Hotel Topkapi

There’s a nice cat, the reception staff were helpful, and breakfast was included, though it was very basic. The hotel is also close to a tram station. The rooms and hotel weren’t clean and need major refurbishment. Even the non-smoking rooms, along with the rest of the hotel, smelled strongly of cigarette smoke. WiFi barely worked in the rooms and was only reliable in the lobby. The shower walls were moldy, and the door wouldn’t open properly.

Our location was handy, with public transport and restaurants easy to reach, but we didn’t have a peaceful stay. On our third day the water went off all day because of plumbing problems. Guests weren’t given honest information, and I spent the rest of our stay worrying it might stop while we were showering. We considered moving, but we’d prepaid and would have lost a lot of money. We were there for five nights in June with two adults and our six-year-old, in a room with three single beds. The breakfast was very ordinary for the price. The pillows were flat, there were no duvets or blankets, and the bathroom wasn’t clean until we reported it. They cleaned it with bleach, which upset me because my son has asthma. The staff also weren’t very welcoming, which matters a lot in a hotel. Think carefully before booking.

Getting around was easy, with public transport and restaurants nearby. The stay itself wasn’t pleasant. Breakfast was so ordinary for what they charge, and when we asked to have the room cleaned, they didn’t restock it with everything we needed. We thought about changing hotels, but since we’d prepaid, we stood to lose a lot of money. The staff weren’t as welcoming as they should be.

Breakfast was terrible. There was salad, cucumber, olives, and tomatoes, but no cold milk for cereal, juice, bread, toast, jam, butter, croissants, pastries, or even cold water. The coffee was instant, and the breakfast staff member looked grumpy, like he hadn’t slept. The room was tiny and unclean, with no kettle, tea, or coffee. My son hit the bed twice and hurt his leg. The TV didn’t work, and the small fridge was broken too. The staff weren’t very nice. Agoda listed it as a very good hotel, but it was awful. Never again.