MM.M.TI have stayed at The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul before, in 2017 and 2018, and unfortunately my recent stay was very different from those previous experiences.
The hotel itself has changed noticeably. The lobby used to feel much bigger, and now it feels smaller, with shops added that weren’t there before. While the hotel still offers good dining options—including Nobu, an Italian restaurant, and a well-known Turkish restaurant—Nobu in particular feels small compared to other locations worldwide.
We stayed during the New Year and winter season, and the hotel felt lacking in festive spirit. The decorations were very minimal: mainly an outdoor Christmas tree and a YSL light tree inside, with only basic décor scattered around. Compared to other hotels we stayed in during the same period, it did not feel festive or atmospheric at all. If you are looking for a strong holiday or seasonal theme, this hotel may not meet that expectation. This is purely based on the overall look and feeling.
Upon arrival, no welcome drinks were offered, which was surprising for a Ritz-Carlton. We noticed other guests receiving welcome drinks while we did not. The check-in area is quite small and not suitable for handling large families or groups. There is also no proper waiting area, except for two chairs near the entrance.
At check-in, we were informed that our three rooms were on different floors (2, 3, and 10), which was shocking since we had requested connected rooms or at least rooms close to each other.
The rooms themselves varied greatly:
• The 2nd-floor room had a terrace but was not family-friendly at all. When exiting the elevator, the area felt very dark due to the wallpaper colors, which my children described as “creepy.”
• The 3rd-floor room was slightly better, but the window faced a plant wall, making it feel like a basement room.
• The 10th-floor room had a partial Bosphorus view and was by far the best room of the three.
Because of these issues, I contacted Trip customer service, and I would like to sincerely thank Maxence Cui for the hard work, patience, and dedication shown while assisting us. Maxence truly tried everything possible to help us in a very stressful situation, and their efforts did not go unnoticed. I could see that the Ritz-Carlton management was actively involved in the discussion.
Eventually, Mr. Mohammed, the hotel manager, stepped in and handled the situation with kindness and professionalism. He made us feel welcome, encouraged us to stay, and offered to move the other two rooms to the same floor, which greatly improved our experience. Many thanks to him as well.
After the room change, we were finally together as a family, with partial sea views and garden views. The room service food was excellent, which was one of the highlights of our stay.
Overall, this stay was not the Ritz-Carlton experience we are used to from other locations around the world. While the situation improved thanks to the efforts of both Maxence Cui and Mr. Mohammed, it still did not fully meet our expectations. It was okay, but not the memorable luxury experience we associate with the Ritz-Carlton brand.
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