La Mer Boutique Hotel

The bed was huge and very comfortable, and Adam, the host, was attentive. Still, calling this a boutique hotel doesn’t fit. It’s a standard hotel that’s part of a gift shop, and I was disappointed with the room. There were bare patches of wall behind the curtains. The shower was my main problem. Hot water came and went whenever it felt like it, the head swung around and wouldn’t stay put, and the doors didn’t close properly, so the bathroom floor often got wet. Once, a door came off its runner and started tipping into the shower. I had to leave Istanbul three days early because of an emergency back home, and I won’t miss this hotel. I was in room 302.

The owner and caretaker Hakan was the worst part of the stay. He charged us TL 450 for a COVID-19 test that costs TL 250, then claimed he had nothing to do with the price. The testing laboratory confirmed the extra TL 200 had nothing to do with the test. He kept that money, gave no receipt, and seemed to scam tourists. He also got very rude if you didn’t take one of his overpriced offers or airport shuttles. We paid for two rooms with balconies and received only one. When I asked, Hakan said there were no other rooms. The place doesn’t look like its photos: it’s just accommodation above a small, overpriced shop that also serves as reception. The bathrooms were tiny, smelled of damp and sewage, and had no ventilation, so the rooms smelled bad too. There was no bin in the room; when I asked, they told me to use the tiny one in the miniature bathroom. They didn’t provide drinking water either, and there was no concierge service. When we needed help getting luggage down the steep stairs, he refused and was rude to my sister, nearly ordering her to carry it herself. We stayed polite and said nothing. Breakfast was ordinary and nothing like the pictures. There were no refills, and by 9 a.m. it was nearly gone. The caretaker didn’t replenish it. I’d tell people not to stay here if they want to avoid being cheated, paying for substandard rooms, and getting no service.

The photos on Booking looked false and edited. The rooms were filthy, badly damaged, and covered in fungus. It was cold and noisy, with broken lamps, and the place was completely unfit to live in. I’d paid for a week but left within 24 hours, and the rude owner wouldn’t refund me. This is the worst place I’ve ever stayed. I’d recommend it only to your worst enemy.

Mateo made our first trip to Turkey unforgettable. He welcomed us warmly, went out of his way to help, and always gave us what we needed with a smile. We’ll always remember how accommodating he was. Mateo, you rock, darling! Our rooms were beautiful and clean, and we enjoyed the good breakfast, especially the delicious little breakfast cookies. I wish I’d brought a stack home to Johannesburg, South Africa. Thank you for making the experience so amazing.