Starwood Preferred Guest - W Istanbul [Master Thread]

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060802/20060802005601.html?.v=1

W Hotels Heads for the Heart of Istanbul, Where Fashion, Food and Art Meet Storied History
Wednesday August 2, 10:22 am ET

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2006--W Hotels Worldwide, the fastest growing luxury hotel brand in the world, announced today plans for a new hotel in Istanbul, Turkey. The W Istanbul will embody a multicultural, multireligious city, situated at the point where Europe meets Asia, where centuries meet contemporary arts and where tradition meets trends.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT - News), the parent company to W Hotels, entered into a management agreement with Akaretler Otel Isletmeciligive Turizm A.S., a company controlled by Mr. Serdar Bilgili, a prominent Turkish businessman, who will develop the property. With its east-west roots, the W Istanbul will complement the other four W hotels planned for this region, in Barcelona, Athens, Dubai and Doha. Starwood will manage the hotel.

Scheduled to open in late 2007, the W Istanbul will serve as the centerpiece of the redevelopment of the landmark Akaretler Row Houses in Besiktas. The historical Row was constructed by Sultan Adbulaziz in the l870's to house workers of the Dolmabahce Palace, a symbol of the magnificence and decadence of the 19th-century Ottoman Empire.

Architect/designer Geomim, one of the most creative firms in Turkey, has been chosen to combine this authentic Ottoman-style design with the unique signature design elements for which the W brand is celebrated, including the Living Room experience, where guests and locals can socialize, relax and unwind or recharge in a communal setting. Located in the Besiktas district of Istanbul, known for its destination restaurants, bars and cafes, the W Istanbul will be in close proximity to the Bosphorus Strait and Nisantasi, the city's most fashionable shopping district. The hotel will also be a stone's throw away from the Museum of Painting and Sculpture and a short drive to the Old City, the Blue Mosque and the Istanbul Modern art museum.

"Istanbul's dynamic mix of history and modernity make it a fantastic backdrop for W," said Ross Klein, President of W Hotels. "The surfacing of world-class restaurants, art galleries and luxury retailers in the city contribute to Istanbul's emergence as a favorite international business and leisure destination."

"Istanbul is one of the most exciting cities in the region for all of Starwood's leading lifestyle brands, and we are thrilled to be reentering the market with W which is a perfect match for the energy and style of the city," said Roeland Vos, President of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East.

The W Istanbul will have approximately 130 rooms, including suites and duplex suites, many with their own private gardens. Guests will indulge in the W signature beds with feather-top mattresses, 350 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and goose down comforters. They'll also be treated to Whatever/Whenever service, the hotel's 24-hour concierge that can provide whatever guests want (from a pair of running shoes to private jet service), whenever they want it. The third floor common areas will offer views of the Bosphorus, the renowned waterway straight between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

Mr. Serdar Bilgili is a prominent Turkish businessman and notable figure in Istanbul's social and sporting communities. He is active in textiles, construction and hospitality and owns the highly exclusive and successful boutique hotel, Ajia, on the banks of the Bosphorus. Mr. Bilgili is perhaps best known for his role as President of the Besiktas football club from 2000 to 2004.

W Hotels is a global lifestyle brand with 20 properties in the most vibrant cities around the world. Inspiring and indulging its guests with thoughtful, refreshing and stylish experiences, signature restaurants, bars and destination spas, W has become the fastest growing luxury hotel brand in the world. Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design, comfort and cultural influences from fashion to music to art and everything in between. Recent openings include W's first property in Asia, W Seoul - Walkerhill and its first property in Canada, W Montreal. W Residences, offering the W lifestyle at home, have been announced for Las Vegas, Hollywood, South Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Philadelphia and Hoboken. W's first residential property, W Dallas Victory, opened in June of 2006. Internationally, W has announced plans for hotels in the Maldives, Barcelona, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Santiago, Athens, Doha and Dubai. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.


Source: W Hotels Worldwide

Does anyone have any information regarding the W Istanbul? Specifically, are they still on track for an April 1st, 2008 opening? Any ideas on category
(4 or 5) or when reservations will be accepted?

Many thanks!

It was supposed to open on January 1, 2008, and the opening was just delayed about a month ago to April 1, so it is looks like it is not going to open as originally scheduled. There probably will not be another update until February or March. The W in Doha just got pushed back from January 1 to the summer. They won't announce SPG affiliation or category until rooms are for sale.

I just booked an award stay at the W Istanbul for an October 2008 trip. It's a category 5. I'm sure there will be other posts after the April 1st, 2008 opening, but I'll be sure to post some comments when we return.

Does anyone know whether the W Istanbul will have an outdoor pool? The info on the starwood site is very sparse.

Does anyone know whether the W Istanbul will have an outdoor pool? The info on the starwood site is very sparse.

From what I can tell, there won't be a swimming pool at this property.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Have a last minute trip to Istanbul coming up April 4th -- booked the W on points. Will let you know how it goes.

Is it really open?

We're booked there on for 5 days starting April 17th. I'm wondering what to expect. Any feedback?

I just completed a three-night stay here. It's been open since around 04/01, with the complete opening in early May (so I hear). I would give it a mixed review overall.

The best part of the hotel is the setting. It's in Besiktas one block off the Bosphorous down the hill from Macka, within striking distance of both Taksim and Ortakoy (probably half-way between the two). It's arguably the best place to be in Istanbul as a tourist (assuming that you don't want to be in the old city). The building and street that it's on are gorgeous -- they redeveloped two blocks of old row houses, which come together in a "V" where the hotel is. The buildings are painted sort of a brown with white trim, with striking white lighting on the outside. My room had a terrace, from which the views were also beautiful (of a street, mind you, not a skyline or the Bosphorous). The rest of the buildings are, or will soon be, upscale stores and services. The architecture is really something.

The lobby is typical W -- dark, with modern furnishings and pulsating music. It's pretty small as well. There's a small check-in area, then you go up a ramp through a curtain to a second lobby, which has another single desk (a conceirge perhaps) and the elevators. All of the floors and walls are black. The layout is strange, as I suppose the hotel is on a steep hill. There are sort of staggered half-floors, and some of the rooms are so split. There are four floors overall. There is no pool, but a "day spa" which I didn't visit.

My first room (more on that later), which was billed as an "upgrade," was long and narrow, with the typically modern, avant garde, furnishings. The room size was OK; maybe a bit bigger than the average room at the InterContinental, Hyatt, or Ritz-Carlton. The sheets were extremely comfortable and towels plush. The TV was strange -- it was in a wall unit that was basically a brick wall, with sculptures on the left and/or right sides of the mounted TV and the whole thing covered with smoke-colored glass., about nine inches away, parallel to the wall. This was a lens over the TV that made viewing less clear. And, since the TV was on the opposite side of the room from my bed, it presented a volume challenge for some channels. There was also a large work area with a table lamp, and only European style 220V power plugs. Channel selection was average, but they had pay-per-view movies, which is unusual for the city.

The lighting system consisted of buttons for "wake," "work," "sleep," "wonder" (red mood lighting), etc. The room also featured two VoIP phones, one cordless, with menu options for ordering room service, getting an internet (wireless, TYL 33 per day) password, and other features. The room had an iPOD docking station and Bose stereo unit with a CD with mood music.

The bathroom was also typical W -- very elegant and modern. The shower was a large room with two options, a hand-held wand or a rain-type showerhead on the ceiling, whose diameter was enough to entirely cover someone showering. It was very nice. There was also a cord, like one that you would use to close blinds, hanging from the ceiling of the shower. I pulled this as hard as I thought I should, but couldn't figure out its purpose. (One note: There is no door on the bathroom. The shower and toilet were in separate small rooms, but the sink area between them was just off of the bedroom.)

