HotelChatter

The Rooms
The rooms were exactly what you expect out of a five star by 1990s standards hotel. Clean, spacious and with nice floor to ceiling windows. We had a view of the pool. Most rooms have views of the Bosphorus. Our pleasant surprise was that the room was equipped with slippers and bathrobes. (Sometimes medium hotels skimp on this stuff!) After realizing the water bottle drama at the W Istanbul, we were relieved to find the coffee and water bottles were free.

The Goods
Breakfast on the mezzanine level at the Brasserie Restaurant was the best thing about the hotel. The buffet was endless and full of free variety. Easily eight different kinds of cheeses, several egg dishes, lots of fruits, and an array of cereals, nuts, breads, spreads and Turkish specialties. We were in heaven! It was a good thing the pool and gym facilities were also impressive enough.

The Bads
First, like always we are disgusted with hotel chains who charge for in-room Internet. Second, our room became unbearably dry and stuffy in the middle of the night. At 4 am two nights in a row we were awakened by our own gasping for air and had to stumble out of bed to turn on the AC. 3. We checked in as one person and we were given a room with two single beds. Single beds!? We didn't even know hotels carried singles anymore. A queen would have been preferred and a full would have been just fine -- and just one of either was all we needed.

The Ugly
This was the whopper for us. We made a local call to another hotel (The Four Seasons) that literally lasted less than five minutes, but cost us the equivalent of twenty American dollars.

Also, we're going to blame our public school upbringing and living in New York City on the fact that a security entry didn't phase us. After asking though we learned it's for safety thanks to terrorists and bomb threats.

Location, Location, Location
Even though we are of the opinion that staying in the Sultanahmet area really is the best location in Istanbul, the Taksim area, where Ceylan Intercontinental is located is convenient. Taksim is the business district and considered the "Modern City." The area has a kind of Times Square or Piccadilly Circus feel which means this hotel is ideal for someone who prefers say, New York's Marriott Marquis to The Bowery Hotel.

Bottom Line
The Ceylan Intercontinental is a perfectly lovely place to stay, but there are hotels with more character and better amenities for the same price or less. Rooms start at $283 for a standard room.