Safir Hotel

I was worried about what the hotel would be like since this was my first time in Istanbul, but I’m so glad I found it. It’s lovely, extremely clean, and the staff are very helpful. They’ll get you anything you need. I had to extend my stay a few times for certain reason, and they always helped me keep the same room. If you want a great hotel with great staff, this is it. I recommend it one hundred per cent.

The room was clean and warm when I got in, even though the weather was cold. Mr. Khalil was very helpful and speaks Arabic and Turkish. It’s close to bus stations, and from there the Aksaray Metro station is only a 6-7 minute walk. It’s a safe place to stay at a cheap price for the value.

I need to correct my earlier review. Our August 2021 stay was genuinely enjoyable: the rooms were very clean, the staff welcoming, and it was easy to ask questions since one person spoke English and another Arabic. We recommended the place to people we know. Shopping and food were close, and Fatih camii was just down the street. One small tip from that visit: use the elevator instead of the stairs. When we returned in November with the whole family and booked two rooms, she showed us a nice room, the same one we remembered, quoted a price, and we agreed to come back the next day for three nights. But on arrival she put us in a different room. It smelled bad, hadn't been renovated like the previous one, had dirty bedding, and the washroom light didn't work. When we complained, she said we were mistaken, yelled at my elderly father, refused a refund, and even claimed we'd stayed in a different room in August. She was extremely rude and never apologized. I think they may use their one nice room to draw in customers. Beware, don't be fooled by the reviews. This felt like a scam.

I won't stay here again or recommend it. The room wasn't cleaned during the four days we were there, and the bathroom was so filthy we needed sandals to shower. The hand shower was broken too. There were no pillow or duvet covers, just two towels for a room meant for three people. They supplied a kettle but nothing else. From the man who seemed to be the owner through to reception, the experience was poor. Make sure the price is written down when you check in, because they ask for more at the end.