Symbola Bosphorus Istanbul

Families would do well here. The location is ideal, there’s a nice garden that’s safe for kids, and the staff are friendly. The restaurant team were especially good and tried to help as much as they could. The rooms need some work, though: the furniture and bathroom should be renewed. Hotel management said that was already in process.

Ortakoy’s main strip is just a five minute walk downhill, and there’s a bus stop right outside that can take you to Beşiktaş, where you can catch a boat or tram. An Istanbulcard makes getting around easy. If you’re new to Istanbul, check your route on Google Maps before heading out. We spent a week here with my parents and small children, and the staff were very accommodating and helpful. The reception team were friendly and easy to approach, the rooms were a decent size, and we had great WiFi in our room. The restaurant and breakfast were great too.

The rooms were really nice, each named after a historical place, and they had air conditioning. It’s fairly close to the town centre and seafront. Breakfast could do with a refresh, but we had to eat early, and it was perfectly satisfactory.

The only decent part was the man who helped with luggage. Otherwise, this was an absolutely awful hotel. Nobody even greeted me on arrival, and the service was poor. The room smelled old, things were falling apart, and the heater didn’t work. The window was propped up with a piece of glass, the pillow was stained and dirty, and there was blood on the window covering. There’s no on-site restaurant, and the restaurant next door doesn’t offer takeaway or have much of its menu available. Getting to my room in the back building meant crossing a garden and climbing many stairs. Stay away!