Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel, Istanbul in Istanbul

I have spent 2 nights at this hotel with my husband and 1-year-old baby, and unfortunately, my experience so far has not met expectations.

From the moment of arrival, the check-in process was quite impersonal and lacked warmth. We received our key cards without any greeting or assistance, and the receptionist’s delayed response and lack of help with our luggage made us feel somewhat neglected, especially since we were traveling with a young child.

The way to the room was confusing and uncomfortable—taking us outside to another building through what looked like a dingy fire exit and into an outdated elevator without any assistance. Our room itself was not in the best condition: it was warm, the air conditioning wasn’t working, and everything seemed in need of a cleaning. We also faced inconvenience waiting for the porter to bring our luggage while trying to entertain and feed our baby.

As a modern hotel, I expected higher standards of service, comfort, and cleanliness. Unfortunately, this was not reflected during my stay. I hope the management will take this feedback seriously and work on improving the check-in process, guest assistance, and room maintenance.

It is common practice to leave a review once you have left the hotel, in this instance, I wanted to prepare those who are looking to book this hotel for their stay in Istanbul.

Would not recommend for families or travelers seeking a welcoming environment.
I have written a complaint to the hotel and awaiting their response, I will update my review to reflect this.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Radisson Blu Bosphorus – Hidden Pet Fees and Unprofessional Handling

I booked my stay online and clearly indicated that I would be bringing my cat. When I arrived, the staff were friendly and affectionate toward her, saying how cute she was and smiling warmly. Everything seemed fine—until they suddenly informed me that I had to pay €50 per night for my cat.

I explained that this fee was not mentioned anywhere on the booking site. Their response was: “That’s not our website, it’s not our responsibility.” I reminded them that they had a partnership with the site and that I, as a guest, should not be penalized for missing information. I booked based on what was shown—if the fee wasn’t listed, it’s not my fault.

Then the manager appeared and said:
“Although you’re supposed to pay the fee, we’ll allow you not to pay this time.”
This felt condescending, as if they were doing me a favor, rather than acknowledging the lack of transparency. I replied firmly:
“I booked through your partner site. You are the service provider, so you should take responsibility and refund me directly.”

In the end, I stayed one night without paying anything for my cat, but the experience left a bitter taste. The way the situation was handled—shifting blame, vague policies, and acting like they were granting me a privilege—was disappointing.

If you’re traveling with a pet, be cautious. This hotel may surprise you with hidden fees and unclear communication.

The location of the hotel is absolutely amazing, and the view from the rooms is truly worth every penny. HOWEVER, the condition of the hotel itself was a major letdown. From the moment we stepped into the small, old, and dingy elevator, we had a sense of what was to come.

As soon as we entered the room, the first thing we noticed was the carpet—it was stained, worn out, and looked unclean. The room felt very dated, the chair was stained and had cigarette burns, and even the bedsheet on the side was dirty. The bathroom was no better—there was visible mould, and it didn’t feel clean at all. The AC unit was ancient, extremely noisy (like a tractor), and visibly filled with dust and grime. I was genuinely shocked.

We immediately complained, assuming we just got a bad room, but after switching, the second room was in the same condition. The third room was slightly better, but still not up to basic cleanliness standards. We ended up staying the night only because we were exhausted from our flight, and checked out the next morning to move to another hotel.

On a positive note, the hotel staff were very kind and helpful. They openly acknowledged that the hotel is very old and mentioned that renovation plans have been discussed for over two years—but nothing has been done yet.

If there are no immediate plans to renovate, the least that can be done is a deep cleaning. Surely, cleaning the carpets and refreshing the rooms wouldn’t require a major budget?

This experience was a huge disappointment for me. I always choose Radisson Blu when I travel and was really looking forward to this stay, especially because of the breathtaking Bosphorus view. But unfortunately, not even that stunning view was enough to make up for the poor condition of the room.

I can’t recommend this hotel to anyone until a full renovation is completed, till then avoid at all costs..