Grand Milan Hotel

The area felt dirty and pretty unsafe for walking through the alleys. There's a train track right beside the hotel, so it can get noisy. Service was bad, the place wasn't clean, and one of the electrical outlets didn't work.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and our room was warm even though it was cold outside. It was large enough for three people. The mattress was new, soft, and comfortable, the pillows were good, and everything was clean, although the renovation was clearly a long time ago. We stayed for about 20 days over December and January 2023-2024. There were no bugs in winter, and we only heard noise from the neighbors on one day. Internet was mostly fine, with occasional interruptions. Breakfast was good enough that I felt full each day. They didn't clean the room daily, but they provided paper and shampoo when asked. The main downside for me was a smell from the street, probably from wood heating in many homes in the district. If I go back to Istanbul for several weeks, I'd very likely stay here again unless I found somewhere cheaper.

Even one star feels too generous. The hotel and the streets around it were dirty, and the street had the worst smell I've ever experienced. There were cockroaches in the rooms. When we raised these issues, staff acted ignorant or played dumb. Getting a refund was almost a fight, and they still wouldn't give us the full amount. The manager wasn't available, and the receptionist said he didn't have the manager's number. Avoid this place at all costs.

We left within five minutes and booked somewhere else nearby a few minutes later. The place was filthy and badly maintained, and nothing smelled clean. There were stains on the mattress and pillows, and I couldn't find a clean spot on the carpet or towels. The bathroom smelled awful and had a small cockroach, with who knows how many more around. Even the shampoo looked like it had already been used. The pillows smelled like the person who'd slept there before us.