Pullman Istanbul Hotel & Convention Center

The lobby and general service were acceptable, though some staff interactions felt rushed. I didn’t get a chance to visit the spa, but housekeeping certainly fell short. My room smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, and the shower had hair, dust, and grime in the corners, with chipped, dirty tiles. Its broken shower head sprayed water everywhere. There were sticky marks on the nightstands, a dirty-looking mirror, holes in the walls, and a loose door handle that didn’t secure the door properly. The light fixtures made strange clanging sounds, too. This was my first stay in Istanbul, and the hotel was a letdown. I’m sharing the details so others know what to expect before booking.

The breakfast was fine, though I personally only ate soup because I had surgery during my stay, and the cleaning staff were good and professional. The spa, unfortunately, made the visit a very bad experience. Its steam sauna and jacuzzi were disappointing and poorly maintained, and I wouldn’t have paid to stay here if I’d known their actual condition. Over the whole stay, the spa staff were rude and unprofessional. Several times I saw three receptionists looking at their phones instead of engaging with guests. Nobody welcomed us, explained the rules, or told us what facilities were available. After three days, I met another staff member whose behavior I found completely unacceptable and unsuitable for tourism work. The spa should be a place to relax, but the staff and their unfriendly attitude left guests angry, disappointed, and sad. Other people I spoke with in the sauna and gym voiced the same complaints. I can’t recommend the hotel because of the spa.

We were put up at Pullman for the night after a flight delay, and it turned out much better than we expected. The room looked modern and beautiful, almost brand new, and the food was excellent. Check-in was done smoothly in under three minutes. The staff were very professional and worked efficiently, with real attention to service. The whole experience surprised and impressed me.

Dinner and breakfast were excellent, the room was comfortable, and whenever I got stuck figuring something out in the room, staff came to help quickly. At reception, Julia, if I remember her name correctly, checked us in efficiently. I was there because of a flight delay, and the stay was very good overall. My one frustration was power: the USB port didn’t work, I needed an adapter for my American plug, and the hotel had none to lend. Since the nearest shopping center is quite far away, I bought one from a male staff member for at least ten times its usual price :) That was surprising given the otherwise welcoming service. It’d help if the USB ports were kept working and the hotel had a few adapters for guests without Turkish or European plugs. Still a good stay, thank you.