The hotel has an attractive, modern two-level restaurant and bar. I didn't patronize them, but they had a nice drink menu with typical silly Istanbul prices (YTL 29 for a cocktail). The menu was a type of Asian-fusion, that didn't look too interesting. Off of the lobby there is a room with low sofas and tables, which serves as a lounge I suppose.

The one major issue that I had was with the climate control system. When I entered the room, it was unbelievably hot (29C), with no way to control it! It had a typical on/off/auto menu and temperature control, but none of them worked. When I tried to turn it on, nothing happened. When it was off, it would go on periodically for no apparent reason. I opened the windows and accepted it the first night. The second day, various rounds of technicians couldn't fix it (despite several promises), so I moved to a different room at the offer of the manager. The second room was more or less the same as the first, except more square. In the second room, the temperature was reasonable, but they told me please not to touch the climate control unit. Not a great solution, either. Let's chalk this up to the newness of the facility.

I made a lot of service requests, and the staff was very responsive. In the course of my temperature travails, I spoke with someone from the "welcome office" and a manager, who were both articulate and helpful.

When I checked in, the first agent had difficulty. I had separate reservations for successive nights that I wanted to merge, but she didn't grasp this. It was apparent that she was reading from a script. Eventually someone else came over to help. Three separate officials greeted me, introduced themselves, and wished me a pleasant stay. I assume that this is because of the newness of the property. It's noteworthy that the service was quite opposite to the usual aloof, "I am too hip to actually help you" attitude of W's in the U.S. at which I have stayed. I asked if they had a shoe shine, and they said, no, but we will take care of it for you, which they did promptly (at a charge of YTL 10 -- not horrible, but most peer hotels in Istanbul have complimentary shoe shine). I also asked at various times for an iron and board, power plug converter, newspaper, cheese plate, and other amenities, which always came promptly. (I will be curious to see what's on my bill.) At one point I asked for a few bananas, and they came along with a strawberry smoothie, which the person who delivered it said were compliments of the house.

Housekeeping was fine, but a few minor gripes -- they didn't replace the lotion, nor the wine glasses (even though I had a half-drunk bottle of their wine corked on the tray). But overall I felt that they did a good job.

So, in sum, I would say that I received the typical W facilities (including some nifty features in the room), and better-than-expected service, but one major glitch that I hope will be resolved in the future. It's worth a try.

mecabq, thanks for the detailed description of your stay. I'll be there for one night at the end of the month. I really appreciate having some idea of what to expect, since this is a brand new hotel. I will be flying in and out of IST, any suggestions for a car service?

I have never taken a car service from the airport, because the prices that I have been quoted by the hotels were ridiculous (like 150 euro). I didn't ask at the W, however. There are also booths at the airport, with also very high rates (80 euro, if I remember correctly at one that I checked). I have never researched the option of pre-booking a car service from some other non-hotel provider, which would presumably be possible for less.

A taxi from the airport to the W should be YTL 40-60 (about $31-47 at today's exchange rate), depending on the traffic. My ride from the hotel to the airport yesterday was YTL 46 with virtually no traffic. If you really want to save money, take the Turkish Airlines Havas bus to Taksim for YTL 9, then either walk if you have no luggage (15-20 minutes down the hill) or take a taxi from there (about YTL 5-10).

Also, a few amendments to my trip report:

-- I misspoke when I said that the walls and floors in the lobby were all black. On my way out I noticed that I had exaggerated. The outer lobby actually has gray marble floors and mostly gray walls. Overall, I found the lobby decor elegant.

-- Most of the room service items that I mentioned in my report (cheese plate, bananas, one of the two bottles of wine that I ordered) were not on my bill. I don't know whether this was because they were just too disorganized to charge me, this was an accommodation for my troubles (although no one acknowledged that), or they were part of the Platinum package, but I didn't ask. (Or maybe I will see another charge for them later.)

-- They welcomed me as an SPG Platinum member when I checked in and asked me what I would like for my Platinum amenity -- bottle of wine, $10 mini-bar credit, 500 points, or free movie if I remember correctly. I told them that I would like to inform them when I checked out. When I did so, I mentioned that I would like the mini-bar credit, which they granted. So that whole process worked efficiently.

-- I had one other hiccup. The wireless internet in the room went down for a good chunk of the morning on the last day. An annoying aspect is that the VoIP phone went down too (I guess the whole Local Area Network in the hotel went down), so I couldn't call to report it. (Also, I failed to mention before that when I changed rooms on the second day, they apparently failed to initiatilize the new room so neither the TV nor the phone worked. So, I had to go to the front desk.) The front desk agent basically shrugged his shoulders and said that it was a new hotel and still getting its systems up and running.

If you are not overburdened with luggage, the cheapest way to get into the city is on the metro/tram. It leaves right from the airport. Take it to Zeytinburnu where you connect with the tram. The tram goes to Kabitash. You can just walk north along the same street for a few blocks and you are right at the W. It is 2.60 New Turkish Lira for the whole trip and you don't have to worry about getting stuck in traffic.

Thanks for the detailed review, mecabq. I am looking forward to staying at this property when I visit Istanbul. Can you please comment on the Living Room scene - the vibe, crowd, quality of bartenders, is it a happening place to hang out etc?

Thanks. :)

Thanks for the detailed review, mecabq. I am looking forward to staying at this property when I visit Istanbul. Can you please comment on the Living Room scene - the vibe, crowd, quality of bartenders, is it a happening place to hang out etc?

Thanks. :)

I'm sorry, I can't. Besides wandering through in the early evening just to inspect the venue and the menu, I didn't spend any time there.

I just spent a week there -- had much the same experience as mecabq.

Ultra-friendly, NOT typical too-hip W staff. Slightly disorganized, but caring. Odd, not very annoying housekeeping differences like shampoo not replaced or towel not changed.

And one incredibly annoying problem: three different people tried to get through to me in the room at least ten times total -- and I received one call. ARGGGGHH. Massive headache, enough to make me write a complaint letter.

Had two great meals at the Spice Market, their restaurant -- the first one free because it was so new. Wouldn't recommend the steak, though -- very gristly.

If you are headed to Sultanahmet/Old town area, walk down to the waterfront highway and catch a cab there -- you'll save yourself ten minutes of aggro due to the one way streets and terrible traffic.

And be sure and have correct change for the taxi -- don't fall for the "you gave me a 5, not a 50" bs that some taxi drivers will try and pull (these are mostly the ones who hang around the tourist hot spots waiting for a mark -- if you see a driver near Topkapi looking in no hurry to be anywhere, he's likely on the prowl).

Thanks for the detailed review, mecabq. I am looking forward to staying at this property when I visit Istanbul. Can you please comment on the Living Room scene - the vibe, crowd, quality of bartenders, is it a happening place to hang out etc?

Thanks. :)

I'd say, no, not happening yet -- but it may be after their official opening, the beginning of May -- they're still considering April the soft opening -- and a good thing, if you ask me :)

Nice vibe, though -- and very W in Turkey -- if you like them, you'll like it.

Thanks, renila! :)
Can't wait to visit Turkey and staying at the W IST already - unfortunately not for a few more months yet.

So, has anyone figured out what the cord hanging from the ceiling of the shower is for? Maybe you can investigate, QF009.

So, has anyone figured out what the cord hanging from the ceiling of the shower is for? Maybe you can investigate, QF009.

It's clearly labeled for emergency use. The bell boy told me that as well. Best I can tell this is useful if you drown under the "Rain Forest" shower head or, as is more likely, flood the bathroom.

Just completed a four day, 5 night stay at the new W Istanbul. Overall nice hotel, nice location. Slightly small room, but much larger than the W in NYC that I stayed at once.

Best features: Location and the comfort of the heavenly bed and the heavenly pillows.

