Best place to stay in Istanbul
Jul 10, 2016, 4:04 pm
#151
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,600
Due to this I see much more flexibility in rates these days. Park Hyatt is at an all-time low, FS has lower entry level rates but is trying to protect their Palace Bosphorus category for now. Upgrades tend to happen more often.
Jul 10, 2016, 5:37 pm
#152
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,737
Jan 10, 2018, 4:39 pm
#155
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Never stayed at Raffles, but loved our stay at the PH in Oct 2014. Our TripAdvisor review: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...ECK_RATES_CONT
If we were to return, we'd have to consider the St Regis over the PH, since it's brand new and just a block away. (And I'm Plat100!) We loved that area--it was right next to the city's best shopping. It also was just 10-15 min drive into the tourist area in the morning and only 20-30 min train ride back even at rush hour. And it's only 10-15 min to any of the best restaurants in town. The FS Bosphorus was just a 5 min taxi ride.
The Raffles is another 10-15 minutes north of the PH/StR. So we would prefer the area around the PH/StR.
If we were to return, we'd have to consider the St Regis over the PH, since it's brand new and just a block away. (And I'm Plat100!) We loved that area--it was right next to the city's best shopping. It also was just 10-15 min drive into the tourist area in the morning and only 20-30 min train ride back even at rush hour. And it's only 10-15 min to any of the best restaurants in town. The FS Bosphorus was just a 5 min taxi ride.
The Raffles is another 10-15 minutes north of the PH/StR. So we would prefer the area around the PH/StR.
Last edited by bhrubin; Jan 10, 2018 at 7:02 pm
Jan 11, 2018, 1:27 am
#157
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 129
Thanks for your feedback bhrubin and aa213bb.
For the period I am looking at, Park Hyatt is EUR 205 per night while St. Regis is EUR 389. Since I am planning to stay for around a week, is paying EUR 184 extra a day worth it for the St. Regis? Over a week that comes out to nearly EUR 1,300 which could probably be well spent on very nice dinners and drinks . Appreciate your thoughts!
For the period I am looking at, Park Hyatt is EUR 205 per night while St. Regis is EUR 389. Since I am planning to stay for around a week, is paying EUR 184 extra a day worth it for the St. Regis? Over a week that comes out to nearly EUR 1,300 which could probably be well spent on very nice dinners and drinks . Appreciate your thoughts!
Jan 11, 2018, 2:42 am
#158
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,457
Thanks for your feedback bhrubin and aa213bb.
For the period I am looking at, Park Hyatt is EUR 205 per night while St. Regis is EUR 389. Since I am planning to stay for around a week, is paying EUR 184 extra a day worth it for the St. Regis? Over a week that comes out to nearly EUR 1,300 which could probably be well spent on very nice dinners and drinks . Appreciate your thoughts!
For the period I am looking at, Park Hyatt is EUR 205 per night while St. Regis is EUR 389. Since I am planning to stay for around a week, is paying EUR 184 extra a day worth it for the St. Regis? Over a week that comes out to nearly EUR 1,300 which could probably be well spent on very nice dinners and drinks . Appreciate your thoughts!
FDW
Jan 11, 2018, 11:20 am
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
raffles finally did massive rate drops on some suites
sounds like a winner, including low season suite rates
wherever - ask about upgrades (incl discount) at checkin
PH one of many where even top suite has come down
wherever - ask about upgrades (incl discount) at checkin
PH one of many where even top suite has come down
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jan 11, 2018 at 11:30 am
Jan 11, 2018, 11:51 am
#160
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Turkey
Programs: Miles and Smiles Elite Plus
Posts: 184
all 3 are excellent hotels, if you can't stay in fs bosphorus or ciragan palace.
out of all 3 i would go st regis, raffles than ph, but this does not make ph bad at all. just personal preference.
i personally think if you want an iconic istanbul hotel and a memorable stay go with fs bosphorus, ciragan or fs sultanahmet. the 3 hotels you mention will all be very good, but they won't really give you a sense of how special istanbul is.
out of all 3 i would go st regis, raffles than ph, but this does not make ph bad at all. just personal preference.
i personally think if you want an iconic istanbul hotel and a memorable stay go with fs bosphorus, ciragan or fs sultanahmet. the 3 hotels you mention will all be very good, but they won't really give you a sense of how special istanbul is.
