WOW Istanbul Hotel

I left my brown suit behind after checking out, and the hotel team took the initiative to track me down. They kept me informed and made sure it got back to me safely and quickly. That kind of integrity and care for guests means a lot. The people matter just as much as the amenities at a five-star hotel, and I'm very grateful. I'd recommend this hotel without hesitation. Eyvallah

For my 13-hour Istanbul layover, Turkish Airlines arranged this comfortable hotel. They even provided international chargers overnight. When I returned the key cards, they packed us breakfast, and the shuttle back to the airport arrived on time. I did have trouble getting in touch with the hotel to sort out a missing item, though. Still, it was a great stay.

We chose the hotel after the exhibition organizers emailed us a discount code and suggested it. Since this was clearly a business booking, we expected the bill to be made out to our company. I asked for a company invoice almost two weeks before the reservation and repeated the request at check-in, where staff told me it would be handled when we checked out. Our departure with a chauffeur was scheduled, and the front desk was busy, so checkout felt rushed. The invoice ended up in my personal name despite the earlier requests. The hotel later refused to amend it, pointing to a 14-day legal limit. We had booked directly with the hotel, not through a third-party site, and had clearly raised the request in advance. The area also wasn't convenient for much beyond the exhibition venue. Staying somewhere else would have given us better access to services and things to do after exhibition hours. Given the location and how the invoice was handled, we wouldn't stay here again.

Last night I ordered two Efes beers at the downstairs hotel bar. One cost 354 Turkish Lira, about $8.50, and the other was 550 Turkish Lira, about $11.40. Today, two espressos and two small bottles of water came to 710 Turkish Lira, around $17. I expect hotel prices to be above average, but these felt like outright theft. So much for promoting tourism. The a la carte prices feel scammy and scummy. Stay away.