Some "unusual" features in our "upgraded room" (from a standard "wonderful" room to something that might have been called a "spendific" room).
-- The bathroom is part of the bedroom with all the key parts (shower, toilet, sink) build in like closets. Strange design. Room only had one sink which was inconvenient -- should have two.
-- LCD TV is behind a glass panel which looks nice but muffles the sound so you end up turning it too loud.
-- There was a nice patio connected to my room, but it had a separate key that required you to call security to lock or unlock it. Strange as this is a private patio.
-- The "rain forest" shower leaked into the bathroom, but there were plenty of nice thick towels to mop it up.

Not sure there were many guests there yet. Pretty dead in lounge and bar. Saturday night had more people. Young, well dressed group. Black and white attire was appropriate.

Overall nice place. Would definitely stay there again.

It's clearly labeled for emergency use. The bell boy told me that as well. Best I can tell this is useful if you drown under the "Rain Forest" shower head or, as is more likely, flood the bathroom.

Thanks. I didn't see any such labeling in either of the two rooms I stayed in. But that makes sense (I guess).

Thanks. I didn't see any such labeling in either of the two rooms I stayed in. But that makes sense (I guess).

Many hotels in Europe have that pull cord in the bathtub for emergency purposes. I've seen it in Italy, Spain, Switzerland etc. Lucky you didn't pull it while in the tub, and have the hotel staff arrive while you were still in there:D

One more "feature". The lights are all computer controlled -- "Wonder", "Work", "Watch", etc -- all pre-set to turn different lights on or off and at different levels of intensity.

What is really unique though was the first night we were there, we had two short middle of the night power outages. By themselves, no big deal. But the light-god computers decided that the best response was to turn all lights on full blast when the power was restored. This scared the you know what out of my girl friend who thought someone had broke into the room and turned the lights on full......

We got apologies and free smoothies (to compensate) the next morning.

Very strange design.

This isn't just a place to stay for the night, it's Istanbul's vision of the future

Visitors to Istanbul come to see East meet West, old meet new. It's a tourism imperative that has been successfully realised at the W Istanbul, which officially opened last week.

The funky luxury brand from American hotel giant Starwood has taken over the Akaretler Row Houses near the Bosphorus, the historic former home of the guards of the Dolmabahce Palace. Inside, Ottoman glamour has been applied to the exotic, even erotic, W signature style: elaborate latticework recalls the screens of a harem, clever paint effects suggest that floors and ceilings are covered in gold.

But it isn't just the look that is of interest. The hotel is the centrepiece of a vast redevelopment of a swathe of the Besiktas district leased by the government to Sidar Bilgili, the Turkish businessman working with Starwood, on the condition that the buildings would be preserved. As well as the hotel, the surrounding streets have been turned into a classy shopping enclave that has already attracted Jimmy Choo and Marc Jacobs. It's a tourism model for the future.

The bedroom

The fusion of styles continues in the 134 rooms, some of which have outdoor space. Cosy beds and showers styled in hammam marble, 32in flat-screen TVs, iPod docks and Wi-Fi are standard.

The food and drink

Enjoy a drink in Sip, the lobby lounge, or in the main bar, The Living Room, where meals are also served. Dine in Spice Market, by the chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the Manhattan restaurant's first outing as a brand.

The extras

Work out in the gym, Sweat, or relax with a treatment in the Estee Lauder day spa. The Whatever Whenever service aims to meet any other needs.

The access

Children and small pets welcome. One room has been modified for guests with disabilities.

The bill

From £319 per room per night. British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com) offers return flights to Istanbul from £158.

The address

W Istanbul, Suleyman Seba Cad No 22, Akaretler, Istanbul, Turkey (00800 325 25252; whotels.com).

I arrived @ 8:30pm and left @ 6:15am, so had little time to appreciate the hotel in any real way. The restaurant was crawling with very attentive and not terribly busy staff. The food was good and expensive, I did not even bother with wine, especially since I was dining solo. I did receive acknowledgment of my gold status on check in and a room upgrade, to a mini-suite, I think it's just a bigger room with complimentary bottled water and thick white bathrobes.
I was in transit, and the directions offered by mecabq for using the Turkish airlines bus to Taksim Sq., then a taxi to the hotel from the square worked very well. The buses run very frequently to and from the airport, at least every thirty minutes, and a Sunday evening and early Monday morning trip took ~ 35 minutes each way. The taxi fare was 7 Lira. The bus was 9 lira. I might consider another stay here, but for those traveling as a tourist, the proximity to the more popular sites of Istanbul is not great.

http://www.luxist.com/2008/05/20/take-a-tour-of-the-new-w-istanbul/
some additional pictures

Given the pricing of this hotel- anyone care to compare it to the Four Seasons??
I am interested which FTers would prefer.

i stayed in montreal and mexico city and did not have this impression that the staff was too aloof - they were just the opposite to the normal chain hotels - somehome more interested in a client and smily


the problem in TR is usually language - they are really nice and genuine people but they don t speak languages that well




[It's noteworthy that the service was quite opposite to the usual aloof, "I am too hip to actually help you" attitude of W's in the U.S. at which I have stayed]

Anyone know what they do offer for platinum guests?

The access

Children and small pets welcome. One room has been modified for guests with disabilities.



The pictures of the rooms on SPG.com look very romantic. With that in mind would they have created any rooms that could fit a family? Has anyone seen a room that looks like it would be appropriate for a family?

Given the pricing of this hotel- anyone care to compare it to the Four Seasons??
I am interested which FTers would prefer.

Do you mean the new Four Seasons Bosphorous, or the existing one in Sultanhamet? If the latter, then it's hard to compare. I'd rate it as the typical Four Seasons versus the typical W -- the Four Seasons is elegant and intimate, more upscale. The W is more lively. The Four Seasons is also tiny; something like 70 rooms and no pool.

But the most important difference is the location. Most first-time visitors prefer to be in Sultanhamet. The hotel is near the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Grand Bazaar, and other main sights in the old city. It's a touristy area, but of course worth seeing. Having been to Istanbul a lot, I prefer the W location -- just off the Bosphorous, down the hill from Taksim, near Macka, Ortakoy, and Besiktas, three of my favorite neighborhoods. There is a lot more to do just walking around and getting the local flavor in my opinion.

The new Four Seasons Bosphorous is located close to the W. It is supposed to open around July, and I can't wait to stay there. It's rather ugly from the outside, in my opinion, but if the setting is anything like the Kempinski Cirigan Palace just a bit farther down the Bosphorous, it will be worth a try.

I'm just back from a stay at the W istanbul.

I willl talk of the new four seasons in a moment as someone was looking for a comparison.

To be honest I have a lot of bads and some goods to say about the place.
Firstly there was no platinum recognition-no amenity of any description offered.
We did get an upgrade from a wonderfull to a spectactular room but it was in the basement.It was like staying in a dungeon.
Theres no bathroom just a shower with a door and a toilet with a door.There was very little light coming in from the tiny patio garden outside.

In fairness,the shower had more water and water pressure than I've seen in a hotel but unfortunately the drain couldn't take it so after 2 minutes in the shower or less the room was flooded.
Another major bad about the hotel is the shocking lack of english with most of the staff.
Turkish is a country unique language and you'd expect a western themed novelty hotel to have staff with a cursary grasp of English.
That made it very difficult to order things especially in the restaurant.
I went without my breakfast because of this on one of the mornings as by the time I got it through to the waiter what I wanted everyone else had finished their american [a word they did understand]

I agree with RobUAIntl that it's best features are its very very comfortable bed and the location.
The terrace bar upstairs was a nice place to relax and have a few beers.

Now onto the new Four seasons.
Theres simply no comparison.The two hotels are in different leagues and price brackets.You can't compare apples and oranges.
We went down there for a look and ended up putting in the evening there and having a very relaxing time wishing that we could stay there next time-that says it all-I left a short post about that visit here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9915227#post9915227).

