Royal Carine Hotel

There's a colorful local market about a 10 minute walk behind this little downtown hotel. It was an eye-opening cultural experience, and I loved it. The location is good, but if you want a nonsmoking room, you might be disappointed.

The room beds were good, but the space was tight and there wasn't a chair. The bathroom's small sink had a long tap spout, which made it awkward to use despite the decent sized counter. The shower enclosure was tiny, and while the water pressure was good, the shower head sprayed everywhere. The hand shower wouldn't turn on because the diverter was faulty. The WC was placed so far to the left that I had to sit at a 30 degree angle, with my thigh touching the toilet roll holder. We had dinner and breakfast there, but most of my tour mates found the food selection uninteresting. Several got instant cup noodles. There was no plain water, and instant coffee powder was provided. Tea was the only thing available without limit. The bathroom felt poorly designed and fitted, like most other 3 to 4 star hotels I'd visited over the previous 6 nights. The first impression was stunning, though, with a beautifully decorated entrance and main lobby that could pass for a five star hotel. The gold trimmed floor tiles even continued into the lift. That impression faded on the hotel floor, where the lights came on only when they detected someone nearby, then switched off after a few seconds unless you moved.

Extra water bottles were complimentary when requested. The place is extremely well located on Çankiri Caddesi, but everything feels miniature. The rooms, corridors, restaurant, and even the stylish lifts are all small, as if somebody shrunk the whole hotel. After a night, that can get a little annoying. I'd say it has about as many stars as it's worth.

We only stayed one night, and it was an okay hotel. The room was comfortable, but hot water was a bit dodgy and there wasn't much choice at breakfast. The elevator was definitely cramped, really only good for four people without luggage.