Crowne Plaza Istanbul - Old City, an IHG Hotel — Hotel in Fatih

We spent 7 nights in this historic building and it’s quirky to get around - after 2 days we knew where things were and how to get there. Good mobility helps.

We stayed in a spacious, well lit Premium King overlooking Laleli Mosque. The bed was huge and very comfortable - fabulous! All beds are supposed to be the same, but we inspected another room and it was firmer. Ask for #1315. We paid a supplement for Club Lounge access and breakfast, well worth it. Breakfast in the dining room and then sandwiches, cakes, fruit, biscuits and nuts available in the lounge along with water, juice, coffee and soft drinks during the day. A hot meal starts at 5 pm - fine for dinner, with a range of salads and sweets. Usually chicken and beef, but one evening we had fish. Wine and beer is available. The Club Lounge Supervisor, Zin Thu was absolutely amazing. She was the most hospitable, helpful, friendly and welcoming Supervisor we have ever met. She had our drinks when we arrived and was ready with top ups. Our plates were cleared swiftly and she makes great coffee. We miss her and wish her all the best.

Our housekeeper was Thi Zar. She was very friendly, helpful and we would see her each morning before breakfast and our room was serviced upon return. Her work was excellent and we felt safe and secure that she was on our floor, knew us and always had our room done perfectly. Thank you Thi Zar!

The breakfast staff brought our tea, coffee and our fave juice along with our fruit plates when they saw us arrive. In particular Aya was a pleasure to see every day. She listened to what we would like and made it happen, incredible! Faruk looked after us well and even brought out some fresh Gozleme - a surprise on our last day. He was friendly and helpful and did a great job ensuring everything we like was available. Eyyup also looked after us well throughout our breakfasts.

We wanted to use the pool (great photos) but it was initially shut for 10 days due to renovations but opened after 2. We went down only to be met by the staff with the necessity of spending €2-3 each on compulsory caps. This is a thing in some places to save money on cleaning filters, but the nuisance value and discomfort is annoying - especially when I never put my head under. The hotel is doing a great job but the spa and pool are a separate entity, more interested in selling massages/treatments. We prefer hotels where facilities are actually at guests’ disposal.

Gaucin tried to make several hotel failings right with an upgrade to a suite - but our room had a better lay out and softer bed. She seemed limited in what she could do - the other possibility was buy one massage and get the second for half price - not enticing (selling massages!) Julia in Guest Relations was a pleasure to see and chat to around the hotel.

Lows? We arrived from a 4.5 hour flight, got 2 of 3 bags, waited an hour for #3, were messed about with the private transfer and finally arrived. The street is pedestrianised so you arrive between 50-100 metres down the road. Fine if you book the transfer through the hotel as they have a buggy, but not mentioned anywhere otherwise. The front desk system is for the Bell Boy who gets you and bags to the room to then hit you with the hotel info (like the pool is shut) and how to use wifi (it’s your room # and surname), and other obvious things. Nerve shattering and teeth grinding when you want to be left alone. Someone turned up to lock away the mini bar as we didn’t want it (required a deposit and being annoyed every day with (unnecessary) refills). He then stopped what he was doing to take a room service food order over the phone while we were standing and waiting. 100% tone-deaf to what guests want after a long trip. The lack of access to the mini bar wasn’t communicated and we were woken the next day by someone desperate to refill it..

Highlights? The staff, the room layout, the comfy bed, the view, the bathtub and the 100% highlight, a reason to return, the...

From the moment I arrived at the Crowne Plaza in Old City (CPOC) hotel staff stood out as exceptional. They were helpful getting me settled, taking time to carry my bags and to show me the ‘basics’ of the room. The staff set up my internet connection in minutes (saving me probably 20 minutes or more had I done it myself). Hoseyin checked me in at the front desk and he was especially helpful taking time to explain things (fundamentals). As this was my first trip to Istanbul I didn’t speak a word of Turkish and Hoseyin was very patient with me - he spoke good English.

After I settled I had a question regarding where to have a meal nearby. Hotel staff were again more than helpful. Concierge, Fatima, stood out above all. Not only did she recommend where to experience authentic Turkish cuisine, upon learning this was my first time in the city, she took time to actually walk me to the restaurant and to introduce me to them as a guest of the hotel! And Fatima went out of her way to assist me with all my questions. If she didn’t readily have the answer for me she went to work and got the answer, making telephone calls, researching online, educating me on how to navigate around such a sprawling and bustling city as Istanbul.

Next day I desired to experience the Grand Bazaar so I again consulted the concierge desk for advice. And they, again learning of my inexperience, graciously went far and above in their helpfulness. Supervisor Sevde was especially helpful explaining some aspects of the ancient marketplace and how to get to it. As I continued with my questions Sevde offered to briefly escort me to the market herself! This made me especially grateful and made me realize I had made a very good choice in hotels. The CPOC staff, et al, went well beyond conventional guest relations standards.