Im heading to IST 8/28 for 5 nights for a first time visit to Turkey. I'd be inclined to choose an Four Seasons or the Ritz Carlton, but I am often pleased by new build W's. Im getting quoted $90 US/night + 4,750 Spoints/night for the W and have a hard time passing that up given that the prevailing rate is 250+ Euros.

Is that Points & $ offer a good deal?

Thanks for the heads up on cash and points availability at the end of August. The website showed no availability so I had booked free nights. Just called and got it switched to cash and points.

I just completed a 5 night stay at the W in Istanbul and I thought I'd share my experience with everyone. This might get long winded.

Location:

The hotel is located right in the middle of a SUPER trendy and expensive shopping street, Suleman Seba. There is a Marc Jacobs and a Jimmy Choo directly across from the entrance. The W's architecture fits in very well with the brown rowhouse design.

However unless you went to Istanbul only for super trendy shopping, the location really isn't as great as advertised and definitely not the "heart of Istanbul." The Istanbul tram's (light rail) last stop is at Kabatas and the W is in Besiktas. It's a good 15 or 20 minute walk from the tram station to the W. Also, as the W is so new that few taxi drivers really know where it is (I of course can't blame the W for this, and this will improve over time) so definitely have a little map out with the W marked, it will save a lot of grunting and pointing (unless you speak Turkish).

Though the hotel is near a nice enough market area with some good kebab and baklava shops, the main shopping/sightseeing/tourist street is Istiklal. As the crow flies, it doesn't look too far from the W on a map, you just walk through a large urban park to get there. Other hotels (the Hilton, Ritz Carlton, Intercontinental, Sheraton etc.) are all located on the other side of the park right on or next to Istiklal. However, walking through the park on foot really isn't very easy. Not only is it a deep ravine (think lots of uphill walking in the hot August sun), the park also includes lots of consulate and government buildings, and often we'd get turned around by friendly but stern Turkish soldiers while trying to traverse it. Therefore we had to walk all the way around the park (essentially walking the southern border to the Kabatas tram station and then either walking up the hill to Istiklal or taking the funicular) - but that takes a really long time. We ended up spending a lot more on taxis than we originally planned.

Moral of the story ... Our friends stayed at the Hilton and we were very envious of their location by the end of the trip. There are plans to extend the tram up to Besiktas and once this happens the W will be much more convenient but this is likely years away.

Platinum recognition/amenities:

Granted I was on an SPG award stay, so maybe things would be different had I paid. However for me there was no upgrade, no welcome gift, and no plat recognition whatsoever.

Staff:

The staff was very warm and friendly. Always greeting and smiling. I found this refreshing compared to some other W hotels where the staff is purposely cold (I'm beautiful - you're beautiful - don't crease the botox).

Room:

We had a regular King room. It was small but well appointed. The bed was *AMAZING* and the flat screen TV kinda hovered behind a glass wall with some hanging art which was kinda cool. There were a few annoying things about the room that I found increasingly frustrating. There is a rain shower however it is very small and the nozzle on the ceiling sprays water over a wide area. Therefore, there is no way of standing in the shower in any corner and not getting wet (as most people tend to do until they get the temperature right). If you stand outside the shower with the door open, the rain nozzle sprays all over outside the little shower. Before showering we always had to put towels down on a several foot radius outside of it. Of course, I love rain showers, and once you get the temp right and the door closed it's fantastic.

The lights in the room also were a little weird. There was a mirror/sink/vanity area that had two lights in it. One was controlled by a switch, and the other only turned off and on by completely closing some doors that covered the whole area. Therefore if you wanted that light off (say, to sleep) you had to close all the doors. Hence it's impossible to "sleep with the bathroom door open" ... Just a little peeve that got to me.

Common areas:

The lobby and common areas tend to be very very dark (the lobby is practically pitch black) in the W style. This is more of a matter of taste, but for me I find it annoying to walk into a totally dark room in the middle of a gloriously bright Turkish afternoon. There is a beautiful and well appointed lounge area just off the main lobby called "Sip". Great ottomans, beautiful rugs and free wireless.

Amenities (read this part):

This hotel's food and extras are REALLY REALLY REALLY EXPENSIVE. Like insultingly so. Now - I'm not naive, and I've stayed at many many W's (Montreal, San Francisco, Seattle, New York etc.) so I'm speaking from experience. We were appalled to no end by the cost of things from the restaurant, bar, and minibar. Even though I may have "afforded" it, I just wouldn't stand for paying these prices. They were prohibitive and very disappointing as there was no way we could go to our hotel bar or have breakfast at our hotel.

For comparision purposes, right now 1 USD = ~1.16 Turkish Lira. Here are some of the things that we were faced with:

A small bag of cashews from the Minibar = 16 Lira
A vodka soda and a glass of house red wine from the hotel bar (sitting at the bar, not room service or anything) = **44 Lira**
A single serving Smirnoff (tiny bottle) from the minibar = 24 Lira
COFFEE (yes, a single coffee for one person) from restaurant/bar = 9 Lira
Simit (similar to a bagel but smaller that you can buy on the street for half a Lira) and cream cheese = 16 Lira ... with smoked salmon = 32 Lira
ONE specialty cocktail (ala Martini or something) at the hotel bar = 29 Lira
In room Internet per day = 25 Lira

I could go on and on. I'm not exaggerating one bit either. In a country where the USD still has a little power, and restaurants (even nice ones), bars, and cafes are very reasonable, I didn't feel very welcome by these prices at the W. Our friends at the Hilton had access to a club lounge (he's Hhonors Gold) that was stocked all day with free alcohol and a full spread. At the W we felt like we were trapped by these prices. Really unreasonable.

The bottom line:

This is a very aesthetically pleasing hotel with a friendly staff. The rooms are fine and the location is nice but not great for tourists. If you are visting Turkey as a tourist, I wouldn't recommend staying here. Stay at one of the other hotels on the other side of the Park (the Istanbul Hilton was beautiful and also had a large pool with cabanas) that has easy access to the tram, Istiklal, and the funicular. Istanbul is an amazing and unforgettable city and I highly recommend a visit to anyone looking for vacation ideas.

Just back from Istanbul and had a great stay at the W. The W insider contacted me ahead of time and made arrangements to have my room ready for my early morning arrival. Received an upgrade to a studio suite (on a cash and points booking) and got several bottles of water and some nuts/dried fruit along with the 500 point welcome gift. Also got a couple of the glass things to ward off the evil eye.

The staff was great and helped my friend and I to navigate a promotion to get free tickets to the Tarkan concert at the Atakoy marina. The neighborhood is nice and as we had been to Istanbul several times before and didn't need to go to Sultanahmet, we were able to explore more of areas around the hotel. Just down the street there are several good bakeries, places to get borek, and some good shopping further up the hill.

The bed was amazingly comfortable. As we both travelled most of the night to get to Istanbul, we intended to take a short nap in the afternoon and ended up sleeping a full 9 hours until 1130PM. Everybody stays out late in the nice summer evenings, so we were still able to go out and get some dinner in the Taksim area. The rain shower was great too and all of the staff we came in contact with were very friendly and knew English well. The concierges were also very helpful. The room had a bose system which connected to an IPOD as well to play music.

The room service costs listed in the menu book actually include tax and delivery so although expensive, by large city hotel standards, the prices were not outrageous. Pasta for dinner (which was very good) was $18 all inclusive which I did not feel was excessive. I've had crappy pizza at LAX airport hotels that cost far more. There are plenty of places to eat in Istanbul in all price ranges so as is the case with any hotel food, if it is too expensive, it is easy enough to get food elsewhere. Having just come from the Sheraton Aleppo which had amazing food for just a couple of dollars, it was definitely a step up but prices of everything in Turkey are more than in Syria. Internet and phone calls were very expensive though it is the same in Egypt so it was not a great surprise. It was around $8 for a local call. It is a little less to buy a Turkcell Sim card so this would be a better option for the next time.

