First of all, the positives:
1) The staff are very friendly and helpful...from the men who are at the front desk to the woman that makes breakfast and cleans the rooms. She's a VERY hard worker and deserves a raise!
2) Great location! 5 minute walk to the Blue Mosque and Sophia Hagia Mosque. Yet, still in a very quiet neighborhood. The location couldn't be any better!
3) Room sizes are a nice size.
4) Breakfast food is fresh & tastes good (but see below issue under negatives).
5) Requested shuttle pick-up and a shuttle was waiting for me as agreed upon.
Cons (negatives):
1) I had emailed the hotel twice, asking for the quietest room on the top floor. I was assured that I'd get this. But I ended up getting an upgraded room on the 1st floor, which means I was woken up a few times from people stomping around, which is what I was trying to avoid. I say "upgraded" as I got a bigger bed. However, I paid extra for a room with a view, which I didn't get either. So, was it really an upgrade??? I would have much rather had a single bed on the top floor with a view (which is what I paid for!!)
2) The breakfast is fresh but NEVER changes! It's always the same breakfast! I got so sick of eating the same food that it started making me nauseated just thinking about it!! I highly suggest that they have variety in their breakfasts from day to day (waffles?). I started eating less and less, until I was just eating bread with butter on it. If you're only staying a night or two this won't be an issue.
3) No towel racks in the bathroom. Your towels are left on the bed as there is absolutely no towel racks, yet they have room to install one.I had to prop up the clean ones on the narrow toilet top and keep adjusting them so they didn't fall in. Annoying!
4) The hotel doesn't take credit cards. Yes, you can reserve your room with a credit card through Expedia or whatever, but can't pay for anything at the hotel with a credit card.
5) Expedia's hotel description said that this hotel had an ice machine, which it doesn't , room service which it doesn't, access to a roof top terrace which there are photos of, but no access to and more, which it doesn't.
6) NO electrical outlets for your computer, charging items, etc. I had to unplug a lamp just to have one outlet.
7) Also, staff rarely wore masks. Only when you first check-in. Otherwise, they just have it under their chin or not at all. And the people cooking & serving the food didn't wear masks at all! Plus I never saw any of them wash their hands, except the woman that cleans and helps out at breakfast (who works hard and deserves a raise!)
Overall, the hotel was OK. But next time, I'll try another hotel. There are so many in the same neighborhood, even the same street. read more
