Sirkeci Mansion, in the heart of Old Town Istanbul, has won a TripAdvisor Award every year since 2009. I now know why. The service is impeccable. Feedback is encouraged and acted upon. The staff are all incredibly friendly and greeted me by name. The concierge service is of a particularly high standard.
At your breakfast buffet in the morning, you will find a daily newsletter at your table, giving you tips, Turkish phrases and insider knowledge to events in Istanbul. Every day, the hotel runs an activity (included in your room rate). Mondays, to compensate for the fact that many museums in Istanbul are closed, there are two. They range from walking tours, to street food tours, and even a short cooking class. The cooking class I observed during my stay was a small group having lots of fun chopping and cooking things.
The hotel itself is family owned and run and a mere 10 minute walk from major sites such as Aya Sofia, the Blue Mosque and Topaki Palace. The owner is a passionate boutique hotelier with a particular interest in local sustainable tourism. He, along with the various associations he established, helped build the Sirkeci area into the charming tourist destination it is today. His own hospitableness and charm spill over to his staff.
The hotel is made up of 52 rooms, with a selection of standard, triple, family rooms and larger, deluxe suites, some with a balcony and fabulous views over the Gulhane Park and Bosphorus Sea. The decor is of a simple Turkish design and you will find a welcome note and Turkish delight in your room (delightful!).
The roof terrace has amazing views across Gulhane Park and out to the Bosphorus and is transformed into a restaurant in the summer time. The views, coupled with the food, make it a popular choice for outsiders as well so it’s recommended that you book in advance if you’re visiting during high season.
Sirkeci Mansion is popular with couples and independent groups (not large tour groups), looking for a hotel in a peaceful, historic location. You won’t find any late night clubs here.
From US160+ per night
– The incredible location which had me the Aya Sofia the morning of my departure in less than 10 minutes of walking
– I loved the activities on offer and wish I could have stayed for a week
– Some of the walls are on the thin side, you may hear muffled sounds
Simone
Review Team
It’s been a while since I approached a hotel and felt a real ‘Wow’ factor. At Waldorf Astoria I made up for lost time with ‘wows’ at the imposing entrance and again as I gazed around the lobby and adjacent Peacock Alley lounge area with its grand staircase and trickling fountain.
More ‘wows’ followed as we entered our superb king deluxe room with balcony and sea view. It was large and comfortable with a separate sleeping and sitting areas. There was a spacious walk-in closet with two open wardrobes and vanity mirror, as well as a beautiful black marble bathroom with separate toilet.
The grounds are extensive and include a huge main pool, popular with families, and a large adult-only pool as well as a 350m private beach which is regularly serviced by staff handing out chilled bottles of water.
Back in the suite, our personal concierge arrives to provide the ‘fragrance master’ service. In a box, on a bed of red rose petals, are four fragrances from which guests choose the one they want used around the room after the turndown service. A unique touch that we appreciated.
By the time night has fallen the candle lanterns on our private balcony have been lit and we are sinking to the comfortable chairs having pre-dinner drinks by candlelight in the warm night air, gazing out towards the Arabian Gulf. Blissfully relaxing and romantic.
The hotel is inspired by the palaces of Arabia but still has touches which nod to the historic Waldorf Astoria New York and its art deco style. Simply put it is stunning.
– From US$340 (classic room), US$480 (king deluxe with balcony and sea view)
– Only one hour from Dubai and more affordable
– Couples massage in the luxury spa
– Plenty of loungers around the grounds, including shaded double day beds
– Delicious afternoon tea in the sumptuous surroundings of Peacock Alley
– The hotel is opulent throughout but still very tasteful
– Service standards didn’t live up to expectations in the pool/beach areas and with housekeeping (but nothing to stop us returning)
– The personal concierge and front desk staff were sometimes hard to get hold of
– In-room internet is $20 per day (though free in public areas)
Steve & Candice
Review Team
Traders Hotel is located in bustling Deira, the old heart of Dubai. Within easy reach of the airport, it’s popular for overnights but worth staying a little while longer to meet the very friendly and helpful staff and experience life in one of the less touristy parts of Dubai. Not far away is the historic Dubai Creek, a must-do on every visitors’ list with its fragrant spice souk and glittering gold souk.
We stayed in a superior room which was comfortable but compact, so when in the hotel we spent a lot of time in the club lounge. The lounge had complimentary soft drinks and snacks available throughout the day and a two hour cocktail hour in the evening. Even though lounge staff were slow to replace empty bottles of wine, it’s nice to be able to have some snacks and drinks, given the high cost of alcohol in Dubai. Breakfast in the club lounge was small but adequate and included made to order eggs. Breakfast downstairs in the Junction Restaurant was very good. With all the benefits, including breakfast, newspaper, suit pressing and daily fruit basket, club access is a good deal.
There is a small gym, handily open 24 hours for jet-lagged guests, and also a small indoor pool.
Overall, the hotel provides good service at low cost for Dubai and we look forward to seeing the friendly faces of staff again.
– From US$145 (superior room), US$200 (superior with club access)
– Very close to a metro station
– Good value for money in an expensive city
– Slow replacement of empty bottles during cocktail hour
– Indoor pool
Steve & Candice
Review Team
Perched on the northern slope of the active Tungurahua volcano (yes, it is safe), is the lovely Luna Runtun, a boutique resort spread out over 310 green acres.
Many people walk up to Luna Runtun from the town of Baños below to enjoy the views, the café and restaurant, the spa, and the baths. There are several pools including a large temperate pool and a bubbling hot tub which overlook pretty Baños, a town known for its waterfalls, and, as you guessed if you have any Spanish, baths.
If you stay in one of Luna Runtun’s rooms or, better, a suite, you’ll be able to enjoy the resort’s views, pools and luxurious accommodations at your leisure. My suite even had its own hot tub — without the views, yes, but it was built for two, and I could add bubbles!
Every room at Luna Runtun is different, some with themes (in the Astral Suite you can see the stars through the skylight). One room is specifically designed to accommodate wheelchairs. Some suites have fireplaces, some have hot tubs, all are beautiful. For special occasions, rose petals will even be laid out to welcome you.
The hotel bills itself as an adventure spa, and arranges a wide variety of activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning, and horseback riding. Their guide, Rodrigo, seems to know everything about Ecuador and its amazing environment. He explains how the volcano has 26 canyons which would absorb the lava from any eruption, and that even the ash rarely affects Baños, being blown to other parts of enchanting Ecuador instead.
If you’re looking for a quiet romantic stay with spectacular views, Luna Runtun would be an excellent choice.
From US$110 (inclusive of dinner and breakfast)
– Incredible views, especially from the baths
– Guide Rodrigo is extremely knowledgable (and fluent in English)
– Checkout is at 12:30 – now that’s a luxury!
– While you’ll get by without Spanish, your stay will likely be richer and friendlier if you can speak “un piquito”
Johanna Read
Contributing Editor