If you are visiting Istanbul as a tourist and looking for a budget accommodation, then Hotel Almina Inn might be a good place to book for your accommodation.
Situated in the Golden Horn area, this hotel is minutes away from the Grand Bazaar and walking distance to the Blue Mosque and Sultanahmet Square. Read more below about our experience at this hotel and why you should consider Hotel Almina Inn for your next trip to Istanbul.
Why We Chose Almina Inn Hotel
In terms of accommodation, we would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com or Agoda to get the best rates. On this occasion, we had some credit (points) from Trip.com, so we booked Almina Inn Hotel using our points and technically didn’t pay anything for our stay.
During our city breaks, we tend to sleep at the hotel, have breakfast and be out and about all day, so we weren’t after luxury accommodation or one with a lot of amenities. We chose Almina Inn Hotel for part of our stay, due to the following reasons:
- Excellent location – minutes away from the Grand Bazaar and in area we wanted to explore more
- Recently renovated
- Good reviews on TripAdvisor
- Fit our budget
- Free cancellation up to 72 hours before the stay
Overall, we had a good experience but were disappointed by the “view” from our room. To see why, read more about the hotel and our experience below.
We also stood three nights at another hotel near Top Kapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, read more about our stay at Hotel Black Tulip here.
How to Get to Hotel Almina Inn
Almina Inn Hotel is conveniently located in central Istanbul in the Fatih neighbourhood. A few minutes away is the stop for T1 tram which takes you to all the tourist attractions in Istanbul. If you rely on public transport, then tram stop “Beyazıt – Kapalıçarşı” is the most convenient option.
As we moved from one hotel to another, this is exactly what we did. Find out more about how to get around Istanbul here.
After check-out, we were heading to Istanbul Airport (IST) and decided to take a taxi from the hotel as we found the taxi prices rather cheap. The hotel also offers airport service which you can book directly wit.
One of the unique selling points of the hotel is its proximity to the Grand Bazaar and many cafes and restaurants in the area. Not far from the hotel we also found the most authentic shisha place, which we visited three times during our stay.
Be aware that you need to walk 4-5 mins uphill, so get ready for a steep climb. On the way down it is much easier. If you have restricted mobility, then maybe this hotel is not ideal for you.
Hotel address: Beyazıt, Saraç İshak mah. Mithatpaşa cad, Mollabey Sk. no:12 34126, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul
Discover Almina Inn Hotel
Check-in Experience
The check-in experience was really nice. We were greeted by the receptionist who provided a great customer service and explained all we needed to know about our stay. He was kind enough to provide a map and even showed us some points of interest. That was a nice touch.
The reception is really small but I suppose being so central, space is an issue.
Lobby
The lobby of the hotel is rather small. Essentially it’s the bar area with some high chairs and two sofas where you can sit and chill. Having said that, there are a couple of tables outside of the hotel, so on a nice day that could also be considered as the lobby area.
In all fairness, we did use the outside area on our last day. After check-out, we were heading to the airport and whilst waiting for our taxi had a nice conversation with the receptionist.
Hotel Room
The hotel offers a variety of rooms including single, double and triple rooms. We opted in for the budget option and booked an Economy Double Room.
Overall we were happy with the room. It was clean and tidy and the interior was modern. In terms of size, we felt it was a good size and definitely bigger than the room we had at Hotel Black Tulip.
We had a double bed with two bedside tables. I also really liked the mirrors on each side of the bed. Opposite the bed, we had a flat screen TV and an air-conditioner.
There was a small dressing table with a mirror and a stool which could also double as a desk if you are planning to do some work from the hotel. The room also had a small fridge with drinks and refreshments, which were paid. A kettle, tea and coffee were also available in the room.
The room also had a double wardrobe which was handy to hang our clothes. There was a a safe box provided although we didn’t use it. Slippers were provided by the hotel, which was a nice touch.
The view from our room is what we didn’t expect! The room was right next to the restaurant where breakfast is served. We had our curtains on as you never know who is on the other side.
With this in mind, we had a natural alarm at around 7am in preparation for breakfast from 8am. We could also hear when everyone was passing by the room on the way to the restaurant. I suppose you get what you pay for.
Bathroom
The bathroom was a decent size, not small but not large either. It was clean and with a walk in shower, large mirror, vanity mirror and towels. Shampoo, shower gel, hair conditioner and soap were provided as normal.
One aspect we enjoyed was the fixed rainfall shower head but also the flexible hand-held shower that was also available. A hair dryer was also available.
Breakfast at Almina Inn Hotel
The breakfast at the hotel was just as expected and similar to what we saw on the photos. Food was fresh and there was a good variety of things to choose from.
There was the hot section with a choice of six hot items e.g. eggs, sigara boregi, onion rings, potatoes and some other items that we didn’t try. Then was the cold section with a selection of cheeses, salamis, olives, fresh vegetables and salads.
There was a good selection of breads with five or six types to choose from including simits which we ate every day. Muesli and cereals were offered as standard. There was a selection of homemade cakes and cookies. The cookies were nice but the cakes seemed a bit underbaked.
There was a fresh honeycomb and a great selection of jams and marmalades. Perfect if you have a sweet tooth. The hotel also served roasted pumpkin with walnuts which we didn’t expect to see. Fruits, including grapes and oranges, were also available.
Some items were available for an extra charge. For example, you had to pay €4 for an omelette or fried eggs and €2 for Turkish coffee or fresh orange juice. The latter one is OK but most hotels would offer you different types of eggs upon request, usually included in the price.
In terms of drinks, the usual tea, coffee, water and juices were available. The coffee wasn’t good so if you wanted a strong coffee, it’s better to order from the bar. You can even see the window of our room on this photo.
The restaurant wasn’t big but was enough for the size of the hotel. Tables and chairs were rather basic. Overall the breakfast was OK but nothing too special.
Final Thoughts
All in all, it wasn’t a bad stay but there were some disappointing elements. For travellers like us, the room was a good size, fairly modern and neutrally decorated. We didn’t get natural day light and our “view” was towards the restaurant where breakfast is served.
The hotel is conveniently located near the Grand Bazaar and walking distance to the Blue Mosque and Sultanahmet Square. We had a reservation at the famous Nusr-Et restaurant which was very close to the hotel and worked perfectly for us. Just be aware that you need to climb a steep street to the T1 tram stop.
Click here to check the price of Almina Inn Hotel for your stay.
The staff were friendly and willing to help. The receptionist was particularly nice and we enjoyed a conversation with him. Overall a good budget option for a visit to Istanbul.
Ready to book? Below are some recommendations to get your trip started:
- Flights – we use flight aggregators such as Skyscanner and Google flights to find the best options. You can find more information about finding cheap flights here.
- Accommodation –Â would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com, Trip.com or Agoda to get the best rates. We also use TripAdvisor to read reviews.
- Transport – consider Rentalcars.com for car renting or if you rely on public transport, you can use Omio for trains, coaches, ferries, airport transfers and even flights.
- Activities – a great option is GetYourGuide, Klook or Viator for tours, excursions, experiences and tickets to many tourist attractions.
- Travel money – we have Starling Bank accounts (UK residents only) with 0% fees on FX and a good Mastercard exchange rate. Revolut is another good option.
- Internet abroad – with Airalo or Nomad you can access a wide range of eSIMs (digital SIM cards) available for different countries and regions.
- Luggage storage – if you need to store your bags whilst exploring the destination, you can use Radical Storage to find your closest luggage storage and enjoy your journey until the very end.
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