Avicenna Hotel Sultanahmet

Location good. Efficient reception. Bags carried and help to locate atm. Comfortable bed and plenty of hot water.

Disappointed with no fruit at breakfast. I have never found that in any other hotel. Our room was not serviced on Sunday. Basic provision eg no milk for tea available in room.

Friendly helpful staff. Great location.

Nothing

The hotel is the historic Sultan Ahmet area, and just an easy if slightly uphill 10 minute walk to the Blue Mosque and Haggai Sophia and a bit further on is the Topkapi Palace and the Cistern. Its also walkable to the Istanbul Archeological Museum. (I managed them all at 67 without issue despite a crook knee!). There is a small market/souk between the hotel and the square where the Blue Mosque etc is located. It is a pensione style hotel. The breakfast buffet is served on the lower ground floor as had a good selection of western and Turkish foods. We did not eat in the separately operated rooftop restaurant but a friend did and said it was satisfactory. Staff were very friendly and helpful with bags and arranging laundry, including giving instructions about no scented laundry products (as I have allergies). The hotel stored two large bags for us free of charge for when we made a 10 day trip to Athens and Cairo, before returning to travel home. (That service was offered as we were returning to the hotel.) It was overall very good value. There were some very pleasant restaurants within 15 metres including Rainbow Fish and Meat restaurant and dubb Ethnic Restauran. and the Rooftop restaurant in the Amiral Palace hotel. a minute's walk way was an elegant experience. The traffic in Istanbul can be horrific. On the waters edges which is walkable but downhill is a train station that will take you to other parts of the city. The area on front the crise terminal which is on the eastern side of the inlet that divides the European side of the city has some modern shops and an excellent contemporary art museum.

We were twice directed to booking a hotel airport transfer (paying the hotel in cash). The first was an ordinary taxi and the driver asked how much we had paid the hotel . We booked a car to meet our flight from Cairo to go to the hotel through Bookings.com and the cost was somewhat cheaper. The air-conditioning unit never seemed to lower the temperature, but was not strictly needed by us as we had mild weather and you could open a window. The toilet had not been set level on the floor and seat would slide off to one side significantly, which was a bit disconcerting the first couple of times!

Our two-night stay at Avicenna Hotel in Istanbul was fine, but unremarkable. The superior room was smaller than expected, with just one chair and a stool. The balcony was a good size, and we enjoyed using it once the day cooled down. Thankfully, the air conditioning worked very well, and the firm mattress was comfortable. Light sleepers may want earplugs, as corridor noise from people coming and going was audible throughout the night. The varied breakfast was adequate. The hotel appears to have once been quite grand, but it now feels tired and worn. Its greatest advantage is the location, which is within walking distance of everything.

We were disappointed by Kazim’s attitude at check-out. Although our account had been paid through Booking.com four days earlier, he insisted we settle it again, printed a copy of the bill, and forcefully asked whether we would pay by cash or card. Only after I showed the transaction on my phone did he check with Booking.com and back down. No apology was offered, which left a sour impression.