Med Life Hotel Istanbul Airport Hotel

Ezzat at reception was extremely kind, courteous and helpful, and made the stay a really good experience. There’s someone at the desk around the clock. The hotel seems fairly new and is in very good condition. It’s about 15 minutes from Istanbul International Airport; a comfortable, modern taxi ride costs around 500 lira, or $18 to $20 USD. The rooms are on the small side but very comfortable, with a flatscreen TV, mini fridge, telephone and a very comfortable bed. Breakfast isn’t included and costs extra. The hotel is in a lively commercial area, with restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, bus routes, a taxi stand and other facilities nearby.

I was terrified when someone opened my room door while I was inside. I was staying alone between flights for one night, and the hotel had accidentally given someone a key to my room. Being in a foreign country on my first day and not speaking the language made the experience even worse. At reception, all I got was, “it was a mistake.” After I got home, I emailed management and felt they were gaslighting me, saying it wasn’t their fault. They said they had checked the cameras and spoken with the other guest about it. I’m disgusted by the lack of regard for guest safety and privacy. Some of the other reviews also make it look like they don’t care about those things. Solo female travellers, don’t stay here if you want to feel safe.

For an overnight stop between flights, this was an easy place to reach from Istanbul airport with Uber, around 10 to 12 USD, and the location was nice. The staff and service were excellent. The first room had a bad smell from the toilet, but they promptly moved me to another room where everything was fine. I’d consider coming back.

The price was excellent for what you get, and the receptionist was helpful. It’s in a distinctive spot opposite the largest green mosque in Arnavutköy. You can hear everything around you, so it’s not the place for peace and quiet, and the service could be better about small details. I’d recommend it if price and location matter to you and you don’t mind noise and basic service.