Istanbul's Hidden Gem: EXPRESS PLUS HOTEL - Unbelievable Luxury!
Istanbul's Hidden Gem: EXPRESS PLUS HOTEL - Unbelievable Luxury! – Is it REALLY? My Unfiltered Take!
Okay, listen up, because I've just stumbled out of a whirlwind of Turkish delights and, frankly, I need to talk about the EXPRESS PLUS HOTEL. Forget the Instagram-perfect shots and the glossy brochure fluff. I'm here to give you the unvarnished truth, the good, the bad, and the "whoa, did that just happen?" of my stay. And let me tell you, it was… an experience.
First Impressions: The "Wow" Factor & the "Wait, What?"
So, the website promises "Unbelievable Luxury." And, yeah, stepping into the lobby, you do get a serious "whoa." Gleaming marble, chandeliers that could probably bankrupt a small country, and a doorman who looks like he’s judging your outfit choices (don't worry, mine passed). The elevator? Smooth as butter (thank god, because I'm not climbing that many stairs). Accessibility, tick. They have an elevator, yeah!
But hold that thought because this is where things get interesting.
Rooms: From Heavenly to "Is This Really Meant to Be a Luxury Hotel?"
My room? Okay, picture this: a plush king-sized bed that practically swallowed me whole. Extra long bed, tick! Slippers, bathrobes – they really lay it on thick. Available in all rooms, tick! A window that opens! (Tick! Important for us claustrophobes, right?) The little details, like a coffee/tea maker, free bottled water, and an in-room safe, are great.
But… the bathroom. Ah, the bathroom. It wasn't bad, per se, but it felt… dated. The tiling felt like it was straight out of the '80s. The grout? Let's just say it could use a good scrubbing.
My personal anecdote? One night, I swear I heard the ghost of a former guest trying to turn on the shower. Seriously.
Accessibility, Continued: Navigating the Maze
Wheelchair accessible? Yup, the main areas seem pretty good. Facilities for disabled guests, tick. But getting to the pool? Took a bit of a wander, and the signs could be clearer.
Internet: The Struggle is Real (Sometimes)
Internet access – wireless, tick! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms, tick! Oh, but here is the thing: sometimes the Wi-Fi acted more like a shy teenager avoiding eye contact. A couple of times, I almost threw my laptop out the window. (I'm exaggerating… a little.) Internet [LAN], tick in case you have a good one.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Mixed Bag of Delights
The breakfast buffet? Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, tick! Huge! Omelets made to order. Fresh fruit. Pain au chocolat that melted in your mouth. International cuisine, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Western cuisine, tick! Oh, and pastries. So. Many. Pastries. I’m ashamed to say how many I ate. Coffee/tea in restaurant, tick!
But here’s my gripe. The service could be… inconsistent. One day, the staff was attentive and charming. Another day, I felt like I was invisible. The a la carte restaurant? A la carte in restaurant, tick! Meh. It wasn't bad, but also not mind-blowing.
Things to Do and Ways to Relax: Spa Days & View Goals!
Okay, the spa. This is where things got back on track! The spa/sauna, tick! The sauna, tick! The steamroom, tick! The massage, tick! I got a massage, and oh my god, it was pure, unadulterated bliss. The therapist? She was fantastic! Seriously, worth the price of admission alone. Pool with view, tick! The outdoor pool area? Breathtaking. The view? Unforgettable.
And the gym? Gym/fitness, tick! I didn't actually use the fitness center (shame on me, I know!), but it looked well-equipped.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Secure (Mostly)
This is important, especially now. Cleanliness and safety, they take this seriously. Anti-viral cleaning products, tick! Daily disinfection in common areas, tick! Staff trained in safety protocol, tick! Hand sanitizer everywhere. Staff in masks. I felt pretty comfortable.
Services and Conveniences: A Mixed Bag of Goodies
Cash withdrawal, tick! Concierge, tick! Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services, tick. Luggage storage, tick! They seem to have it all. The convenience store? Convenience store, tick. Handy for snacks and essentials. The gift shop? Gift/souvenir shop, tick. Full of overpriced trinkets.
For the Kids: Babysitting and Family-Friendly Stuff!
Family/child friendly, tick! I didn't travel with kids, but I saw families with kids there. The kids seemed to have a blast! I am sure you can take them to the kids meal, tick!