Overall it was a great stay.

By the way, the Sheraton Aleppo was fantastic. It is only around $100/night and has very friendly staff, excellent food, and nice, modern rooms. It is right in the center of the new city and a short walk away from the old city, the souq, and the citadel. It was much nicer than either the Le Meridien Damascus or Lattakia and the staff was very well trained and all spoke excellent English. They were really trying hard to make guests feel welcome. The lounge is nice too and they have a lap top which can be used to check e-mail or do work which was great too. Now that Turkish has a non-stop from Istanbul to Aleppo/Halab/Halap it makes it an easy side trip from Istabul.

I just completed a 5 night stay at the W in Istanbul and I thought I'd share my experience with everyone. This might get long winded.

Location:

The hotel is located right in the middle of a SUPER trendy and expensive shopping street, Suleman Seba. There is a Marc Jacobs and a Jimmy Choo directly across from the entrance. The W's architecture fits in very well with the brown rowhouse design.

However unless you went to Istanbul only for super trendy shopping, the location really isn't as great as advertised and definitely not the "heart of Istanbul." The Istanbul tram's (light rail) last stop is at Kabatas and the W is in Besiktas. It's a good 15 or 20 minute walk from the tram station to the W. Also, as the W is so new that few taxi drivers really know where it is (I of course can't blame the W for this, and this will improve over time) so definitely have a little map out with the W marked, it will save a lot of grunting and pointing (unless you speak Turkish). Agreed.
That was our experience when we stayed there.

Though the hotel is near a nice enough market area with some good kebab and baklava shops, the main shopping/sightseeing/tourist street is Istiklal. As the crow flies, it doesn't look too far from the W on a map, you just walk through a large urban park to get there. Other hotels (the Hilton, Ritz Carlton, Intercontinental, Sheraton etc.) are all located on the other side of the park right on or next to Istiklal. However, walking through the park on foot really isn't very easy. Not only is it a deep ravine (think lots of uphill walking in the hot August sun), the park also includes lots of consulate and government buildings, and often we'd get turned around by friendly but stern Turkish soldiers while trying to traverse it. Therefore we had to walk all the way around the park (essentially walking the southern border to the Kabatas tram station and then either walking up the hill to Istiklal or taking the funicular) - but that takes a really long time. We ended up spending a lot more on taxis than we originally planned.Also mirrors our experience.


Platinum recognition/amenities:

Granted I was on an SPG award stay, so maybe things would be different had I paid. However for me there was no upgrade, no welcome gift, and no plat recognition whatsoever.We were on a fully paid rack rate stay booked through SPG.
As platinum we got no upgrade either and in fact were in what I would consider the worst row of rooms in the hotel-the underground ones.
Our shower also flooded the room.

Staff:

The staff was very warm and friendly. Always greeting and smiling. I found this refreshing compared to some other W hotels where the staff is purposely cold (I'm beautiful - you're beautiful - don't crease the botox). Yeah they were mostly friendly but some were poor with their English.
Also we had to wait half an hour for our breakfast order one morning and eventually got up and left...

Room:

We had a regular King room. It was small but well appointed. The bed was *AMAZING* and the flat screen TV kinda hovered behind a glass wall with some hanging art which was kinda cool. There were a few annoying things about the room that I found increasingly frustrating. There is a rain shower however it is very small and the nozzle on the ceiling sprays water over a wide area. Therefore, there is no way of standing in the shower in any corner and not getting wet (as most people tend to do until they get the temperature right). If you stand outside the shower with the door open, the rain nozzle sprays all over outside the little shower. Before showering we always had to put towels down on a several foot radius outside of it. Of course, I love rain showers, and once you get the temp right and the door closed it's fantastic. Our shower flooded the room constantly because you couldn't be in it more that a minute or two before the water was above the rim under the door.
The pressure was fantastic but the drain was incapable of taking it away.
That made for a big mess as in the heat,you would shower in the morning and again in the evening.


Common areas:

The lobby and common areas tend to be very very dark (the lobby is practically pitch black) in the W style. This is more of a matter of taste, but for me I find it annoying to walk into a totally dark room in the middle of a gloriously bright Turkish afternoon. There is a beautiful and well appointed lounge area just off the main lobby called "Sip". Great ottomans, beautiful rugs and free wireless. Yeah,the darkness is a matter of taste and to be expected of a W.
I loved the lounge area and the bar up on the Terrace.It can be very busy of an evening so it's a good place to have a few beers and the service there is very good.
However it was the little things like a decent plat room upgrade,a decent breakfast service and that flooding issue that let me down such that I wouldn't recommend.

Does anyone else have experience of being upgraded to a Suite at this hotel? I see one reply that they got the smallest one, a 'studio suite', which seems like a Junior Suite really. Maybe they have a "no-upgrade" policy for their nicest rooms there? The web site has several suites above the Studio Suite, but nobody here has gotten one.
I think I will email the hotel directly and ask what their policy is, since the replies here seem to show that, even on paid stays, upgrades are sometimes nonexistent.
They have a 3rd night free offer now, at 245 Euros/night for the first 2 nights, which works out to about 163 Euros/night for 3 nights.
A good deal, since most 5* hotels are asking much more.

Does anyone else have experience of being upgraded to a Suite at this hotel? I see one reply that they got the smallest one, a 'studio suite', which seems like a Junior Suite really. Maybe they have a "no-upgrade" policy for their nicest rooms there? The web site has several suites above the Studio Suite, but nobody here has gotten one.
I think I will email the hotel directly and ask what their policy is, since the replies here seem to show that, even on paid stays, upgrades are sometimes nonexistent.
They have a 3rd night free offer now, at 245 Euros/night for the first 2 nights, which works out to about 163 Euros/night for 3 nights.
A good deal, since most 5* hotels are asking much more.

As already mentioned as a PLAT I was upgraded from standard room to "Studio Suite". (stay was on Free Night Award stay)

As already mentioned as a PLAT I was upgraded from standard room to "Studio Suite". (stay was on Free Night Award stay)
Yes, I noted that. Thanks!
But there are several other suites in the hotel, and nobody has mentioned them, so I'm wondering if they're that "special" category of unattainable upgrades?

OK, I am SOO glad I stayed here.
Some info on the W Hotel, and IST in general:

