Novotel Istanbul Bosphorus Hotel

I loved the hotel and its location the area around are open until late time 11, 12 and onward (restaurants, cafe and some stores are open after 10) we came for leisure in August.

The staff: were friendly, helpful and tried to accommodate our requests accordingly.

The room: it is clean but it need maintenance the first suite I received had an issue with the AC and it was hot, they offered us either smaller option with better view or to wait 1 hour for maintenance to reach & another 45 min to fix so we slept almost 1am, it was a tough night with the kids. The shower holder is keep falling, the iron part is broken and iron table too.

Extra bed: we requested bed for the kid and crib when booked, they insist to provide the sofa for the kid to sleep and it wasn’t good option, the crib is in the floor level so I have to bend every-time I’ll put the baby or carry him which was hard to use and it was a bit small.

The breakfast: have wide selection of options, live station for egg and pastries (pancake and waffles), the view is amazing it’s partially outdoor with fans, baby chair available upon request and baby food 2 options usually available.

Noises: The main issue of the hotel that it is facing a bar that opened until (1:00-2:00am) which was very loud, hotel rooms doesn’t have soundproof option which made the sleeping with kids & waking up in the morning very hard, the bar is almost open so the sound in the outdoor area is very high without any respect to the neighborhood community.

Kids corner: in the reception area that the kids loved it, some toys for babies, screen with different games and playstation.

Places around: Karakoy boat transfer (public ferry service), Galata port (many dining options and shopping stores with lovely view), restaurants, cafe and fashion stores.

Excellent location. Beautiful view from breakfast terrace /bar. Clean and modern rooms, but uncomfortable/hard beds, although that's pretty common outside the US. Our rooms connected which was helpful for a family with kids. Also pretty quiet, although music from establishments close by still audible past midnight (didnt bother us). Sinks didn't drain and when I called to ask for repairs the receptionist said "that's the case in all the rooms" - however the repair person fixed both well. Bfast was good, the people there worked so hard. Everyone seemed to work hard and were polite and eager to help. Free water in glass bottles (thank you!) In rooms and at breakfast was very nice to have. My hubby reported the gym was sad - small and hot/stuffy as next to hammam/spa area. Hotel was recommended to us by friends who live in istanbul and our tour guide also thought this was one of the nicest hotels in the area. And all agreed the location is very convenient and central. I agree, but overall seemed a bit overpriced given the hard beds especially.

Despite being advertised as a 5-star hotel, my experience at [Novotel] fell short of expectations. As a frequent patron of luxury accommodations, I noticed several shortcomings:

Language Barrier: Most staff members lacked proficiency in English, hindering effective communication.
Lack of Professionalism: The hotel's operational procedures seemed outdated, exemplified by handwritten room service bills instead of electronic ones.
Overcharging Incidents: Guests need to meticulously review their bills, as discrepancies and additional charges are common. On one occasion, I was billed incorrectly for a dinner order, highlighting the lack of attention to detail.
Room Cleanliness and Odor: Despite housekeeping efforts, rooms often retained a lingering smoke odor, possibly due to staff smoking during cleaning sessions.
Average Soundproofing: The sound insulation in the rooms was mediocre, leading to disturbances from neighboring guests and external noise.
Lackluster Service: Staff members lacked the requisite warmth and proactive approach expected from a luxury establishment.
Despite these shortcomings, the hotel's prime location stands out as its most commendable feature. For travelers prioritizing convenience over attention to detail, [Hotel Name] may suffice. However, for those seeking a truly seamless and premium experience, it falls short of its 5-star rating.