Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Istanbul Tuzla — Hotel in Tuzla

Title: Great room and dinner, but terrible spa experience – not worth the price

I stayed at this Radisson hotel in Turkey for one night before my flight the next day. Unfortunately, my experience was very mixed.

First, there was no airport transfer service included. The hotel offered me a private car at a price that was 10 times higher than a normal taxi, even though the airport is just 8 minutes away. That was frustrating and felt very unfair.

When I arrived, the first room I was given smelled absolutely awful — like a mix of sewage and chemicals. It was shocking for a five-star hotel. Thankfully, the staff quickly gave me another room on the same floor, which was much better.

The new room was spacious, clean, and comfortable. I liked the big balcony, strong AC, large bed, minibar, and nice shower. However, there were no slippers, no bathrobe, no body lotion or other typical hotel toiletries (like shower caps, vanity kits, etc.).

Later, I had dinner at the hotel’s Casa Grill restaurant, and the food was incredible. I had sea bass with vegetables and sauce, followed by cheesecake with chocolate — absolutely delicious and way above expectations.

At 9 PM, I booked a Turkish scrub (45 minutes for $86) at the hotel’s spa. This was my first time trying it, and sadly, it was a complete disaster.

The hamam was turned off, so I had to sit in a dry sauna for five minutes instead. Then a woman who didn’t speak a word of English brought me to a room that was at room temperature, not a real warm hamam. She poured cold water on me and started scrubbing directly on dry skin with no softening products. My skin is very dry, and this immediately became painful and uncomfortable.

I tried to explain to her (using Google Translate) that I needed to warm up first or she would hurt my skin. She refused, saying she had no time. Eventually she gave in a little, but continued the scrub roughly. She finished with some soap foam for about 2 minutes, then gave me a quick 5-minute massage.

The whole thing felt rushed, unprofessional, and careless — like they just grabbed a random worker to make a quick buck off a tourist. I left with red, scratched skin (photo attached). It was not worth the price at all, and I wouldn’t recommend this spa service to anyone.

Overall rating: • Room: 5/5 • Restaurant: 5/5 • Spa: 1/5 • Value for money: 3/5

Would return for the food and room, but absolutely never...

No one helped us with the bags from our taxi. It wasn’t a missed opportunity he watched the taxi stop, watched us get out, watched us struggle with the bags and a baby and just walked right in front of us until we gave our passports. Only then he helped us to our room.]

Gave us the wrong room. When questioned, said, we upgraded you.

Seemingly the upgrade was from the pool view what we paid for to their upgrade of seeing the neighbouring hotel with trees blocking and a wider balcony [picture attached.

Then tells us “we recommend you to stay in that room”.

I am sorry, Radisson over booking or giving our booked room to others is not an issue we want to deal with at 10 in the night personally.

Had to go and convince them to move us to what we booked and paid for when they become available. Which was like a negotiation.

Asked for milk for our infant, started mentioning of how it will be charged. Sure, tell us your charges and you’ll have it was our response.

Later calls back and says we will give it for free as if they are doing us a favor.

They had approved to have an extra crib/cot for an infant. Well there was no cot. Was too tired to even bring that up.

Not a great experience.

Ruined our moods after a long day.

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Their General Manager is going to respond to this with a pre formatted message very likely saying they are going to improve, but I assure there hasn’t been any transparent remedial procedures. You can see the responses to all other negative reviews.

Don’t expect them to remedy anything with us either.

——— I would also like to add a feedback for this particular premise to not allocate non English speaking people or with poor English to reception or any number internationals call to.

Bunch of times we were given blunt replies of “I don’t know or understand.”

We just asked should we get our own towels.

The reception saying call the spa section for answers and the spa section saying call reception.” And led to a back and forth.

All of it is fine but the receptionist being more annoyed than us on call is crazy when he is the one who can’t understand.

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To summarise wouldn’t recommend for a family but prolly good for corporate events or business stays. Their spa section is nice...

Short: The good Nice hotel, good Spa, excellent Hammam suites, proximaty to airport, price.

Problems: worst food and resturnat, even though it's only option around! So dont count on it. T.v. remote control is very slow, and TV needs an upgrade (to allow your devices to play from your phone, unacceptable, at least should be in the suites) , dirty walls and Balconies in some rooms.

Detailed:

We stayed here every year for the past 4 years. It's a Spa resort style hotel, but also can give a buiesness type vibe . excellent proximity to Sabiha Airport. The lobby when you first walk in will make you feel comfortable and excited.

The standard rooms are spacious and comfortable . The showers are enjoyable and different with excellent water pressure, lighting, and additional sink. The standard rooms have coffee kettles but the business or higher rooms come with nespresson.

The Spa has 2 steam rooms, one large Hammam with corners for little privacy or groups to use, relax areas, rain cold shower area, sauna room, open Jacuzzi, large outdoor with covered glass ceiling warm pools, large swimming pool and additional services this highlight the Spa. One additional indoor pool for laps but kids can use, gym.

The outdoor pool is nice and large but biggest problem is that it's always COLD even in summer!! Needs to be addressed.

Currently, the hotel suffering from dusty walls and areas, I thin due to the construction at the nearby airport. They are currently painting the walls, the problem is the splattered paint everywhere! Not nice.

The resturnat food and service is very problematic of very poor quality. Unfortunately, the hotel needs to address that immediately because it's the only option around. The restaurant quality has degraded over the past few years, and now it's at unacceptable level.

The Hammam suites are amazing for small families because it provides indoor spa experience for the little ones which cant use the spa facilities. The room is spacious with two separate areas, indoor small Suna room, large indoor Hammam, and a nice tub over looking...