The Canka Residance Istanbul Hotel

The worst part of staying here was dealing with the reception. When I needed to extend my stay, they quoted double the online price and added a card fee. They asked for my card and PIN, which I refused. After I said I’d book online again, they claimed the hotel was full and only upgraded rooms were available. I booked one, but reception said their website couldn’t charge my card, although it had worked before, so I paid on their machine with another fee. They asked me to move my things, and the so-called upgraded room turned out to be the same room one floor down, with more cigarette smell and worse refrigeration. Later, I needed to stay four more days because of tooth problems. I asked my Turkish mother to call in case the language had caused confusion, but they tried the same thing: double the online price to stay, plus a card surcharge if I paid at the hotel. When I asked them to stop trying this scam, they said they couldn’t do anything. I said I’d leave, and they replied, “🙏🙏”. I left despite my tooth pain, after taking a lot of painkillers. It was the worst hotel experience I can remember, and I’d tell others to save themselves the trouble. The room itself was also poor. You have to buy everything from toilet paper to salt and oil, a non-smoking room still smells of cigarettes, the bed had stains and a hole in its frame, and the refrigerator barely worked, so food went bad. Check-in was a hassle too, with lots of forms and a cash-only deposit. I’ve stayed in plenty of bad hotels, and those things alone wouldn’t normally ruin it for me. They bring shame on Turkish hospitality.

The location was fairly convenient, around a 10-minute walk from the metro, with supermarkets and places to get ready-to-eat food nearby. We stayed for 10 days, and the cash deposit in euros was returned without any trouble. The kitchen had a dishwasher and washing machine, but we had to buy all the cleaning supplies ourselves. There were barely enough dishes for two people. Housekeeping came only once, after we specifically asked. We also had to contact reception whenever we needed toilet paper or kitchen towels. They ignored our request for more utensils, including a second knife, since the one supplied wasn’t suitable for cooking.

The location made it easy to get to what I needed, while still feeling peaceful. My room was spotless, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed, with the little touches that made it feel homey. The staff were welcoming, attentive, and genuinely helpful from the moment I arrived. I had a wonderful stay and would recommend the hotel.

I checked the listing online and went there hoping to see the room, but the receptionist said they were full, even though the site showed availability. He offered a booking for the next day at a higher price and said I’d have to book without seeing the room. It was winter and most hotels didn’t seem busy, so I stayed somewhere else. They need to do better.