Alphonse Hotel (Istanbul, Turkey)

If traditional Turkish shops, beautiful mosques, and authentic cuisine are tops on your list for traveling to Istanbul, then this hotel puts you right where you want to be to experience it. Close to so many venues you might want to extend your stay so you can enjoy them all.

So often travellers have to deal with getting to and from the airport or other forms of transportation, but the Alphonse Hotel is close to several modes of travel, including the Metro, the airport, and the tram station is only ten minutes away.

There aren't that many hotels in Istanbul where several languages are offered to visitors. The Alphonse Istanbul staff speak many languages, including English, which makes the stay there much easier.

The rooms are beautiful, but many guests have remarked on the noise that they were able to hear from adjoining rooms. Management have addressed the issue and have rearranged furniture in the rooms to lesson direct contact, but guests still report being disturbed by their neighbour's television or music.

The breakfast served to guests is delicious, but is repeated each day of the week. If variety is desired there are a number of venues within an easy walk, but since the cost of the stay includes breakfast, many guests wished for more variety.

While the hotel, itself, is beautifully decorated and maintained, guests have commented upon the fact that the stairways, halls, and room sizes are very small. Trying to carry luggage any other way than with the lift is difficult.