The hotel needs significant improvement in areas of customer service & politeness, choice and quality of breakfast, airconditioning, TV and TV Channels, elevators, etc.

We booked a room in this hotel because one of our friends, working in a traveling agency, recommended it. She even had a special voucher sent for us, requesting the best available room, 'VIP' if possible. The joke was on us! We received a room on the second floor, at the end of the hallway, which was supposed to be reserved for disabled persons, the bath had certain accomodiations and there was also a sign at the door .
The room was not only very dated and dark, but also small and very crowded. The TV set and mini fridge were not functioning. We asked for an internet connection and it was lousy, we did not manage to pull it off. I have no complaints about the personnel, it is just their regular problem with foreign languages, but at least they are willing to help. One of the bell boys even helped us in finding a parking place, which is a major issue around there.
The food qualifies for a 2 star hotel, to be polite. We only had breakfast, but it was of poor quality and exactly the same every day. Sliced sausages in tomato sauce and cheap draft juice, to say the least. Just concentrate on bread, butter and dried fruits if you want to avoid an indigestion.

We booked the Royal Hotel through a local travel agency, trusting their opinion, and were quite disappointed. The hotel looks really old and warn, especially the bathrooms, where shower leaked and toilet did not flush properly in our friends' room. As said in other commentaries, the walls are REALLY thin - you can hear everything your neighbours are doing + noise from the hallway and the street. Breakfast was simply terrible for a 4* hotel - no cereals, fruit, hot dishes (except boiled eggs and suspicious-looking wieners in tomato sauce), and the worst coffee I have ever tasted. I would give it 2*, not more.
It's true that the location is not too bad, as walking to the main tourist attractions takes about half an hour, but there is nothing to see around the hotel - only small shops with fake designer clothes and a few kebab-places.
You might consider this hotel if you get a really good deal, but for us, it was highly overpriced.
The only positive thing to remember about this hotel was our cleaning lady, who greeted us with a big smile every morning and kept the room nice and tidy.

I like the location of the hotel, right in the shopping districts. I simply walked outside to get a bottle of water or looking around in the shops or resturants. It is not far from Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque. It is also close to the metro station, Aksaray stop where it is easy to get to the airport or other places via metro. The room is clean although facilities look old. I did no hear any street noise at night and had very good sleep. I am traveling alone as a young woman but felt very safe staying in this hotel. The price I paid is definitely worth every dollar. I booked the hotel via europeandestinations.com, which did not cost me much. I will stay in the same hotel next time I am in Istanbul.