Çinar Otel

We arrived in the early hours and had to stay the first night, but the room was cold, damp, and dirty. The sheets were stained and smelled awful, and they said the towels were in the laundry, so we got none. Once it began raining, freezing water came through a hole in the ceiling and poured onto us while we were in bed. Nobody else was in the building, so we left and found another hotel. The owner refused to refund us the next morning. The photos don't show this place, and who knows where they came from. It's not really a hotel, just someone renting rooms with bathrooms in their home. I've never felt so ripped off, especially since it wasn't even cheap. The second hotel was excellent and cost us less.

The location is excellent, and the rooms are spacious and look recently renovated. Cleanliness was the big problem. On arrival, we asked to switch rooms because ours was filthy, with crumbs, dust and hair everywhere, including the bed. The bathroom hadn't been cleaned either and had urine stains. The other room wasn't much better: dirty floor and shower, though at least the toilet had been cleaned. Service was terrible. The reception smelled of sweat and smoke, and looked unhygienic too. The man greeting guests was always on his phone, gaming or chatting with friends, and could use a bath himself. We booked through booking.com, where breakfast was listed, but were told on arrival that it wasn't offered. Given how dirty the place was, maybe that was for the best. My advice is to spend a little more on a better hotel, though these situations seem common in Istanbul.

We had a triple room on the top floor, with a window overlooking a vacant lot between the houses. The location is ideal, and the staff are friendly. It's quiet at night and very inexpensive, so this is a budget option with some clear tradeoffs. The room felt cramped, partly because half the space was taken up by an empty bathroom. The beds were close together, with no space for a closet. The staircase is steep, narrow, and awkward to turn on, which is hard with suitcases. The metro is nearby, though getting there means a steep walk through the streets. A minimarket and a cafe with delicious food are just a minute away. Cleaning and upkeep were poor: black hair in the sink, stained bed linen, loose sockets, ceiling leaks and marks on the wall. The pillows were uncomfortable, but the mattresses were good. If you're sensitive to cleanliness or repairs, this place won't suit you.

The staff were warm and quick to answer our questions, and the central location made it easy to get to the places we wanted to see. We also liked the generous, tasty breakfast, with something for every taste, and thought the price was good value. Our room was very clean and comfortable, with cozy beds and a modern bathroom that was cleaned every day. Everything about the stay felt perfect. I'd definitely recommend it and plan to return.