Lalinn Deluxe

The room was spacious, clean, and updated, with a decent bed, a flat-screen TV, a hairdryer, toiletries, and a full bathroom. The bed felt harder than I prefer, and there were no cups or glasses. When I asked, the front desk handed me a couple of Dixie paper cups, but he seemed unfriendly. I also had trouble getting the air circulation working; the staff member said it was on, though it didn't seem to be, and he looked annoyed when I asked. The Lalinn hotel is on a quiet side street in old Istanbul, about 500 m from the Blue mosque and Hagia Sophia, with similar hotels and local shops nearby. The area felt fairly safe. Check-in was quick, and the front desk staff were friendly and accommodating at first. Breakfast costs an extra seven euros. I paid 48 USD after tax in December, 2025, which seemed fair for the area. It's a decent place to stay.

Getting to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the museum took just a 5-10 minute walk, past cafes and restaurants, and the area felt very safe. We were traveling with a toddler, and the staff were lovely and accommodating with our requests. The rooms were cleaned regularly, too. Wonderful service.

The room looked straight onto a building wall, with renovation work and construction workers in view. The hotel sits in a maze of narrow alleys that felt almost like a slum. We paid €7 for breakfast, which was awful: no milk for cereal, just a few cheeses, cucumber and tomato, plus cold scrambled eggs and boiled eggs. Payment was cash only. The receptionist said card payments caused problems and meant a lot of taxes, and we weren't given a receipt. The room itself smelled bad, the sheets were stained, and the floors had shoe marks and sticky patches. After the first evening, I told my partner we should move hotels. We stayed four nights, but I wouldn't recommend this place. I paid far too much, and this wasn't even a one-star hotel.

Coming back late, I'd use the Sultanahmet route. The walk from Cankurtaran station follows the railway and can feel dark and deserted. The hotel is a 10-minute walk from Sultanahmet tram and five minutes from Cankurtaran. I spent five nights here as a solo female traveler and felt safe. It's a charming old mansion, with spacious rooms and a polite, attentive team. Traffic in Istanbul is tricky, so book the airport shuttle at least 3 hours before you need to arrive. I had a minor timing issue, but the staff helped a lot and even refunded me. Cozy atmosphere, good location, and a reliable team. I'd happily stay again. Thank you.