Originally Posted by escape4

The best reviews are usually those that:
1. Are objective, honest, and unbiased
2. Help me decide to book at a hotel or stay away, based on my personal preferences, what I value most, and what I read in the review

As is often the case with [MENTION=225231]Goldorak[/MENTION], this review ticks both boxes so thank you for taking the time to report here with a quality contribution.

I looked at sample dates for my next three stays in Istanbul and I noticed that Sofitel, Rixos, and Fairmont all seem to be in the same price range for the entry level room. Based on this review I concluded that Rixos is probably not for me because from several angles it seems inferior:
- Entry level rooms are much smaller than the spacious ones at Sofitel and Fairmont
- There is no lounge at all, while Sofitel has one for free (Platinum members) or one that you can pay if you want the lounge (Fairmont)
- The hardware is aging, the room is dark, and overall seems behind the curve relative to the stunning Fairmont, and I would assume Sofitel being a new construction that it will be considerably better than Rixos too
- It's only one data point, but no upgrade for Goldorak because the hotel was full... until proven otherwise by other reviews, it seems odds of upgrades are better at a larger hotel which is not likely to be full (Fairmont) or a new hotel which is in its ramp up period and unlikely to be full at least at the beginning (Sofitel).

That plus the noise issue and it kills it for me. Perhaps location is good for some so I could see that being an important consideration for others, but in Istanbul I am more agnostic about location than the majority of folks so Rixos won't be on my list for the time being.