Cara Hotel 

Bella

The public areas are very grand and ornate which gives the hotel a 5 star feel, though it’s a 4 star hotel. The staff were very professional and obliging. However, the hotel was very quiet so I can understand in the height of summer the service may not be as attentive. I stayed in a double room on the 2nd floor and it was clean. There was, though, a lack of attention to detail which takes the edge off of the 4 star claims. Missing or loose drawer knobs, the toiletries could be better, poorly stocked mini-bar, a generally faded 3 star room feel. A bath would be good to soak in after a long days walk around Istanbul. The room was a good size, probably twice that of my room on my last trip. The location of the hotel is superb with all of the major sites within a 15 minute walk, and great places to eat 30 seconds away. I’d say it was just about 4 star but it needs to attend to the details a little more.

8.0

Alexandr Gill

This hotel is in the grand tradition of elegant Turkish hotels. The location is divine, and the decor is predictibly opulant, the staff multi-lingual and nice. This is NOT, however, a typical "Turkish" experience. In fact, the hotel could be among the top in any city world-wide. This is not a critique, but rather just a warning. If you are seeking "the real Istanbul", this hotel is not it. But if you are looking for "La Dolce Vita", complete with elevators, this is the hotel for you. And, the location is among the best in the city.

9.0

Daniel

Very good reasonable hotel. Nice rooms absolutely spotless. Staff were helpful and breakfast was excellent.Great indoor pool.

9.0

Josh

Hotel in a fantastic location, all important places can be reached within a walk, good room quality, however fair breakfast buffet and staff wasn’t very knoweldagble about the area. Food Turkish bath and sauna, as well as massage room.

8.0

Michael

This hotel is in excellent location, very easy to find, center of Laleli. We had a double room which was quiet, clean and with comfortable single beds - but very small. There was very little storage space. Bathroom was compact but with brilliant, efficient shower. Large, good quality towels. Breakfast was tasty. All kinds of shops 5 minutes walk away. Free parking. All in all, would recommend this as cheerful - we would certainly use it again.

9.0

Sundi

The Cara hotel was good but I was very mad when they turned the air-condition off and it was so hot!! I\ve been told that what they do in many turkish hotels to save the money. I wanted to open the windows but it was so noisy, this area is full of retsaurants, cars driving till late night if you want a quiet location don’t go here. To top it all, the neighbor watched tv real loud till the mornign almost every night.

7.0

Emma

The service is fair. Indoor pool is great! The hotel is located on the mainstreet in Laleli, so when you walk out of the door from the hotel you are near everything.

8.0

Cali

the only good thing about Cara is the location but that is all about it, hotel definitely needs to be renovated!! Furniture is old and looks shabby!! Floor carpets had stains and were sticky to walk on!! Tv was very small and didn’t have a good quality of inage and colors!

6.0

Edwin

We have just returned from a very pleasent stay at the Cara Hotel in Istanbul. I had already booked the hotel before I read any of your other reviews and was very worried after reading them. I can honestly say that we found the staff very friendly and helpful and did not have to carry our own luggage or see anyone else having to either. It is like stepping back a hundred years when you enter the Hotel, yes a little faded grandeur but there is so much more atmosphere here than in any of the other slick, modern hotels we have stayed at. The public rooms could compete with the Sistine chapel. We had an double room which was huge with a seperate foyer, and though we overlooked the main street once the windows were shut it was very quiet. I would definitely reccomend it and cannot believe how it got such bad reviews.

9.0

Will

The hotel is located in Laleli ditrict of Istanbul and is within walking distance of all sights and restaurants. Excellent restaurants within minutes walk and shopping on our doorstep. We had no need to use public transport or hire taxis for our trips out. Just make sure you take the map supplied by the Concierge in case of straying! We had a twin room on the second floor which was scupulously clean and was fully serviced each day. We ate breakfast each morning in the dining room and were very impressed. The staff were helpful when approached - it was extremely busy! Would thoroughly recommend this hotel.

10.0

Dan

I was please dby hote lstaff but not by rooms, matreses are old, very hard, pillows are thin ,, window only opened a few inches, so do not stay here in warm weather as airconditioning does not always work!! There is internet as advertised on their website but connection is slow. And I’m not sure if the neighborhood made me feel secure.