1) I must say that, in my 4th trip to IST, I'm glad to be away from Sultanhamet's tourists and touts, and in an area with more "locals". At the bakery I went to for the second day in a row this morning, the old man smiled and put in an extra 2 cookies "for a good customer". So sweet! There are almost no foreigners in this neighborhood, at least compared to Taksim and Sultanhamet. I like that; some people don't.
2) The W (and the other Taksim-side hotels, like Hiltons, Swisshotel, Ritz-Carlton, Ciragan Palace, etc) isn't really the best base to be doing sightseeing over in Sultanhamet, with traffic the way it is, but it's doable if you don't travel at rush hours--or if you don't mind walking the 1km to the Tram from this hotel. Without luggage, it's not a bad walk, really, like 15-20 min.
2) I have never, ever seen a more eager, friendly, helpful staff. Too bad a few hiccups keep happening--no newspaper delivered, and missed wake-up call were two issues in the first day. Handled with huge apologies, however. Plus, it doesn't hurt that they must have had "amazing looks" be part of the staff criteria. :) In addition to quite good English skills--never a given at an IST hotel. EDIT: This morning, I received THREE newspapers--Yesterday's (missed) USA Today and IHT, plus the Saturday local English paper, with a promise of today's IHT when it arrives. Even a bit of a jaded traveller is impressed. :D
3) Got upgraded from basic room to a Junior Suite, with a small balcony. This hotel is, truly, gorgeous--outside and in. It's a completely restored historic building a block from some outdoor eating/drinking areas in Besitkas, a 5-minute taxi ride up the hill to Taksim. Nothing is really walking distance, except for this nice small neighborhood with supermarket, bakeries, Doner sandwich (yummy!) places, etc.
4) You can buy a SIM card from a TurkCell dealer for YTL12 for 20 YTL credit, or if you pay YTL22, you get 100 credit. It's nice to have a local cell phone, since my US-based Sprint either doesn't work abroad, or when it does, it's horribly expensive. Of course, you need an (unlocked) cheap mobile, which are hard to find in the weird cell-phone market in the US (but most other countries, mobile phones are sold unlocked--I bought this one in Singapore 2 years ago for about US$70, no camera or internet--just phone, but that's all I need).
5) You can take the Metro and Tram all the way from the airport to Kabatas station, about 1km from the hotel, for YTL2.70 total, and it takes about an hour. Of course, in rush hour, it took almost 30 minutes in a taxi to get that final 1km! That cost about YTL7, though without traffic I think it's about YTL3-4.
5) What a great city--I do like it every time I come. If you've never been, I recommend at least 2 days to see the big sights in Sultanhamet, and then another few to take in the feel of the city in other areas, which have a totally different feel. Great bars and restaurants in the Tunel area, just at the top of the funicular.
6) The Grand Bazaar is cool, but I like the Spice Market even more for a multi-sensory experience. I'm not much of a shopper, and it's not just for tourists, so it's fun to see.
7) I'm amazed at the so-so reviews of this hotel on FT and TripAdivisor; most of them complained about things like expensive internet and breakfast (but to be honest, how many $200+/night hotels have free internet? I wish they did, but I don't rate them lower just because of that). The best is that the most recent TA reviewer gave a lower rating because it was "difficult for taxis to find"! Huh?

OK, I am SOO glad I stayed here.
Some info on the W Hotel, and IST in general:


Thanks for the review. I overall agree with your findings (I stayed there for a week in August ... my long review is a few posts up).

A few notes ...

Yes, the staff is extremely amazing - I can't argue there. Overtly friendly, good looking, and flawless English speakers.

It was definitely difficult for taxis to find - but that's just because the hotel is new, and easily remedied by carrying a little map of memorizing the instructions. I can't believe someone actually ranked it lower due to this.

There actually is free internet in the common areas. The "Sip" lounge right off the main lobby is a good example.

I was also impressed with Istanbul to an extreme level. What a fascinating, wonderful city!

Location-wise I disagree with your glowing review. I wouldn't lump this hotel in with "the other Taksim-side hotels, like Hiltons, Swisshotel, Ritz-Carlton, Ciragan Palace" in terms of location. Those hotels are right at the top of Istiklal with very easy access to the tram and/or funicular. Location wise, it is not an easy walk from where the W is to where these hotels are. You have to walk up and down a very steep ravine and avoid some guarded government buildings. Also, as you mentioned the distance to the tram station is "ok", but a big pain during traffic, heat, and/or with luggage.

The local area is great though. There is a fantastic baklava shop just up the street that is open very late. We ended each of our days there! So yes, if you want to mingle among the locals, it's a good place, however for a tourist wanting easy access to the sights in Istanbul, it's not a great base.

Also, as a Platinum, I got no upgrade, welcome gift, or recognition whatsoever. Hopefully your recent stay means they are improving on this.

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip!

Location-wise I disagree with your glowing review. I wouldn't lump this hotel in with "the other Taksim-side hotels, like Hiltons, Swisshotel, Ritz-Carlton, Ciragan Palace" in terms of location. Those hotels are right at the top of Istiklal with very easy access to the tram and/or funicular. Location wise, it is not an easy walk from where the W is to where these hotels are. You have to walk up and down a very steep ravine and avoid some guarded government buildings. Also, as you mentioned the distance to the tram station is "ok", but a big pain during traffic, heat, and/or with luggage.

Also, as a Platinum, I got no upgrade, welcome gift, or recognition whatsoever. Hopefully your recent stay means they are improving on this.

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip!
Thanks for the reply.
My glowing review for location is ONLY meaning that, since it's in an area that not as many tourists go to , I love it--no touts, nobody bothering me walking around, with all the good food, friendlier shopkeepers, and cheaper prices than in Taksim or Sultanhamet.
And I do lump this hotel in with anything else on the Taksim side, in terms of staying here for 1 night in transit, or for those who will be spending all of their time in Sultanhamet: I'd stay in Sultanhamet (also closer to the airport) rather than walking to Taksim square, taking the funicular from there to the Tram, and then taking the tram over the bridge. (and, actually, the Cirgan Palace is farther away than the W!)
If you're in Sultanhamet, you can walk everywhere, and not deal with Istanbul's horrific traffic.
None of those Taksim Square-area hotels look like "destination hotels", where I'd want to put up with 30+ minutes of travel time every day to your sightseeing when there are literally hundreds of Sultanhamet hotels to choose from. Unless you've found an amazing rate, or you're needing the point/stay credit at some of them. IC, Hilton, Hyatt, Swisshotel--all decent hotels, but all are also quite old, and Taksim Square isn't exactly glamorous at night. :) But there are plenty of places to drink! :D

The hotel has an attractive, modern two-level restaurant and bar. I didn't patronize them, but they had a nice drink menu with typical silly Istanbul prices (YTL 29 for a cocktail).YTL 111 for three Bombay Sapphire and tonics :eek:

Should have pulled out more cash yesterday when I was getting 1.61 to the dollar!

We stayed at the W last week for 4 nights using points.

We had considered the W or the Sheraton and after reading some threads here and on Trip Advisor, we decided to stay at the W. I am glad we did. It's in a nice little area, with some fancy shops but a block away from lots of little stores and places to eat quickly and cheaply (a normal neighborhood, nothing more nothing less). The ferry that goes up the Bosphorus leaves from down the street. We had no problems with taxi drivers finding the hotel, it's near a big bus stop and what looks like a Knorr soup factory. A taxi to the Old Town was < 15 turkish lire.

We were upgraded 1 room class when we checked in. They brought 3 apples and 2 small bottles of water for us. (we are SPG Gold) The room was small but had a small little balcony that we liked. The shower was great, 2 sinks in the bathroom. After our 3rd night, we got a note from the front desk saying that there was a leak in our bathroom, would we mind moving rooms to a nicer room. We did, and for various reasons it took a while. They said they would make a note to upgrade us on our next stay. I wish they had offered us some points, as we don't have any plans to return to Turkey in the near future. We gently suggested that, and the desk clerk said he would have the manager contact us at some point. We'll see....

Prices are typical W prices. 31 lire for a day of internet access, 14 lire for an hour, $10 for bottled water, etc.

The staff was very good. Always taking our bags, asking us if we needed a taxi, providing directions, etc. The concierge was very helpful, suggesting itineraries and places to eat.

One thing about Istanbul in general - we found it hard to find people who spoke a lot of English, so it was relatively time-consuming to ask for directions. I would ask the concierge to write down your destination, address and DIRECTIONS in Turkish, unless you are going somewhere very obvious, like the Ayasofia.

Overall, we were happy with our choice at the W and would stay there again.

My spouse and I just completed a five-night stay at the W (see the trip report (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/902846-istanbul-amsterdam-end-2008-start-2009-a.html)for more specifics), and I cannot say enough nice things about the hotel and the people who work there. Everyone we encountered was friendly and seemed genuinely motivated to make sure that we had an outstanding stay. I especially want to compliment our concierge, Cem. He was incredibly helpful with making recommednations, providing information (and sending it to our room), and making reservations.

