The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul
Oct 30, 2005, 12:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
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The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul
Going to Istanbul next month for a long weekend. Anyone try the RC there? What room type is the best?
Have stayed in FS but don't care for the location, fine for first visit thereafter I prefer something more central.
Have stayed in FS but don't care for the location, fine for first visit thereafter I prefer something more central.
Nov 28, 2005, 8:47 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2002
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I just returned from a long weekend in IST with friends and we stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul. My overall impression is that while it may be a very nice four-star business hotel, it falls short on service and charm and therefore I can't really recommend it if you are looking for a five-star luxury hotel. My major complaints:
- The door staff were very, very poor. They never once actually opened a door for us, nor did they ever welcome us back to the hotel. One afternoon we walked out to get a taxi and was told by the doorman that there were no taxis and that we would have to wait. He then made no effort whatsoever to get a taxi, but instead walked back to his colleague to resume their conversation.
- The concierge was quite helpful with securing dinner reservations via email prior to arriving, but my interactions with him in person were not so good. Upon arrival at the hotel, I stopped by to confirm my dinner reservations (outside the hotel) and had to ask twice for a written confirmation with the restaurant's address. This seemed odd, as I'd expect not to have to ask for this.
- On a separate occasion, when I asked a different concierge for local nightlife options, he directed me to another hotel bar. When I asked about other options, rather than ask me what I was looking for, he was very insistant that this was the best option for me. I walked away frustrated.
- Overall the hotel just lacks warmth and charm. The lobby is large, filled with marble and quite dismal. The elevators are painfully slow to open for such a modern building. The staff, even when they did make an effort, seemed awkward and uncertain. The best service I received all weekend was from a front desk clerk upon checkout when I asked for the GM's email to provide feedback. He escorted me across the lobby, opened the door for me (!) and marched the doorman into action. It was sort of amusing actually.
Having said all that, the rooms are nice enough, if perhaps a bit plain. I stayed in a full seaview room, which was wide rather than long, and had a long wall of windows facing the bosphorus. There are only two of these per floor (xx10 and xx12 I believe, with xx11 being the seaview suites). A friend had a partial seaview room, which was a bit smaller, and didn't really have a very good view at all.
In contrast to the RC, we stopped for tea at the Four Seasons one afternoon after sightseeing and were very pleased with the service there. The doorman warmly greeted us, actually opened the door (gasp!), and offered to hold our wet umbrellas for us while we ate. The service in the lobby lounge was wonderful and the tea was excellent. Upon our departure, the doorman asked if he could arrange for transportation back to the Ritz, which surprised me until I realized that he had bothered to notice the logo on our umbrellas. In short, despite not being guests at the hotel, they went out of their way to make us feel welcome. It's a lovely and charming hotel as well.
- The door staff were very, very poor. They never once actually opened a door for us, nor did they ever welcome us back to the hotel. One afternoon we walked out to get a taxi and was told by the doorman that there were no taxis and that we would have to wait. He then made no effort whatsoever to get a taxi, but instead walked back to his colleague to resume their conversation.
- The concierge was quite helpful with securing dinner reservations via email prior to arriving, but my interactions with him in person were not so good. Upon arrival at the hotel, I stopped by to confirm my dinner reservations (outside the hotel) and had to ask twice for a written confirmation with the restaurant's address. This seemed odd, as I'd expect not to have to ask for this.
- On a separate occasion, when I asked a different concierge for local nightlife options, he directed me to another hotel bar. When I asked about other options, rather than ask me what I was looking for, he was very insistant that this was the best option for me. I walked away frustrated.
- Overall the hotel just lacks warmth and charm. The lobby is large, filled with marble and quite dismal. The elevators are painfully slow to open for such a modern building. The staff, even when they did make an effort, seemed awkward and uncertain. The best service I received all weekend was from a front desk clerk upon checkout when I asked for the GM's email to provide feedback. He escorted me across the lobby, opened the door for me (!) and marched the doorman into action. It was sort of amusing actually.
Having said all that, the rooms are nice enough, if perhaps a bit plain. I stayed in a full seaview room, which was wide rather than long, and had a long wall of windows facing the bosphorus. There are only two of these per floor (xx10 and xx12 I believe, with xx11 being the seaview suites). A friend had a partial seaview room, which was a bit smaller, and didn't really have a very good view at all.
In contrast to the RC, we stopped for tea at the Four Seasons one afternoon after sightseeing and were very pleased with the service there. The doorman warmly greeted us, actually opened the door (gasp!), and offered to hold our wet umbrellas for us while we ate. The service in the lobby lounge was wonderful and the tea was excellent. Upon our departure, the doorman asked if he could arrange for transportation back to the Ritz, which surprised me until I realized that he had bothered to notice the logo on our umbrellas. In short, despite not being guests at the hotel, they went out of their way to make us feel welcome. It's a lovely and charming hotel as well.
