Hotel Venera Istanbul Old City arvostelua

Upon arriving at Venera late at night, we were quickly checked into our room. The check-in process was efficient and we were given information about breakfast timings. The concierge promptly took our bags to the room, but there was little effort to make us feel welcome after our long journey, which was disappointing. No welcoming conversation was made after such a long tiring trip. The room itself was decent, with fresh sheets, towels, and pillows provided daily. However, the cleaners did not sweep the carpet or mop the bathroom floor regularly, which is what we expected. However it may be possible that this was not done as we did not really make much mess. Soap was plentiful, and some days we received fresh water bottles, although this was inconsistent. The minibar situation was unclear, as there was no clear information about whether the drinks were complimentary, and with the staff’s limited English, it was hard to get an answer. Our family room was ideal with a connecting room for children and clean bathroom with all the amenities. We had slippers and hair dryer available too. No bath gowns were provided as is expected in a 4star but plenty of towels. The swimming pool is small but ok if you want a quick dip. Lovely turkish bath and sauna can fit at least 4 people although they have a 2 person limit at a time. It's a shame the spa opens after 2pm as it would have been nice to go for a quick swim/sauna/bath before a day of sightseeing and I wish this was made clear upon booking as we booked this hotel specifically for the spa options, which we weren't able to make use of due to the timings. Towels are not provided at the spa you have to take your room towels. The ladies changing room is a small closet with a sink and toilet and some lockers, no showers in changing room so you have to clean up and shower in your room which means reusing the same towel you took down with you and wiped down with after the swimming. Breakfast was served on the rooftop terrace, offering beautiful views of the sea. The spread was impressive for a four-star hotel, featuring a variety of options including Turkish menemen, omelettes, pancakes, fresh breads, sigara böreği, pastries, cheeses, and different types of salami and turkey ham. There were fresh fruits, delicious chocolate cakes, biscuits, and Turkish lentil soup (mercimek çorbası) available too. A coffee machine, fruit juices, and tea were offered, along with cereals and Turkish desserts like tres leches. There was even chicken nuggets and fries for children who prefer simple foods. The only downside was the lack of a toaster and the egg/pancake station not operating on the weekend, but overall, there were plenty of choices to satisfy everyone. The staff were kind and courteous, though their English was minimal. With some persistence and the help of Google Translate, we managed to communicate. While the language barrier posed some challenges, it also added to the experience of immersing ourselves in a di