I recently spent 3 days at the Point Hotel, Taksim Square, Istanbul and was quite disappointed with my visit. For those reading this, I would like to assure you that I always strive to provide unbiased and helpful assessments of the hotels at which I stay. This is a challenging review to write for a number of reasons. Perhaps, I will provide a list of positive and negative factors about the hotel and make some concluding comments in summary.

The Positives:

1) The hotel property is very modern and clean and very nice in appearance.
2) The actual room I had was almost exactly as show in the website photos, a decent size, well stocked with a mini bar (be careful if you put your own items in there to stay cold as they mark the bottoms of the items and will charge you even if you replace what is there) and all of the amenities I would expect from a superior level hotel.
3) The bathroom was a reasonable size, nicely decorated and had a good shower
4) There was a nice flat panel television. Supposedly there was internet access but I didn’t use it. I picked up signal from the Nippon Hotel across the street.
5) I did not eat in the hotels restaurants but they looked clean and nice but somewhat expensive.
6) The hotel is in a newer part of Istanbul a 15-20 minute distance from Sultanamet and the historic sights. There are lots of nice international hotels in the near vicinity (Inter-Continental, Park Hyatt, etc…) My girlfriend and I had a drink on the observation level of the Inter-Continental, while the drinks were very expensive, it offers a stunning view at night. We also had a delicious dinner at the Park Hyatt Hotel.
7) There are lots of restaurants, convenience stores and coffee / pastry shops in the area (Starbuck, Gloria Jeans, McDonald’s for those who want a taste from home)
8) Once you figure out the transit system at Taksim Square which is a 5 minute walk from the hotel (the key is to take the underground shuttle to the tram stop which will take you directly in to Sultanamet in a matter of minutes) there is not faster, affordable and enjoyable way to get around istanbul.

The Negatives:

1) I have read countless reviews on Trip Advisor and am always surprised when I read that people have difficulty with the hotel staff. I believe that what you put into things you will get out and I am always respectful and appreciative. However, the GREATEST weakness of this hotel is its staff that are totally lacking in manners and people / client service skills. Any request made for directions, tips, clarifications etc seemed an imposition on the staff. They were incredibly rude given I am a guest of their hotel.
2) Unfortunately, there was a group of young high school staying at the hotel the entire time we were there. The girls in the room beside ours screamed all night and people slammed there door as they went in and out ALL night. I can understand kids being kids but I had requested a quiet room as my girlfriend is a light sleeper, this is what they put me next to!!!
3) When I called down to the front desk to complain about the noise over a series of nights, they proceeded to do NOTHING. As you can imagine, 3 days with no real sleep and jet lag did not leave me in a good mood.
4) As for references and referrals, I would be cautious of the staff. They insisted that cabs were the best way to into Sultanamet. This was completely untrue given you are prepared to take some time to learn how to use the shuttle from Taksim Square to the tramline along the Bosphorous. Also, the night I arrived I asked for a referral for dinner. They sent to a place close to the hotel where it was obvious the front desk was getting a kick back for referring people there. There are some great little restaurants in the area (we REALLY like the Italian one 2 blocks away) but the staff must not get kick backs to send people there.
5) The location of the hotel is quite a way from the old part of Istanbul. If you are looking to be in the heart of the old town this is NOT the place for you. If you are not prepared to spend a lot of money on cab rides to and from the city or learn how to use public transit, this is not the hotel for you either.

I apologize for the long winded review but in an effort to provide as balanced an assessment as possible I would like to give people adequate information. There is no doubt my girlfriend and I had a really bad experience with the girls screaming next to us but the hotel did nothing to solve the issue. The property itself is new and quite stunning. Had it not been for the unfortunate situation and the appalling staff, it would be a terrific place to stay. I would not entirely dissuade you from considering the Point Hotel Istanbul, just don’t expect a hotel that is at all customer service oriented. Also, understand that the staff does not necessarily provide the best advice and they will rarely, if ever, be friendly. I also think that the generally low level of English that is spoken in the hotel made all of the negatives in this hotel worse. It is too bad that the hotel did not deliver on the service side of our stay as the property itself is really quite lovely.

