Crowne Plaza Hotel Istanbul Old City

This hotel is in a great location and has a really great vibe. It's an older hotel with everything that you would need. I loved how you could walk to the Grand Bazaar.

We chose this hotel because we were attending an event in Istanbul and wanted to stay somewhere within walking distance. Unfortunately, the hotel is located inside a traffic-restricted zone, which turned out to be a major inconvenience. Although we were told that showing our hotel reservation would allow us to enter with our car, the municipal officers refused to let us through. We spent a long time driving around before finally parking far away and walking to the hotel. When we asked the hotel for a solution, they suggested that we could wait until 8:00 PM and check in then, once vehicle access to the area was allowed again. It was one of the most ridiculous suggestions I've ever heard. The building itself has a fascinating history. It has been beautifully restored and has a peaceful, elegant atmosphere. Breakfast was a major disappointment. It certainly did not reflect the standards of a five-star hotel. I was particularly doubtful about the freshness of the cheeses, and there were barely any fresh greens available. Overall, I would not recommend including breakfast in your reservation. The location is excellent for sightseeing. The Grand Bazaar, Basilica Cistern, and many historic mosques are all within walking distance. The tram stop is also only a 3–4 minute walk away. However, the hotel is surrounded by small local businesses. If your room is on the first floor, you'll find yourself making eye contact with shopkeepers outside, which offers very little privacy. In the evening, there was live music in the reception area, which we genuinely enjoyed. Would we stay here again? No. If our faith had allowed it, would we have checked out immediately? Absolutely.

So much better than the usual corporate box design, interesting architecture. Staff very very good but the assistant in the Club lounge was exceptional, she should be employee of the decade. Breakfast buffet was more than adequate. Location first class.