Doubletree by Hilton Istanbul Moda

The neighborhood was a pleasure to explore, with so many cafés, vintage and second-hand shops, and vinyl stores nearby. Getting around was easy too: the HAVAIST stop is about an eight-minute walk away, with direct service to IST and SAW. I came to DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul – Moda on my birthday, and the hotel kindly upgraded me to a sea-view Junior Suite. They also made a late check-out possible because my flight was late. I know these are hospitality gestures, but the care behind them felt personal. Thanks to Aleyha for her thoughtful help and kindness, and to the whole team for being so warm, professional, and attentive. They made the birthday stay memorable, and I look forward to coming back.

The breakfast was lovely, and the location was great. The staff were pleasant enough. But the air conditioning kept having problems overnight, apparently because of a system issue, maybe linked to the energy-saving settings. They didn't seem able to fix it, and it reset every day. The temperature would suddenly climb to around 24C at night. I couldn't sleep properly like that.

We stayed for 10 days while I came with my husband for a medical procedure, and Hilton DoubleTree was a great choice. As Hilton Diamond members, we were upgraded, which was a lovely surprise. The rooms were kept very clean, breakfast was plentiful with lots of variety, and the staff were so kind and understanding. They really did extra things to help us feel comfortable. I'd definitely recommend it, especially for a longer stay.

I’m not holding a grudge. DoubleTree Moda upgraded my wife and me to a lovely honeymoon suite when we spent our wedding night here in 2013, so I suppose the universe eventually collected that debt with interest. We’re even now. This time I arrived on a corporate trip. My company had already paid for the room, but at reception Murat Bey pushed hard for a credit card authorization for “extras.” I said I’d live like a monk and wouldn’t touch the minibar, but the standoff continued because it was “standard procedure.” We’d booked an economic twin room. The hotel didn’t seem full, so I politely asked Murat Bey if I could change to a single bed. He quoted an extra 3,000 TL per night. At that price I half expected shares in Hilton, so I turned it down. Then I walked into what felt like an avant-garde escape room. The bathtub was so tiny I first thought it was a fancy foot spa. It was child-sized and reminded me of micro-hotels in Hong Kong. Removing it and putting in a standard shower would give the room much more character. The low-priced room felt like bait for the 3,000 TL upgrade, around €60, once you saw it inside. I’ll ask my company’s booking team to permanently remove this economic option from future trips. You gave me a free suite a decade ago, though, so I owed you one.