Amber Istanbul Hotel

The location worked really well, and we could walk around Istanbul from there. The rooms are small, as is the breakfast area. Our first night was rough because the hotel was overbooked and I had to stay at another hotel.

We never got hot water during our stay. Otherwise, it's a pretty good hotel in a nice spot, close to lots of restaurants and not too far from the grand market.

We were three in the family, and our stay at Amber Hotel was a real disappointment. Breakfast was decent, with a full Turkish spread of jam, honey, nuts, apricots, yogurt, parfaits, cereal, milk, bread, cheese, and olives. Fresh orange juice cost extra, though, which was disappointing when breakfast was meant to be included. The room we were first given was a duplex with three single beds, two upstairs and one below. The washroom was tiny, and the stairs were so steep that it felt unsafe and impractical with a child. We asked to move and got a ground-floor room near reception with a queen bed. It was still extremely cramped, with no room to open our luggage and a tiny bathroom. The shower leaked over the floor, so we needed several towels to contain the water. Its showerhead wasn't secure either. When my son turned off the water, the pressure dropped and it fell on his head. That's a serious safety concern. The locker didn't work, and the room was dusty, including the headboard. Cleanliness and maintenance were very poor. The price was affordable, but Istanbul has much better hotels for the same money. The rooms weren't functional, the locker was broken, and the shower was a potential hazard. We didn't feel it was worth staying there, even at that price. I wouldn't recommend it or return. There are better options for the same cost with cleaner rooms and better service.

We had a problem with the first room, but they switched us right away and helped us out. Reception was very accommodating, and the rooms were cleaned and replenished with water every day. Breakfast on the rooftop was tasty, with different options each day. The old city location is within walking distance of the major monuments, though getting to the main road by the grand bazaar and mosques means walking uphill for about 6-8 minutes. The rooms are fine for a 4star hotel, and we'd definitely recommend it.