Disappointing Experience with Smoking Room and Dishonest Service
My family and I stayed at the Barceló Istanbul on April 19th, 2025. We booked a junior suite as we needed space for our two small children. The suite was listed as non-smoking.
Upon arrival, we were hit with the unmistakable stench of cigarette smoke throughout the suite. With young children, this was unacceptable, so we immediately requested another room.
Staff said no other junior suites were available. They offered to downgrade us, but mentioned we’d need to book and pay for an additional room to accommodate our family. When we asked about deodorizing our room, they promised to use an ozone fan, taking about 20 minutes.
After waiting 10 minutes, I checked on progress. There was no ozone fan as promised—just hallway and room overwhelmed with heavy room spray. They’d simply masked the smoke smell with fragrance rather than using proper equipment.
When confronted, the manager insisted they had used an ozone fan—a claim clearly false given what I witnessed.
What disappoints me most isn’t just the smoking issue, but the dishonesty. Rather than being transparent, management chose to mislead us, particularly concerning when traveling with children whose health could be affected.
I hope this feedback helps Barceló Istanbul improve. Honesty and care for guests’ wellbeing should be paramount in hospitality.