Taksim Coll

The building had a strong, unpleasant smell right from the entrance, and the apartment itself was in awful shape, with damaged floors, holes in the walls, and a heater that never worked. It felt uncared for. The listing promised a flat-screen TV, but the one there was tiny. We never met the owner. He didn't speak English and sent someone else instead, which made communication awkward and unprofessional. Nothing about the stay matched the listing, and it was deeply uncomfortable. I'd avoid it.

The only reliable thing was daily housekeeping, though they didn't replace the sheets each time, and there was no one else around, so even getting enough toilet paper was a gamble. The Wi-Fi kept dropping, and the air conditioning never worked despite my complaints. In the heat it was hard to sleep, especially with a rock-hard bed and just a sheet over it. The bathroom door wouldn't shut at all. At 8 PM, after my 13-hour flight, the room still wasn't ready even though I'd told the host when I was arriving. There's no reception, so I waited for someone to appear, then got shown upstairs to an unmade bed. I was new to the city and had arrived late, so I stayed for the week even though the place was absolutely not worth what I paid. I wish I'd been able to get a refund. Don't trust the positive reviews.

I paid in full through Booking.com for three nights, Friday to Monday, in September 2025. When I got there Friday evening, the hotel was shut and nobody answered my calls or messages to the owner. I had to find another place at one of the busiest, most expensive times. Only on Saturday did a WhatsApp message arrive saying, “hi. sorry for mistake.” Booking.com didn't help either. I eventually got my money back, but my holiday plans were wrecked. Paying ahead clearly didn't guarantee a room, so I'd avoid this if you value your time.

We got in at 5 in the morning, and the host was there waiting for us. Communication was easy, and the room was warm and spotless. Breakfast was generous and tasty, and the bed and pillows were incredibly comfortable. Thank you!