Arges Old City Hotel

The room conditions weren't good, although the location made it easy to get to nearby sights. The TV didn't work, the towels looked worn, the lighting was dim, and the toilet and shower space was cramped. The toilet lid kept falling and had to be held up. I was surprised, and so was my family, to find that the “3 Star” Arges “Hotel” is actually part of and run by the Arges gift shop. It felt more like a hole beside the shop. We cancelled and moved to another hotel on the same road. The Google photos tagged to this place are misleading.

We booked this to be near everything in the old town, but on arrival they said the large room we'd reserved wasn't for us. They tried to send us to another hotel with a tiny, dingy room. That owner was very nice, but we declined. We were staying several days, and if we'd wanted a hostel-sized room, we'd have booked a hostel. Other reviews suggest this has happened to others too. Booking.com wasn't much help. We walked around trying several hotels before finding somewhere decent for the night. It cost twice as much and wasn't as nice as the Arges photos made this place look. I'd find somewhere else if staying in the old town.

It's a little hotel, but clean, quiet and safe, with cleaning done daily. The staff are very kind, and it has a rooftop terrace where you can smoke and look out over Istanbul. There's an elevator, AC, TV and Wi-Fi. Restaurants, cafes and plenty of sights are nearby, reachable on foot or by metro or tram. The transport stops are less than a five-minute walk away.

We stayed as a family of four, with kids aged 6 and 4, and had a great time. The rooms are spacious, with one room on each of the hotel's five floors. I'd definitely choose it again if I return to Istanbul. The location is amazing and the staff are very friendly and helpful. One of the owners stays at the hotel and is available around the clock. Security felt strong: the front door locks around 10 pm and guests use a keypad password to get in. There are three different locks on the room doors. The neighborhood also felt extremely safe, and I went out even at 1 am. A few useful things I didn't know beforehand: there is an elevator, which is handy with luggage, and laundry service for 40 TL per kilo as of July 2022. The closest laundry I found elsewhere was 70 TL per kilo.