Sarissa

Recent Reviews: 57

• User:GerganaN25

  Trip type: Business

  Disappoint

  19 Aug 2023

  I reserved a room with two single beds for five nights on booking.com. When I arrived, I was given a room with a queen bed despite having specifically requested two beds several times prior to my arrival. Not only that, but the phone in the room didn't work, so I had to come down all the time, as did the toilet. More issues arose when we requested a sight-seeing excursion with an English-speaking guide. The receptionist offered to assist me in scheduling the trip, which I appreciated. I was told that I needed to pay in cash in US dollars - $220 for two individuals - which I did. The shuttle driver arrived an hour late to pick us up and drop us off at the Bosphorus marina. We were told to phone him when we were through so he could come and pick us up and take us back to the hotel. (If I needed a ride, I would have taken a yellow taxi for $22 instead of a $220!!!) Ridiculous) It seems like they were taking advantage of two foreigners and decided to earn some quick money, which was awful! Furthermore, no one was aware that we reside in the hotel industry and customer service capital of the world, Las Vegas, and that we have travelled all over the world without being abused in such a way. When we requested for a recipe for the tour, which never happened, the receptionist said the driver would bring it. Unfortunately, the driver instructed me to go to the front desk and request one. Our day and entire experience were life-altering and not in a good way. Istanbul has been wrecked for us.

  Read more

• User:McFamily1234

  Trip type: Business

  Disgusting mould

  01 Aug 2023

  The rooms haven't been properly cleaned in months. The staff are friendly enough and the breakfast was okay, but when you see the mould etc. in the bathroom, it really turns your stomach. At least the bed was comfortable enough, if nothing else. I can not recommend a stay here. The location seems okay for a good variety of restaurants, but I didn’t stay for more than 1 night to explore the area better because the hotel is so poor. At least there was a safe in the room.

  Read more

• User:rtitle

  Trip type: Solo travel

  no respect for guests privacy - did not feel comfortable or safe

  09 Mar 2023

  This hotel is obnoxious! Main problem is they do NOT respect your room as your*private space while you are here. I did not feel secure at this hotel at all. I booked Sarrssa hotel following eye surgery at Birinci Goz (an eye hospital right next to the hotel). I thought it would be a good idea to stay right next door to the eye hospital for a week while I recover. The hotel is overpriced, is dirty, everything is in poor condition, the staff spoke no English, and they were were obnoxious . I had problems from the instant I got there to the moment I left. I am writing this review from the hotel lobby with hastily packed bags, waiting for my taxi to airport, because I was just thrown out of the room I had just stayed at for 8 nights while packing to check out at 11 (which I had assumed was checkout time since that is a normal checkout time at US hotels.). Apparently checkout here is 10:30, not 11. I didn't know that (remember I speak no Turkish and they speak no English). So they sent, not 1, not 2, but 3 (!) goons up to my room at 10:30 to demand I either get out or pay another night. I had stepped out while packing to get a cup of coffee, came back at 10:30 to finish packing, and found 3 guys in my room looking at my half-packed stuff. I didn't know who they were., but it turned out they were hotel staff there to throw me out at checkout time. WTF? A phone call wouldn't do? Or a polite visit from 1 person at reception? No American hotel would treat a guest this way.But let's back up. On arrival I had to demand 3 different rooms until I got one that wasn't drastically overheated by broken radiators that would NOT turn off. I finally got one that was a comfortable temperature. I unpacked and made myself at home. The next day I went out for lunch with my stuff spread out like I'm at home, e.g. medications needed for my eyes post-surgery sitting on the bathroom counter alongside the soap, shampoo, etc. Well, the maid had come through while I was out and tossed my medications along with the part-used soap and shampoo etc. I assume she just swept everything off the counter. into the trash without looking Also everything else in the room had been re-arranged including important documents I had spread out on desk next to my computer and a couple documents on the bed. I didn't know what else had been accidentally tossed out. I ran down to the lobby ("don't clean my room any more! please nobody come in to my room!" typed into Google Translate). They just smiled and said I need to take it up with the housekeepers. Not their problem. OK, great way to treat a guest. Then I went back to Birinci Goz and got replacement meds. OK, so next day: before going out I went to the housekeeper and typed into Google Translate "Do NOT clean my room!" and showed her the translation. She appeared to understand. Then I went to lunch. This time I took the eye meds just in case. Well, the instant I went, she went into room and cleaned, against my wishes. This time I came back to everything re-arranged (again) and this time a *prescirption* was accidentally thrown out as trash. Basically I could NOT prevent them from going into my room every time I stepped out and re-arranging things and/or tossing things that *they* think are trash. I am not used to this behavior - I normally stay at either Airbnb's or Residence Inn's in the US, which do not go into guest room unless requested. Is the Sarissa behavior normal for Turkish hotels? I started taking everything of value with me every time I went out. A total pain.Which brings me to my final day finding 3 guys in my room. Well, I'm heading home now. Whew!On the good side, this area of Istanbul is very nice, and the eye hospital treated me very well. Also the Afghan restaurant associated with the hotel has excellent food (and there are many other good eateries around). And there is a nice park nearby. Not a bad area to visit. But I'd recommend either a different hotel that shows more respect for a guest's privacy and space, or an Airbnb, if you plan to visit here.

  Read more

• User:MadPixelm

  Trip type: Family

  Dusty hotel with horrible employees

  01 Oct 2022

  Awful hotel, staff doesn’t know a word of english, and they’re not friendly at all. We had to stay here due to the close proximity of the clinic and every second was torture. The toilets are old and smelly, the entire hotel is humid and has a horrific stench because of it. The TV was turning on and off at random times of the night waking us up. The entire room consists of three ports for charging your devices only one of which is working. Staying in this hotel just made me feel icky for 20 days. Every shower was dreadful in their filthy yellow stained shower.The included breakfast is the worst, they had this horrible peanut butter mixed with a ton of oil to fill the bowl. Above all that, there was no variety, just a bit of cheese, lettuce, and olives. I’ve been to 3 star hotels with better service and in the center of Istanbul!When we checked out, they tried to cheat us out of another 120 lira even though we fully paid for the 20 day stay upfront. After we declined to pay, the receptionist shooed me out of the hotel and said something that I presume is insulting in turkish.I encourage everyone going to the hospital to avoid this hotel at all costs!

  Read more

• User:Sam1522

  Trip type: Family

  DO NOT BOOK ............. DO NOT BOOK

  14 Aug 2022

  I have given this 5 stars so my review appears at the top but it desevers a 1 star. We stayed here for 1 week and never again. The shower was broken and we told them about 4 times and they didn't fix it. The phone didn't work and again they didn't fix it and then the WiFi was very poor unless you were downstairs that's after they finally shared the password.