Cihan Palas

The area is packed with shops and restaurants, which was the good part. We didn’t have breakfast during our stay. Check-in was easy, though our room wasn’t ready, so we waited in the lobby without minding. After about five minutes we got room 503 on the 5th floor. It looked newly renovated and still smelled of paint. The bathroom door was missing, but workers came about 20 minutes later, asked to come in, and fitted it quickly. The room itself was basic. The bed was comfortable and the shower was good, but the toilet was too high for my feet to reach the floor and too close to the sink to sit comfortably. We got only one towel for two people. The Wi-Fi was terribly poor, and the elevator was out about half the time.

We were repeat customers, but the arrogant, unprofessional treatment means we’ll never go back. Staff questioned my partner and me about whether we were married, then refused service because we weren’t engaged. Thankfully, another staff member stepped in. We won’t forget how we were treated, and if regular customers get this kind of response, strangers may have an even worse experience.

I had to wait outside for a while before they let me in because they were busy with their deals. The service was horrible, and people here barely speak English. I found two bugs in two different rooms, then the air conditioner in the third room was so noisy I couldn’t sleep. This place isn’t worth one star. Avoid it at all costs.

The day shift team were wonderful and welcoming, and the hotel is close to almost everything, including the big Bazar, a mosque, and museums. They’re remodeling the rooms, so the Wi-Fi has issues, but it wasn’t a big deal for me since I had internet through a local number. Please be very careful around the older man on the night shift. He seemed to take advantage of young women staying there. I went out for a walk and coffee, but everything was closed, so I returned to the hotel. He offered me tea, which I accepted because I had a headache. Then he started flirting and asked me to have wine with him. I said I’m Muslim and don’t drink alcohol at all, but he kept insisting that we have dinner. I refused and tried to get back to my room.