Crowne Plaza ISTANBUL - OLD CITY by IHG

It's an old hotel, but it's been maintained pretty well. The AC and hot water worked fine. On the first day, I was given an attic room, which required climbing stairs, and had a tiny window. I requested a room change (everyone, if you don't like a room, speak up!). On the second day, when a room became available, they moved me to a triple room (and even proactively moved my luggage to the new room). The location is very convenient, close to both the metro and tram stations, and there are plenty of dining options nearby.

The hotel is great and full of historical charm. They allowed us to check in early and even upgraded our room. The bellhop was very helpful with our luggage, and there was live music in the evening. Highly recommended!

The hotel's hygiene was quite concerning. In the first room I checked into, there was a large clump of hair on the bathroom wall. I called the front desk to complain, and the staff seemed rather indifferent. Eventually, housekeeping confirmed it hadn't been properly cleaned and moved us to a different room, but it was really quite disgusting. The hotel didn't seem particularly apologetic. As an IHG Diamond member, after a second complaint, the hotel apologized and compensated me with a plate of pastries and an apology letter. I imagine non-members would have just been brushed off. However, the hotel's location is excellent, right next to the tram stop. The Doner downstairs is also delicious, making it very convenient to walk to various attractions or take the tram. Aside from the hygiene issue, the hotel's facilities are actually quite good. The staff mentioned the building is over 100 years old. The breakfast was also tasty, and there were professional performances in the lobby every evening. There were quite a lot of tour groups, which perhaps indicates it's a suitable hotel for tourists.

The breakfast was pretty good, but the room facilities were too old and outdated, comparable to a domestic guesthouse.

The location is convenient, just a 3-minute walk to T1 station. Although the hotel feels a bit dated, it's clean and the staff are polite and helpful. The air conditioning takes a while to get cool, so you need to be patient.

Anyone who comes here will regret it!. I was stunned the moment I arrived... No doorman or greeter! I had to drag my 28-inch suitcase for almost 100 meters on a cobblestone path just to find the front desk. Is this what a five-star hotel looks like? 😅 The check-in process was even more infuriating! We arrived at 2 PM, there were plenty of empty rooms, but they squeezed us into one of the only six tiny attic rooms on the top floor! It was a cramped 18 square meters, barely enough space to turn around, and the window was as small as a cat flap. The air conditioning was set to 16 degrees but only blew hot air. Sleeping at night felt like being in a sauna, sweating profusely until morning... 💦 The most disgusting part was the racial discrimination at breakfast!! We wanted to sit at a four-person table by the hot air balloon backdrop, but a white female server immediately waved us off, saying, "No, this is a four-person table!" Yet, two white teenage kids immediately sat there and messed around, and she didn't even bat an eyelid... Later, an old white man sat there alone, and she actually knelt down to serve him a plate, smiling sweeter than a flower! 🙂 And the guy at the wrap station... I took two eggs (something you can take freely at any Atour hotel in China!), and he suddenly shouted, "You need a reservation!" I obediently made a reservation and waited 10 minutes. When I went back to ask, "Is it mine?" he gave me zero eye contact, just a cold nod... When a white person approached next, he actively went over to introduce the dishes, a complete 180-degree change in attitude! 🤬 I'm truly speechless... They're operating under the Holiday Inn brand but doing such rip-off things. "Chinese Preferred" is just a joke! I paid money only to be annoyed and suffer. To all my Istanbul-bound friends, take my advice and blacklist this place! 🚫

The hotel facilities are very old; it's the worst Crowne Plaza I've ever stayed in regarding amenities. The key card was difficult to insert into the power slot, and many parts of the room showed signs of aging. We even had an issue where the room door jammed and we couldn't get in, but thankfully a staff member helped us open it.

The hotel's location is fantastic for getting around; it's about a 5-minute walk to both the subway and tram stations. It's uniquely designed, integrated into the entire commercial district, and boasts a beautiful and grand interior. The accommodation service experience was excellent.