Byotell Istanbul Hotel

We stayed for seven days, and the hotel’s location made getting around easy. It’s about a four-minute walk to Metro line 4, which takes roughly 45 minutes to the airport. Since our flights arrived late and left early, staying here helped us avoid traffic and transport worries. To get here from the metro, use exit 2 and walk via Mcdonald. The European side is also easy to reach by metro, about 30 minutes to Sirkeci Station. The room was spacious, and it was cleaned and serviced every day except once, when there was a misunderstanding about the door sign. The facilities are good, breakfast was great, and the restaurant was clean and pleasant. Restaurant staff were polite and professional, as were the rest of the team. Reception staff spoke good English. WiFi was free and fast, though you have to sign in again when using it in the restaurant or near reception. I did have two issues in our 13th-floor room. The bathroom fan didn’t work, so condensation took a while to clear after a shower. Also, the hard floor hadn’t been cleaned properly for a long time. It should be cleaned before a guest checks in. My white slippers had turned black by day seven. Slippers and hair conditioner also weren’t provided, which isn’t what I’d expect at a five-star hotel. These are small things that could improve the experience. I still recommend the hotel and will definitely come back.

Our last night turned into a nightmare. We were suddenly told, in an aggressive and unprofessional way, that we had to pay for all our breakfasts. This caused us a lot of stress and discomfort during the stay, and we’re shocked by how the receptionist treated us. At check-in, receptionist Kübra clearly told us breakfast was included. She said it was on the R-floor, but since this was our first visit, we asked where the restaurant was and she pointed out the one near reception. We ate breakfast there every morning during the scheduled hours and each time told the restaurant staff it was included. The bills and camera footage should show us there. There was also always a paper sign between reception and the restaurant saying “Breakfast” with the opening time and an arrow pointing to it. The restaurant staff spoke English with us and never said they couldn’t understand. The night receptionist later claimed they had explained in English that we’d need to pay and that breakfast wasn’t included. That isn’t true. If we’d known, we wouldn’t have gone there every morning, especially when the hotel offered breakfast included in the price. When we calmly explained what we’d been told and that we’d followed the staff’s directions, the issue wasn’t handled fairly or respectfully. The receptionist said aggressively that we couldn’t leave the hotel in the morning, making us feel like criminals. She pointed at her head and said we hadn’t thought about it, as if we were stupid. She spoke Turkish to her colleague, apparently assuming we couldn’t understand, and several times moved us away from reception so she could make calls. She threatened us throughout the conversation. I asked to speak to the manager because I wasn’t happy with the service. She asked why, then said he had family and was resting so we couldn’t call him. I said I respected that, but there should be someone available when guests have a problem or misunderstanding. She later said she had called the manager and asked why I needed to call him about the same thing. I reminded her several times that we were guests and that she should know how to handle a complaint, speak to us, and try to find a fair solution for both sides. I recorded everything, though I regret not recording her aggressive facial expressions too. We work on a cruise ship and know how hospitality works. The male receptionist on shift was rude at points as well. He laughed and said we were the first to have this problem, and that he couldn’t believe we hadn’t understood what she said at the beginning. I couldn’t speak with the manager, so I contacted the hotel on WhatsApp and Instagram. I got no reply on WhatsApp. I also emailed, and the hotel confirmed on Instagram that the address was correct and said the manager would reply there. More than 10 days and reminder messages later, they still hadn’t answered.

We had a great stay at the Burrell Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey 🇹🇷, and the morning buffet was incredible. The staff were welcoming and very friendly. Our room and bathroom were clean, though the bathroom could be better maintained. It wasn’t a major issue, and we’ll definitely come back.

We were happy with everything. The staff were kind, the rooms were clean, and breakfast was different each time.