After 15 days travelling across China — including Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, and Sanya — we stayed for two nights at The Westin Istanbul Nişantaşı on our way back to London.
Our first impression was positive. We arrived early in the morning, well before the official 3pm check-in time, and the gentleman at reception kindly arranged an early check-in for us. This was genuinely appreciated after a long journey. The hotel’s location in Nişantaşı is also excellent.
However, based on our extensive experience of staying in luxury hotels worldwide over the past 30 years, I have to be honest — this property does not meet true 5-star luxury standards, especially considering the price.
During this same trip, we stayed at several high-end properties in China, including Mandarin Oriental Pudong Shanghai, InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun, Conrad Chongqing, and Sofitel resorts in Sanya. All of these hotels offered a noticeably higher level of quality, often at a lower price point (under €200 per night for club-level rooms with breakfast).
In comparison, The Westin Istanbul Nişantaşı was the most expensive stay of our trip (over €220 per night), yet delivered the lowest overall value.
The breakfast was disappointing — the selection was limited, and several items were cold and lacking in quality. The room itself did not feel like a luxury product. The interior finishes, pillows, towels, and bathroom amenities were all below what one would expect from a true 5-star hotel. While there
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