Getting Around: Airport Transfers and Taxi Service
Taxi service, tick! Airport transfer, tick! Getting a taxi was easy, and the airport transfer was smooth and efficient. They have those all figured out.
Final Verdict: Hidden Gem? Maybe, But with a Few Quirks!
So, is the EXPRESS PLUS HOTEL "Unbelievable Luxury"? Well, not entirely. The rooms could use a little updating, and the service can be a bit hit-or-miss.
BUT… the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. The location is excellent, the spa is a godsend, the breakfast is epic, and the pool area is pure magic.
My Offer for Istanbul's Hidden Gem: EXPRESS PLUS HOTEL - Unbelievable Luxury!
Ready to Live the Istanbul Dream (with a Few Laughs Along the Way)?
Book your stay at the EXPRESS PLUS HOTEL today and get:
- A guaranteed upgrade to a room with a view (because, let's be honest, you deserve it).
- A complimentary massage at the award-winning spa (because you need it after exploring Istanbul).
- A VIP welcome gift, including a bottle of Turkish wine (because you're officially part of the EXPRESS PLUS family).
Why Book Now?
- Unbeatable Location: Explore Istanbul's iconic landmarks with ease.
- Luxury at Your Fingertips: Indulge in world-class amenities.
- Memory-Making Moments: Create unforgettable memories.
- Special Offer: Get more for your money.
What are you waiting for? Click the link below and book your Istanbul adventure today!
Limited Spots Available! (Book now and make my ghost joke a reality!)
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This is the hotel I would book if I wanted to go to Istanbul! Don't miss out!
Red Lion Inn Everett: WA's BEST Hotel Deal? (You Won't Believe This!)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause we're about to dive headfirst into my ridiculously ambitious, probably-gonna-implode-at-some-point Istanbul escapade. This isn't your perfectly curated Instagram feed, folks. This is the real, gloriously chaotic, and occasionally smelly, version. We're talking EXPRESS PLUS HOTEL İstanbul and beyond. Prepare yourselves.
Day 1: Arrival and the (Almost) Great Mosque Gambit
- 11:00 AM: Arrive at Istanbul Airport (IST). Okay, deep breaths. Passport control? Check. Currency exchange? Got massively ripped off, naturally. Welcome to Istanbul! Already feeling the city's vibe – a beautiful blend of "holy moly, what's happening?" and "wow, this is stunning."
- 12:30 PM: Taxi to EXPRESS PLUS HOTEL İstanbul. Sigh. Traffic. In Istanbul. Who knew? Actually, everyone knew. Learnt this the hard way. Driver seems to be attempting a land speed record. I'm pretty sure I saw a donkey cart overtake us.
- 1:30 PM: Check-in. Hotel is… decent. Small, kind of beige, but the staff are super friendly. Immediately attempted to charm the desk clerk with my (terrible) Turkish pronunciation. Ended up just confusing him. Success!
- 2:00 PM: Lunch at a dodgy-looking kebab place (always trust your gut…or don’t, in this case). Honestly, the best kebabs I’ve ever tasted. I’m already questioning my life choices. The spice is insane. Tears streaming. Worth it.
- 3:30 PM: Sultanahmet Square! Blue Mosque! Hagia Sophia! The usual suspects. The sheer scale of the Blue Mosque… my jaw actually dropped. Pure, unadulterated awe. Then, the queue to get in was a mile long. Decided to circle it, muttering about “inefficient tourists” and “the curse of Instagram.” (I need a break from this).
- 4:30 PM: Got LOST. Again. Found a hidden, tiny tea shop, the kind you only find when hopelessly lost. The tea? Divine. The view? Even better. The old woman who served me? Scowling, but secretly, I think she liked my awful Turkish. She told me a local myth. I pretended to understand.
- 6:00 PM: Trying to navigate public transport which is confusing. End up in a different district than I was expecting.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant that promises 'authentic Turkish cuisine'. It's good, the food is fantastic but I think it’s a bit touristy. Plus point, I did manage to haggle a little.
- 9:00 PM: Collapse into bed, exhausted but utterly buzzing with that ‘just arrived in an amazing place’ euphoria. Already dreaming of more kebabs.
