I was a bit leery of staying in the Hotel Antea, based upon some of the reviews here. But, our agent booked us there and we decided to make the best of it. While I agree that the rooms are pretty small and the bathtubs are a challenge to get into and out of, the location and the service of this hotel more than made up for its shortcomings.
First, the location. How can you beat being mere steps from the tram stop, 5 minutes from all the top sites to visit (Topkapi, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Hippodrome etc), close to restaurants, banks, shops etc? We were more than happy to deal with some inconveniences in order to have the comfort of short walks and easy access to everything.
Secondly, the staff. Some reviewers criticized them for indifference. I couldn't disagree more! Everyone was friendly at check in and check out. One morning we had to catch an early flight to Izmir and had to check out at 5 am. I requested a breakfast box the previous night. They said no, that we would have breakfast in the dining room. At 4:45, we were given our hot tea, a plate of meat, cheese, bread, fruit etc, all set out on our usual table.
Another example....one evening we were waiting in the lobby for a restaurant shuttle. An elderly gentleman (not a guest in this hotel), fell down on the sidewalk outside, breaking his glasses and suffering a significant cut on his forehead. He was helped inside by a passer by, and immediately the desk clerk came out with cotton batting and antibacterial ointment and proceeded to clean the wound and make sure the gentleman was OK. He spent a good 20 minutes with him. This is not an indication of an indifferent staff!
Finally, the breakfast. Yes, the juice was horrendous! But we found the same product in every hotel in Turkey. I can't imagine why they use Tang or orange flavored syrup instead of the real thing, but that's the case. The other items were fine. Coffee and tea, cheeses, meats, hard boiled eggs, little sausages, fruit, cereals, olives....yes it was the same every day, but there was enough variety so that it wasn't repetitive. One could stay there a week and have a different breakfast every day.
I wouldn't recommend this hotel to those who are used to grandiose rooms, luxurious baths and elegant environments. The Antea provides an affordable option to those of house who want to travel but can't afford the Four Seasons. It is clean, acceptably comfortable and welcoming.
- Antea Hotel Istanbul
