JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus

"Recently, had an excellent multiple day stay at this beautiful old soap factory, fully reconditioned to a beautiful hotel. The location of the hotel is in the heart of Karakoy district right next to GallataPort. The location provides very hip little coffee houses and bars, while both the hotel and surrounding area provided great access to wonderful restaurants with no limits on what is available with a view of the Bosphorus that is second to none\n\nUpon arrival i was greeted by the bellmen, and want to point out GUMUS (Birol) particularly for going above and beyond for me, i had a bad experience on the way to the hotel in a taxi (No AC and driver smoked literally the entire way). I asked him for help and he made sure that everyday, when i left the hotel for meetings, i had a clean/air conditioned taxi to take me where i needed to go for meetings. it was unseasonably hot for the week, and working in a suit and tie made it even hotter.\n\nReception was excellent by a young Marriott host in a blue dress and a huge smile (i wish i remembered her name), Everyday we practiced a little English/Turkish together. Her English was far better than my Turkish. She had a beautiful smile.\n\nCheck in was smooth and professional, and the bellman made sure that i understood all the hotel offerings on the way to the room. Great service!\n\nMy room, was nice, a little small but, clean and comfortable, took a little bit to get used to the atrium view (no view to outside).\n\nMy room came with breakfast on the ninth floor with a panoramic view of the Cistern and all sights to be seen, The view is unmatched. The breakfast was excellent, although a little western for me, I was expecting more of a traditional Turkish Breakfast. HOWEVER, the chef Mehmet Elmaci everyday introduced me to a different breakfast specialty of Turkey and made sure that i fully enjoyed my breakfast. He and his teammate Ruveyda went out of their way to make me feel at home, and even sent me home with homemade strawberry jelly as a gift.\n\nMany other guests talk about the rooftop bar, and i have to say it was awesome, the views, the vibe, and drinks (i drink martinis) was pretty cool, i went up at sunset and got awesome pictures. Make time to do that.\n\nI had a late flight out on the last day, and even though it was a Saturday and the hotel was packed, the desk manger allowed me to remain in the room until 3PM, a perk of my Marriott status, but not expected. i was very grateful for this.\n\nOverall, this hotel is exceptional and would be a great choice to experience the culture and life of Istanbul. Thank you to the staff for an exceptional stay. i look forward to seeing you all again very soon."

"Amazing Experience at JW Marriott Bosphorus\n\nOur stay at the JW Marriott in Bosphorus, Istanbul was nothing short of amazing. The location is absolutely perfect; right by the water and within walking distance to shops, restaurants, and key attractions.\n\nWhat truly made our stay memorable was the outstanding service. The concierge team was fantastic and helped us plan our days with thoughtful recommendations and local tips. A special shoutout to Bugra, who went above and beyond with helpful suggestions and made us feel incredibly welcome. The entire team was genuinely warm, hospitable, and professional.\n\nWe loved everything about this hotel; from the stunning views to the exceptional service. Would 100% recommend it to friends and family!"

"Disappointing experience, not the room we paid for!\n\nWe booked our stay from Dubai in advance and fully paid for a Superior King Room with a panoramic city view. However, when we arrived in Istanbul and completed the check-in, we were shocked to be taken to a tiny room with no view at all, completely different from the room we had paid for.\n\nAt first, the staff insisted that the room we were given was the one we had booked, and they refused to change it. Then we showed them pictures and room details from our booking confirmation to prove otherwise, and only after that admit their mistake, and told us, we are fully booked and we couldn’t provide you with the correct room. After long discussion they offered to move us to a better room, but only for one night, saying that they will move us again to another room as this room is already booked. We refused this offer, as it was too hassle for us to pack again and change room in the next day.\nAt this point, we told them we’d rather leave and find another hotel. To make things worse, a staff member refused to refund our money, which led to a loud argument before getting refund and leave the hotel.\n\nThis experience was frustrating, dishonest, and completely unprofessional. After a long day of travel, the last thing any guest wants is to argue over something they’ve already paid for.\nI do not recommend this hotel to anyone who values honesty or good service."