The Time Hotel Old City

The hotel is small and sits in a popular area full of street vendors. Staff were friendly and meant well, but seemed overwhelmed and unable to sort things out. Despite having a reservation, there weren’t enough rooms when we arrived, and some guests were told their chosen room type wasn’t available. That lack of respect for bookings made a frustrating start. When I finally got a room, it was dirty and poorly maintained. Cleaning staff were only available for a limited time, so I couldn’t get the room cleaned during my stay. The hotel was poorly organized and fell short on cleanliness. I wouldn’t recommend it unless there are major improvements. There are surely better options nearby.

The room was unbelievably filthy: blood on the sheets, pillows and quilts, lipstick and makeup, strange smells, greasy tables, poop on the bathroom wall, dust everywhere, cigarette butts on the floor, and other disgusting mess. There were even small insects on the bed and carpet. I’ve never had a worse night in my life, but we had arrived very late and had no other choice. The walls were so thin we could hear people in the next room as if they were with us, and their cigarette smoke came through the vents. When we asked for cleaning, we were told we’d have to wait until morning. The service was awful. I can’t even describe everything we saw and experienced, and I wouldn’t give this place zero stars. It shouldn’t be listed as a hotel.

The staff were attentive, respectful and easy to communicate with in English. Erhan, Emre and Tuna were especially considerate, answered all our questions and made us feel at home. Housekeeping kept our room neat each day, and Semsiye was lovely. The buffet breakfast ran from 7-10am and offered 10-12 different dishes to try. We booked a triple room, which was spacious and very clean. The hotel also has a pool, sauna and Turkish bath, all free for guests. Its central location puts the main attractions about a 20-minute walk away. The tram stop is only a two-minute walk away, with just a few stops to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar and Taksim square. My family and I had a very comfortable stay at The time hotel old city, and we’ll choose it again when we visit Istanbul.

The staff didn’t speak English, but they understood what we needed and helped every time. Our room was very clean, with a spacious bathroom, and housekeeping made the beds and changed the towels each morning. Breakfast was included and had a variety of fresh traditional Turkish food. The hotel is about a 20-minute walk from major Istanbul sights like the Blue mosque, hagia Sofia and cistern basilisc. There’s also a pool, sauna and massage room if you want to relax.