Akgun Istanbul Hotel

Getting around Istanbul was easy from Akgün İstanbul Hotel, with the metro a short walk away and Fatih Street nearby. The room was spacious, comfortable, and clean, and it was a pleasure to return to after exploring. Breakfast had plenty of choice, and room service was prompt and attentive. The reception staff were friendly and helpful, too, so both check-in and check-out went smoothly. A wonderful stay, and I’d highly recommend it for sightseeing and seeing the city’s historic highlights.

The breakfasts were good, and we really liked the food. Restaurant staff worked efficiently, clearing and resetting tables quickly. Housekeeping was excellent too, with daily room cleaning and regular linen changes. At first, though, staff communication caused us a lot of stress. We had two bookings back to back and had asked in advance to keep the same room, but our key cards were deactivated several times and we were wrongly told to check out. Management did respond and tried to make things right, giving us a complimentary fruit plate and cookies and offering a free airport transfer for the trouble. I appreciate that the hotel acknowledged the problem and addressed it. I hope they keep improving how staff communicate with each other, since that would make the guest experience much better.

The food was a major letdown. Breakfast had few choices and poor quality, and on our last day we found what looked like a worm in the food. The restaurant manager brushed it off as Turkish halva instead of addressing our concern. That lack of concern for guest safety and professionalism was astonishing. Housekeeping was also shocking. Dirty towels were picked up and folded back onto the rack as if clean, and one day we found the bed sheets removed and left on the floor. The rooms were so dark that we struggled to find our belongings, and there weren’t enough outlets. When we asked for an adapter, the hotel told us to buy one at a nearby market about a 20 minute walk away, at 12 am. Completely unacceptable for a supposed five star hotel. One of my worst hotel experiences. The food, room facilities, and housekeeping were all poor, and staff dismissed legitimate complaints. I genuinely don’t understand how this place has a five star rating.

The Wi-Fi kept dropping out, and I had two full days with no connection. Reception promised to fix it but did nothing. The AC was also broken, leaving the room feeling like a constant 35°C even when the weather outside turned chilly at night. The windows barely opened, so there was no relief. I complained several times. One technician said nothing was wrong, and when I pressed the staff, they sarcastically said he only worked certain hours. The booking mess started on day one. My room wasn’t available when I arrived, so they put me in a suite for a night. I had to live out of my suitcase, follow up several times to get moved to my actual room the next day, and literally slept in the clothes I’d worn from the airport. I’m writing this from my room on the final night, counting down until I can leave tomorrow. Hotel management can save the generic reply about investigating the root cause. The root cause is the broken AC, and I’m being fried alive in here. I wouldn’t stay again even if it were free. Avoid at all costs.