6.0

Emily

My husband and I been to Istanbul in the 80’s and we loved it. Laleli is still my favorite part of the city. Elegance personified. I’m going back to Istanbul in June and plan to stay in Cara Hotel again. How well located it is and has such charm. I am so looking forward to introducing my friends to this elite hotel. My husband isn’t easily impressed, but he, too, has lovely memories.

10.0

Anthony

The services that the hotel offers are excellent (internet connection, restaurant, etc.)

9.0

christopher

This hotel was okay. The rooms are typical teeny Euro-style, very small but the room was in fine order. Nice a la carte restaurant and bar. The hotel is close to historical center.

8.0

4wheeler

I loved the spa in the hotel but breakfast was terrible and air conditioning in my room didn’t work as it should!! They promised good internet connection but it was so slow22

6.0

Acer

well hotels locatiob is great but rooms are basic and not very clean the floor in the room was dusty, especially under the bed. Our room was on the ground floor and early in the morning staff was often talking loudly. This woke us up several times cause hosekeepers were noisy, all not very good for having some quiet rest in bed.

6.0

Ethan

I stayed one night in this hotel spending a few days in Istanbul with friends. I didn’t want to inconvenience them with an early morning trip to the airport, so I looked for an inexpensive hotel that had easy access to the airport and shopping center. This was it. Sure, it was sparse, and I’m glad I read the reviews here before I left or I would have had difficulty with figuring out how the shower worked, but the location was excellent and easy to find, it was quiet, the staff was friendly and helpful, it was a good price, and though small, the room was comfortable. All in all, an excellent value.

8.0

Jacob

I have just returned 2 days vacation from Istanbul at Cara Hotel. I am glad with my choice. Hotel is right in center of Laleli and also well linked to the city centre. There is no problem on my vacation except for the fact i found location very noisy. Changing towels and clean rooms were very good. The hotel offers adequate breakfast with cosy service. Comfortable stay for a good budget!

8.0

Casey

We had booked one room , which which turned out the be smaller than we expected. Especially the bathroom area was tiny, and had only one socket for two appliances!! The sleeping area wasn’t very spacious either, with poor lighting. The bathroom also had ants!!

7.0

RGouger

We’ve been at the hotel in September 2008! It was decided to combine excursions with shopping! Hotels was wonderful, noiseless, very colourful. First we had pour room at the first floor with the view to the hotels’ wall (like a well), in the morning we asked the receptionists and were ready to ask for long, even held money to pay for another room. To my astonishment in 5 minutes they have moved us to the room on 6 floor with the perfect view to the sea and at no extra. on the roof above our room was the pretty pool with bar, it was empty always and we could swim a lot. We received towels immediately, there are so many chaise longues on the terrace –lie on them as much as you want, very nice after hard day of shopping!! We had only breakfast, unfortunately the same ever morning, very poor, is not worthy of 4 stars, I only liked the soup. Too few fruits, 2 kinds of wurst and 4 sorts of cheese, water melon or apricots, some buns like croissant, muesli, tea and coffee!! But outside you can eat everywhere. We had dinner at the nearby hotels, the buffet meal costs only 7 $ and very rich food. We ate plenty, couldn’t even breath! Strawberry was sold right in the streets, 1 kilo for 2 dollars, ate a lot! I do recommend this hotel, it is very close to grand-bazaar, 15 min. of walking. The tram station near the hotel. The fare is some $ 0.8, the tram will bring you to the wharf to the Bosporus by the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia to the Egyptian market, very nice.

10.0

Bob&Helen

Somebody likes to walk a lot, but I don’t, because I get tired fast. That’s why I didn’t spend much time out of the hotel. Swimming in the pool, listening to music, talking about nothing )))) with hospitable personnel made me forget all stress I have at work. In addition, I bought some souvenirs and presents for my friends right in the hotel, and purchased cheap clothes in the shops just in front of the hotel. Two city tours organized by TurkeyTPS were wonderful, I made excellent photos especially in Old city region. Thank you for professional guide’s assistance. Hope to come back soon!!!

9.0