Sirkeci Gar Hotel

The big plus is the location: everything is nearby, with shops everywhere, so you'll find something to eat. There are two train stations, trams, and a fast train close by. The staff were really nice and helpful. But the room was dirty and needs renovation, and the bathroom wasn't clean or pleasant either. The old windows let in lots of street noise, and trains run right outside. This definitely isn't a four-star hotel. There's no breakfast or pool, and no lobby, just a small desk.

The location is close to tourist spots, but everything else was bad. There's no elevator. While the staff member was carrying our bags to the third floor, he started talking about how much tip he usually gets from people, indirectly hinting that we should pay him. We would've tipped, but why bring it up like that? Breakfast was included, but all we got was dry bread from the day before, a few slices of tomato and cucumber, cheese, and a cup of tea. The rooms were small, smelly, unclean, had no proper ventilation, and no view. Don't be taken in by the photos. At checkout, the man taking the keys was literally begging us to give a high score on booking.com. I told him I'd give a fair review. This was my worst hotel experience in Turkey, and I wouldn't recommend it.

The design was beautiful, the hotel had air conditioning, and the view from the top was lovely. The staff were friendly and helpful too. But the toilet had a sewage smell, and although we paid for breakfast and a bed, we ended up buying our own food. Breakfast was olives and chips. The trams outside were so noisy they gave us headaches and kept us from sleeping.

The location is good for the price, close to all the tourist spots, and the staff were amazing. I stayed with three adults and a child in a family room with two single beds and one double bed. We were put on a higher floor, but there's no lift, so climbing the stairs every day with family was a problem. The stairs were slippery, especially coming down, and would be safer with carpet. The street is busy, and with only single-glazed windows we could hear everything until 4 AM. The place could have been cleaner. It's fine for a couple of days, but I wouldn't recommend the breakfast.