Atrium Suites

“The best hotel experience I have ever had”

Granted, this was my first hotel experience in Turkey, and for that matter, away from the U.S. But I was overwhelmed by the accommodating staff at the Atrium. I arrived late with a new friend I had met getting a cab from the airport. She called a friend from the cab driver's phone and learned of th… more

Granted, this was my first hotel experience in Turkey, and for that matter, away from the U.S. But I was overwhelmed by the accommodating staff at the Atrium. I arrived late with a new friend I had met getting a cab from the airport. She called a friend from the cab driver's phone and learned of this place, and we split a room. The night clerk insisted on carrying my back-breaking bags as well as my friend's, and he wouldn't accept a tip. Fine, I thought, I'll tip later. But for every kindness the staff showed me--from making Turkish coffee for me when I went to the office to chat and ask questions, to supplying me with a power converter bought in town but at no charge to me, to feeding me bread and fruit and tea when I waited too long to eat, to letting me tag along with the manager to check in on the other hotel sites owned by the same entity, no one accepted a tip. At each of the hotel sites, a table and chairs stood outside the door, where I could sit and talk and meet new friends. Sitting at one, an employee disappeared and reappeared with tea from a cafe across the street, and the manager surprised me with grapes and plums. Between manager and employees, our conversations were excellent--intelligent, usually artistic, captivating people gave me ideas for my bookish aspirations. They patiently practiced Turkish with me. Here at the Atrium Suites, I wanted for nothing. Need a cab? I'll call a reliable. Going somewhere? Let me help you make arrangements. Also the interior is lovely, with flights of marble steps under an opaque but sunny ceiling that fed abundant potted flowers lining the step railings. A common area with a couch and little kitchen and friendly residents that poke their head through an interior window to say hello. When I settled my bill, the price was great (in part because I shared a room). I paid about the same as the airbnb.com inexpensive accommodation that had canceled on me. Oh yes, I think you can find the Atrium on Airbnb, or it is offered by the help phoneline of airbnb. Anyway...this hotel that is a short walk from sleepless, musical, lively Taksim is one I would highly recommend to travelers who prefer conversation to professional silence, eccentricity over cold and boxy generic hotels likely found on sites like Travelocity. It wasn't like midrange chain hotels in the U.S. with their giant fluffy white pillows and ultrasoft beds, but in excellent company, who cares for pillows? One can scarcely sleep when the world outside the room is so compelling.

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