Heleninn Suite

The photos made the hotel/apartment look nice, but our stay was disappointing. There was no parking, and the staff member we dealt with didn’t speak English. The room was very small, the bathroom was dusty, and dirt was coming out of the ventilation shafts. The shower barely worked. Worst of all, there was mold in several places. The walls were soaking wet and easy to push through. It’s outrageous that this hasn’t been fixed for people’s health.

For a short stay, the room had a lot going for it: a separate bedroom, small kitchenette, plenty of outlets, and what we needed. The hot water pressure was excellent, it stayed warm even in winter, and the staff were friendly. They let us check in early and keep our suitcase until the evening after checkout. We could walk to the waterfront in about 20 minutes, or take a bus; the metro and services to the bus station are nearby. We stayed with our five-year-old, and although the room was a little smaller than the photos suggested, it was enough for us since we were only there overnight. The downsides were the awkward entrance, since we often had to go to the next building and ask someone to open the door, and the strong cigarette smell on the stairs that drifted into the room. You can hear the mosque on the next street quite clearly in the mornings. The hotel is now called Gama, which makes it harder to find if you’re searching for Heleninn. The soundproofing isn’t great, but nights were fairly quiet.

A comfortable place to stay. Tuba Hanım is cheerful and pays close attention to cleanliness.

We were very happy with our stay. The rooms were clean, tidy 1+1 apartments with all the amenities we needed, and the staff were friendly. There’s no private parking, so we parked at a nearby lot.