Originally Posted by escape4

Introduction *** sorry no pictures, it seems the functionality of hotel reviews has been messed up for several days ***Sheraton Istanbul Levent used to be Movenpick Hotel which closed for renovations during covid and re-opened as a Sheraton recently. They did not build the hotel from scratch so perhaps unsurprisingly I did not think the result was as good as the new generation Sheratons I have stayed at recently, but it was not far off and I can recommend it. Room I booked the entry level room and was upgraded as an Ambassador Elite to a corner suite. The room was obviously in good shape post-renovations, however unlike many of the new Sheratons there were some disappointments. First off the suite was not very spacious at 55 sqm, also due to the layout they probably did not feel they could close off the living room which was off the entrance because it was too small and it would have felt claustrophobic. So in that regard it was more like a junior suite. In addition, a suite without a proper working desk in the bedroom nor in the living room is not ideal. Also a more important miss was the shower in the bathtub – I can understand for old hotels but after a major renovation it was a mistake in my opinion. Nonetheless I liked the modest use of carpet and I could sleep well because despite the hotel being located on a very busy boulevard, the windows were thick and blocked most of the street noise. Bathroom toiletries were Le Grand Bain as per brand standard. Dining The Club Lounge was closed and as a replacement they offered happy hour in the lobby bar 6-8pm which had live music and was quite enjoyable. The staff-served buffet was above average with several hot dishes with protein choices for all tastes: fish, chicken, meat, etc. along with salads, sandwiches, and desserts. Breakfast was less impressive than happy hour but it was adequate nonetheless with standard breakfast items and entirely staff-served as well. The restaurant had many tables and did not feel as crowded as other hotels I stayed at recently. Service Service at the hotel was quite good generally speaking, my covid test was re-confirmed on day of arrival and I received a phone call in my room on the day of the test to inform me of the vendor’s arrival, hotel staff always responded quickly to my requests via chat in the Marriott app, and staff in the restaurant and bar were more proactive than at some other hotels. W Wifi Wifi worked well with speed of 30 Mbps. Overall Overall this Sheraton is a good addition to Marriott Bonvoy, that said in this price range it’s a very crowded field with a lot of competition. I guess the way the hotel stands out is not so much with the property itself but the location – for people who want to be in the Levent area there are not as many choices from hotel chains so it can be a plus for some travelers.