Ring Stone Hotels Old City

The hotel was quiet, which made for a relaxing holiday. Our room was spacious, and the staff were lovely and helpful. At first we weren’t sure about being right next to reception, but after a quick conversation they kindly offered us a different room. It was a beautiful hotel in a perfect central location. The room was mostly clean, with a few small stains that didn’t bother us.

At check-in, the hotel told me they had asked Agoda to cancel my reservation because of a “pricing error,” and said I should contact Agoda. This was surprising because the hotel’s own reservation team had already emailed me a separate confirmation, and I had confirmed the booking in advance. The rate had been visible for more than three days and was only around USD 20-30 cheaper than other dates when I booked, so it didn’t seem unusually low or suspicious. I showed the confirmation emails at the desk, but the staff kept saying they weren’t part of the reservation team and directing me to Agoda without offering a solution. It took over 10 minutes to get through on an international call. Agoda didn’t know what was happening and said they couldn’t reach the hotel. I spent about an hour dealing with this and urgently searching for another nearby place to stay. Then, after about an hour, reception suddenly said I could check in after all and that they’d see whether I could enter before the official 2:00 PM check-in time. While I waited, the staff member disappeared. After around 15 minutes without an update, I asked someone else and learned that the employee had gone to eat. I found that unbelievable and extremely unprofessional. I eventually checked in at 2:00 PM. Agoda still insisted the issue was caused by a pricing error, without properly checking the facts with the hotel, and offered only 10% compensation, or USD 7-8. That was unreasonable, especially at year-end, when same-day stays nearby were more than double the original rate. When I objected, a male Agoda customer service agent became confrontational, raised his voice, and criticized my tone. This incident honestly ruined my day in Istanbul. A day later, I moved to a Crowne Plaza booked directly through the IHG app, and that experience was far more satisfactory. I knew Agoda bookings could sometimes cause problems, but didn’t expect such irresponsible handling or unprofessional customer service. I was also shocked that the hotel changed its position after sending a booking confirmation. After this, I’ve firmly decided never to use third-party booking platforms for travel again. For a difference of just a few dollars, the experience wrecked my trip after I’d traveled such a long distance. I lost nearly two hours, my schedule was disrupted, and the frustration affected the rest of the day. On top of all that, the hair dryer in the room didn’t work at all, and the conditioner and body wash were in the wrong containers, mismatched with the labels.

Mrs. Tatiana welcomed us warmly, and the staff throughout were polite and helpful. The breakfast buffet had something to suit everyone, and the room was clean and spacious. It looked much better than the pictures and gave us an “affordable luxury” feel. Ring Stone Old City is a beautiful building and a great base for seeing Istanbul’s sights. We had a wonderful stay and can’t wait to return. Strongly recommend.

Mr. Gökhan made a huge difference during our stay. He shared great local suggestions, arranged our transportation, and handled restaurant reservations, taxis, and a couples hamam experience that was out of this world. He did it all thoughtfully and easily, and the whole staff made us feel cared for from arrival. We visited Turkey in July and stayed at Ring Stone Hotel in Old Town Istanbul. Our Presidential Suite was stunning, with high ceilings and elegant Turkish-style bath fixtures. It felt comfortable and full of authentic charm. Many of Istanbul’s iconic sights are an easy walk away. With the warm hospitality, beautiful rooms, and excellent location, we can’t wait to return.