First of all, this hotel is about 40 minutes away from Istanbul Airport and located directly opposite Mall of Istanbul. In terms of location, it sits between two major highways in a modern part of the city, far from Istanbul’s main tourist attractions, which are mostly in the older and historic areas. This means you’ll likely rely on taxis every day, and a round trip can cost close to £40.
The hotel itself is a tall tower and stands out nicely among nearby buildings. It has a large “G Rotana” sign on top, and most drivers seem to know it simply as “Rotana.” At the entrance, there is a revolving door that’s quite inconvenient, along with a metal detector gate that feels unnecessary, as there is no proper security check and it alarms constantly.
The staff speak good English, and despite arriving a couple of hours early, we were checked in without any issues. The hotel has 15 floors and around seven elevators, which means you almost never have to wait. Rooms are slightly smaller and less polished than the photos suggest, but still comfortable overall. Rooms on floors 6 and above have better views, especially at night. The bathroom was large, although some worn tiles were noticeable.
Service was excellent. We requested a baby cot and received it quickly, and anything we asked for was delivered within minutes. Breakfast was high quality with plenty of options, live omelette stations, and small daily variations. The rooftop pool has a great view and is very clean, but at a maximum
