InterContinental Hotels Group Stay Forum - IC Istanbul

I had a recent stay at the InterContinental Istanbul, and was very pleased all around with the service. I'd without a doubt return if I were in Istanbul again. I wrote a trip report with pictures of the hotel, which can be found here (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2009/09/02/quest-to-istanbul-and-hong-kong-part-5-intercontinental-istanbul/).

I had a recent stay at the InterContinental Istanbul, and was very pleased all around with the service. I'd without a doubt return if I were in Istanbul again. I wrote a trip report with pictures of the hotel, which can be found here (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2009/09/02/quest-to-istanbul-and-hong-kong-part-5-intercontinental-istanbul/).



I See The Report
It,s Very Nice
Thank You

A nice trip report, as always, lucky9876coins.

I have a stay coming up here in May,

Does anyone have any recent recent reports from this year about the hotel?

I mainly want to know what Upgrades they give RAs

Thanks
Ben

I've got a stay coming up in mid-April, full rate though will also use a BOGO. It appears RAs do get Club level room and access even if booking a Standard room (which is what I booked), according to posts on the RA Stay Experiences thread. However, at the moment my reservation still shows the category of room I booked, and not an upgraded category that often shows well in advance of arrival. From those who've been there in the past year -- since Club has become the standard RA upgrade at most properties -- is it normal not to show the upgrade in advance?

I have a stay coming up here in May,

Does anyone have any recent recent reports from this year about the hotel?

I mainly want to know what Upgrades they give RAs

Thanks
Ben

Check your rate. They seem to have dropped considerably since earlier this year. I originally booked the lowest flexible rate of E225 for my nights, but after just received an email promotion from IC about free internet with stays, I decided to check that rate. Now seems lowest flexible rate for my dates has dropped to E125, and the Free Internet rate is E135 a night.

Interesting, rates back up to the E225 range again. For any RAs planning a stay here, seems the upgrade gets reflected on your res about 5 days ahead of stay arrival. My res is now showing "Club IC Seaview" from its original "Standard Room". Still no advance email from the Concierge that I get from most other ICs.

Interesting, rates back up to the E225 range again. For any RAs planning a stay here, seems the upgrade gets reflected on your res about 5 days ahead of stay arrival. My res is now showing "Club IC Seaview" from its original "Standard Room". Still no advance email from the Concierge that I get from most other ICs.

I am booking a friday - monday (3 nights) stay in October. Rates are $250 euros (275 for ambassdor rate) for standard room...Seems high compared to other rates I have seen written about....Anybody have any thoughts?

Does anyone know the difference between a Jr. suite and an executive suite at the Istanbul IC ? I have a stay coming up in Nov. and I'm hoping for an RA upgrade to a suite. It sounds like a great hotel .
Is it worth paying more for Executive suite ?
Is club lounge evening fare sufficient for dinner ?

suite there are perfect..^

Stayed there last year as a platinum ambassador, great hotel... had booked a club room and got an upgrade to a junior suite with view of Bosporus as well as Hagia sophia and blue mosque, great!... the club is nice, but evening food is sufficient for a meal, the restaurants of the hotel are so so, although the Turkish restaurant at the top is great for sitting outside and have a good view, it is very romantic.

Overall a great hotel, oh the junior suite for a junior suite is massive with 1.5. bath great... just great.

I am staying at this hotel in a few days. What would be a good way to get to the hotel from the airport? Taxi? I just have one small suitcase.

I am staying at this hotel in a few days. What would be a good way to get to the hotel from the airport? Taxi? I just have one small suitcase.

So how did you get from the airport to the hotel. Assume the HAVAS bus service is the most cost-effective?

So how did you get from the airport to the hotel. Assume the HAVAS bus service is the most cost-effective?

Yes, I took the HAVAS bus to Taksim. The hotel is only a few minutes from the bus stop. After getting off the bus, you walk for 1 or 2 min in the same direction as the traffic. The hotel is on the right side by the park. You can actually walk through the park to the hotel, but it's better to stay on the street if you have luggage because of steps in the park.

Thanks, kats.

As an RA I have been upgraded to a Park View Suite for my award stay later this week. Has anyone had success in changing an award stay from a suite to a regular room with Club access? Or would the suite include Club access? Or if I cannot get Club access (either with the suite or a regular room) should I just request a room with a view of the Bosphorus straight?

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To answer my own post, a spectacular upgrade and treatment as others have noted: junior suite on a Club floor (1520) which is a full suite in all but name and lack of a full door enclosure between the living room and bedroom. Huge master bathroom plus an ensuite. Park view has some of the Bosphorus in sight and what it misses is made up for from the Club lounge dining room! But from this height one can see over to the Topkapi and both the Blue and Haghia Sophia mosques among other sites in the Old City.

Staff was most professional and courteous, welcoming me at the front desk and an assistant manager taking me up to the Club lounge to check in, then escorted down to my room, already laid out with a table of goodies to sample, lots of bottled water. The Ambassador gift was a pair of aromatic soaps.

And the HAVAS bus, at 10TKL was very convenient at both ends, though one must walk out of the terminal to the taxi ranks to find any sign of this service (cross over to the central quay where there should be at least one of their buses parked). Terminus in Taskim is right across the park from the IC, curbside.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/16175230-post4185.html