Over my years of luxury travel writing, the Singaporean brand Ascott is one that I’ve come to know and love. If you’re unfamiliar, Ascott is a brand of luxury serviced apartments that focus on extended stays and offer the services and facilities of a 5 star hotel. In the past I have covered some of their properties in Japan and the Philippines, now it was time to check out the Somerset Maslak in Istanbul, Turkey!

Click HERE to get a special rate at the Somerset Maslak Istanbul!

Somerset Maslak Istanbul Serviced Apartment is located in Maslak which is a modern satellite city of Istanbul. This is a newer development which is very modern, it’s one of the main business districts of Sarıyer, located on the European side of the city. Somerset is part of a community called 1453 which has loads of shops, restaurants, cafés, and more just at your doorstep. The Somerset Maslak is basically a home away from home, with everything you need for an extended stay, and more.

The lobby of the Somerset Maslak is actually on the seventh floor of the property and had a lovely common area with balcony. During normal times, this is where the breakfast would also be served.

My Three-Bedroom Penthouse Apartment was located on the 26th floor. which is the top of the building. Initially I was expecting to receive a studio apartment, but was surprised when I was majorly upgraded, thank you Somerset Maslak! Upon opening the door, I stepped into the massive living room with joining dining area. There were very tall floor-to-ceiling windows with great views of the surrounding area and the massive balcony. The living room was equipped with loads of modern and elegant furniture, smart TV, electronic curtains, and bluetooth speaker system.

Just down the hallway from the living room was the fully equipped kitchen. This kitchen was incredibly spacious, modern, and had everything you would need to cook up a feast. I really appreciated all of the cutlery, dishwasher, oven, microwave, full-size refrigerator, and ample counter space for preparation. During my stay, the staff would clean daily and do all of the washing in the kitchen and rest of the apartment!

Across the hall from the kitchen is a very modern washing and drying laundry machine. I was super impressed that I could dry my gym clothes in just 10 minutes!

Farther down the hallway was one of the three bathrooms as well as one of the three bedrooms. All bedrooms are very large in size and feature lots of storage space, large smart television, beautiful decorum, and lots of natural light with the large windows. All rooms of the apartment had balcony access which was a huge plus. It’s great to get some fresh air! They also all have bathrooms next to them or connected to them.

To get upstairs there is a beautiful spiral staircase. Upstairs there was second bedroom and bathroom, master bedroom, and master bathroom. The master bedroom has a large interior window to view the living room below, huge king-size bed, working desk with chair, beautiful light fixtures, and an overall elegant and beautiful ambience.

The master bathroom was simply glorious. Inside there was a large jacuzzi, shower stall, dual-sink vanity, and really high-quality toiletries that were refreshed daily. This was truly feeling like home, especially after staying for a week.

Let’s talk a bit more about my balcony at the Somerset Maslak. If my memory serves me correctly, it was 150 m² and offers some of the most spectacular sunset views I’ve seen! Beautiful. There was a large table with 6 chairs as well as a lounge area with chairs and coffee table. A serious feature for this property! Don’t worry, all the rooms have varying sized balconies too!

I want to thank the team at Somerset Maslak for the lovely gifts during my stay!

On the first floor of the Somerset Maslak are the fitness center and outdoor pool. The fitness center is on the medium side with a decent amount of cardio equipment and free weights to keep most satisfied. As I was visiting during the pandemic, there were rules about how many people could enter at one time. The pool was unfortunately closed during my stay but noticed it was sizeable nonetheless.

During my stay, all my breakfasts were served in my room which was a nice feature! Each day the breakfast was very tasty delivered precisely at the time I requested. I was very impressed by the punctuality.

If you appreciate the finer things in life, then you will love the Somerset Maslak in Istanbul, Turkey! The property gives guests the ability to enjoy extended stays in fully equipped luxury apartments along with the same service you’d expect at any other 5 star hotel. The staff were very punctual, courteous, and polite throughout the entire stay. If you’re interested in staying for an extended period in Maslak, Istanbul look no further than the Somerset!

