Grand Yavuz Hotel

As first-time visitors to Istanbul, we were glad we chose this hotel for our 48-hour Turkish Airlines layover. It’s in Old Town, with Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque about a ten-minute walk away, and the area is very walkable. Breakfast was included, and the upstairs restaurant was nice too. We used two free-night redemptions, so I can’t comment on the price, but the stay made our trip better.

Breakfast was fresh, hot, and delicious, and the waiter and waitress were friendly and quick to answer questions. Room service was prompt, courteous, and efficient. Everyone on staff was welcoming. Guest Relations Managers Umay and Mert Benek were especially supportive: when I accidentally locked myself out, they quickly got me a new room card and also helped move my baggage to and from the room.

The rooms are quite small, though they have all the necessities, and the staff were very courteous. The hotel seems to have been renovated recently and covers the basics for tourists. It’s in the old Sultanahmet area, about twenty minutes or a little more from central spots like Blue Mosque. The roads around there are hilly, so walking about takes a good level of fitness.

The Turkish bath was a highlight. Hamdi managed it carefully, and the marble setting and relaxing treatments made it easy to unwind after traveling. Hamdi and the team were very hospitable, and the whole experience was smoothly run. The rest of the hotel was great too. The property was well maintained, the rooms felt luxurious while mixing traditional style with modern comfort, and the location worked really well for sightseeing. Breakfast was an excellent Turkish spread each morning. Ari, our restaurant waiter, was a wonderful person. With the lovely rooms and the in-house bath, this was one of the best places in the city for us. We didn’t want to leave and highly recommend it.