Hotel Golden Crown

We found it easy to get around from here, with tram stops and other public transport close by and major sights within a comfortable walk. The hotel sits in a lively, central part of the city. The staff were especially welcoming and helpful. Breakfast was another high point, with lots of freshly prepared choices.

We were five friends and found cockroaches in both rooms within three hours of arriving. The dirt and poor hygiene were noticeable as soon as we walked in, and I was shocked by the place. I don’t know about the name “Golden Crown”; after this stay, I’d call it the Trash and Cockroaches Crown Hotel of Istanbul. The manager replied to our Booking.com report that the hotel is surrounded by trees and greenery, and that guests opening windows for fresh air can mean occasional external factors despite the hotel's efforts. Is that meant to explain flying Turkish cockroaches coming through the windows? The building is old, dirty, and smells awful. There were large clumps of hair in the hallway, too. Outside, a huge bin right in front of the hotel stayed full all day and wasn’t cleaned. The whole street smelled like garbage, and it got inside as well. Stepping out of the taxi, the smell hit me like poison. We left immediately. It was the worst experience ever. Please don’t book if you want to save your trip, money, and nerves. God bless you 🙏.

We could walk to the Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, restaurants, and markets in about 5-10 minutes, and there’s a tram stop nearby. The location was hard to beat. The room had a strong smell that lingered, a bit like a smoking area; we quickly bought an air freshener. There’s a supermarket about a minute away, which was handy. We also kept our bags off the floor because we didn’t want to bring any bugs home. The rooms feel old fashioned, the bathroom wasn’t modern, and if you’re sensitive to bugs you might see a cockroach or two. The streets can be noisy at night, as you’d expect in a busy central area. Those quirks come with an older property in a historic part of town, and didn’t stop us having a good stay. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. If you get a sea view, it’s breathtaking; if not, the fresh, tasty breakfast is a nice start before heading out. With the central location, views if you’re lucky, welcoming staff, and the feel of the place, it was worthwhile. I’d recommend it as a cozy base for exploring Istanbul.

The manager answered our Booking.com complaint by saying that greenery around the hotel and guests opening windows for fresh air can lead to occasional external factors despite their efforts. So flying cockroaches come from “the greenery”? That’s a joke, not an explanation. We were five friends, and within three hours of checking in there were cockroaches in both rooms. The dirt and bad hygiene were obvious as soon as we entered. The building smelled bad, and we found big clumps of hair in the hallway. There’s a huge bin right outside that stays full all day and never gets cleaned. The entire street stinks of garbage, and the smell gets into the hotel too. We noticed it as soon as we got out of the taxi. This place is old, dirty, and I was shocked it was still open for guests. If you want to ruin your holiday, this is the place. I’m not sure “Golden Crown” is the right name; Cockroaches and Trash Crown Hotel of Istanbul fits better. We left straight away. It was the worst hotel experience we’ve ever had.