Galata Grace Hotel

A truly terrible experience. The rooms looked nothing like the photos, which were far from reality. The reception staff were manipulative. They may offer a refund if you leave early, but only if you first write a positive review. If the review doesn't meet their expectations, you simply won't get your money back. That would explain the glowing 10-star reviews, which seem like a tactic, and the fake good ratings. When booked through Booking.com, you can't pay online. You're forced to pay cash or card at reception, with the hotel avoiding tax. It has changed its name multiple times to avoid detection as scammers. They also harass you and won't let you use the washroom.

The hotel was nothing like the photos or the nice reviews. It was shabby, smelly, and dated, and the location isn't a great choice if you want to be close to the central area. We didn't stay, and luckily hadn't paid for the rooms.

The upstairs terrace and its beautiful view were my favorite part. Even though the hotel is right by istiklal, it's quiet and peaceful there. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and I like the hotel. It's in a very good location. When I come back to Istanbul, I'll probably stay here again. Thank you very much.❤️‍🔥

The photos seem to be from when the hotel was new. We booked for three people, but got a windowless basement room. We complained at reception, and three hours later we were told our room had been upgraded at no extra cost, but that he wanted us to leave a good review. The room offered was a double with another bed squeezed in, and the three of us barely fit. The bathroom looked like a 6, the parquet a 6, and the mattress a 9, with sheets an 8. On departure day, he reminded me he'd given us a "superior room" for free and wanted a good review. I said I'd give it at most a 9, and he got agitated and said it was better not to review at all. It was either a 10 or nothing. This hotel pressures customers into lying reviews and should be stopped. I booked because the reviews were so good, and that's how I ended up at a hotel I'd rate a 6 at most, despite its score being over 9. Maybe Booking should go see the difference between the photos and reality, so people won't be lied to and deceived anymore.