Xenia Hotel Istanbul Boutique - Hotel

I was sent to this property after being forced to relocate from Sultan Mansion. It seems to be part of a scheme for guests whose original hotels are construction sites. They told me this place was better, nicer and newer, but my room was unsanitary, with visible MOLD on the walls and a very strong damp smell. Hygiene was non-existent. Moving someone from a construction site into a moldy room is fraud. I bet they smell of mold nice. Avoid at all costs!

The street is quiet, with no heavy traffic, and the location has excellent connections to the tourist spots everyone should visit. The hosts were friendly and accommodating, and the price was very fair. Our room was clean, furnished with new furniture and had air conditioning. They also found an affordable, very good taxi for our group to the airport on departure day. I’d definitely book this lovely hotel again when I’m back in Istanbul.

It’s really easy to get to the Sultan Ahmet area, but the service let us down during our three-night stay. We weren’t given towels or toiletries at first, and there was no drinking water for two days. Reception only said it would arrive after we left. A very disappointing experience.

The staff were kind and friendly and tried to help, though I felt they lacked some professionalism and perhaps experience. The location is good, quiet, close to the tram and the sea, with the city center not far away. There are no beaches within walking distance. We stayed for 15 days, and the room equipment wasn’t enough for a long stay. There was no drying rack, safe or iron. Cleaning was poor: towels and sheets seemed to be changed only every 2-3 days, the bathroom wasn’t cleaned properly, and dust stayed on the floor and even on the decorations behind the bed in visible places for all 15 days. We also had electricity problems for three days, with no power at night or during the day. Without AC, the room got hot. We asked for compensation or to cancel the booking, and the staff tried to help by giving us a free room upgrade. The electricity issues seem to be common in this area. While packing, we noticed a T-shirt was missing. The cleaners were the only ones with access to the room, but the staff didn’t seem interested in resolving it.