Heads on Beds: Ritz-Carlton Istanbul

Opened in 2001, this sleek black tower dominates the cityscape around the old Dolmebache Palace and gives nothing away to passers-by.

Inside, the entire hotel is dedicated to making the life of a traveller as easy as possible, but it is on the three Club Lounge levels that the Ritz truly excels. Here food and drink is available all day long (7am-10pm) and absolutely nothing is too much trouble in the eyes of the dedicated multilingual staff. The best Turkish wines (Doluca and Sarafin) are available on request, five different buffets are provided during the day, and top international newspapers are all available. The staff take a special delight in preparing in-room treats while you are out, usually irresistible arrangements of chocolate and Turkish sweets. The only problem is that once you put your feet up you'll be loath to set out again.

Track It Down

The hotel is next to Besiktas Football Stadium and a 30-minute drive away from Ataturk International Airport. An airport taxi costs 35-40 lire. Alternatively, the hotel will provide BMW airport transfers for €106. You can even make use of the hotel's helipad if you wish. Contact the concierge (00 90 212 334 4444; rc.istrz.concierge@ritzcarlton.com) to arrange.

Check-in check

The multilingual staff is available around the clock at the reception desk in the Lobby. The Club Lounge has its own concierge service for check-in on the 12th floor between 7am-10pm.

Room to manoeuvre

There are 244 rooms across 14 floors, 57 of which are in the Club Lounge, which takes up the top three floors of the hotel. All rooms combine English club-land sofas and tables with Turkish fabrics and décor. Marble bathrooms are spacious and decorated with Iznik tiles. Bathrobes are generously sized (not always the case in Turkey) and toiletries are Bulgari. All rooms have a good-size desk with telephone and internet connection. There are nine meeting rooms in the hotel and a boardroom.

Get connected

Free wireless access is provided in public areas both at Club Level and throughout the hotel. In-room broadband internet access is priced at €21 for 24 hours. The Lounge's business centre offers internet access at a rate of €20 per hour but without a doubt the best deal is to prop up your laptop in the Club Lounge, where you'll be brought a free glass of wine to aid concentration. Bedrooms have satellite and pay TV.

Fitness regime

There is an underground swimming pool in the basement Laveda Spa and an outdoor pool on the second-floor terrace. The spa also offers an authentic Turkish bath, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, a 24-hour fitness centre with advanced kinesis technology and nine treatment rooms. There are two more Jacuzzis on the second floor with views of the Bosphorus.

Raid the minibar

As well as the usual expensive miniatures the minibar also features a Nespresso machine which makes excellent cups of coffee (it should; each sachet costs about £3 each). There are two restaurants and a bar on the lobby level. Cintemani Restaurant presents contemporary Mediterranean cuisine and Guney Park Terrace Turkish-inspired grilled dishes. The RC Bar claims to have the most extensive collection of single malts and premium cigars in Istanbul.

Rack rates

Rooms start at €295 per room per night, Club Lounge rooms start at €413.

Address

The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, Suzer Plaza, Elmadag, 34367, Sisli - Istanbul, Turkey (00 90 212 334 4444; www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/istanbul).