Inntel Hotel Istanbul

The breakfast itself was okay, but eating downstairs felt like being in a cramped dungeon. The entrance was dark and poky too, so it wasn't a welcoming arrival. Our room looked nothing like the pictures. It was dirty and run-down, with suspicious marks on the headboard, scuffed walls that needed repainting, and bulbs that needed replacing. The whole place felt neglected, and this was nowhere near four-star quality, barely two stars in my view. Checkout was the worst part. We accidentally left with two key cards, and the morning receptionist tried to charge us $10 for each one. I worked in hotels for years and explained that key cards are a normal operating cost, but he kept demanding payment and called me “stupid.” Our taxi driver stepped in, and we left without paying. That behavior was completely unprofessional. I'd tell others to be cautious.

Mr. Gassan made our arrival much easier by kindly arranging for the room to be ready ahead of schedule. He was supportive and cooperative throughout the stay, always trying to make things convenient for us. We had a lovely time and are especially grateful for his help.

The location was the one thing in this stay's favor. Everything else left me deeply disappointed, especially for what this place charges while calling itself a four-star hotel. Istanbul is warm, romantic, and full of kind people, but this hotel spoiled part of the trip. The basement breakfast room didn't help. Plates, glasses, and cutlery were in terrible shape, the tables were damaged, and dead flies and dust sat on the windowsill beside us. It gave the impression that nobody cared about hygiene. We arrived around 2 a.m. after a 12-hour trip to Istanbul and a tiring airport journey. The young receptionist went through the usual document checks, then said they didn't accept Apple Pay and wanted a physical card, which I didn't have. He eventually managed to charge my card manually at the terminal. Future guests should bring a physical card; the payment options are very outdated. The first room was awful. Mold smell hit us as soon as we opened the door. There was hair, dirt, trash, and stains in the bathroom, hair on the toilet, and a huge dark patch of mold on the ceiling. The shower had no silicone around it, so water leaked everywhere. The stained mattresses, worn furniture, dusty outlets, and trash and old slippers under the bed all made it feel like the room hadn't been cleaned or renovated in years. It was uncomfortable even to sit on the bed, let alone sleep. I contacted Booking.com straight away. Two cleaners came in the morning to inspect, but seemed to think the obvious dirt was normal. Later, a receptionist, I believe his name was Basel, called and said he'd try to help. At noon they moved us to another room. It was larger and just a little cleaner, but still below any four-star standard: trash under the bed, dust everywhere, dirty walls, missing bulbs, hair in the bathroom, no silicone around the shower, and dried marks in a corner. It was only a tiny improvement. I don't understand how this hotel gets four stars; it barely deserves one.

Basel, Ghassan, Saer, and the rest of the team made us feel welcome with their friendly, cooperative service. The rooms were clean and cozy, and I slept really well. Breakfast was decent, with a fair amount of choice. I was very comfortable here and will choose this hotel again next time.