Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Umraniye: spa and hammam

The hotel stands in the Umraniye district of Istanbul, at Ataturk Mahallesi, Zafer Sokak no 2-4. It is a city hotel rather than a resort, and its position suits travellers who want a fixed base in this part of the city rather than immediate proximity to the historic monuments.

Straight-line distances from the hotel: Çamlıca Mosque about 2.4 km, Beylerbeyi Palace about 5.1 km, Ortaköy Mosque about 6.4 km, Dolmabahçe Palace about 8.1 km, Topkapı Palace about 9.6 km, and Hagia Sophia about 10 km. Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is about 22.7 km away, in a straight line.

There are seven room types, all with a city view. The Standard Room and the Standard Twin Room are the smallest at 25 m² each: the first has one double bed and sleeps up to 3, the second has two twin beds and also sleeps up to 3. A couple travelling light will find either sufficient; two colleagues sharing will want the twin.

In the middle sit three rooms between 30 and 38 m². The Standard Room with Extra Bed is 30 m² with one double bed; the Standard Triple Room with Three Single Beds is 31 m² with three twin beds, the natural choice for three people who each want their own bed; and the Deluxe Double Room is 38 m² with one double bed and sleeps up to 3, giving a couple or small family the most space short of a suite.

The Accessible Room is 31 m² with one double bed, sleeps up to 3, and is laid out for guests with reduced mobility. At the top, the King Suite is 50 m² with one super-king bed, twice the floor area of a standard room and the only room with a bed of that size.

The hotel's own wellness offer is a spa with a hammam and a sauna, alongside fitness facilities, so guests can train and unwind without leaving the building. Dining is covered by a restaurant and room service, and there is a business center for work trips. Babysitting is offered for guests travelling with children.

For arrivals and departures, the hotel runs an airport shuttle for a fee, and parking at the hotel is free, which matters for anyone driving in Istanbul. A lift serves the building.

Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 12:00, a midday departure that gives a relaxed last morning. Pets are not allowed, so travellers with animals should look elsewhere. Parking is free.

This hotel suits couples, small families and business travellers who want a chain hotel in Umraniye with a spa, a hammam and a sauna, free parking and a paid airport shuttle. Families are well served: children are allowed, babysitting is offered, and the triple and deluxe rooms give three people room to spread out. Guests with reduced mobility have a purpose-built accessible room.

It does not suit travellers who want to step out of the door onto the historic sights: Hagia Sophia is about 10 km away in a straight line and Topkapı Palace about 9.6 km. Nor does it suit pet owners, as pets are not allowed. Anyone expecting a resort-style property should note this is a city hotel; its pools of offering are the spa, hammam and sauna rather than leisure grounds.