Thanks to all who responded to my last message. We've decided (unless I flip out and change my mind again!) to cut out Cappadocia and spend more time on the coast and in Istanbul. So now the plan is:

Aug 23-arrive in Ist, catch 1pm flight to Izmir. Rent a car and drive to Kusadasai. Stay at Kismet Hotel(?)
Aug 24-26: Ephesus, Pamukkale, Aphrodisias
Aug 26-29: Bodrum...maybe a day sailing trip, explore the areas.
Aug 29: Fly to Ist, stay there until Sept 2

I've searched the board for the best hotels in Kusadasi/Selcuk/Sirince and Bodrum. But I would appreciate it if someone could "top" their message or if others wanted to chime in on where to stay. I've looked at Nisanyan, Hotel Nilya, Kismet, Su Otel, and Queen Ada. What do you think?

Also, is it worth it to rent a car for those 6 days on the coast? And, we're thinking about staying overnight in Pamukkale since it seems like a long trip. Any hotel recs there?

I stayed at Nisanyan in Sirince in October. It is lovely. If you click on my name, I think that you can see what I wrote about it.

Bodrum - We stayed at the Marina Vista hotel for 1 night. I seem to remember that it was right on or across the street from the harbor. Very nice. There was a pool, but we didn't use it.

Kusadasi - We stayed 1 night at the Korumar Hotel. Beautiful views out onto the water (Adriatic???). Nice pool area - again, too cold for us at the time.

Pamukule - Stayed at the Richmond Thermal Springs. I seem to remember this as okay - decent gift shope, okay restaurant.

Keep in mind - all of these were good hotels (3-4 * I think), but we were on a tour with 60 people, so some of them - like the one in Pamukule, were really set up for big crowds.

If anyone has a recommendation for a high quality - but smaller - hotel in Pamukule...I would love to know. We are going back there in the fall.

If you want to be on the water in a gorgeouse setting & near Ephesus, I highly recommend Kismet. I loved it there.

Su Otel in Bodrum oozed charm on the outside, but my room there last summer was tiny. There was no phone or TV. My showers were usually cold. I think there are probably other places there better suited for a honeymoon.

Hello,

I recommend new Hotel Ephesus area.
http://www.ephesusboutiquehotel.com

Ephesus Boutique Hotel is located on the hill overlooking the picturesque village of Kirazlý, conveniently close to many major attractions in the Aegean region. Within a 20 minute drive of our hotel can be found the site of ancient Ephesus.

Kýrazli itself is a small sleepy village of only 1,000 inhabitants. Set amongst a multitude of fruit trees and surrounded by a pine forest, Ephesus Boutique is a new hotel built in a traditional style. Situated around a central courtyard, the hotel houses 11 unique rooms. All rooms have been outfitted with hand made furniture, carpets and curtains. While offering all the conveniences one would expect from a 5 star hotel, Ephesus Boutique manages to transport the guest away from modern stresses into a traditional Ottoman world.

I stayed in Sirince. I had booked at the Kismet but the concierge at th FourSeasons in Istanbul said this inn in Sirince was magical and arranged a switch...he was right. Its a bed and breakfast hotel (maybe 12 rooms), I'm sure you can find it on the net (if not, I'll search my records). The innkeepers have bought two or three stone houses at the top of the village. My husband and I stayed in one for two nights. The stone house, living room downstairs, 2 bedrooms up stairs, wonderful front porch, path next to the house where goat herders pass. If you want the Four Seasons, this isn't it, and I do enjoy my stays at the FS here and there. But it is a wonderful town (I was invited to tea at the home of two different women on the day my husband was recovering from a flu). Every am there is fresh bread, eggs and fruit delivered to your front door. We had breakfast on our front terrace and watched the village come alive below. The locals were so welcoming; an old man who spoke no English motioned for me to sit my him as I was walking in the hills above town. We must have spent half an hour silently sharing the beauty of the sunset over the vineyards. And our house was $125 a night in May '04. BTW I would skip Pamukkale unless you're a geology buff.

I also stayed at Nisanyan houses www.nisanyan.com I agree with Robbietravels (the FourSeasons it's not), however it was comfortable enough. I stayed in the main house.

In Bodrum I loved the Marmara:
http://www.slh.com/turkey/bodrum/hotel_bodmar.html

In Pammukale another 3 star hotel is
the Richmond which was OK. I'm glad I got to see the falls/cliffs but I would not go again. Access is limited to preserve the site, and this does limit the enjoyment in my opinion.

Loved Aphrodisias.

Loved the Kismet. Stick with it.

Here's where we stayed in Bodrum. The Antique Theatre Hotel. This was a very special place!

http://tinyurl.com/glto2