Jan 11, 2018, 12:47 pm
#161
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
We stayed at the PH many many years ago... it remains one of our best PH stays ever.. it's very good; the area it's in is very European feeling... I wouldn't play extra for the St Regis unless I was booking a true suite.. while the Park Terrace suites at the PH look fantastic, the Park Suites/Spa suites are a little disappointing as far as a suite goes (the former being dark, the latter not being a true suite).....
FDW
FDW
I absolutely agree that the Park/Spa suites at the PH are less desirable...and not even real suites. They are darker than I'd prefer. If comparing those with other hotels, I'd look elsewhere.
We despised the Kempinski Ciragan--as the beautiful palace building had mostly suites that were ridiculously overpriced, and the main building was ugly beyond measure.
We weren't overly impressed with the FS Bosphorus, actually. We found the Bosphorus view rooms and suites obscenely overpriced for what you go, and we weren't fans of the more formal ambience and marble showcase. The FS Sultanahmet was a much more intimate and beautiful property in our view, but we didn't love the location beyond its convenience for touring the major sites (which we did in a day!). The FS Sultanahmet was also very expensive and not totally worth it in our view. But between the two, we'd take the FS Sultanahmet.
If we were to return, we'd almost certainly choose the St Regis. But it sounds like the StR, PH, and Raffles are all worthy contenders.
Jan 11, 2018, 4:30 pm
#162
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 297
We weren't overly impressed with the FS Bosphorus, actually. We found the Bosphorus view rooms and suites obscenely overpriced for what you go, and we weren't fans of the more formal ambience and marble showcase. The FS Sultanahmet was a much more intimate and beautiful property in our view, but we didn't love the location beyond its convenience for touring the major sites (which we did in a day!). The FS Sultanahmet was also very expensive and not totally worth it in our view. But between the two, we'd take the FS Sultanahmet.
I found the entry-level rates (around $300/night) for both properties very reasonable, but I visited after the tourism decline in Istanbul. The rooms were a decent size for a city hotel, but I agree that the Bosphorus view rooms (not even getting into suites) are extortionately priced. For a room roughly the same size as the entry-level one but with a view of the Bosphorus, it would have been $1,300/night. That's on par with the entry-level rate at the most expensive hotels in Paris.
Jan 11, 2018, 6:43 pm
#164
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
low supply impacts rates, and they vary >
only 10 of that particular category of room
very few city hotels have similar situation
MO BKK: 14 state rooms, $940 very high for BKK
FS has advance discount, likely discount at checkin
similar (riverfront) rooms and facilities arent in paris etc, but >
some always stay on river/harbor/ocean/etc
others dont care re view/location/style/history
includes map of luxury hotels & boutique hotels >
kiwicollection.com/luxury-hotels/europe/turkey/marmara/istanbul
very few city hotels have similar situation
MO BKK: 14 state rooms, $940 very high for BKK
FS has advance discount, likely discount at checkin
others dont care re view/location/style/history
includes map of luxury hotels & boutique hotels >
kiwicollection.com/luxury-hotels/europe/turkey/marmara/istanbul
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jan 14, 2018 at 5:33 pm
Jan 11, 2018, 9:14 pm
#165
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Turkey
Programs: Miles and Smiles Elite Plus
Posts: 184
I agree that some people prefer location or room quality over other things. I make the same choice all the time. I also usually advise people to stay out of Sultanahmet area and just do daily visits.
but if this is OPs first time going I thought they should consider staying in one of the more significant buildings to get a feeling of the city. Being on the Bosphorus and having breakfast with the view or in an old Istanbul prison is part of that feeling.
As I said all of the other 3 hotels are very good hotels, I could probably add a few more to that list, they just aren’t special in any way.
one last advice. Avoid shangri-la
but if this is OPs first time going I thought they should consider staying in one of the more significant buildings to get a feeling of the city. Being on the Bosphorus and having breakfast with the view or in an old Istanbul prison is part of that feeling.
As I said all of the other 3 hotels are very good hotels, I could probably add a few more to that list, they just aren’t special in any way.
one last advice. Avoid shangri-la