Ciragan Palace or Four Seasons?

Old Aug 5th, 2001, 10:18 PM
  #1  
Stephanie
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Ciragan Palace or Four Seasons?

Hello,
My husband and I will be travelling to Istanbul in November for our anniversary and wanted to stay somewhere special for the occasion. The two hotels that seem to stand out as hot favourites are the Ciragan Palace and the Four Seasons. Has anybody stayed at both that can tell me which is best? I have read the reviews both at this site and at epinions.com (no reviews so far on F.S. there) but F.S. seems to be coming out a little in front, so far. Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated. BTW, we will be bringing our 2 year old with us, so if anyone can tell me which might be best from that point of view, that would also be great. Thanks very much, Steph
 
Old Aug 6th, 2001, 03:37 AM
  #2  
Tammy
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I didn't stay at either but did visit both. The Four Seasons is in the same area as most of the attractions. I highly recommend dinner at the Ciragan, but probably not with a two year old. The dining room is exquisite, overlooking the Bospherus, as is the hotel. The setting can't be beat for beauty. If I had my choice, I would stay at the Four Seasons because of its proximity to the sites. I have heard the rooms at the Ciragan are not as nice as the Four Seasons and it's about a 20 minute cab to the sites with out traffic.
 
Old Aug 6th, 2001, 06:24 AM
  #3  
Surlok
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They are the two best hotels in Istanbul. The Four Seasons was a former prison, as you might know. I didn't stay there, but visited, and is near the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. The hotel is up par with all the Four Season's.

The Ciragan's lobby is magnificent, as are many of the public areas. The Kempinsky chain is also very good, and the hotel stands by the Bosphorus, with a wonderful view. I haven't heard only good things about the buffet there, and as the other poster said, not all the rooms are good, nor all of them face the Bosphorus. The new building adjacent to the palace is uninspiring.

The pool area, though, is very beautiful, but in November the weather will be likely on the cool side.

Surlok
 
Old Aug 6th, 2001, 06:57 AM
  #4  
Jeannette
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I definitely vote for the Four Seasons as it is closer to the attractions and less formal. The Ciragan Palace was too upper crust for my taste. In the lobby on a very hot day, all the women wore stockings, designer clothes and fine jewelry. A baby making any noise would be frowned on and you would feel uncomfortable. My husband and I had been walking 10 miles that day seeing the sights and we were uncomfortable in the lobby in our nice casual clothes and walking shoes.
 
Old Aug 6th, 2001, 08:14 AM
  #5  
lucky
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Have not stayed at FS, but have been to it. Have stayed at Ciragan Palace. You can not make a bad choice. On the one hand the FS is located withing walking distance of the main sites in old town Istanbul. The taxi or the water taxi from near the Palace is quite convenient. I agree with the poster who mentioned the restaurant in the Palace is superb. I can say that the service at the Palace was superb as well, and I did not sense a crusty snobby cliente. In fact I was in my Levi's most of the time. There is a certain allure about the Palace, and overlooking the Bosporous, and I will probably book it again when I return next year. On the other hand, you can not beat the location of the FS. By the way, I had quite a nice room at the Palace and was overlooking the Bosporous, the pool, and the arch and the old palace..had I had a room looking the other direction it may have not been quite the experience. If you are going for site seeing the FS is extremely convenient...while the Palace is only convenient..If you are going for romance..then the Palace is the place to go.
 

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