WOW Istanbul Hotel

The WOW Istanbul Hotel feels like a more upscale version of a typical business hotel than your run-of-the-mill airport hotel. The hotel’s restaurants and other common areas are spacious, allowing guests to feel at home when they’re not attending a nearby conference or making the trek to the rather distant city center. The style here is refined and polished. The lobby has large picture windows, high ceilings, and palm trees, a horseshoe shaped bar, and a curved staircase that floats up to the Restaurant Mezzanine, from which diners can look down a the open space below. Expect to see lots of modern furniture, plenty of marble, and creamy, rich colors throughout the hotel. The WOW Istanbul Hotel attracts mostly business travelers attending professional events at the nearby conference center, and also people on short layovers or delayed fights who want added amenities of a five-pearl hotel to alleviate their travel woes. 

The WOW Istanbul Hotel is not in the center of Istanbul, but it is very close to the CNF conference center, which is known for holding many business conventions and trade shows. It also holds plenty of its own large-scale events, as the hotel has its own convention center. Additionally, it's a convenient pick for those with early or late flights, as it's ten minutes by car to Istanbul’s main international airport, Ataturk Havalimani. However, those looking for a neighborhood where they can walk around and soak in Turkish culture will be disappointed. The hotel is removed from both the historic sites in Sultanahmet and the restaurants and bars of Beyogly, making this a less convenient choice for tourists who come to really explore Istanbul. The Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, and the Hagia Sofia can be reached in a 30-minute drive if traffic is light, which is rarely the case. Traffic is more often congested and unpredictable. There is a metro stop within a few minutes’ walk from the hotel, where guests can catch the new underground train to the above sights in about 25 minutes. Farther afield are Taksim Square, the Galata Tower, and the hip nightlife in Asmalimescit, which are about 45 minutes by either metro or taxi, depending on traffic.

The quality of the rooms at the WOW Istanbul Hotel varies depending on the room type, though all are a decided step up from most airport hotels. The mostly beige Standard Rooms and Executive Rooms aren't the most characterful, but furnishings are upscale and modern. Expect velvet purple or handsome blue accents plus light wood-veneer furniture, light wood floors, and upholstered headboards. Bathrooms in these categories follow suit and are average sized, with neutral colored marble vanities, and bathtub/shower combos. Suites, on the other hand, are more elegant and more attention has been paid to creating a refined environment. These have a full living room with a chandelier, and artwork on the walls. The bedrooms are lit with wall sconces and have striped comforters and some of the furniture looks antique. Suite bathrooms have brown marble walls and floors and are much larger -- some even have a wardrobe and dressing area. All rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, minibars, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, electric kettles (Nespresso machines in Suites), and safes. Robes, hairdryers, and toiletries come in all bathrooms. 

The WOW Istanbul Hotel has several high-end amenities, with the highlight being the indoor pool under huge skylights on the roof. The spa is also impressive, with spacious massage rooms, a Turkish bath, sauna, and vitamin bar. Another draw is the large, modern fitness center is set on a high floor where some of the treadmills face picture windows that get decent views of the surrounding hotels and other buildings in the area. There are two restaurants that offer guests disparate menu options, each with its own appeal. The first is the Restaurant Mezzanine, a sleek and modern eatery serving traditional Turkish cuisine for breakfast and other meals. Choppers Point is an American-style diner with lively atmosphere (if somewhat mediocre food) and a bowling alley inside the restaurant. The executive floor has a spacious, sun-drenched wraparound lounge area set up to host a range of business events, as well as a small room with computers and comfortable desk chairs. The hotel also has a convention center. A free airport shuttle is available, but timing can be unpredictable. Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the hotel.