Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Istanbul Tuzla

The last time this place was cleaned might have been a year ago, I think. Cleanliness was 0/10. The hotel felt old, dirty, unhygienic, and badly maintained, more like a rundown dormitory than a hotel. I booked a full villa, supposedly one of their best accommodations, but the furniture was broken and damaged. The high ratings seem to come from reviews written years ago, because the current condition is completely different. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. From the moment I arrived, I felt like I was in a dormitory.

A good place to rest between flights if you want to stay near the airport and don't need to travel far. The pools and spa were good, and the food was good too. The hotel itself feels a bit old, but the staff were pleasant, polite, helpful, and all spoke English.

The rooms were comfortable and tasteful, and the service staff were irreproachable. My meal at Casa Grill was a different story: I was ignored for quite a while, so I gave up and ordered the rigatoni from room service, hoping for something simple and a good night's sleep. The pasta arrived with a broken sauce, oil floating around and clumps of separated cheese protein on the side. It was revolting. The rigatoni wasn't properly cooked either, not just al dente, but actually undercooked. The dish was meant to include tomatoes and basil, but there was only one cherry tomato and half a fresh basil leaf as garnish. I gave up and went to bed early. The next day I flew to Marseille and had a four-hour layover at the small airport, where there aren't many good dining options. I spotted the exact same rigatoni dish at a ready-to-eat shop. I joked to the young shopkeeper about the terrible version I'd had at the hotel. He urged me to try his, promising I wouldn't have to pay if I didn't like it and could choose another meal for free. I agreed. He microwaved it for a minute, stirred it, then heated it for another minute. It was actually quite good. The sauce wasn't quite as good as mine at home, and the pasta was slightly chewy from being microwaved, but it was perfectly edible. So there it is: the airport's heat-and-eat pasta was much better than the same dish at the Radisson the night before. If you're at Marseille airport, try a microwavable meal from the little shop called "Foud" on the ground floor.

I've been using the hotel's gym and spa for about two years. Dilan and Sengul keep the changing rooms, showers, and toilets, all wet areas, clean, and they're very friendly. Efnan and Omer at the spa reception are helpful too. Thanks to Berkin Hoca, the sports instructor I took private lessons with, for his training, experience, attention, and competence. For massage, the staff are experienced and friendly, and you can trust Ms. Buratni and Ms. Suerjani with your needs. Thanks to everyone, and I wish you a wonderful and successful working year. One issue needs attention: dust from the ventilation system falls in the gym's free weight area, and it isn't cleaned properly. It's bothersome when working out on the floor. I think the system needs regular cleaning, and perhaps the gym will need a general renovation later on. Regards,