Spinel Hotel - Old City

Miss Elif made fresh, delicious breakfast and was always friendly. The cleaning team were kind too and did a great job. The staff were excellent and welcoming, and we had a wonderful stay. We were very happy with it.

The breakfast terrace overlooks the Bosphorus, and each morning we were served a generous, carefully prepared Turkish spread: cheeses, handmade pastries, fresh bread, Turkish tea and coffee, juices, and other dishes. The woman who hosts and prepares it is so warm and welcoming that she lifted our spirits every day. The front desk team were just as lovely. They greeted us with a map and useful tips about places to visit and where to shop at fair prices. They answered every question patiently, with knowledge and real enthusiasm. The location made sightseeing easy, with a short walk to the Blue Mosque and other major landmarks. Local cafés and restaurants nearby were noticeably cheaper than in other tourist-heavy areas. The hotel was one of the highlights of our time in Istanbul. As an American who hasn’t traveled a lot, I found the staff’s kindness and guidance made the city feel much easier to enjoy. Its history and culture could feel overwhelming, but their help made us comfortable and confident enough to relax. We felt cared for from the moment we arrived, and left grateful for the people who made our stay so memorable. We’d return in a heartbeat.

The old town location is great, and the rooms we saw were clean, though shabby. The stairs were rough and uneven. The bigger problem was that, when we arrived, the apartment we’d paid for wasn’t available. They offered my mum and me two separate, unpleasant rooms in different parts of the building, at a much lower price point and without apartment facilities. We wanted to stay together in an apartment, but they wouldn’t sort it out. Booking.com supported us well, so at 23.45 we left and checked into another hotel.

Getting around was easy from here: we could walk to places in Istanbul, and the bus stop and train station weren’t far. Staff also gave us tips on where to go. The bedroom was upstairs and had a beautiful view, but a bathroom pump kicked in every 30 seconds and made sleep difficult. Staff couldn’t fix it or move us to another room. Cigarette smoke also drifted into the bedroom and left my nose very congested.