Snowsure: 4.2
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Mt Palandöken is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Mt Palandöken Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
December 28, 2009
Paul Jardine
Paul Jardine
We stayed first at the Dedeman Ski Lodge at Mt Palandöken and subsequently higher up the mountain at the Dedeman Ski Resort, as there was insufficient snow, meaning we had to take a taxi up the mountain from the Ski Lodge. Why the Dedeman hotels didn't arrange transportation between them is beyond me! The staff at the Ski lodge were generally unfriendly and unhelpful, but the contrast in the other Dedeman hotel could not have been greater! At the Ski lodge it was as though they would have preferred you were not there, but at the Ski Resort they could not do enough for you.
The hotel, food, rooms, drink etc was better at the Ski Lodge, but on the whole we preferred the Ski Resort as we have 2 young kids and their happiness was the main thing.
While we were at Mt Palandöken there was only a single T-bar operational, though higher up the mountain there was better snow. As the lifts were free we could not really complain and as we were almost the only people in the resort, it would have been expensive to have all the lifts working. There were bare patches on the lower parts of the run, but the skiing was still enjoyable, particularly as there were no queues and I was teaching my kids most of the time.
Ski Rental was 35TL/day, though lower down the mountain they were offering 20TL/day. Equipment was ok.
The Ski cafe at the hotel (bottom of the run) was quite good although did not serve much in the way of food. You would be hard pressed to spend more than 100TL during the day there. Most guests were on full-board packages and ate from the bland buffet. We ate there the first night but then went into Erzurum on subsequent nights as the food is much better in town (unless you like badly cooked hotel fare - burgers, chips etc; incidentally the 'inclusive' wine was absolutely awful, stick to the beer!)
Taxis to town were expensive by Turkish standards; we live in Ankara which is supposed to be the most expensive taxis in Turkey, but Erzurum was more! Still, a trip to town is no more than 30TL each way, and you can get a meal for 4 for less than 60TL in town. Cag kebab at Koc Restaurant was fantastic, as was the Karadeniz seafood restaurant. Erzurum Evleri is worth a visit, but the food is only average - nice soup though.
All in all, Mt Palandöken has a lot of potential, except it should have fulfilled it by now. I might go again if the snow was better and I would stay at the Dedeman Palandoken Ski resort if I had the kids with me. The skiing on the upper slopes looked good, if the lifts had been open...
December 23, 2008
Mustafa Kozanoglu from
Turkey
Mustafa Kozanoglu from
Turkey
Erzuru - Mt Palandöken is in the northeastern part of Turkey. We arrived there by Turkish Airlines from Istanbul. The airport is a half an hour trip to resort and hotel shuttle can pick up you from airport as a courtesy. We stayed in Polat Renaissance Hotel in March 2007, 110 YTL (70$) price includes half board accommodation per person per day. Rooms are clean, newly decorated and spacious. This hotel is one of the five hotels which form Mt Palandöken ski resort with long hours of sunshine and wide range of ski entertainment. Mt Palandöken is one of the largest resorts in Turkey that offers almost 30km of skiing. Access to the pistes is easier following the hotel's free chairlifts. Down in the city center, Erzurum has retained its old world charm, while the newer part provides all you need for a fun-filled holiday. Mt Palandöken-ski can be as lively as you please with pubs and smart cocktail bars in hotels and many reasonably priced restaurants which serve "Cag kebab" and pizzerias in city center. The ski school teachers offer a rather varied level of instruction in cost of 90 YTL per hour and you can rent skis in cost of 30 YTL per day. I will prefer this hotel for my next snow holidays.
December 18, 2008
Deniz Gündüz from
Turkey
Deniz Gündüz from
Turkey
I have been to Mt Palandöken 8 times in the last 4 years and enjoyed it every time. There are still some slopes that I haven't tried and will do that this winter.
The Dedeman hotel is at a perfect place (just near the pistes) and starting from the manager all staff are very friendly and warm blooded.
The only thing you should check out are the wind storms which may carry away the snow down to the valleys. So I advise you to ask about the weather before you go.
The best season is the first half of March according to me. Once (2007) it was perfect even at the end of March. They say sometimes you can ski in April too but I didn't try it.
Some ski instructors are really good like Sinan, Unal, Cetin and Recep.
November 28, 2008
İlker Solak from
Turkey
İlker Solak from
Turkey
January 08, 2007
Esra from
USA - California
Esra from
USA - California
I was at Palandoken in December 2006 and stayed at Polat Ren. The hotel was good and the view was even better. The snow was really new therefore the higher lifts were not open, but only for a few hours during our stay. However, I do not have much complaint about this, because when we made it up the mountain, we realised how windy and cold it was and returned to the Polat trails. For a three day trip, I found these trails to be very entertaining for an intermediate skier. The trails were very protected with lots of snow and nice weather. In addition, there were not many people, which made the trails even nicer to us. The only complaint would be the lack of signs at the beginning of trails and poor taste of loud music:) I would definitely go back there for a three day trip again. It is definitely not a place for people who want any additional activities than skiing!
February 10, 2006
Askin Senel from
Turkey
Askin Senel from
Turkey
I was there in 2nd week of Jan 2006. Unfortunately due to heavy winds the lifts were not operational for 2 days, and operated in the afternoon for another day. So, I could only ski for one day on Dedeman pistes, the Ejder piste was not operational. Unfortunately the snow was insufficient, and there were peebles and bare areas, which was annoying. Otherwise the mountain is magnificient and the great slopes seemed frigthening despite my self confidence thinking I can ski anywhere, Ejder top seems a great challenge.
The lifts and skiing area is very close to the city, they are almost united.
There is an option to go to nearby Sarikamis ski resort, if Palandoken lifts are not operational, which we did so.
We turned our visit into a cultural trip and visited Erzurum and Kars and Ani ruins in Kars. Erzurum is extremely cold, especially when it is windy, but surprisingly despite similar low temperatures you could survive comfortably without a coat in Sarikamis or Kars.
Erzurum black Oltu stone (the centre is Rustempasa closed bazaar) and silver jewelery is famous, nice and reasonably priced.
Cag Kebap is really very delicious.
Taxi drivers are friendly and helpful. They can transport you if you like, pick you up, carry your belongins etc. if you stay in the city, which is quite convenient.
Visit there, I am sure you will find there interesting any way even if you can not ski at times.
March 15, 2004
can elmas from
Turkey
can elmas from
Turkey
Beautiful mountain and most challenging pistes of Turkey. Off piste opportunuties are also great. But snow condition is very variable, strong winds create rocky areas, stops the lifts.
Ejder piste has a nice steep start which turns to moguls. To the left are powder bowls which are a lot of fun if you dont fall. (I did and could not stop for 100 meters)
Erzurum is also a very interesting city to discover. İf the snow condition is good it is a great place to be.
France
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