Good luck in Istanbul.

elegant rooms ,modern facilities but very small and not that luxurious one as in thier website......but great hotel so many facilities ,the satff are very polite and helpful ,they speak several lanugages english ,spanish. check in was very easy about 3 minutes.the location is amazing ,so many resturants ,bars ,atm and nightclubs around the hotel.....but agian and again be carefull while walking around the hotel ..so many talented thieves . ive been robbed ..they stole my walit from my hand bag in the first 30 minute ...put ur credit cards in ur socks heheehe.coz i didnt feel that someone is touching my h bag
i liked the hotel very much great one but if they give you a small room ask for change .
so amazing hotel ,facilities ,location ,staff(very helpful and honest) .......many thanks

The Point Hotel is located in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul, about midway between the Hilton Conference Center and Taksim Square, just up the hill a half block from the Hyatt and Intercontinental hotels. It's located in a fashionable district of cafes, nightclubs, restaurants, and hotels in the area north of the Golden Horn waterway and on the European side of the Bosphorus. As such, it's convenient to all conference facilities, but is about a half-hour walk from the historic district or Galata bridge. I thought the location was safe, quiet, and generally convenient: cab rides to the Blue Mosque were short and cost about 15 Lira (7 euro) and the airport was about an hour away and cost 35 Lira (18 Euro) (have the hotel arrange a fixed-price fare for you with the taxi). The shopping at Istiklal is a short walk away, and there is good (not loud) entertainment in the surrounding blocks.

The hotel is a modern, well-maintained facility that makes the most of it's location. The lobby is clean and bright, the staff is friendly and attentive (although they don't speak much english beyond the people in charge of the various areas). Check in was quick, and you should always take a sample of the Turkish Delight that they have out as you pass the desk from the elevators. There it a Guest Services desk that gives good maps and directions, and the staff has taxis parked nearby. There is a lobby bar on a mezannine balcony, but go up to the 9th floor for great views of the Bosphorus and traditional music (and special events like Salsa night). There is a spa and pool on the 2nd floor, but I didn't use it.

The rooms are comfortable and well equipped: the beds are firm (feather pillows) and they provide bottled water, wireless and ethernet internet, local and english channels, and a nice selection of bathroom goods for free. There is an in-room safe and the windows open to let in a nice breeze (and no smells) at night. The bathroom is pleasant and the water is hot and abundant. The staff does a thorough cleaning during the day and a turn-down with chocolate at night. The mnini-bar is outrageous (15 Lira for a small wine), but there are convenience stores a short walk away if you need anything.

Breakfast is a treat: the 9th floor setting gives wonderful sunrise views over the Bosphorus and the northern part of the city, and the food is absolutely among the most varied and abundant I have seen. I especially like the turkish cheeses and cold meats, the sucuk susage, and the hot yogurt soup, but they have breads, eggs, fruits, french toas, and will rpepare hot main dishes to order. Highly recommended (I made the mistake of using the Hilton buffet the first day: it cost 50 Lira for a much lower-quality meal. Absolutely, stay in the hotel and take advantage of this!)

Aside, Istanbul is a wonderful place: life paints into the corners here, and it ranks near the top of my world cities list. The Frommer's guide is very accurate, and I also recommend taking time for a taste of old-world Turkish cuisine and hospitality at the HaciBaba Restaurant, on the left about a block into Istiklal from Taksim square. Take your courage in the bazaars, eat fish under the Galata bridge, do not attempt to drive yourself, and (if you splurge) do have a drink at the top of the nearby Intercontinental Hotel (Sky Bar: 32 Lira for a Mohito but the view is worth it) at sunset to really appreciate the city after dark (lights on the Bosphorous Bridge and ships slipping by in the moonlight are a treat).

In summary, the Point Hotel is a well located, well run gem in the midst of the hotel and convention district: comfortable and complete, it is an ideal base for your exploration or business in the city and provides all the services you will need to have a memorable and enjoyable visit!

I stayed there with my then fiance. We had a very comfortable stay. Clean, good location, and nice music CD. We enjoyed Japanese food in the restaurant UDONYA, which was not really bad at all! We had massage in the Spa, but it was a bit pricy for the service. We loved it this hotel!