The hotel might be a little out of the way, but the neighborhood is a great one to use as a base for explorning Istanbul. The most expensive taxi ride we had to the Old Town was a YTL14 ride to Topkapi Palace, and others were less than YTL10. A tram stop is about 20 minutes away by foot, and a ferry terminal is just across the main road. A supermarket, a Caffe Nero, ATMs, and about a dozen places to eat are within a 5-minute walk.

In general, I am not crazy about W's. I am not that hip, and I prefer a more convenitional hotel. However, this one is the exception to the rule. I love this place!

Awesome trip report Flying Buccaneer! I'm going to have to make a trip to Turkey and the W sometime in the near future! Alas my only trips to Turkey were with the US Air Force at Incirlik.

Awesome trip report Flying Buccaneer! I'm going to have to make a trip to Turkey and the W sometime in the near future! Alas my only trips to Turkey were with the US Air Force at Incirlik.
Thanks SleepDoc, and Happy New Year! Even if Istanbul weren't such a fascinating city, the W would make a visit worthwhile.

W Istanbul
Suleyman Seba Cad No: 22 • Akaretler, Beşiktaş

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One of many fine distinguishing characteristics about the W brand is its unashamed lack of cultural authenticity. Ws are a recognition that what's important when traveling is a base of good design, gourmet food, and a place to partayy - and that not everyone wants to spend their nights at some quasi museum or art exhibition, or a plain and impersonal box. But it's even better when design hotels go one step further and attempt to reinvent, rejuvenate and reinterpret local culture. Beyond merely incorporating some aspects of the host culture, the W Istanbul is whimsical style meets Ottoman Empire chic.

Situated amongst designer shopping in the fasionable district of Besiktas, the W Istanbul is adjacent to the iconic Akaretler Row which comprises high end boutiques, such as Jimmy Choo, Paul Smith, Marc Jacobs, Mandarina Duck amongst others. Perfect for shopaholics like myself! Nightlife in Taksim and more shopping in Nisantasi are a mere < 10 minutes' drive away, whilst a 15-20 mins cab ride takes you to various cultural attractions in Sultanahmet.

Because the W Istanbul is part of a restored complex, the Aklaretler Row Houses – there aren’t any vast public spaces. Instead, the Welcome Desk and Whatever/Whenever Desks, the W Lounge (what the Living Room is called here) and the in-house restaurant Jean Georges’ Spice Market are each housed in different rooms quite separate from each other. Complimentary internet in both the W Lounge and the ground floor. The distinct spaces detracts from the overall iconic W atmosphere somewhat as you don’t feel like you’re immediately walking into happening party central upon entering, OTOH it has a rather cozy and intimate boutique hotel feel to it. YMMV.

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Welcome Desk/ground floor foyer

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Whatever/Whenever

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W Lounge

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one of my 2 fave drinks here – the mango bellini; the other being the kumquat mojito

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Spice Market by Jean Georges

I paid EUR180/night for a Wonderful Room but was upgraded to a rather good sized Studio Suite, which is actually, like most junior suites, a large room with sitting area. Perhaps I’ve been spoilt by the W Hong Kong, but the lack of huge surround-sound stereo systems here was a bit disappointing and seem rather un-W in this day and age. The sounds of Wonderlust just didn’t sound the same with the pathetic CD player they had in the suite. I loved the v minimalist yet practically designed showers and basin area. The toilet was separate from the showers which is handy if travelling with someone else. The Wonderful Bed was comfy as usual. Ottoman touches enhanced the sensuality of the room with splashes of red. I also had a little balcony which looked out to Akaretler Row. There’s also nightly turndown service.


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The lifts

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Sexily dark hallways

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Different lighting modes – all at the touch of a button

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Welcome platter for PLTs – green apples and bottle of water - a bit pedestrian IMO

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comp mojito

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indeed

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Service was nothing short of awesome at this property. Apparently I had a note in my profile stating that I liked mojitos (i suspect from the W Hong Kong), and was offered a mojito on the house at check in which was sent up to my room. There’s an Aveda spa here rather than Bliss. My casual comment to the Welcome Desk agent about how much I’m a fan of Bliss bath products prompted the appearance of a nice little bag of Bliss goodies in my room along with a lovely note from the W Insider who “heard” that I’m a Bliss fan. Whatever/Whenever, as I’ve come to expect from Ws, excelled at nightlife recommendations and bookings; not only were they efficient but you do feel the wuv’ when they start giving tips and suggestions to enhance your experience. For instance, I had a daily club list guide sent up to my room every day totally unprompted, with helpful handwritten notes by the concierge.

Food at Spice Market was delish, though I was a little apprehensive at first as IME Jean Georges’ establishments lack quality control sometimes and can vary wildly. Asian fusion served here at rather reasonable pricing – though choice of wines v uninspired.

Wednesday nights are a big party night in Istanbul, and the W Lounge also revs up with their own Wednesdays@W Lounge party. Great mix of W guests, tourists and glamourous locals at the party, and it was totally packed to the rafters. Superb DJing, always a plus. Bookings for tables are taken but I was simply content to mingle with the crowd.

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Summing up the W Istanbul in one word? Hotness...

Welcome platter for PLTs – green apples and bottle of water - a bit pedestrian IMOPedestrian indeed, seeing as how this Gold member got the same thing. :p

This plat member got absolutely nothing.

QF009 Thank you for your outstanding review with photos. This is a unique property in my experience, and short of having to see it to believe it, your review is the next best option!

I had booked two rooms on an award stay back in May - one for me and one for my grandparents. Both rooms were upgraded to the one similar to QF's photos. I agree with all of QF's comments with one thing to add. Upon seeing the room, my 81 year old Grandmother said: "I know what these rooms are for, and it's not SLEEPING!"

Upon seeing the room, my 81 year old Grandmother said: "I know what these rooms are for, and it's not SLEEPING!"

Cute! ^ I bet finding the intimacy kit in the mini bar/snack selection was the icing on the cake! She was probably Wondering......what type of establishment you had booked her into. :D

Wonderful information QF009. I was in Istanbul recently and passed on the W and now wish i had spent the time to find its location. Again, thank you for the pictures and the comments -- sure to help me next time.

QF great report and pics. I cant wait to stay there soon!

I am planning a trip this fall to Istanbul and will (likely) be staying at the brand new W. Has anyone been? I plan on dining in the Jean Georges restaurant while I am staying at the hotel.

Any thoughts from anyone?

I am being quoted about 350 Euro which I thought was a fair price from the looks of the hotel on the Starwood website.

As The W Hotels are part of the Starwood Collection, I am moving your thread to the FT Starwood Forum for discussion.
Obscure2k
Moderator
Luxury Hotels

Leyla, welcome to the Starwood forum. I've moved your query into the master thread on the hotel. You'll find a wonderful photographic report above, as well as quite a bit of discussion on the property.

SanDiego1K
Starwood Moderator

This is not directly related to W Istanbul, but in response to mecabq's earlier comment on car service (airport transfer) in Istanbul.

Mecabq's right about not getting the service from the hotel as it's ludicrously expensive. I used the airport transfer service provided by Backpacker's Travel Agency in Istanbul for a fixed rate of 25 Euros (from Hyatt Regency near Taksim to Ataturk airport), I think it's only 20 Euros if your hotel is in Sultanahmet. http://www.backpackerstravel.net/index.php?pid=1&id=45

I learned about it through Turkey Travel Planner. It's no-frills, but reliable and inexpensive. Better than a taxi and you definitely won't have to worry about being scammed by taxi drivers.

I used the service just a few days ago on May 1, which was Labor Day in Turkey. There were protests and many roads near Taksim were closed. My driver was smart enough to arrive early before the roads were closed, parked his car nearby, came into Hyatt Regency's lobby to pick me up, carried my bags and we walked a couple of minutes to where his car was parked, and delivered me safely to Ataturk on time (and yes, drove carefully through the protesting crowds, it was straight out of a movie....). I can't tell you how much luckier I felt than the hotel guest next to me who had to haul all his luggage and walk all the way to Dolmapache Palace to get a taxi (as, by this time, no cars were allowed to go near the hotel).

