. Driving was fairly easy and on good roads. Well done.

Also thanks again to Ozlem for the very specific directions from Istanbul airport to Gallipoli Houses -could still be looking if it wasn't for them.

Cheers and best wishes

Jo and Ian Wise - Australia - March 2009

Eric,

We have arrived home after a pleasant stay in Istanbul, slightly more hectic than the tranquility of Gallipoli Houses!!! All four of us really enjoyed our stay with you and the hospitality extended to us both by your staff and yourselves. The walking that we did managed to work off a few of the calories!!!, and our overview of the area and the excellent day we had with Kenan Celik has encouraged further research into the Gallipoli Campaign.

Once again, many thanks to you all.

Rob & Norma Campbell - UK - April 2009

Dear Eric

I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you and Özlem for your kind hospitality to myself and my family while we were guests at Gallipoli Houses. We greatly enjoyed our stay. Thanks in particular to Özlem for catering so successfully for the rather challenging dietary needs of Edmund, David and Dawn, and for all Eric’s helpful suggestions regarding the battlefields.
Edmund is going to draw together a list of all the birds and other wildlife he saw that would be of interest to ever growing number of birdwatchers in UK (and some images if they would be of interest to you) which he or I will send to you. They might be useful if you wanted to add a wildlife page to your website perhaps. ...
... For me, the wildlife I saw in the National Park was an unexpected bonus and I am sure you could attract more guests from this interest group. ...
!
All the best
John

John Shephard - UK - April 2009

Hello Eric,

I just wanted to let you know that I'm now back in rainy old England and that the journey back via Istanbul went extremely well, largely thanks to your excellent directions....
... I also wanted to thank you and the team for making this first experience of Gallipoli so special for me. It was lovely knowing we were coming back, after an emotionally draining day, to such a warm, welcoming, charming house and village.
... I get very involved in these battlefield trips but it'll take even longer to get over this one as it's been so wonderful. Thanks again Eric.

Warm regards

Clare & Julian

Clare Bennett & Julian Maslin - UK - May 2009

Dear Eric,

Just a note to thank you for making our visit to your hauntingly evocative part of the world so memorable. I can not sufficiently explain how your warmth and willingness to offer guidance and assistance contributed to our personal Gallipoli experience. We will never forget those few days as we began to grasp the enormity of the events which took place so relatively recently. If you are ever in our part of the world and need a bed for the night, you have only to ask.
Kind regards

Alan & Valerie Haselden - AUS - May 2009

Hi Eric,

I have finally found time to write you, I would have liked to have sent mail to you earlier however I have been rather busy. ...
... The three of us and especially me cannot thank you enough for making our dreams come true. We were fortunate enough during our extended trip to stay at many 5 star hotels, however we all agreed that nothing came close to staying with you. I also cannot thank you enough for taking care of us on Anzac Day, you went further than I could have ever expected, truly appreciative.I hope you and Ozlem are well and I look forward to returning one day (this time with the next generation)… I also promise to book 3 or 4 years in advance.
Many Thanks Eric, it meant a lot to us
John

John Byrne & family, - Australia - April 2009

Hi Eric, Ozlem,

Thanks for your email and scan... I can't believe I've been trying to find those exact locations for the 6th Loyals for years. I've always looked at British history books or war diaries and never even thought of looking at ANZAC history!

... Lastly I'd like to thank you both for our help and hospitality during our stay at the Gallipoli Houses it was a very memorable trip for both of us, we will be back.

Kind regards

Jonathan Porter - UK/France - April 2009

Hello Eric,

Once again Thank you Eric, and your Wife, very much for your kind hospitality, excellent accommodation, staff and food and very serene location of the hotel. It was a very worthwhile trip and one which I hope to make many times in the future, with great memories, you are to be congratulated for your professionalism, foresight and commitment to an area as you say is too beautiful to die in, but is all the more richer for having good people like yourselves welcoming the weary tourist from around the world, to it, on their own personal journey.

On behalf of the 22 members of the Connaught Rangers Association who visited in May, Thank you.

Kind regards

William Beirne.
Treasurer CRA

William Beirne - Ireland - May 2009

Dear Mr. Eric Goossens,

I would like to express the sincere appreciation of the Australian Embassy for all of the assistance you have provided to us during the Anzac Day commemorations in late April 2009.
It was a pleasure for the embassy to work with you and we hope that we can continue this cooperation into the future.
Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch
Counsellor & Consul General Australian Embassy Ankara

April 2009

Dear Eric

I am sorry I haven’t written earlier and thanked you for the wonderful experience you gave me on my short trip to Gallipoli. The whole trip was amazing, obviously the unseasonal weather helped but mainly to do with your ability to be the perfect host ... ... Of course I have to mention Gallipoli Houses, you have created a haven for the weary traveller. The moment I arrived I felt I was part of a family rather than a guest. The food was outstanding and far better than anything I had I Istanbul, so thank you Ozlem. It is the perfect place to relax and ponder the horrific events of a hundred years ago. Once again thank you for such a wonderful trip.

