Cevahir Hotel Istanbul Asia

Some staff were very kind and helpful, though others less so. We stayed nine nights with our baby, and the hotel was advertised as child-friendly, but there were no children's facilities and the pool was adults only. There were a few playgrounds within walking distance, but no shops nearby, which was inconvenient with a baby. The room cleanliness could have been better. I was in the hospital for two days, and they couldn't refund the three breakfasts we didn't use. We were also charged €15 for minibar snacks, Oreo and nuts. It's a nice hotel for adults or business trips, but not ideal with small children. In general it was good, though not worth what we paid, especially compared with other five-star hotels we've experienced in other countries and in Antalya last year.

I was there for five nights as part of a medical package. The room was spacious, the sea view was beautiful, and the housekeeping ladies were friendly. The reception staff were very rude and unfriendly, especially one woman, whose behavior genuinely shocked me. The aircon was set to 26.5C and couldn't be adjusted. I asked the manager, who sent a "technician"; he pressed the down button and left. It was so hot that I couldn't sleep. Opening the window wasn't an option either, with road noise and a party somewhere nearby. On my last night they didn't leave coffee (Nescafe) or tea. When I asked in the morning, they said I couldn't have coffee because I was checking out. Seriously, saving on Nescafe in a five-star hotel? 🙄

We wanted a drink at the bar before dinner, but were surprised to be told there was no bar and the hotel was alcohol free. I've traveled all over the world and hadn't come across that before. Still, the breakfast buffet was nice. We chose it for one night because it's close to Dragos marina. The building is fairly modern and nicely accommodated, the staff were professional and helpful, and our large room had a partial sea view. The AC wasn't very effective, and the spacious parking garage was awkward to get in and out of. It was comfortable, though not quite perfect.

At checkout, a staff member inspected our room to see if we’d taken anything from the minibar. I travel often for work and holidays, and I’ve never been treated with such suspicion. We stayed here twice, and both visits left us with the same feeling: we weren’t welcome. The difference in how staff treated other guests was hard to miss. They carried bags, held doors, and offered help to some people, but with us they were cold, distant, and frankly disrespectful. I wondered if racism was involved. There was no basic courtesy or effort to help. We were in Istanbul for business and stayed several nights, but nobody introduced the hotel or explained its facilities. We weren’t told about the gym or pool. It felt like we were expected to figure everything out ourselves. The hotel’s unequal treatment of guests is unacceptable, especially for a place that claims to provide quality service. I don’t recommend it and won’t return.