Hotel Ilkay - Istanbul

Average rating:  8.1

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Feb 2008

Not bad location, kinda hard to find. Very helpful staff, one even guided us to the travel agent just down the street. Nice breakfast buffet.

Guest name: SC, Canada

Average rating:  8.5

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Sep 2007

An excellent location near all the key sites in Sultanhament. Staff were extremely helpful.

Guest name: JT, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jun 2007

The hotel is within walking distance of the major sights in Istanbul. Excellent value for money. The service and willingness to please is second to none. The tramway runs outside the hotel, very handy.

Guest name: John Payne, United Kingdom

Average rating:  7.1

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Apr 2007

We stayed there for the first time. Generally speaking, positive experience. Except: smell of fried food in the bathroom and a bit of noise at night from other rooms.

Guest name: MD, Italy

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Mar 2007

My reservation of a non-smoking room was confirmed on the web site, but it was not available when I arrived. The room I got was noisy, not very clean, and old. The water from bath tap was rusty. But the second day they gave me a non-smoking room, and that was so much better. It smells good, clean, and comfortable. The staff was friendly, willing to help, and polite. I was also amazed at the good quality and variety that their buffet breakfast provided.

Guest name: WL, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.6

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Apr 2007

Habitacion pequeña pero todo muy limpio. Perfectamente situado, a 5 min caminando del bran bazar y de santa sofia y mezquita azul.

Guest name: MC, Spain

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Group

stayed in Mar 2007

For our short stay of four nights the location was ideal, major sights, beautiful bookshops and public transport(streetcar, trains, ferry) in walking distance, polite and helpful employees, restaurants and cafés around the corner. Even for low season the quoted price on the Venere website was excellent compared to the good quality (especially the breakfast buffet and heating!). An advice: the announced free transport from the airport is only available if you do your room-booking directly on the hotel website and NOT via Venere and it is only valid for the Atatürk airport. All in all: the Ilkay Hotel can be highly recommended!

Guest name: Britta Girgensohn-Minker, Germany

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Mar 2007

The only problem is that if you are situated in a room adjacent to the street since the windows are not double glazed you can hear all night and day the sound of trams and other public vehicles. Otherwise its a great hotel with good staff and fabulous breakfast.

Guest name: Dominc Vella, Malta

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Mar 2007

I was moved to Hotel Orient Express a few metres down the road from Ilkay. I had a terrific stay there and really enjoyed myself. The staff were excellent, really polite and helpful. Thanks again!

Guest name: Indira Ganesh, United Kingdom

Average rating:  7.5

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Feb 2007

The Ilkay is in the town center and near to the most important monuments. If offers good rates, clean rooms and a huge morning buffet. We only complain about the service. A stupid example? At breakfast we asked for a cup of hot milk... it seemed we asked for Lobsters! We were able to get it only the fourth and last day, may be because we were seated near the hotel manager... Another example? We arrived late at night and there was no water nor telephone in the room. We had the water in about 15 minutes and the telephone ... never. Thus, each time we had to ask for something we had to go down at the desk. Most important: among other reasons we chosed the hotel for the fact that they were offering a free lift from or to the Airport, for those staying 3 nights or more. Well, it was untrue! When we claimed for it, they said the promotion was only valid for those reserving through their own web site! When we showed them the venere.com page stating the promise they simply said "oh sorry, it's a mistake!" . However, the mistake is still there, see: http://it.venere.com/hotel_istanbul/serraglio/hotel_ilkay.html?action=location At any rate: there's a shop near the hotel selling tikets for a bus service to the airport. At 4 Euro, they come and picked us up the hotel!

Guest name: Claudia Vianino, Italy

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: 

stayed in Nov 2006

The Ilkay is in the most perfect position in Istanbul.It is near the main sights and walking distance to Bazaars.Also, walking distance to all transport.We had a great time there.The staff were so helpful and couteous,helping us with phone calls etc.The breakfast choice was superb.Excellent place to stay.I can thoroughly recommend it.I have just booked another stay there already for my daughter.

Guest name: Janice Connolly, Turkey

Average rating:  7.7

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Oct 2006

Ganz sympathisches Stadthotel direkt an einer Hauptstrasse, die aber nur fuer Taxis und Stassenbahn zugelassen ist. Zimmer nicht mehr ganz frisch, aber im Landesmassstab gut, im 1. Stock zur Straße hin etwas laut, unterm Dach im 5./6. Stock teilweise nerviger Dauerbrumm durch Trafo(?). Es gibt auch 2-Raum-Familienzimmer mit 5 Schlafgelegenheiten. Nettes Personal, zuvorkommend und hilfsbereit, auch wenn man wiederholt an sein Safe-Schliessfach will. Reichhaltiges Fruestuecksbuffet, PC mit Internetzugang im Foyer gegen geringes Entgeld. Verkehrsguenstig gelegen, 10 Minuten zu Fuss zur Hagia Sophia/Topkapi, 5 Minuten zum Sirkeci Bahnhof und Goldenen Horn (Faehranleger). Mit der Strassenbahn ist man schnell in Galata. Viele kleine Laeden, Supermarkt und div. Restaurants in unmittelbarer Nähe. Fazit: Empfehlenswert und gerne wieder!