Kind Regards

Bob Underwood / UK - November 2009

Dear Eric,

I meant to write earlier to say what a wonderful three days we had staying at Gallipoli Houses and touring the battlefield. The hotel is perfect - very comfortable, great location, excellent food and great value. Your knowledge and enthusiasm was a huge bonus for us and we are grateful you took the time to show us things which we almost certainly would have missed. I do think a new guide is long overdue - the Major regards W Beach as a detour from the main route. We thought it one of the highlights of our trip. I nominate you as the man best placed to produce a new book, timed to coincide with the hundredth anniversary!

I look forward to returning at some point and seeing more of the battlefield.

James Buchanan

UK - November 2009

Dear Eric and Ozlem,

Finally back in Oz. and just wanted to thank you both so much for the wonderful generosity extended to us during our three night stay at Gallipoli Houses. Even after a sensational two week tour of many of Turkey’s other ‘delights’, our visit to Gallipoli Housesstill rates as THE HIGHLIGHT for both Glynn and I. We thoroughly enjoyed its charm and intimacy, set within the small village of Kocadere; Ozlem’s superb and delicious, high quality, home cooked meals and the companionship and guidance of Eric, who is a passionate and knowledgeable host. Gallipoli Houses is the ideal location from which to explore the Gallipoli battlefields and nearby Cannakale. Our visit and the experiences organised by Eric gave us the rare opportunity to experience and appreciate our past history firsthand. We would encourage all Australians to make this memorable and heartfelt journey. It was an honour for us and one we will never ever forget!

Dianne and Glynn Cadby

Australia - October 2009

Hello Eric

This is just a quick email to thank you again for such a wonderful experience on Gallipoli. It was unforgettable and we are definitely planning to return!
Once again many thanks for your marvellous hospitality.

Kind regards from Penny and me to you both.

Zane Kidd
Deputy Secretary Ministry of Defence NZ

New Zealand - September 2009

Erik,

We stayed at the Gallipoli Houses in mid July. Gary and Trish Lane with Kevin and Sue Phillips. I told you at the time that it was the best and friendliest accommodation we had on our whole 3 week trip in Sicily and Turkey. In particular your knowledge of the Australian and New Zealand positions from WW1 helped us enormously with our "Gallipoli" experience.

Thankyou again for your attention to your guests. Feel free to use this email with other potential guests.

Kind regards,

Gary Lane - Australia - July 2009

Dear Eric,

We wanted to write to tell you how much we enjoyed our stay with all at The Gallipoli Houses last month. At last we have found the perfect place to stay on the pennisula! The food was superb, just right in every way ( especially the Moussaka!!) though we will expect PERFECT scrambled eggs on our next visit! The day we spent out and about with you was the highlight of trip and for that we thank you. We hope that the German guns turn up somewhere soon. We hope that it won't be too long until our next visit, until then we shall sing your praises to all who will listen. We hope that the rest of the season is good for you and that you enjoy a well earned rest in Belgium over the winter. Please send our thanks and best wishes to Ozlem and David too.

with very best wishes and many thanks
Sarah and George Huxford.

UK - August 2009

Dear Ozlem and Eric,

We are now back at our home and to our work, but still under immense impression of Gallipoli. We want to thank both of you for your wonderful hospitality and personal care that made our stay in The Gallipoli Houses, and in Gallipoli, such a relaxing (though very moving) and unique vacation, which we shall always treasure among our best memories.
Everything in The Gallipoli Houses was just perfect and we certainly would very much like to come again, hopefully with friends. Eric, please keep the stick for us until we come next time. Among everything else, we were also enchanted with the beautiful arrangement of background music at the dining room and wonder if it would be possible for us to acquire a copy of it for listening at our home. Please let us know if this is possible.

Thanks again and keep well,

Yael and Amikam.

Prof. Yael Nemirovsky - Israel - September 2009

Dear Eric,

Barbara and I very much enjoyed our recent stay at the Gallipoli Houses. We would also like to thank you and Oezlem for your help and advice on visiting the various Memorials at Gallipoli and for your research on the involvement of the Auckland Mounted Rifles at Chunuk Bair. We were particularly moved by Ataturk's statement of Reconciliation of 1934. Thank you also for your advice and help in relation to our further travels down the Aegean Coast and back.

Kind regards
Colin Le Quesne

New Zealand/UK - October 2009