Hotel Verçenik

The reception staff were the one bright spot. They were attentive and polite, but we wouldn’t stay at Mount Ararat Hotel again. We paid 90 € for two nights on December 27th and 28th. The room smelled strongly of tobacco, there was a Coca-Cola can in the minibar, and several things needed repair: the shower holder was broken, the drain clogged easily, and the phone cable was damaged and unplugged. The lobby also smelled strongly of marijuana when we arrived. Cleanliness and comfort fell short, and breakfast was poor, with awful coffee, very little choice, low-quality cheese and cold cuts, and no lactose-free or plant-based milk. Finding the right hotel is confusing too. There’s another “Ararat Hotel” closer to Sultanahmet Square, and searching “Grand Ararat” on Google Maps may bring up a different place. Search specifically for “Mount Ararat”. The price is relatively low, but it didn’t make the stay worth it.

I slept really well here. I’d read that the nearby parking lot, which is open 24 hours, could be noisy, but my room was below ground level and I didn’t hear a thing. The hotel is near the city center, with restaurants close by. Inside, everything was tidy, and my room was comfortable and clean. Breakfast tasted great and had lots to pick from. WiFi worked well, and the staff were kind and helpful. I’d recommend it, I had a really good stay.

Nijat was especially good to me. He was friendly and helpful throughout, and even checked in to see if my flight and trip home had gone smoothly. The reception is staffed around the clock, and the team were helpful. It’s a decent place if you mainly need somewhere to sleep.

The staff were great and ready to help with whatever I needed. Room service was good too, and the location is decent, with a sea view. We booked a couple room, which was just big enough, though the rooms are on the small side. Bring your own toothbrush and toothpaste, since they don’t provide them. Also pack a two-pin converter if your phone charger has three pins, like an iPhone charger. All in all, I had a good experience.