Day 2: Grand Bazaar, Spice Market Shenanigans and My Brush with Calamity
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Okay, the breakfast is… well, it’s an adventure. A buffet of delights and questionable choices. I’m sticking to the bread, olives, and questionable-looking cheese.
- 10:00 AM: Grand Bazaar! OH. MY. GOD. So many things! So many people! So much… everything. I got lost within seconds (shocking, I know). Ended up haggling for a gorgeous scarf and feeling like a total champion. Then the seller, with a knowing smile, offered me the "special price for tourists". I spent too much. I don’t care. It's beautiful.
- 12:00 PM: Spice Market. The smells! The colors! The sheer abundance of… spices! Bought enough saffron to bankrupt a small country and enough Turkish delight to make my dentist weep. My bags can barely cope.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. Another amazing lunch but, I ordered too much. Ate it all. No regrets.
- 2:00 PM: The Bosphorus Cruise. Okay, this was supposed to be relaxing. Beautiful views, the salty air, the gentle rhythm of the waves… and then came the seagulls. Those things are vicious. I mean, Hitchcockian levels of aggressive. I was nearly dive-bombed for my bag of chips. Almost lost my camera. Shaking, I fled the scene.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Need a nap. I think the seagulls have traumatized me.
- 6:00 PM: Evening strolling around the city. Decided to take my chances with dinner by the harbor.
- 8:00 PM: Attempted to order a Turkish coffee. Asked for "the thick, strong one". Got it. Almost had a heart attack from the caffeine. Wonderful experience.
Day 3: A Deep Dive into Sultanahmet and Maybe a Breakdown
- 9:00 AM: A slightly more adventurous breakfast attempt at the hotel: Turkish eggs. Turns out, they're incredible. More successful than Day 2!
- 10:00 AM: FINALLY got into the Blue Mosque! Okay, wow. The scale of it, the intricate details, the sheer beauty… I just stood there, mouth agape for a good five minutes. The peacefulness was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. This whole trip is a rollercoaster of awe and impending meltdown.
- 11:00 AM: Hagia Sophia! Just… wow. Again. The sheer history, the blend of cultures… I'm starting to think I need a history degree to fully appreciate this place.
- 12:00 PM: The Basilica Cistern. It's… damp. And spooky. And utterly, utterly fascinating. The Medusa heads? Seriously creepy. But cool. Kinda wish I'd brought waterproof boots though.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. Found a tiny place on a side street. Best pide (Turkish pizza) I've ever had, hands down.
- 2:00 PM: Wandered in the park and I am getting tired. Time for more coffee.
- 4:00 PM: Shopping for souvenirs.
- 6:00 PM: Exploring a different neighborhood. Finding smaller, quiet cafes.
- 8:00 PM: Another amazing dinner. This city is killing my bank balance.
- 9:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Wondering, is it possible to live here forever?
Day 4: Departure and the lingering scent of spices
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Last meal with the buffet.
- 10:00 AM: One last wander around the hotel neighborhood
- 12:00 PM: Head to the airport.
- 2:00 PM: Flight home. Goodbye, Istanbul! I'm leaving a piece of my heart there, and probably a few kilos of Turkish delight.
So, there you have it. My ridiculously imperfect, wonderfully messy Istanbul adventure. I’ve eaten too much, gotten lost, been mildly traumatized by seagulls, and fallen head-over-heels in love with a city that is chaotic, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have serious kebab withdrawal to deal with. And a scarf to show off. And a serious need to book a return trip ASAP.
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Istanbul's Hidden Gem: EXPRESS PLUS HOTEL - Unbelievable Luxury! (Or Is It?) - FAQ... with Feelings!
Okay, Okay, Hit Me: Is the EXPRESS PLUS HOTEL REALLY as Luxurious as They Say?
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because this is a rollercoaster. "Unbelievable Luxury"? They throw that phrase around like confetti. Honestly? Depends. Some days, YES! Other days... well, let's just say my expectations and reality did a tango that ended with me questioning the very fabric of my life choices.
The lobby? Stunning. Marble, chandeliers, the whole nine yards. Made me feel like I should be sipping champagne and critiquing art, even though I was just hauling my backpack in. But then... the elevator. Ah, the elevator. More on that later (it deserves its own section, trust me).
So, the short answer: parts ARE luxurious. Parts... less so. Prepare to be charmed, and slightly bamboozled all at the same time.