I should add that in my 35 year career I traveled extensively and had hotel experiences from coast to coast in the USA and some international too. Point is I have many years to draw upon for comparison. The Crowne Plaza Old City stands up against any hotel experience I’ve had in all my years. The staff was courteous, friendly, helpful, and ready to take care of any question or problem I was having (for example, understanding the city transportation system and options). Front desk manager Elif was very courteous, friendly and professional as well, even anticipating my needs and fulfilling them before I even asked !

Breakfast at the hotel was fabulous - good and fresh variety, and culturally themed so I even had a little ‘Turkish culinary experience’ at breakfast as well. If you go away hungry from this buffet-style breakfast it’s not their fault !!

Also, my thoughts would be incomplete if I did not mention general manager Edip. In my career part of what I did was to assess the effectiveness of the top executive and management team in various organizations. The staff quality and effectiveness in an organization is ALWAYS directly related and proportional to the chief executive’s leadership and commitment. In light of the remarkable staff, facilities management and guest relations and service at this hotel, it is obvious that Edip is committed and serious about his responsibilities.

Bottom line: Quite an extraordinary staff at the Crowne Plaza Old City. Everyone was courteous, professional, helpful, accommodating, but I’ve already said all that. Facilities are well kept and very clean. If I needed to point to a hotel that would be representative of a ‘quality experience’ I would put this hotel in the top two or three in all of my experience. And that’s largely because of the hotel employees.

Oh, also, the hotel is very conveniently located on the tram system (T1 line) so you can catch and connect to many city sites and services by bus, light rail, and tram. I will be back in Istanbul in a few months and this is the hotel of my...

From the moment I arrived at the Crowne Plaza in Old City (CPOC) hotel staff stood out as exceptional. They were helpful getting me settled, taking time to carry my bags and to show me the ‘basics’ of the room. The staff set up my internet connection in minutes (saving me probably 20 minutes or more had I done it myself). Hoseyin checked me in at the front desk and he was especially helpful taking time to explain things (fundamentals). As this was my first trip to Istanbul I didn’t speak a word of Turkish and Hoseyin was very patient with me - he spoke good English.

After I settled I had a question regarding where to have a meal nearby. Hotel staff were again more than helpful. Concierge, Fatima, stood out above all. Not only did she recommend where to experience authentic Turkish cuisine, upon learning this was my first time in the city, she took time to actually walk me to the restaurant and to introduce me to them as a guest of the hotel! And Fatima went out of her way to assist me with all my questions. If she didn’t readily have the answer for me she went to work and got the answer, making telephone calls, researching online, educating me on how to navigate around such a sprawling and bustling city as Istanbul.

Next day I desired to experience the Grand Bazaar so I again consulted the concierge desk for advice. And they, again learning of my inexperience, graciously went far and above in their helpfulness. Supervisor Sevde was especially helpful explaining some aspects of the ancient marketplace and how to get to it. As I continued with my questions Sevde offered to briefly escort me to the market herself! This made me especially grateful and made me realize I had made a very good choice in hotels. The CPOC staff, et al, went well beyond conventional guest relations standards.

I should add that in my 35 year career I traveled extensively and had hotel experiences from coast to coast in the USA and some international too. Point is I have many years to draw upon for comparison. The Crowne Plaza Old City stands up against any hotel experience I’ve had in all my years. The staff was courteous, friendly, helpful, and ready to take care of any question or problem I was having (for example, understanding the city transportation system and options). Front desk manager Elif was very courteous, friendly and professional as well, even anticipating my needs and fulfilling them before I even asked !

Breakfast at the hotel was fabulous - good and fresh variety, and culturally themed so I even had a little ‘Turkish culinary experience’ at breakfast as well. If you go away hungry from this buffet-style breakfast it’s not their fault !!

Also, my thoughts would be incomplete if I did not mention general manager Edip. In my career part of what I did was to assess the effectiveness of the top executive and management team in various organizations. The staff quality and effectiveness in an organization is ALWAYS directly related and proportional to the chief executive’s leadership and commitment. In light of the remarkable staff, facilities management and guest relations and service at this hotel, it is obvious that Edip is committed and serious about his responsibilities.

Bottom line: Quite an extraordinary staff at the Crowne Plaza Old City. Everyone was courteous, professional, helpful, accommodating, but I’ve already said all that. Facilities are well kept and very clean. If I needed to point to a hotel that would be representative of a ‘quality experience’ I would put this hotel in the top two or three in all of my experience. And that’s largely because of the hotel employees.

Oh, also, the hotel is very conveniently located on the tram system (T1 line) so you can catch and connect to many city sites and services by bus, light rail, and tram. I will be back in Istanbul in a few months and this is the hotel of my...