Last edited by JSD; Nov 28, 2005 at 9:01 pm Reason: typos
Nov 30, 2005, 5:35 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 4,329
I have to 100% agree with everything JSD noted. I had the partial sea view room and calling it partial sea view is a joke. Granted my corp rate was 120 Euros, craning my neck with my forehead pressed to window and to the left is not exactly what I had in mind when it said "partial sea view"
The prices ARE outrageous and I didn't want to give them a single dime more than necessary and I am a total mini bar raider!
Other items of note were the no name amenities. At least in the US you get the decent smelling "Treve." Everything at the RC-IST was labeled with there name. Even the tissue box! I felt like the amenities should have been labeled "Stolen from the Ritz Carlton Istanbul"
The prices ARE outrageous and I didn't want to give them a single dime more than necessary and I am a total mini bar raider!
Other items of note were the no name amenities. At least in the US you get the decent smelling "Treve." Everything at the RC-IST was labeled with there name. Even the tissue box! I felt like the amenities should have been labeled "Stolen from the Ritz Carlton Istanbul"
Nov 10, 2015, 4:53 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Posts: 227
This is an impersonal hotel--certainly not the best in Istanbul, but i get the impression it is more of an event space anyway. I will note that the roof pool is wonderful--fantastic place to relax and enjoy a nice efes. As is common with many high-class hotels in turkey, the gym and spa area are top-notch (if treatments are a little overpriced). The daily breakfast is impersonal -- for a few lira, much better options to be found. However, with a decent corporate rate, a good deal can be found relatively easy.
Nov 10, 2015, 4:57 pm
#7
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I stayed at the FS Sultanhamet and the Raffles Istanbul during my vacation in July. Both are lovely properties. Just suggesting as an alternative you can consider.
Nov 10, 2015, 6:40 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2011
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I would note that FS Sultanhamet is very nice--however, I would never recommend anyone ever stay in Sultanhamet unless you were only going to be in town for a day or two. Why? with the exception of one or two very good spots that immediately come to mind, the food in sultanhamet is absolutely disgraceful when compared to the rest of town--check out istanbuleats.com for good spots.
Really, staying in sultanhamet is good for a night or two, but much better options on the other side of town
Really, staying in sultanhamet is good for a night or two, but much better options on the other side of town
Oct 21, 2016, 4:04 pm
#9
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Any updates on this hotel? We are considering it for our honeymoon. Dont expect to spend alot of time in the hotel, will likely be out exploring - just want a nice place to come home to, and somewhere central.
Oct 21, 2016, 4:32 pm
#10
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If you're going to IST for the 1st time, staying at the FS Sultanahmet isn't a bad choice since you can walk to all the tourist attractions.
Oct 21, 2016, 5:07 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,598
FS Bosphorus screams honeymoon -- pristine hotel, although pricey if you want a view (and you will want one here). I would probably opt for Raffles, which is fantastic and so residential, with very good service. R-C probably not a perfect choice for this occasion.
Oct 21, 2016, 7:08 pm
#12
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If one were to honeymoon in IST , it will be a lovely top couple of choices . One could stay ar more than one property if visit is a week or more
Oct 21, 2016, 10:48 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2016
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RC will offer you great views, and you will be close to posh district Nisantasi with lost of nice restaurants, it is also right next to Dolmabahce Palace and about a 15 min drive from historical sites.
However, it is not a honeymoon hotel.
FS Bosphorus is the true honeymoon hotel in Turkey along with Ciragan Kempinski. I also would highly recommend Les Ottomans, it is in a great area by the bosphorus, has probably 10 rooms or so, all very beautiful and a very nice spa. If you are willing to pay for it, you can always take a boat taxi from these hotels for a quick ride to many places.
Stay away from Sultanahmet disctrict unless you want to stay right in the middle of the historical district with bad food and people trying to sell you stuff.
However, it is not a honeymoon hotel.
FS Bosphorus is the true honeymoon hotel in Turkey along with Ciragan Kempinski. I also would highly recommend Les Ottomans, it is in a great area by the bosphorus, has probably 10 rooms or so, all very beautiful and a very nice spa. If you are willing to pay for it, you can always take a boat taxi from these hotels for a quick ride to many places.
Stay away from Sultanahmet disctrict unless you want to stay right in the middle of the historical district with bad food and people trying to sell you stuff.
