Viva Deluxe Hotel

The reception team was ready to help with whatever we needed, and the manager was kind and supportive. Thank you, Amin, for such great hospitality ☺️. The hotel is well placed for reaching Istanbul's main attractions on foot. Our room and bathroom were spacious, and having an elevator was a plus. Breakfast was decent, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices.

What made our stay stand out was the service. Togrul and Umut looked after us and were incredibly welcoming. The room was very clean, and we enjoyed the breakfast. The hotel is right in the heart of the city, so the Grand Bazaar and Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque are both less than 15 minutes away on foot. It was a perfect experience.

We were a family of four, including young children, and found it easy to visit the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia from this hotel in the historic district. The tram is close by, as are top halal restaurants, which made getting around and eating stress-free. The staff were welcoming, and the location offered great value.

The cat that sits on the guests' waiting bench each morning and greets anyone who says hello was a lovely touch. Staff were very friendly, carried our bags to the room, and the reception team spoke fair English. We also got daily room service, breakfast, decent WiFi, and a competitive price. There are nice restaurants around the next corner and excellent ice cream right in front of the hotel. Its central spot in old Istanbul, where the Roman-era city is still buzzing with life, is a real plus. The rooms are dated and didn't look like the pictures. Mine had a pair of socks and nail extensions left by previous guests, and smelled of cigarette smoke. The TV was tiny, the breakfast was low-budget, and eggs were served some days but not others. The kids didn't like the limited cereal choice. There are no hotel parking spaces, and the ISPARK app is only in Turkish, so you can't park on the street. To their credit, staff kindly helped me find an OTOPARK 300 metres down the road. The heavy old-fashioned room key also controls the electricity, and they only give you one, which is inconvenient. There are no views to look out over. For experienced travellers who care more about exploring the city and spending less on accommodation than luxury, it's a decent option. The word deluxe in the title is misleading. I wouldn't book again with my family, though I might if travelling alone.