What's the Deal with the "Unbelievable" Views? Are They Actually "Unbelievable Attractive"?
Okay, the views. This is where the "unbelievable" might actually hold some weight. I stayed in a room overlooking the Bosphorus, and OH. MY. GOD. Pure magic. Seriously, the boats, the lights at night... I almost cried. Almost. (Don't tell anyone.)
But here's the catch: not all rooms are created equal. Some face the inner courtyard. Some face... well, I don't know what the heck they face, but it's probably not the glittering beauty of Istanbul. So, before you book, confirm that view. It's worth the extra dough.
I swear, I spent a solid hour just staring out that window. I’m pretty sure I ignored emails for a whole day. That’s a win in my book.
Let's Get Real: What's the Room Like? And Is the Bed ACTUALLY Comfortable?
The room. Okay, the room. Generally, it’s spacious and tastefully decorated, all that fancy hotel stuff. I'm talking nice furniture, shiny surfaces, the works. BUT... and there's always a but, isn't there? The AC was a bit of a… *challenge*. Either freezing or not working at all. No middle ground. Spent one night seriously considering sleeping in the lobby.
And the bed! Now the bed was a winner. It was seriously comfortable – like “sinking into a cloud” comfortable. I slept like the dead. Which, considering the AC situation, was probably a good thing. Except, you know, I'm still alive.
So, room: hit and miss. Bed: pure bliss. Pack a sweater, just in case.
The Elevator. Please, Tell Me About the Elevator. I've Heard Whispers of Terror...
Ah, the elevator. The infamous elevator. The beast of the… well, it's the elevator. Okay, picture this: it's beautiful on the outside, all ornate metalwork. Seems promising, right? WRONG.
I swear, that thing had a mind of its own. It took FOREVER. The doors would open at random floors, then slowly close, then *maybe* go to the floor you want. Once I was stuck in there for, like, 10 minutes with two very important looking businessmen and a grumpy old lady. The tension was thicker than Turkish coffee. Pure awkwardness. Another time it shut down entirely, between floors. I started taking the stairs – all 12 flights.
So, yeah. The elevator. Be prepared for an adventure. Or just embrace the cardio.
What About the Breakfast? Is it the Glorious Spread of Turkish Delights I Dream Of?
Breakfast... Ah, bless the breakfast. It's pretty good. Not "unbelievable," mind you. More like "solidly good." Think your usual hotel buffet – eggs, pastries, fruit, yogurt. They had a decent selection of Turkish offerings, which I loved. Lots of olives and cheeses, and the bread was warm.
The coffee, however, was… weak. Seriously, it was like colored water. I needed to triple-dose to even feel a flicker of caffeine. But hey, at least the view from the breakfast room was nice!
Honestly, just eat a proper Turkish breakfast at a local cafe. You won't regret it.
Is the Staff Friendly? Any Crazy Stories?
The staff. Generally, they're lovely. Helpful. There was one guy at the front desk with a fantastic mustache and a booming laugh who went above and beyond to help me. I needed a power adapter, and he literally ran down the street to find me one. Legend.
The cleaning staff, bless them, were thorough. They left little treats. But... *ahem*... one day, they *may* have accidentally locked me out of my room. I was in my pajamas, trying to get back in. Let's just say it was a memorable experience… and now I'm friends with a janitor. #TravelAdventures
Location, Location, Location: How Convenient IS it, Really?
The location is a highlight! Super central. Within walking distance of *so* many things. The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar... you name it! Seriously, you'll save a ton of time and money on transportation. That's a huge win.
Plus, the neighborhood is buzzing with life. Cafes, restaurants, shops... I could wander around for hours. Just be prepared for the crowds. Istanbul is a popular place for a reason!
Okay, Final Verdict: Would You Stay There Again?
That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? The elevator alone almost made me scream, but... the view, the bed, the location... They were all pretty damn awesome.
Honestly? I'd probably go back. But I'd pack earplugs (for the street noise), a sweater (for the AC roulette), and, most importantly, a sense of humor. Istanbul is a city of delightful contradictions, and the EXPRESS PLUS HOTEL, for all its quirks is a great representation of that. It's charming, imperfect, and ultimately, a memorable experience.
Just… be prepared to walk up some stairs. And maybe bring your own coffee.
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