I got a rate at the W Hotel Istanbul for around 90 euro’s. A few nights before I was scheduled to arrive the offered to upgrade me to a larger room with balcony and breakfast for 25 euro extra. This was apparently called a “Fabulous Room”. I took it, but in hindsight, probably wish I didn’t. The W Hotel Istanbul is an upscale trendy district of Istanbul called Besiktas. Just up the street is a bunch of coffee shops and bars and around the corner is a whole little area filled with bars, restaurants, coffee shops and a few retail shops.
As far as location goes, the W Hotel Istanbul is probably better suited to younger couples or couples without kids. You’ll enjoy the bar and restaurants within a few minutes. I wouldn’t stay here if I was with kids as being a W, the W hotel Istanbul is dark and not really what I’d say is suitable for kids. The tram is over 1.5km away and about a 15 minute brisk walk. I run about 40km every week but after a few days I was a bit sick of walking to and from the tram station. You can get a taxi, but the main road either way is a bit of a nightmare and will take you ages, especially during peak hours.
I checked in early at 7a.m which is unusual, perhaps something to do with being a Starwood member and the fact it was low season and there were bugger all people in the hotel. The room was decent, again being a W hotel, it was a bit dark. Size as alright, not huge but small either. The balcony was alright but there’s no view at all so it’s a bit pointless having the balcony, especially when it was winter, which it was when I was there, and about 7-10 degrees outside.
My room at the W Hotel Istanbul was on the top floor (4th floor) and near the very end of the corridor which was about 100 meters from the lift. Had I had Grobbler with me, we could have had loads of races back to the room, but without him, it was just a pain to walk so far, especially when the hotel was basically empty. I don’t know why they stuck me so far away, probably because of the room upgrade, which again, I really shouldn’t have paid.
Bathroom was nice good size, but the shower had one of those little hand held things that was quite powerful, or a rain shower, which was more like a drilling shower, barely enough pressure to get any soap or shampoo off you. The light in the shower didn’t work for 2-3 days and the sink faucet was a bit loose but other than that the bathroom was fine.
The bed was probably the best thing about the room at the W Hotel Istanbul. Extremely comfortable and when you got on or in it, it was pretty hard to get yourself off. That might have something to do with the fact it was rather cold outside too. It was one of those beds that you you tend to melt and mould into and become one with! One of the better beds I must say, but rather soft so if you have back problems and/or prefer harder beds, this is probably not for you.
To the breakfast. First day was fine, eggs benedict and no problems with that, not the best eggs benedict in the world but not the worst. Second day I ordered Eggs Fritata, that took about 25 minutes. Went to get some toast but there was no toaster. The couple of other dudes in the restaurant got asked what they wanted to drink, I didn’t for some reason. No big deal, it’s 5 steps to get a Turkish tea or juices, but kind of rubbed me up the same way.
Third day I must have waited 30 minutes to get an eggs benedict, I ordered some french toast after 10 minutes, that didn’t show up by the time I finished the eggs benedict so I left. Oh, and twice the eggs benedict was over cooked. My mate ordered once and his was underdone. After that I decided to stick with something basic like a cheese omelette. That didn’t take so long so stuck with that for the remained of the stay. There’s some nice fruits, the usual cereals and some breads, but overall not the best breakfast at the W Hotel Istanbul. If you have the chance to include it or not, don’t, and instead just head to one of the cafes a few minutes away. It’ll be a LOT cheaper and almost certainly nicer.
Other than that the staff in general were great. Friendly and attentive and got a couple of calls asking if everything was ok during the stay. Would I stay here again? Probably not. It’s not where most of the best things to do are and too far from the tram station to be convenient to them. If you want to get away from the main tourist area then sure, the W Hotel Istanbul is in a good location, as mentioned lots of bars, restaurants and cafes around but as with a lot of W Hotels, the whole concept of dark, “trendiness” is getting a little (a lot) old and I think it’s badly in need of a repositioning.
Overall nothing major to complain about but also nothing major to rave about. I’d stay here again if I had to, but if you want to be nearer to the major attractions, you’re better of staying in Sultan Ahmed area.
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