Grand Merin Airport Hotel

The rooms were clean and nice, which matters most to me, and the price was very cheap. The street is full of good restaurants, and I'd recommend Kösk Cafe Restaurant for fresh food at a good price. The hotel's own restaurant is affordable too and stays open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Most of all, the staff were genuinely friendly, some of the best I've come across in hotels. I'd recommend staying here for a holiday in Istanbul. See you next time in 3 weeks!

Grand Merin Hotel is quite far from Istanbul, but BLUE SMALL BUSES (7liras) stop right outside and take you to Kartal Metro, then into Istanbul. I was looking for an affordable hotel with the right amenities while travelling from America, and this worked for me. The staff were patient, and room service was great. It's quiet and secluded, though you can still watch the city traffic. From my window each morning I saw an older man waxing shoes on the sidewalk while men, women, and children crossed through traffic to reach the other side. The hotel has non-smoking rooms. If smoke on your floor bothers you, tell the staff. They'll sort it out within 24 hours without creating trouble with other guests.

I was a neighbor, not a guest, but from what I could tell it seems like a good hotel.

The staff were very well behaved and the service was excellent. The rooms were neat, and I felt calm and relaxed. It's close to the airport, restaurants, a bakery, shopping malls and a masjid.