Royan Suites in Istanbul

An objective review, starting with the pros:
1. Affordable. I booked early and am a Ctrip Black Diamond member, so this B&B offers a special rate of 600 RMB per night for high-tier Ctrip members.
2. Located in the old town, close to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, a ten-minute walk.
3. When I checked in, it looked like a hotel, but it was actually a regular B&B surrounded by noisy restaurants, and I was worried about the quiet. The bespectacled guy at check-in readily said that with a 25 Euro tip, he would show me all seven rooms in the B&B and let me choose. I chose the top floor, off the street, and seemingly the quietest room. It was a snap.
Cons: I was puzzled at first, wondering why, with such a high Ctrip rating, I could choose from seven rooms that day, but no one was checking in. That evening, I realized the shortcomings. This is a B&B, not a hotel. It's near a mosque, but there's no soundproofing, and the windows are made of thin, ordinary glass. The mosque holds five prayers each day, and the sound of the prayer echoes through the loudspeakers throughout the room. I didn't sleep well during my stay. Three of the worst times were 5:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. These three times corresponded to when I was either asleep or taking a siesta, which was incredibly frustrating. Being near a mosque is both a plus and a minus, but it's easily fixable, like adding a layer of soundproof glass. But this B&B was being reckless. I'd like to remind the B&B owner that not all guests are Muslim, and tourists have daily itineraries, which can affect sleep.

2. The seagulls were incredibly noisy every day, starting around 4:00 a.m. and continuing non-stop. I could hear them clearly from every corner of the room and the entire building, which was incredibly frustrating. I have to commend Ctrip's customer service staff for their handling of the situation. After I complained, they contacted me immediately and confirmed that the noise was too loud and sleep-deprived. They proactively contacted the B&B owner to check out. Although their request was rejected, they provided some compensation and allowed me to find new accommodations. This truly reflects Ctrip's excellent service philosophy. 3. The B&B has cats, and as soon as they come into the room, they lie on the bed. I told the guy with glasses, and he said cats are very clean and lie on every bed in the room, so it's okay. But I've clearly seen cats lying on the muddy street sometimes. I also have a dog, and I allow my dog ​​to lie on my bed, but not on other people's beds. But in this B&B, cats are allowed to lie on guests' beds and even on the dining table. It feels a bit unhygienic.

Next, there's the air conditioner leaking in the room. Actually, compared to the noise that kept me awake, I didn't think it was a big deal. Then there's the midnight call to prayer and the noisy seagulls recorded in the room.