Crowne Plaza Hotel, Istanbul

...I decided to try the Crowne Plaza this time, as I have a gold card so thought I might get a bigger bed! And even have three hours to enjoy it.


Reservations
They could really use some lessons in how to make booking easy.

I phoned the hotel to book it and was told to send a fax. I wrote the fax, explained that I needed the room from 7am to midday and tried to send it but the line was busy. I set auto ...
...had still not gone, the line was always busy. I phoned again and was given a different number. Another half hour and still the fax could not get through to either number. I was about to phone up and ask for the manager's number when suddenly, success, it got through.

The next morning I had received a reply that if I wanted to arrive after 6pm the previous evening, I needed to send my credit card number. I tried to fax - it was busy. ... more

I had one of those journies, travelling overnight to Istanbul then onward six hours later - too long to spend at the airport, too short to go into the city.

In these cases I try to get a room at an airport hotel; even if I am only in there for a few hours, at least it means I can get a couple of hours sleep, shave, shower and continue the journey looking, smelling and feeling more like a human than an extra from "Zombie Attack". I decided to try the Crowne Plaza this time, as I have a gold card so thought I might get a bigger bed! And even have three hours to enjoy it.

Reservations
They could really use some lessons in how to make booking easy.

I phoned the hotel to book it and was told to send a fax. I wrote the fax, explained that I needed the room from 7am to midday and tried to send it but the line was busy. I set auto redial, to retry ten times. Two hours later the fax had still not gone, the line was always busy. I phoned again and was given a different number. Another half hour and still the fax could not get through to either number. I was about to phone up and ask for the manager's number when suddenly, success, it got through.

The next morning I had received a reply that if I wanted to arrive after 6pm the previous evening, I needed to send my credit card number. I tried to fax - it was busy. In the end I phoned and gave the details over the phone, which at least they agreed to take. If they had again insisted on the fax, I would have gone elsewhere!

Arrival and Security
There is a free shuttle bus to and from the airport, but in the interests of time (three hours to sleep - I'm waiting for nothing!) I jumped into a taxi. The hotel is some way away from town, but a little under 10 minutes away from the airport, about US$7 taxi fare. It is very close to the sea, but in an area that is not really suited for swimming in the sea!

As the taxi arrived, there was someone to open the door and get my bags out of the car and carry them inside. This was just a few days after the first Istanbul bombings and just the day before the latest atrocities in Istanbul, at the British Consulate and HSBC bank, and security was strict. There was a security check just inside the front door, with a metal detector archway like in the airports. I had to walk through, and the security officer ran a sensor over my bags. I noticed the presence of security guards in the lobby area, unobtrusive and discreet but certainly present.

Lobby and Reception
The lobby area is open and spacious. At the far end, beyond the lifts, is a balcony overlooking the breakfast area. In the lobby is a lounge area and a cafe offering teas, coffees and light snacks.

The reception desk is over to the left. It was only about eight in the morning but the desk was already quite busy. A nice idea, they had registration cards on the desk, in a nice leather holder, so that I could fill it in while I was waiting - it saved a minute or two. While I was filling it in, someone came to check me in, which was done quickly and pleasantly.

Rooms
My room was up on the seventeenth floor and had a wonderful view across the road to the neighbouring "Ramstore" supermarket! Pity, if it had been on the other side, my view would have been of the sea.

The room was quite large and certainly comfortable. There was personal air conditioning control which I adjusted to cool the room down and could feel the change just minutes later.

The bed was king sized, with an extra pillow. When I put my head down, I slept soundly! Two mini toblerones were placed on the bedside tables. The TV was full sized and there was a reasonably well stocked minibar.

At the far end of the room was a table with two armchairs. On the table was a tray with additional minibar snacks - peanuts, pistachio nuts, crackers and chocolate.

The bathroom was perhaps just slightly cramped but not uncomfortably so. The shower was powerful and the condiments - shampoo, shower gel etc - seemed to be not bad quality.

Restaurants, Bars and Room Service
The Breakfast buffet was served in the Veranda restaurant on the ground floor, one floor below the lobby. There was a good choice of cold meats, fruit, cheeses, breads. The hot selection was round the corner and I nearly missed it. They also have a lunch buffet, and a dinner buffet in the evenings.

Up on the 24th floor is a Doruk Bar and Doruk Restaurant, both with great views over the Marmaris Sea. In the lobby is a Koy Cafe, offering snacks and afternoon tea. There is also a Kupeste Bar, with live music in the evenings.

It sounds like a good choice but I had a bit of difficulty getting something to eat in the middle of the afternoon. The Veranda Restaurant had stopped the lunch buffet and would not let me in even to order a la carte and the fancy Doruk restaurant was not open yet.

I ordered room service, explained that I had to leave in an hour and I wanted something quick and simple. I settled for grilled chicken which they said would take 20 minutes. Ha ha! After 25 minutes I called - he is on his way. Five minutes later I called again - it is not ready yet! A further five minutes later they said again that it was on its way and sure enough it came 40 minutes after ordering. And the grilled chicken turned out to be a chicken sandwich!

Service
Overall the service was good throughout but there was a problem for a lot of people understanding English. I will be the first to point out that, when we are not in an English speaking country, why should we expect people to speak English!? However, I think a 4 or 5 star international hotel at the airport should make sure that people understand a certain minimum. When grilled chicken and vegetables becomes a chicken sandwich, or "I'm leaving on Wednesday midday" becomes "I am leaving Thursday", then it needs improvement. They can do it in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, so why not Turkey?

Otherwise, the service was pleasant and friendly, everyone seemed cheerful and was willing to help.

Departure
Check out was quick and easy, with no problems at all. There was no query over the bill, it was prepared in a minute.

I had intended to take the shuttle bus to the airport. As I left, there was a small bus waiting outside. "Is this the airport shuttle?" I asked. Yes, replied the doorman so I jumped in, and was swiftly evicted by an airline crew who arrived a minute later - it was their private crew bus! Then I was told that the "public" airport shuttle would be twenty minutes late, so I took a taxi instead!

Summary
Very comfortable and convenient for short stopovers or transits. Near to the airport, but also overlooking the sea. For people wanting to see the city it is not so ideal.
Comfortable, pleasant service but they could do with some attention to fax lines and room service!
 

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