Spectra Hotel in Istanbul

We stayed at Spectra Hotel from 26 April to 01 May. Staying here has been somewhat of a nightmare. I booked this hotel specifically because of its location AND the rooftop terrace you advertise, which looked really nice in the pictures. Upon arriving at the hotel and asking for next morning brekfast hours, hotel clerks informed me that the rooftop terrace has been closed for 5 weeks already for renovations and that breakfast is served in the tiny restaurant next to the road. This false advertisement is just wrong and unacceptable and not informing the guests of the closure is incredibly misleading. In addition, the breakfast was not even a quarter of what was advertised. I feel deliberately ripped off by management.

As if that wasn’t enough, upon asking reception to call us a taxi for the morning for the morning of checkout, for our return flight the next morning, they told us that the entire city is shutting down due to possible 1st of May riots that take place every year and that transportation was limited, at best. However we found out by chance that all transportation in or out of the city was canceled. I couldn’t believe this at first but I asked a nearby police officer and 2 other taxi companies and they confirmed. It is inconceivable how hotel management failed to inform us at check-in. They clearly saw that our checkout was on 01 May and had I not asked a night before, I would’ve been stranded and would have missed my flight. Taxi companies told us the only option to get out of the city was the same night no later than 2400. Didn’t want to risk missing our flight so we packed up, took a taxi to the airport and slept there. What a waste of money!

A reasonable manager would acknowledge these shortcomings and offer reimbursement. I expected to be partially refunded of what I paid and upon writing management of the shortcomings, nobody ever got back to me and apologized or explained their point of view.

Rooms definitely looked better in the pictures, but were pretty sad when seeing them for real. I barely fit in the bathroom, no space at all.

Better to go to Azade Hotel a block away, amazing place to stay and you get what you pay for.

Big disappointment.