Guest name: Hans-Dietrich Beyer, Germany

Average rating:  7.7

Guest type: 2 friends

stayed in Oct 2006

perfect place to stay and visit Istanbul. close to Blue Mosquee, aya Sofia etc.. i loved to stay in this street as it is crowded of shops, pubs, restaurants, kebab house...

Guest name: Alessandra Melchiori, Italy

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2006

Loved Istanbul, Hotel Iikay location etc. was every we expected.Hope to be back.

Guest name: KK, Canada

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Sep 2006

Reserved this hotel via Venere,well satisfied what I expected especially room rate, breakfast and location.Desk reception is helpful and friendly.Hotel is within walking range from Topkapi Palace, Sultanamet,Grand Bazaar and tram station. A shuttle van to airport ticket can be purchased at a shop opposite of the hotel, only 4 Eu one way and very punctual. Will stay at Ilkay (pronounce: Ill-kine)again next time.

Guest name: CHYAGRIT SIRI-UPATHUM, Thailand

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Sep 2006

The staff at Ilkay are true professionals. They are helpful, honest, and friendly. The rooms are clean and large in size. The hotel is within walking distance of all sights. For the price, this is the best hotel you can get in Istanbul. I highly recommend this hotel and will stay in it again when I go back to Istanbul. I thank every one at hotel Ilkay for their kindness, professionalism and cleanliness that all helped my trip to Turkey become a wonderful experience.

Guest name: James Frissina, USA

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Aug 2006

Una soluzione eccellente per un soggiorno ad Istanbul, camere spaziose e pulite (peccato non vi sia il frigobar), colazione abbondante e ottima posizione.

Guest name: Mauro Rossi, Italy

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Jun 2006

Great helpfull english speaking staff always willing to help and advise. Very good breakfast with a high level of hygien, hotel clean throughout with large rooms. Excellent value for money.

Guest name: Fergus Thomson, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Apr 2006

Great location to visit old Istanbul, staff very good andhelpful

Guest name: Jeanne Burbidge, United Kingdom

Average rating:  6.7

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Apr 2006

Un assez bon rapport qualité prix. Bien placé, chambres spacieuses, petit-déjeuner copieux. Le personnel ne parle pas français et le bagagiste réclame avec insistance de forts pourboires.

Guest name: SL, France

Average rating:  7.7

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in Mar 2006

Hotel Ilkay was a totally satisfactory hotel for the price. Nothing fancy, but the rooms were clean, the service was good, breakfast was typical Turkish fare, and the restaurant had good kebabs. Note that, as with most Turkish hotels, they'll give you an exchange rate that's about 6% less than the going rate so if your reservation is quoted in dollars or euros, it might not be a bad idea to bring some cash with you to pay -- I would have saved about 14 euros on a four day stay.

Guest name: SB, USA

Average rating:  9.2

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Apr 2006

Hotel is very well located, 1 minute walk to train station; walking distance to historic places, several nice eating places around. Nice personnel, English speaking, willing to help. Our double room consists of two small rooms and this was very convenient. It is not 100% quiet because of train but this didn't disturb us too much and we didn't come to spend all day in the hotel. Breakfast was included, everything fresh. Free shuttle from airport is provided. Very good for this price. Will stay again.

Guest name: Mariam Sianozova, Kazakhstan

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Jan 2006

I chose this hotel from Venere after checking the reviews of other travellers that stayed there. It's exactly as the reviews said. Very good location, very good quality vs price.

Guest name: Sotirios Panagiotakopoulos, Greece

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Nov 2005

the hotel is extremely well situated near all the main points to see and which is the most important was near the tram. The best is that the tram goes to the metro and then to the airport. excellent. The breakfast is included and was very good with everything fresh

Guest name: YOLANDE MONTAGNA, France

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Aug 2005

Perfect location to see Istanbul. Blue Mosque, Haggia Sophia, Topkapi Palace were within 10 minutes walk. Orient Express Station was just behind the hotel as were the boats to go up the Bosphoras. Breakfast was substantial in a large clean room. A very nice stay here.

Guest name: James Kotow, Canada

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Group of friends

stayed in May 2005

The only unplesent surprise was that the hotel is NOT accepting Amex card, as stated on your page!!!! Other thing that you have to take care of is to pay upon arival and ask for the bill, since the prices change during your stay, and if you don't get the bill you may be asked to pay again (the prices for double room vary between 45-250 EUR)!

Guest name: ZM, Slovenia

Average rating:  4.4

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in May 2005

My room stank - I couldn't use my own bathroom!

Guest name: JS, United Kingdom