Metropol Hotel 2

A nice spot for a holiday.

It was the middle of December and there was no heating, so the room was far too cold. When I asked for a heater, I was told it wouldn’t be possible until the next day because previous guests had turned theirs on whenever they wanted and caused a large electricity bill. I was shocked to be left without heat in winter, so I checked out and went somewhere I could warm up. The toilet smelled bad, and the soap dish was full of water with no soap in it. I asked about it, but nothing changed.

The price was affordable, and I had a good two-week stay. Getting there from Aksaray Station takes about five minutes on flat ground, past the intersection. Restaurants and small grocery shops are nearby, though it can get noisy late at night. It’s an older building, but clean, and there were no bed bugs. Lobby staff are on the first floor. Room cleaning and towel changes are available only if you ask. There’s no fridge or electric kettle in the room, but you can use them in the lobby. I felt a little uneasy about condensation on the air conditioner. I’d consider staying again if I return to Istanbul.

I’m really upset that my valuables went missing, especially my international vaccination card. The manager just blamed the cleaner, saying the cleaner was “toc toc,” a slang term for a ...