Upon arrival, I was disappointed by the unfriendly service at the front desk. There was no greeting or acknowledgement, even though I was already standing at the desk, and I had to ask whether I could check in before anyone assisted me. When I asked if early check-in was possible, as it was around 12:30pm, I was told that the hotel’s policy in Istanbul is check-in after 2pm. I understand the policy and did not expect a room to be guaranteed early, but the response felt curt and passive-aggressive. The overall interaction made me feel like I was inconveniencing the staff.
I stayed on the 11th floor. The room itself was clean and the bed was comfortable, but it was quite noisy due to construction taking place just outside the hotel. The bathroom also had an issue with the shower hose, as water was spraying from it, so I ended up using only the overhead shower.
The pool was much smaller than it appears in the photos and could benefit from better upkeep and maintenance, although it does offer a nice view. Breakfast was enjoyable, with a good selection of breads and hot options.
The location is excellent, just a short walk to many restaurants, shops, and the ferry pier.
On my last day, I had an issue with the airport transfer I had booked and needed help from the front desk to call the driver. There was a female staff member and a bellhop at the desk. Unfortunately, the female staff member did not acknowledge me when I asked for assistance, but the bellhop was very kind and helpful. He called the number for me and eventually helped locate the driver.
Overall, while the hotel has positives such as a great location, clean rooms, comfortable beds, and a nice breakfast, the service was disappointing. The front desk staff would benefit from retraining in hospitality and guest relations. I stayed at DoubleTree Sirkeci during the same trip, and the service there was much warmer, friendlier, and more helpful , a complete night-and-day difference.
