West Palace Hotel

We booked a Deluxe Suite with Balcony – Sea View at the West Palace Hotel through Booking.com for our 10-year wedding anniversary, but the room we got at check-in looked nothing like the photos or description. A receptionist later told us the right room wouldn’t be available until the following day, so we left feeling misled. We later saw other Booking.com reviews describing similar problems going back years. The hotel marked us as a “no-show,” which kept us from posting an honest review there. Booking.com told us repeatedly that our contract was only with the hotel and that they had no liability. They also said we should have checked reviews beforehand to see if the property was suitable. We found that response unacceptable, given the reports of long-running deceptive practices and the hotel’s continued presence on the platform. This experience, involving both the hotel’s deceit and Booking.com’s failure to uphold its standards, ruined what was meant to be a special anniversary celebration.

My friend had booked for one person, so when we arrived they asked us to pay extra for the room. I’d never had that happen at another hotel. The service was poor, and the bed wasn’t comfortable. On our last day I was very sick with a fever and cough and asked for a couple of hours to sleep and recover. The man said I’d have to pay 35 euros for a half-day, even though I only needed two hours. I felt unsafe and disappointed by the way I was treated. I don’t recommend staying here and don’t think I’ll return to Istanbul because of this behavior.

The room had dim lighting and old furniture. Its door wouldn’t shut properly, so anyone could get in without a card, and it took them a day to fix it.

Getting around was easy from here, with İstiklal Street, Taksim Square, major bus and train stations, and the seaside all a short walk away. The staff were warm and ready to help, and made me feel at home. I also enjoyed the food and its variety, and the dining area was very clean. My room and the equipment were well maintained and comfortable. I had a great stay and recommend the hotel to anyone visiting Istanbul.