Somerset Maslak Istanbul

Hotel

Maslak, Maslak 1453 Maslak Distict, Taşyoncası Sok. No:1 C15, 34398 Sarıyer/İstanbul

Phone: +90 0850 207 6162

Over the years, I have tried several brands under the Hilton umbrella. It wasn’t until visiting Turkey this year that I experienced my first DoubleTree by Hilton in Topkapi, Istanbul. With the big hotel groups, I have found that between some of the tiers, there aren’t huge differences in quality or offering. Generally, the lower the tier, the more they compete on price and minor features such as style may change slightly. When it comes to 5 star hotels, they still have to offer the same amount of features as the upper tiers. Basically, you end up with a high-quality hotel for a lower price!

Click HERE to get a special rate at the DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Topkapi!

I arrived to the DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Topkapi mid-afternoon and had a smooth check in process. I learned then that my room was on the 12th floor and I was excited to check it out! The lobby was modern, stylish, and they had security doing temperature checks. This was yet another stay during the COVID pandemic and I was curious about how the Hilton protocols would come into play.

I arrived at my room which had a sticker on the outside notifying me that it had been disinfected, which was a nice site to see. I opened the door to find a comfortable and well designed room. It was very spacious and included several pieces of furniture including a sofa, lounge chair, office chair, and super comfortable bed. Actually the bedding was truly top-notch and insured three nights of flawless sleep! The design of the room was modern and a bit corporate, it all fit together like a glove. The view from my room was also quite impressive just wished the windows were a little cleaner on the outside for photos.

The room came equipped with water bottles, instant coffee, tea bags, and a teakettle. The staff were also kind enough to leave a very lovely welcome amenity which included fruits, desserts, other sweets, and some savory items. Thanks DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Topkapi!

The bathroom had just what I expected. Inside the bathroom there was a large shower stall, huge single sink vanity, and all the toiletries needed. The simple design got straight to the point with the essentials and was rather stylish.

DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Topkapi has multiple dining outlets, the first is on the ground floor which is an all-day dining restaurant and bar. During this stay I enjoyed a lunch and dinner here. I must say that overall the food was quite enjoyable, and drinks were even better! At each table outside they had electronic bells to alert the staff. This reminded me of South Korea as this is a common feature in restaurants there. For the dinner, I got to try a tasting menu which included a lot of their dishes. My favorite item of the evening was the beef entrée. I’d also recommend an order of their fries as they were quite tasty and went well with the beef.

Breakfast at the DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Topkapi Hotel occurs on the first floor. This is where I truly felt the Hilton pandemic procedures come into play. They had a wide variety of items set up in an enclosed buffet where hotel staff would serve items. There is both both indoor and outdoor seating.
Utensils and seasonings were packaged in plastic bags. I found the breakfast to be tasty with a wide variety of items. I even got to enjoy Turkish coffee at the end, which is one of my favorite types of coffee!

For another breakfast during my stay, I enjoyed it in my room with room service. For this I ordered both the continental and the Turkish breakfasts. What a great way to spend the morning!

An area of the DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Topkapi I was truly impressed by was their Rose Spa. During my stay had the opportunity to enjoy a VIP Treatment for about three hours in their VIP Spa Suite. Inside the VIP Spa Suite were two massage tables for couples, a large hot tab, sauna, Turkish Hammam, shower stall, toilet stall, and a lounge area. The treatment started with a sauna, Turkish Hammam treatment, massage, facial, and then relaxation in the jacuzzi. This was a very complete and enjoyable treatment! Read about the entire experience in more detail in a separate article here.

On the same floor as the spa are the fitness facilities which include a large indoor pool and huge fitness center. The gym is massive and has only the most modern equipment. The pool is great for laps and also just stylish in general. It’s important to note that the gym is open to outside members so it does tend to be a bit busier than a normal hotel gym.

Overall, my first DoubleTree experience was fantastic! I found it to be a very similar offering as other Hilton Hotels I’ve visited. I would gladly return to another DoubleTree somewhere else in the world. All in all, a very satisfactory full-service five star hotel. If you’re looking for a great place to stay and interested in staying in Topkapi, Istanbul, look no further than the DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Topkapi.

DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Topkapi

Hotel

Ortamahalle, Anıt Sokağı No:1, 34040 Bayrampaşa/İstanbul

Phone: +90 (0212) 942 27 00

I was incredibly excited to finally return to the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus after five years since my last visit. During my first visit in 2015 I enjoyed their Turkish Hammam spa treatment which you can read about in this article. I had a warm place in my heart for the property and was ready to have the full experience. I booked a staycation for four days and strapped in for a luxurious adventure!

Click HERE to get a special rate at the Four Seasons Istanbul!

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus is definitely a landmark property in the city. It’s a place that everyone knows and where everyone gathers to enjoy all types of events. Even though I visited during a global pandemic, the hotel was still buzzing and operating at full capacity. That being said, the team have clearly taken all of the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe and happy.

For my four night staycation, I secured a One-Bedroom Bosphorus Palace Suite on the second floor of the Four Seasons Istanbul. The suite was truly stunning with its gorgeous design, impressive high ceilings, and Bosphorus Strait view which separates the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. The maritime colors used I assume were inspired by this very body of water.

The large living room included a sofa, lounge chairs, chandelier, dining table and chairs, working desk, coffee and tea station with capsule coffee maker, fresh flowers, and the easily the largest television I’ve ever had in a hotel room!

Stepping into the bedroom was equally impressive with its king-size bed, day bed, chandelier, and another massive television. The room was very modern and included USB charging ports, dimming switches, as well as electric curtains. In the end, I’m always a fan of Four Seasons bedding!

A nice touch was the box of products used to ward off the coronavirus, thanks Four Seasons!

This luxurious palace suite actually has two bathrooms, one half-bathroom at the entryway, and the master bathroom. Inside the master bathroom there was a large shower stall, bathtub, dual-sink vanity, and a toilet stall. The toiletries were by Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris. The marble made the space feel luxurious and clean.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus was kind enough to leave a very lovely welcome amenity which included fruit and lots of sweets such as baklava, macarons, and chocolates. Not only did they surprise me with this the first day, throughout the stay, it was refreshed by the very lovely staff.

It’s also worth mentioning that the slippers were of very high quality and I may have taken them to continue using them in my apartment!

The breakfast occurred along the waterfront, in the hotel’s Aqua Restaurant. The selection of food during breakfast was grand and focused majorly on local Turkish cuisine with a few international options. There was both a full buffet and a la carte menu. If it’s your first time to Turkey, I’d highly recommend the Turkish breakfast! The service during breakfast was very memorable as the staff were always on point. Even though the breakfast was quite busy, we were well taken care of. It was truly a pleasure!

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus has fantastic fitness and relaxation facilities. The hotel features both an indoor and outdoor pool, a large spa where you can try a Turkish Hammam, a modern gym with quality equipment, hot tubs, steam rooms, and saunas. Both pools were great but the one indoor really blew my mind! It felt like it belonged inside of a palace. Very luxurious!

I had the pleasure of having dinner at two of the hotel’s food and beverage outlets. The first was their Aqua Restaurant which has a variety of dishes but focuses primarily on sushi and seafood. There they have a very extensive drink menu as well, I truly loved The Botanist cocktail and the Istanbul Negroni. The night was truly a delight and I wouldn’t hesitate to return. You can read more about my dinner at Aqua in a separate article here.

The second dinner that I enjoyed at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus was at their Ocakbaşı Restaurant. This is their traditional Turkish grill restaurant. What really impressed me at Ocakbaşı was their extensive Turkish meze, which are the variety of small plates served first. I honestly could have just eaten these and been completely satisfied! Read more about the rest of my experience at Ocakbaşı in a separate article here.

My stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus was simply magnificent! This is truly a five-star luxury property in all regards and quite possibly the best hotel in Istanbul. I can safely say that even during a pandemic, the Four Seasons Istanbul is prepared for everything. The service is truly of the utmost quality and matched with a truly impressive overall product. I wouldn’t hesitate to return again, actually I would love it! If you’re looking for one of the best hotels in Istanbul (probably the best), look no further than Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus!

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus

Hotel

No:28, Çırağan Cd., 34349 Beşiktaş/İstanbul

Phone: +90 (0212) 381 40 00