The Peninsula Istanbul

This is am amazing property and congratulations to the management of the hotel for training the employees to the highest level. Hotel is spread between 3 different buildings, but the service is so refined, you think this is a small boutique hotel. Of course, you are staying at The Peninsula, so you expect excellence in every aspect of your stay, and this particular property does not disappoint. Location is excellent, as it is walking distance to the Grand Bazar and all the main attractions in Istanbul. But if walking is not your thing, the hotel can arrange a car to take you there. We have stayed at many different 5 star hotels in Istanbul, including Four Season and St. Regis, and this hotel is the best; hands down. Rooms are state of the art and no detail has been left undone. Even when you open the cabinet to make coffee and pull the drawer forward light comes on and a nail dryer in the drawer, just in case. Also, their premium dining restaurant is Galleta and they serve excellent food and drinks. As Istanbul is our gateway to Europe, we will be back!

The Peninsula is a large part of why our stay in Istanbul will be among our top travel memories. First, the location on the Bosphorus, so close to the ferries and tram, make for easy travel to Kadikoy and other districts worth visiting. The views are magical, especially at night. Second, while I imagine every building offers a different kind of accommodation, our room was perfect. We were initially offered a very large, very well-designed room that had an unattractive view. When I asked about something on the Bosphorus side, we were offered a smaller, but still beautiful, room in another building with what the hotel called a partial view, but that was truly wonderful - the Bosphorus in sight, but also the Galata Tower from both the bedroom and the generous bath - such luxury to bathe while admiring the night view! The room was also beautifully designed and appointed, with a separate dressing room and his-or-her sinks in the bath, plenty of electrical outlets for recharging, controls for the window shades, lights, etc. The rooftop bar was expensive, but the view and service made it worth it. Our dinner at the restaurant was wonderful, and the breakfasts were delicious and varied enough that we could have something new every morning if we wanted. I was too busy exploring Istanbul to visit the spa or pool, but my husband did, and they even let him borrow swim trunks since he hadn't packed any. The facilities are top-notch. Although we found the tram and ferry the best ways to get around during the day, we were able to use the hotel car for a ride to a couple of evening dinners, and it made the experience very elegant and easy. (It's tricky to walk on cobblestones in any kind of dress shoes.) Finally, the staff at the Peninsula are amazing - always there to answer a question, troubleshoot a problem, or make life easier in ways large and small. I was impressed by the concierge who suggested a nearby restaurant when we were tired from a day-long tour and wanted to cancel our fine-dining evening for a more casual one - he led us to an out-of-the-way place that was just perfect. When we consulted him about our plan to spend our last day in Uskudar, he suggested, based on where we had been already, that we might enjoy Balat, which turned out to be exactly right. In short, I wouldn't stay anywhere else in Istanbul.

The Peninsula Istanbul defines luxury. Comfort, beauty, food, competent and gracious service, a plethora of high end amenities, and location--this hotel on the Bosphorus has everything any traveler could want or need. From the heated floor in the bathroom to live piano music in the central food service area, the hotel recognizes the wishes of its customers and exceeds them. The streets to access the hotel are rather chaotic and crowded, but the bother is more than rewarded in the end. One of the two or three best hotels we've had the good fortune to enjoy over decades of international travel. Indulge yourself!

I stayed in The Peninsula for a long weekend and from start to finish, my experience was flawless. The hard product is truly impressive; my room was beautiful and functional, which is a difficult balance to strike. The subterranean spa has every facility you could want and the treatment I had was world class. The pool beside the bosphorus was my favourite feature about the hotel - I could sit and gaze at the ever changing view all day. Food was consistently delicious and inspiring. The 'Peninsula Time' benefit is extremley valuable if you're staying for a couple of nights so I highly recommend booking directly. My only gripe with the hotel is that some of the additional services were priced at a level that lacked any sense; the cheapest return airport transfers will set you back EUR 900. I paid EUR 200 return with Blacklane business class. That is a crazy premium which is unjustifiable.

One of the very best hotels in the world. Incredible location, staff, service, rooms and amenities. Make sure you spend a few days if you can and soak up the luxury.