Pera Palace Hotel

I booked this hotel because Agatha Christie once stayed here. The room's cleanliness and decor were quite good, but the table and chairs on the balcony were covered in dust, making them unusable. The bed was large and comfortable, and the room was well soundproofed. The TV didn't seem to work. The staff varied greatly; some were very patient, while others were clearly impatient with us. I wonder if they treat white guests the same way? Originally, I hadn't booked breakfast, and one front desk staff told me it would cost 40 euros to add. When I went down to add breakfast after checking in, a different staff member told me it would be 48 euros. I had asked twice the first time, so it's unlikely I misheard. In the evening, we requested two bottles of water, and they said they would send them up, but they never did, so we had to go to the gym to get water ourselves. I bought some souvenirs at the hotel, and one front desk staff member kindly packed them for me one by one. Later, he had to leave and asked a colleague to finish the job. This colleague just dumped everything on us. I sat on a sofa in the lobby to pack the bags, and when my friend started filming me packing, he actually came over and told us not to film. At nearly 1500 a night, the room isn't cheap. Are they behind on their salaries? The service attitude was uncomfortable. I might discourage friends who want to stay here in the future and those who ask online. But this hotel probably doesn't lack guests and won't care about my review, LOL.

The lady at the reception desk by the swimming pool was very enthusiastic and showed us around the pool facilities.

The Old Money Hotel in Istanbul offers a slow-paced, butler-style service, but its historical value and service consciousness make it worth a stay.

The hotel's location is excellent, just a few minutes' walk from the Galata Tower. I highly recommend going up the tower for a 360-degree view of Istanbul's beauty. There's also a decent-sized supermarket nearby, and it's not far from Istiklal Street and the pier. The hotel's interior decor exudes a century-old ambiance everywhere you look. The room was great, with ceiling heights probably around 3.8-4 meters, and the bathroom was also very good. Breakfast was nice but not particularly lavish. There's also a small pool. Overall, it was a very satisfying experience.

I came here drawn by the fame of "Orient Express," "Agatha Christie," and "Kemal Atatürk." This hotel is definitely an old-school luxury establishment, and its location is quite convenient, situated in a relatively lively and accessible spot in the European part of the city. The customer service staff who greeted us were very talkative, but I'd recommend taking their restaurant and Turkish bath suggestions with a grain of salt. The prices for foreigners in Turkey are frankly a bit outrageous right now. We booked a triple room, which was super spacious, and the bedding and cleanliness were quite good. The balcony was also very pleasant, overlooking the garden restaurant downstairs. We specifically dined at the garden restaurant, but the value for money was a bit low there. However, overall, the hotel itself offers pretty good value for money.

I've always wanted to stay at this hotel, knowing it's a traditional establishment that once hosted guests from the Orient Express. I was truly impressed by the interior design, from the entrance to the guest rooms and hallways, all exuding a sense of history and prestige. The room's wet areas were spacious and clean. I stayed in a room with a sea-view terrace, and I'll never forget enjoying tea time while gazing at the view from there. I also visited the bar in the evening, where I received wonderful service – not overly cold, nor pushy.

The staff provided excellent service, and I was able to store my luggage early. The hotel has a long history, with both its exterior and interior featuring European-style architecture. It's about 200-300 meters from the nearest metro station.