Review: W Istanbul
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For my next stay in Istanbul, I chose four hotels from the Marriott chain. And the W Istanbul was one of my choices. Built in 2007 and renovated in 2014, it is located in Beşiktaş.
The W Istanbul is a hotel that can be obtained for a range of 20,000 to 30,000 points. I made the trip before the Marriott Bonvoy program change.
Booking
I took advantage of the “PointSavers” promotion for this five night stay. It cost me 17,500 points per night (70,000) instead of the 20,000 per night (80,000). The price was 135 euros per night.
Two weeks before my arrival, I received an email from Cem, a Whatever/Whenever agent at Hotel W Istanbul. In addition to telling me about their VIP airport transfer offer (with fees), Cem was interested in what I enjoyed in terms of hobbies, food, and activities. After a few email exchanges, I was told that a “hot” Künefe would be delivered to my room as soon as I had registered at the counter. I don’t need to tell you that it was amazing.
And for those who know me well, you know that Künefe is the dessert I love the most in Turkey! And if you want to discover my foodie favourites from Turkey, click here.
During my interactions with the W Istanbul staff via the app chat, I asked them if it was possible to get an upgrade. I dared to ask for a WOW or E-WOW suite. I was told that it was available for 1,300 euros … per night! I settled for a more modest upgrade…
Location
The W Istanbul is located in the Beşiktaş district, (another) trendy area of Istanbul. You can get there from Istanbul airport by cab for around 25 euros or by Havaist bus, number 15, at a cost of 44 TL (3.79$ CDN) and the stop, Beşiktaş Meydan, is located only a few minutes walk from W Istanbul.
Beşiktaş is a hyper-trendy neighbourhood in Istanbul. This area is teeming with the young population of Stambouliote, fond of its bars, cafes and trendy restaurants. On beautiful summer evenings, it might be difficult to find a good restaurant. And the W Lounge is not to be outdone. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, this bar gets wild and it’s almost impossible to find a place to sit.
Plus. from the hotel you have easy access to many public bus services to get to Beyoğlu (Taksim), Sultanahmet, and other areas of the city.
Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points
The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at more than 8,000 hotels worldwide is with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card).
In addition to the exceptional welcome bonus of each of these two cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all your purchases and 5 points per dollar at any of the Marriott establishments. On top of that, every year, you’ll receive a free hotel night certificate (worth 35,000 points) and 15 Elite Night Credits toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120 | |||
| $150 |
Hotel details
| Parking | Paying: 12 euros per day (public) or by valet: 12 euros per day | Breakfast included | No (except with Platinum status and above) |
| Swimming pool | No | Room with balcony | Yes (Terrace for the E-WOW suite) |
| Spa | Yes (Massage in the room only) | Room with kitchenette | No |
| Fitness room | Yes | Lounge | No |
| Restaurant | Yes | USB sockets in the room | Yes |
| Accepts animals | Yes (25 euros per night) | Smart TV | No |
| Mobile card | Yes | Shower/Bath | Shower (bath in some rooms) |
Hotel reception
A doorman will take your temperature upon arrival. Note that my temperature was only taken once in five nights and the mask is used by staff, but rarely by guests.
Since March 3, wearing a mask is no longer mandatory in Turkey, except in schools, hospitals, cinemas, theatres, and on all public transportation.
The reception, with two counters, is located at the end of a long, bright corridor. The warm and welcoming staff will welcome you with a cocktail. I liked this special detail.
While asking for my passport and Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card, I was informed that I was upgraded to a “Fantastic” suite: a one-bedroom suite (king bed).
I was offered either lunches or 1,000 points as a welcome gift. Naturally, I chose the lunches.
Bedroom
An employee accompanied me to suite 258. The suite is located just behind the W lounge. We could hear the music from the bathroom. In our case, this didn’t cause any problems, but if you are a light sleeper, I suggest you request a room on the opposite side of the lounge.
The bedroom and the living room are one room. As soon as you step into the suite you’ll notice the large bed on the left side of the room along with the huge mirror that serves as a headboard. Illuminated by a red light (just like the base of the bed), this mirror is eye-catching. The king bed has two bedside tables with lamps, electrical and USB plugs, and a radio.
Opposite the bed, there is a space that serves as a desk (well-equipped with electrical outlets), a coffee area, and a bar. This large office has it all. There is a television installed above the desk, while under the desk there is a mini-fridge that also serves as a mini-bar. Fun fact: water bottles are delivered there daily, and a few times during the stay, the staff came by to give us some extra.
A large space is located directly in the window. Facing the street. This cozy space serves as a seating area but can also be used as a bed. On the other side of this space, we noticed a red couch as well as numerous storage spaces (drawers, shelves, a safe, ironing board and iron, and a bathrobe).
The “cabaret” style of the room is like something out of a movie set in the 40s. The colours go from beige to brown to red, and despite very present lighting and three windows, the atmosphere of this room is dark.
Fortunately, with the bathroom, we are back in the modern world. Its decoration is, let’s say, more current, although it is in the same tones of brown and red. A large illuminated mirror overlooks the marble countertop with two sinks. Combined with a large mirror on the opposite wall, this gives it a much brighter feel.
Another plus is that the large shower is separated from the toilet by a set of doors. There is also the usual variety of products for the bathrooms like soaps, shampoos, body creams, and facial cleansers. Strange, however, that they installed the dryer (in a bag) in the room for the toilet.
Hotel services
The W Istanbul has a fitness center, which is open 24/7 (which we didn’t use), and a spa, which offers in-room massages only.
Located just past reception is the hotel’s only restaurant, the W Lounge. It consists of two sections: bar and restaurant. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is offered in a hybrid format (buffet and/or à la carte). The price for the buffet is around 24 euros, and the à la carte menu starts at 17 euros. It is free for Platinum and Superior members.
As a member, I can choose an item from the “à la carte” menu in addition to the buffet. Because of the many restaurants around the hotel, we only had lunch at the W Lounge.
The bar is very lively in the evening, with excellent cocktails. – prices vary between $11.00 and $14.00, but the service is not up to par, compared to the service we received for the lunches. Several times we had to get up see the staff to be served.
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$600Total$600$100 deferred bonus, excluded from the first-year estimate and not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $600
- Welcome offerAfter $3,000 in 3 months
- Up to 70,000 points
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My general impression of the hotel
If you like the bright and youthful style, the W Istanbul is for you. The festive atmosphere of this hotel is a plus for those who like to party. Another advantage of this hotel is its attentive staff.
And in the neighborhood, you have everything you need for food, entertainment and transportation in Istanbul. I highly recommend the W Istanbul.
Continue reading with our other articles about Istanbul:
Go further with Marriott Bonvoy
To maximize your stays and points earning, check our complete Marriott Bonvoy program guide and our best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards ranking. For personal use, see the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. For business expenses, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card earns points on every business purchase. And if a points purchase promotion is running, take advantage via our Marriott Bonvoy points purchase guide.