Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Istanbul Atakoy

The location was just right for a stopover, and breakfast was really delicious. Be sure to try the complimentary pool and spa, they're worth it. Check-in took a bit longer than expected, but I had a wonderful stay and would highly recommend it.

I booked based on the reviews and stayed here through the Touristanbul program. Ilyas, the reception manager, was especially helpful: he clearly explained how to reach the city center, what to see, and which tours were available. The staff were generally polite and courteous, and my stay was okay, though the hotel needs better maintenance and more consistent service. The rooms felt old and cleanliness could be improved. There was visible mold in the bathroom and stains on furniture and other surfaces. Breakfast was good, with plenty of options, omelettes on request, and a nice selection of Turkish cheeses, appetizers, fresh fruit, and vegetables. The hotel is on Istanbul's Asian side. To get to the historic center, such as the Blue Mosque or Topkapi, walk about 5-7 minutes to the metro and then ride for around 30 minutes. The airport transfer pricing was the part I strongly disliked. The amount depended on which manager you asked: the woman at reception offered a higher price when we arrived, while another manager on a later shift quoted less. That's unacceptable for a large chain at this level. I'd give that issue two stars, even though the staff overall were courteous.

The friendly, helpful people working here made it clear the hotel is well managed. Hatice and Buğra quickly found me a quiet room when I asked, which I really appreciated as a light sleeper. Hatice was so warm that I looked forward to seeing her in the mornings. Thanks too to Taha and Erol for the friendly conversations and guidance, and to İlys for helping me extend the room and arrange airport transport. I was glad I stayed here instead of in the tourist district. The neighborhood is lively, the metro is convenient, and the rooms are nice. Breakfast was delicious, and the kitchen and dining staff were in good spirits. Thanks to everyone for making Istanbul memorable. The hotel exceeded my expectations.

Turkish Airlines assigned us this hotel through its extended layover program, so we hadn't picked it ourselves. It's in a somewhat residential area away from tourist sights. We hired a guide to meet us there, and she walked us to the metro for the old town. The breakfast buffet was plentiful and nicely presented. The rooms were large, and though the hotel isn't new, it was perfectly adequate for one night. Check-in after midnight was confusing. The employee first said he couldn't find our booking and that Turkish Airlines had cancelled it, then checked the computer, said everything was fine, gave us key cards, and sent us up. We had no credit card on file, so at checkout I wondered what would have happened if we'd simply walked out. Instead, we were told we had to pay. We explained what the check-in employee had said, but staff insisted TA had cancelled the reservation. Our guide helped translate while calls were made and money was requested again. We had to wait for the manager, who was a little late that morning, and the delay was very disappointing because we had little time in Istanbul. I blame TA for offering a program it can't support properly, but the hotel shouldn't have told us at check-in that everything was settled. Credit to the hotel manager, though: once the issue reached him, he let us leave without paying. Later that day we heard TA would cover the rooms. The service was great once the manager got involved. Turkish Airlines needs to get its act together.