Does W Istanbul offer free breakfast for platinums?

Does W Istanbul offer free breakfast for platinums?

Breakfast isn't generally something that's offered as a Platinum benefit within "W" brand.

Breakfast is 45 YTL a person. Not bad though - they have a bunch of fruit on the bar and will bring pancakes or french toast to your table.

Thanks a lot

Stayed on a Monday night and got upgraded to a Fanstic Suite.

Very non W like doormen and sub par bell staff especially after few nights at Park Hyatt which had very professional staff.

Does W Istanbul offer free breakfast for platinums?

Nope.

The Internet connection at W drop off if your comp goes into screen saver mode or usually after an hour. Need to request internet connection from scratch :mad::td:

I stayed at the W Istanbul for 5 nights in July. Overall I was impressed by it:

Great service at check-in. Very friendly manager who gave us her card in case we had any needs/problems.

We paid for a top room and were upgraded at check-in to a small suite. The webpage suggests that the rooms have a good amount of outdoor space, chaise lounges, etc. Apparently there are a couple small rooms with those features, but our suite (all the suites?) had only a small Juliet balcony.

The room was over the top. Don't come here for authentic Turkey. Do come with a sense of humor. We liked the red lights and other details. Great bathroom with a huge shower, separate toilet room, two sinks. Really very well designed.

We had drinks one night outdoors at the Spice Market. Very good and a beautiful spot on a warm day, even if a bit expensive. We also had dinner there one night. I was less impressed by that. Service was amateur--I'm pretty sure the Sommelier doesn't drink. Food was fine but not worth going back.

Location was great for us. Traffic in Istanbul is awful, so don't stay here if you want to be in another part of town.

I'd definitely stay here again if I were in this part of Istanbul.

Anyone know what is happening at the W or in IST during first weekend October? Rates start at euro 1200 per night.

I'm just back from a "Cash & Points" stay at the W IST. There was zero recognition for this lowly gold, but I wasn't expecting anything beyond possibly some fruit and a bottle of water.

The little room was fun, as others have aptly described here already. I had one of the rooms with a door to an adjoining one, and the neighbors complained within minutes when I played the hotel-provided "Wonderlust" CD at a very reasonable level. Apart from my antics, the hotel seemed quiet and there was less of a nightclubbing ambiance than I've perceived at other Ws. The bar, for instance, seemed pretty empty throughout my stay.

All the hotel prices are silly. The USD25/day Internet fee seemed especially strange since they welcomed everyone to use free wireless in "Sip", the lounge off the lobby (with absolutely no pressure to consume anything). I didn't try Spice Market having only heard mediocre reviews. I had a decent latte and croissant at Caffe Nero next door, but mostly I enjoyed the Turkish food in the neighborhood.

I thought the location was fine for tourism. It's right by Dolmabace Palace and also the Besiktas ferry terminal. The walk to Kabatas, the terminus of the tram line, is less than 15 minutes. It took me a little over an hour to get from the airport to the hotel by public transportation (3 YTL/2 jetons unless you have akbil). I took a taxi for 40 YTL on the return; the friendly doorman seemed to help secure a reliable taxi company.

I enjoyed my stay and thought it was a good deal on cash & points. If you have to pay EUR 278/night, the best available rate I could find for my stay, I'm not sure it's worthwhile.

Anyone know what is happening at the W or in IST during first weekend October? Rates start at euro 1200 per night.

International Monetary Fund - World Bank Annual Meeting

I have a C+P reservation at the W for five days in May for my wife and myself. It's for the most basic (Wonderful) room. There have been some extremely useful reviews and other info in this forum (thanks!) but I still have some questions...or at least impressions I'd like to confirm:

1. From the W website photos and from I infer from this forum, it looks like even though the property is right near the Bosphorus it is a low-rise (three-story?) structure--which is good in and of itself, but which means that the rooms and public areas do not have views of the Bosphorus. Do I have that right?
2. Any views to speak of from the rooms?
3. I think I've seen a few references to small balconies. Do any (particularly for the Wonderful rooms) have chairs, or are they more Juliet-style balconies with just enough room to stand.
4. I've also seen a negative reference to a basement room. What does this mean, exactly? The website indicates that Spectacular rooms have cabanas on what looks like street level. Are these the basement rooms?
5. From the reports on this thread, it looks like getting upgraded as a lowly Gold is unlikely. Correct?
6. If no free upgrades, any experience with or idea of a paid upgrade to another room being possible, and if so what might it cost?

Thanks for any information and advice!

1. From the W website photos and from I infer from this forum, it looks like even though the property is right near the Bosphorus it is a low-rise (three-story?) structure--which is good in and of itself, but which means that the rooms and public areas do not have views of the Bosphorus. Do I have that right?
2. Any views to speak of from the rooms?
3. I think I've seen a few references to small balconies. Do any (particularly for the Wonderful rooms) have chairs, or are they more Juliet-style balconies with just enough room to stand.
4. I've also seen a negative reference to a basement room. What does this mean, exactly? The website indicates that Spectacular rooms have cabanas on what looks like street level. Are these the basement rooms?
5. From the reports on this thread, it looks like getting upgraded as a lowly Gold is unlikely. Correct?
6. If no free upgrades, any experience with or idea of a paid upgrade to another room being possible, and if so what might it cost?

Thanks for any information and advice!

1. Correct no view of the Bosphorus, that I could tell.

2. View of buildings across the street.

3. my suite with a balcony was of the Juliet style... but could not be opened and had a sign on it saying this was for my safety, even though the description on the website states the balcony as a feature!

4. not sure

5. as at all SPG properties, this upgrade would be going above and beyond... but YMMV

6. contact the hotel directly

I had a great stay here over Christmas, and received a slightly different room set up than QF009. I'm really glad I chose the hotel, despite the fact that it is slightly farther from Sultanahmet than other potential choices. As a Plat, I received an upgrade to some sort of Suite (layout was a bit odd... just a very long rectangle). The bathroom with Turkish shower was ^^^

My experience as a Plat was quite good, including a personal welcome by the manager on duty, and a complimentary fruit/drinks tray with a welcome letter waiting in the room. I also found the concierge at this hotel to be quite good. His recommendation for a local Turkish restaurant was spot-on.

Photos from my stay:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4260296447_894e0d02be.jpg
Hotel Exterior
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4261038444_8e8c608906.jpg
Suite Entryway/Bedroom
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4260285447_14809798bd.jpg
Lengthwise View of Room
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4261042000_c43f6aaabc.jpg
Opposite Lengthwise View
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4260288745_4548643c4b.jpg
Bathroom
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4261046878_ddb20a8575.jpg
Rainfall Shower Head
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4260294121_a5b8a07f5f.jpg
Inside the Roomy Shower

I stayed for 4 nights/5days in the W IST end sept09.
My experience as a Plat was somewhat ok, I did not have a personal welcome by the INSIDER on duty, but she came 2 days later and made up for it. There were also no gifts or water, but when I mentioned it, I was given a trolley with all the possible amenities available 2 days later, I guess it pays to mention it.. and agree to previous comments about how slightly disorganised there are!
Was upgraded to a fantastic suite. Room was very nice and large.
Local area was good. Hotel service is very dear vs GBP and EURO so it always helps to buy some water round the corner at the Swiss supermarket -MIGRO ( literally 2 mins walk on the left side as you walk out) I dont think anyone mentioned it as you will need water and snacks during your stay!
Location is ok and you can walk more or less everywhere you need to ( including the Tram to get into the old city!)... Overall +ve!