Hilton Garden Inn Konya, Turkey

The location is convenient for the cultural center, Rumi’s mausoleum, and everything else nearby. The staff were kind and helpful, and the restaurant’s Iftar meal and bambya soup were good. Still, the room problems ruined the stay, and I wish I could give zero stars. The hotel looks beautiful outside, but I’d warn Hilton management that this has affected how I see the brand. We changed rooms four times during one night. The first shower wouldn’t drain; when a plumber came, brown residue came up, so we moved. The second room was beside the highway and far too noisy to sleep in. The third smelled of smoke. The fourth was over 30 degrees when we arrived. Staff said they couldn’t cool it and told us to turn off the air and open the window. We worried bats or something might fly in, but did it anyway. By morning, with no air coming in, the room smelled of smoke again. Although the rooms were advertised as non-smoking, guests smoke in them and the smell clings to the furniture. Smoke residue can also linger, which is unsafe for young children. We asked several times whether rooms had previously been smoking rooms and staff denied it, then later admitted people do smoke in them. They weren’t upfront about it. Management didn’t apologize or offer a refund, just explained problems away, such as saying smoking wasn’t allowed on non-smoking floors even though people do it.

We stayed six days as a family of five and had a wonderful time. The rooms were spacious, quiet, clean, and had a great city view. We enjoyed lunch and dinner at the restaurant as well as the delicious food. The breakfast buffet was a highlight, with lots of choice, including vegan and vegetarian food, diet options, and almond, oat, and coconut milk. The hotel was modern and very clean, and the staff were kind and ready to help. It’s in a great spot: about five minutes on foot to the Mevlana Museum and ten to the city center. On the way we passed museums, semazen shows, cultural centers, sightseeing buses, and plenty of souvenir shops. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Konya.

The room was comfortable, clean, and lovely, and breakfast had a delicious amount of variety. We also had a superb dinner at Hilton Graden Restaurant. Service was quick, and the chicken fajita was the best. Manager Irfan Eros was especially hospitable and helpful. Prices in Konya were lower than in Istanbul.

The location is a real plus, only about a 10-minute walk from the Mevlana Museum, and breakfast was generous and high quality. The hotel’s cleanliness and upkeep, though, fell short of what I expected from the Hilton group.