CHECK OTHER REVIEWS FOR THIS PLACE:
I have heard a lot about the W Hotel long before I had the chance to try it.
The W is a new concept of Hotels, part of the SPG group around the world creating contemporary locations with a special emphasis on decoration and design.
The W Istanbul is one of those places where you cannot leave indifferent. The technology used as well as the colors infused into the interior as well as the music around the hotel is special in each and every aspect you might imagine.
Arriving at the Hotel, a big W welcomes you outside of the normal wooden door where you can only see black behind, and after entering the lobby the darkness becomes understandable: trendy indeed but very dark with pink lights breaking the dimmed effect and rounded yellow lamps directed on the wall signs. It doesn't end here as the elevator has the same feel as well as the rooms corridor and rooms themselves.
The lobby sofas are pieces of art on its own right - made in different colors surrounded by trendy paintings.
You need to be a fan of such trends to actually enjoy it. I liked it but for me 24 hours were more than enough: too dimmed and too dark for my taste. I would have preferred, and for a lower price a luxurious hotel with a wide an enlighten lobby and rooms that are fresher and more joyful. The Rixos Pera was my choice on the next stay.
As for the staff, they are fantastic. A great welcoming team that is ready to make whatever is needed for their guests to be satisfied: starting with "Turguy" (not tour guide as it may be spelled) the welcoming coach, the receptionist and the concierge that knows Istanbul like the palm of his hand.
The rooms are a must see: you access the room directly to the washrooms where three different doors on the left and right sides give you access to the toilet, the shower and the two sinks. Afterwards you continue to the room itself where two beds, a sofa and up to date technology items await you. A Bose sound system and an iPod dock, a TV covered with black glass and some dimmed pink lighting under the beds... what more can I say!
What I really loved:
- The showers water pressure
- The showers size that covers all of your body
- The free Internet in the lobby
- The wide choice of restaurants around the hotel
- The hotel's location and street around it perfectly structured for a relaxing tourist stay.
What I didn't appreciate much:
- Internet is not free of charge in the rooms
- The elevators are too dark
For a five star hotel and a night costing around 300€ the breakfast is not the best thing they have. We paid an additional 30€ per person to try their breakfast and had to experience some dirty plates forgotten with the clean ones, an empty milk bucket and a choice that is not up to the standard at all. A minimal choice of cheese, no fruits, no sausages and no viennoiseries: shocking indeed.
The renowned restaurant on the third floor is one of Istanbul's finest but unfortunately I didn't have the chance to try it.
The special things I remember:
- The price notes on all the technology items stocked in the rooms so guests know the price of what they might think of stealing.
- The choice of the mini bar that was a premier for me: T-Shirts, condoms, an umbrella are a few of the items proposed.
- The block note with a background: Don't let 150€ go in a puff (meaning that smoking will cost you a fine of 150€, so don't try it)
An Experience indeed. Unique and one of its kind.
