Hotel Istiklal

The manager shouldn't be working in hospitality. He has no idea how to treat guests, though the employees seemed to try hard. They didn't look happy, and I feel sorry for them. The only reason this hotel is still in business is its location. My room as a solo traveler was ridiculously small, with a bed that barely fit, and the bathroom was a joke. I was put on the top floor with no elevator. I asked for a lower floor because I had a lot of luggage, and the manager said the hotel was full. That was a blatant lie, and I immediately stopped trusting him. On day two I was the only person in the dining room, despite his claim that it was full. Breakfast was terrible, just the bare basics. The lights are turned off during the day too, so most of the time you're climbing the stairs in the dark. Do not stay here.

The location is the only good thing. There are plenty of nearby alternatives with better prices and a better attitude, and I'm never coming back. The staff were rough and impolite. Watch the price they give you at check-in, because later they may ask for more and say, "the price was not right." It feels like a total fraud. Breakfast looks like an open buffet, but they'll count the items you take and yell at you or give you a cringe look if you take a lot or drink too much tea. You can't serve yourself tea like at other hotels. A staff member serves it, and gets mad if you choose a mix of tea and water. I stayed there last month, and it was the worst hotel in the area.

The room was good and warm when I visited in the extreme cold of January. It had A/C too, though I don't know if it works. The bread at breakfast was nice, and the dining hall is awesome. But the bathroom is extra small. My legs couldn't fit between the toilet and the wall in front of it. The price is quite high for one night.

The people managing the hotel were nice, and the location was great. But for 300 liras, the dark rooms and bad bathrooms weren't worth it. The food was dry, the room had no good lighting, and the walls were really dark. The shower and bathroom were combined, which made everything hard, and the beds were so-so. You could pay an extra 100 liras and book at Hilton for amazing quality. Book at a known brand hotel with a 4.0 rating or above 😃