Ramada Plaza Istanbul - Istanbul, Turkey 

Avoid
Posted: Wed, Jun 20 2007
Agree with the previous reviewer. This is not a 5 star hotel. Ramada have to tried do the minimum in terms of ticking all the right boxes to qualify as five star but the hotel really falls short. If this was a 3 star hotel I would have given it a top rating but as a five star I felt really ripped off. The swimming pool is closed for most of the year even when the weather is beautiful. The gym is pretty packed when there are more than three people there and there are only about five or six separate pieces of equipment. anyway. The steam room and sauna were switched off all the time I was there. The rooms are reasonably well furnished but they are the smallest I have ever seen in a 5 star hotel. The staff are efficient rather than friendly or helpful and were occasionally a bit rude. Housekeeping was adequate. The Ramada is an example of a hotel conceived by accountants rather than hoteliers and they have managed to suck all the joy out of the experience. There are plenty of other 5 star hotels in Istanbul that have not forgotten what they are there for. Avoid the Ramada unless you are desperate.

All style no substance - avoid!
Posted: Wed, Jun 06 2007
I'm not sure how others enjoyed their stay here. This is a hotel which touts itself as five star but really doesn't live up to expectations - yes it's modern and reasonably clean but thats cos its new. Housekeeping is poor and prices for what you are getting are extortionate. Customer service at Front of House was totally unacceptable for a supposedly top hotel. Slow and totally functional as if they were doing u a favour by allowing u to stay there. I was advised to stay at the Ritz or the 4 Seasons but these were booked out - more fool me. Avoid the Ramada in Istanbul - you'll be wasting ur money.