The Marmara Taksim — Hotel in Beyoğlu

Why I Will Not Visit Istanbul or Turkey Again

While I was walking near Taksim Square, a man approached me asking for a lighter. He started a conversation, claiming to be a tourist as well. He spoke fluent English, was polite, and seemed friendly. He mentioned that he visited Istanbul frequently and invited me to join him for dinner or a drink. Initially, I was hesitant, but he talked about visiting India and shared some relatable experiences, which made me feel it might be a good opportunity to connect and learn more about Turkish culture. Since I was traveling alone, I decided to join him.

He took me to a spot near Istiklal Street—a lively, crowded area. It seemed like a nice place to hang out. He even insisted on paying for my Turkish tea, despite my suggestion to split the bill. Then, he proposed going to another, more vibrant venue. We walked around Taksim Square, and he eventually took me to a place called Cavalli Istanbul Club.

When we entered, he attempted to order for me, but I glanced at the menu and noticed that Turkish tea was priced at 350 Lira. I thought that was fine, so I decided to stick with tea. He ordered a beer for himself. Suddenly, a couple of women came over and sat beside me, starting a conversation. This raised my suspicions, and I politely told them I preferred to be alone. By then, the man had gone to the bathroom, and our drinks had already been served.

I told him I was feeling uncomfortable and wanted to leave, but he started shouting at me. The total bill ended up being around 10,000 Lira (~$288 USD) for just a beer and tea. He suggested we split the bill, and I reluctantly paid my share before running out of there. It was clearly a well-executed scam.

Beyond this incident, I encountered several other unpleasant experiences:

Rude Interactions: On multiple occasions, when I asked for directions, people were dismissive and unhelpful. Ferry Issues: While taking a ferry to Princes’ Islands, the ticket counter staff gave me a ticket but failed to announce the schedule in English. I missed two ferries and ended up wasting around 400 Lira. Shopkeepers' Behavior: Many shop owners were rude, and some behaved in a bullying manner, even during simple transactions like buying tea. My Takeaways Very few people speak English, which makes communication challenging. Many shopkeepers and service providers were rude or unwelcoming. Most locals were not helpful or friendly when asked for directions. Scammers actively target tourists, especially around popular areas like Taksim Square. Based on my personal experience, I have decided not to visit Turkey again and cannot recommend Istanbul or Turkey to my...

The location was fantastic and the hotel looks great, but honestly, our stay was pretty uncomfortable in the suite itself. We went for the flying carpet suite, thinking it'd be a lovely experience during the last leg of the trip for our three-night stay in the middle of chilly February. But, oh boy, were we wrong. It felt like they cranked the heat up to something like 24 degrees and disabled the thermostat entirely (it takes in your input and temperature preference but deceiving does nothing to lower the temperature)! We believe that everyone should get to choose their own room temperature – it's a big deal for individual comfort. Every room should have its individual thermostat working as it does in every other hotel.

After tossing and turning the first night because it was just too hot for the family, I mentioned it to the staff, hoping for some relief. They sent a technician, but I never got the full scoop on why our room felt like a sauna. The next night, after another round of tossing and turning, instead of sleeping, I found out at 1am that the hotel had turned off the AC for the whole building and decided that hot air was the way to go as some guests preferred hot air, even though I was desperately trying to get our room down to 19 degrees.

I’ve been hopping around various hotels in Turkey for the last 6 days, and this place was the only one that didn't seem to care about what guests prefer temperature-wise. It might have been cold outside, but inside was equally unbearable. Not the comfortable getaway we had in mind!

I asked for a pedestal fan and they have none of those either. The solution they offered was to turn the AC off entirely so that hot air stops blowing in and open the windows. It’s the 15th floor and windows open 3 inches - not enough for the room to cool down. There is also a night club below and a busy Taksim square so the traffic noise coming from the open window is worse. If every guest is going to have their room heated forcibly, and turning off the heater is the only choice, I think keeping a few fans around makes sense. Why should the hotel decide what temperature to keep the guests in? Those that prefer a warmer room should in fact turn the AC off and close the windows.

If you care about temperature and cannot sleep in anything over 21 degrees, you may wish to bring a fan with you or shop around. Very disappointed to...

The Marmara Taksim Hotel – Honest Review

Breakfast Breakfast is excellent, with a wide variety of options. The omelette chefs are always kind, and the breakfast staff overall is friendly and professional.

Location We love the location. It’s close to the metro, restaurants, and shopping. Every driver in Istanbul knows the hotel, which makes getting around very easy.

Rooftop 360 The rooftop view is absolutely spectacular. Drinks are not very strong for our taste, so we recommend beer. The rooftop restaurant looked nice, although we didn’t dine there. Just remember—it’s very windy, so bring a jacket.

Room 1421 The room is a good size, and the Bosporus view is breathtaking. Waking up every morning and opening the window to that scene was the highlight of our stay.

Reception The lobby is cozy and very clean. Reception staff is friendly and welcoming. There is a metal detector at the entrance for added security, which we appreciated.

Staff Outside the Entrance This area needs improvement. While there are hotel employees outside, they rarely speak to or assist foreign guests. They mostly interact with locals. As tourists, we expected some guidance or help. No one asked if we needed directions or transportation—something basic for a five-star hotel.

Major Complaint – Smoking Issue We stayed five nights in Room 1421 on a non-smoking floor, but someone nearby was smoking constantly. The smell was so strong it filled our room every night. My wife has respiratory problems, and it was very difficult for her to sleep. Some nights, she had to leave the room just to breathe better. We reported this issue multiple times to reception, including late at night, but nothing was done until the final night when they offered to move us—too late. This ruined our sleep and overall experience.

For a five-star hotel, this lack of response is unacceptable. Instead of charging us, they should have refunded part of the stay.

Final Thoughts If we return, it’s because we truly love this hotel. But right now, we are hesitant—afraid the same issue could happen again. We sincerely recommend the management take better care of their guests, especially in situations where comfort and health are affected. This hotel has so much potential. A stronger focus on customer care could truly make it a five-star...