Ring Downtown Hotel

We chose this hotel because getting around easily mattered for my 40th birthday, and it worked out well. The Old Town, local market, and malls were all a 10-20 minute walk away, which saved us a lot on transport. We stayed ten days, arriving before our guests to prepare and leaving after everyone else. They came from different parts of the world on different dates, with some last-minute changes and cancellations, but the hotel worked with us right through to make sure everyone was comfortable. We held two evenings of celebrations in the dining hall, which we decorated ourselves. The staff let us run our plans and helped everything go as scheduled. Ali, Mohammad, and the journalism student on the night shift guided us and were incredibly helpful. The rest of the team were kind, friendly, and always tried to find answers. Prices felt fair for what we received. Breakfast had variety, dinners were delicious, and the hotel was clean. The whole team worked hard to make the stay pleasant for everyone.

We had a lovely family holiday and reunion at Ring Downtown Hotel. Ali and Mehmet at reception were especially kind, always looking after our requests and taking care of everyone in our group. The whole staff were incredibly helpful and supportive.

Reception and the staff were very good, and breakfast surprised us with its variety. Still, this definitely doesn’t feel like a four-star hotel. The facilities are basic, the lifts are very old, and hallway carpets are stained. We asked for a city view, and reception said they’d give us the best one, but what we saw was awful: old rooftops, geysers, and solar panels. When we arrived on Friday, ironing boards and compactums were left in the hallways and staircases, creating a safety hazard. They were still there when we checked out two days later. The spa was the worst part. We booked a couples massage and asked in advance about having a man and woman for the hammam. After paying, we were taken to the changing room and given a piece of cloth like a table runner to wrap around ourselves, with no robes or towels. The steam room was sized for two, but another man was put in with my husband and me. We were practically sitting on top of each other, and he seemed awkward and covered his face. For the hammam, I’d asked for a woman to wash me, but they brought an old man instead. I felt freaked out and uncomfortable. The atmosphere was cold and hostile, not calming or therapeutic. The women who gave the massages were very rough, everything felt rushed, and we didn’t get our 90 minutes. My worst spa experience ever.

The ratings don’t match what we experienced. Like the low reviews said, the lobby smelled, our room was dated and dirty, and the staff were dismissive. I’m also concerned by the pattern of many recent positive reviews that look generic, were posted in clusters, and have been edited. That timing doesn’t seem typical of real guests, and it can hide the problems people are reporting.