Skalion Hotel in Istanbul

Firstly the standard of room was not what was expected of a 4* hotel and the road outside the hotel was like a back street, not where one would expect a 4* hotel to be. I have written to BA separately on this as they should know that they are incorrectly positioning the quality of your accommodation. The public areas were better and the restaurant and roof terrace very good, but the room quality was appalling for this level of hotel, especially when your window aspect was a dirty wall and a 24 hour launderette! However, this complaint is regarding our trip back to the airport where your reception team offered to book our taxi back. We agreed but made it clear that we had to pay by credit card as we had used all our cash. Your receptionist called and checked and we were told this was ok. When we arrived at reception 10 minutes before our departure time, we were met by the same receptionist and another member of staff. They explained to us that the ‘taxi’ could not in fact take credit cards and instead it would stop at a petrol station and fill up to the amount of money you quoted. I stated I was not happy with this arranged and honestly, at this point, should have walked away and flagged one down on the street. However, we were pressured into taking the ‘taxi’ your staff, being told he was a ‘good guy’ and we walked out to meet him. It was not a taxi but a old black van. - The seat belts did not work facing forward so we both had to sit facing back. - The receptionist got in the taxi and was given a ‘free lift’ on us to a destination we assume wasn’t out our way, but who knows? - When we arrived at the petrol station it transpired that the ‘taxi driver’ did not have enough room in his tank for the amount of money they had quoted for the trip. I was then asked to go into the garage whilst he bought enough packets of cigarettes to make up the difference - He then tried to get an extra pack ‘on me’ and I refused and showed him how much we owed. Luckily there was a Turkish customer in the petrol station who took my side and we eventually walked away with us owing him 7 lira - On the way to the airport, having been delayed 20 minutes by this fiasco, he proceeded to light up his cigarette. He did put it out when we asked. - At the airport he proceeded to try and get the extra money from us. We told him he’d have to speak to the hotel as we’d made it clear to them we had no cash left. Had we flagged down an unofficial cab I would say this whole incident was on us. But we didn’t, we used the hotel to order our taxi, a hotel recommended by BA on their holiday website. It is shocking we were put in this position. I will be posting this report on to trip advisor and I think its important travelers know. I don’t really want anything as I will certainly never be staying at this hotel again. Disappointed that BA support such hotels as by booking through BA Holidays we assume a level of safety and quality which clearly is warranted.