Sheraton Ankara Hotel & Convention Center [Master Thread]
Jun 28, 2008, 4:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro 2MM, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,207
Sheraton Ankara Hotel & Convention Center [Master Thread]
I completed a one-night stay at this hotel on Tuesday, June 17. I waited until I was about to leave Turkey before writing this report, because I wanted to have a means of comparison.
The best rates I found on Starwood's website were 145-165 Euros per night. I opted for a cash and points deal: $45 plus tax and 2800 *points. I took the havas (airport) bus from Esenboga Airport to the HAVAŞ terminal for 9 YTL and a taxi to the hotel was 15 YTL from there. Even though I arrived before the check-in time, I was kindly greeted, welcomed, and informed that I had been assigned to room 2109 on a Club Floor, an upgrade due to my status. I was told that there was a happy hour at 6 p.m., breakfast starting at 7 a.m., and tea, coffee, and light snacks available 24 hours a day.
While my room was not large, it was certainly comfortable. The TV only had a 13" screen, but that was not a big issue. WiFi was 30 YTL for 24 hours. I had a view of the Hilton and the neighboring mall. According to the floor map on the back of the door, about half of the rooms on this floor appeared to be identical to 2109, the other half appeared to be two-room suites, just two rooms combined.
The club lounge, on the 20th floor, has beautiful views of Ankara. The attendants are helpful. Fresh fruit, biscuits, coffee, and tea were available during the afternoon. At happy hour, a variety of beers, liquors, and other beverages were available at no charge. An attendant brought me some snacks, including nuts, vegetables, cheese, and Doritos while I enjoyed an ice cold Efes.
The breakfast offering in the lounge was a choice of Turkish breakfast foods (olives, vegetables, cheeses, simit and other breads, fruit, and yogurt) with a few Western breakfast foods (cereals and croissants) thrown in.
The neighborhood is very upscale, and the neighboring shopping mall was pretty bland, in my opinion. About five minutes walk from the hotel is Tunalı Hilmi Caddesi, a bustling street with shops, restaurants, and great places to people-watch.
The cash and points rate is a bargain, especially considering that this hotel is part of the Luxury Collection. I would not hesitate to stay at this hotel again the next time I am in Ankara.
The best rates I found on Starwood's website were 145-165 Euros per night. I opted for a cash and points deal: $45 plus tax and 2800 *points. I took the havas (airport) bus from Esenboga Airport to the HAVAŞ terminal for 9 YTL and a taxi to the hotel was 15 YTL from there. Even though I arrived before the check-in time, I was kindly greeted, welcomed, and informed that I had been assigned to room 2109 on a Club Floor, an upgrade due to my status. I was told that there was a happy hour at 6 p.m., breakfast starting at 7 a.m., and tea, coffee, and light snacks available 24 hours a day.
While my room was not large, it was certainly comfortable. The TV only had a 13" screen, but that was not a big issue. WiFi was 30 YTL for 24 hours. I had a view of the Hilton and the neighboring mall. According to the floor map on the back of the door, about half of the rooms on this floor appeared to be identical to 2109, the other half appeared to be two-room suites, just two rooms combined.
The club lounge, on the 20th floor, has beautiful views of Ankara. The attendants are helpful. Fresh fruit, biscuits, coffee, and tea were available during the afternoon. At happy hour, a variety of beers, liquors, and other beverages were available at no charge. An attendant brought me some snacks, including nuts, vegetables, cheese, and Doritos while I enjoyed an ice cold Efes.
The breakfast offering in the lounge was a choice of Turkish breakfast foods (olives, vegetables, cheeses, simit and other breads, fruit, and yogurt) with a few Western breakfast foods (cereals and croissants) thrown in.
The neighborhood is very upscale, and the neighboring shopping mall was pretty bland, in my opinion. About five minutes walk from the hotel is Tunalı Hilmi Caddesi, a bustling street with shops, restaurants, and great places to people-watch.
The cash and points rate is a bargain, especially considering that this hotel is part of the Luxury Collection. I would not hesitate to stay at this hotel again the next time I am in Ankara.
Jun 28, 2008, 11:55 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hilton Honors Gold, Flying Blue Platinum
Posts: 108
not bad at all (with football)
I stayed at this property in April and I happen to have been upgraded to the full suite, but it was for business and the room rate was twice as high (rack rate, I think).
Since I was having no joy at the prospect of spending three days rushing in Turkey without seeing anything but the interior of a town car, a tech park and a hotel room, I thought "oh well", I went for it nevertheless.
Check in was nice and friendly, but I was escorted by a small army of Turkish partners out of an important-looking car so I guess it made sense. The upgrade was obviously ready and not caused by awe, though
The full suite is a mixed bag of really good things (walk in shower, space, funky phones) and not-so-good stuff (7 ashtrays, my personal record as I always book non-smoking rooms, relatively tacky decor). Housekeeping was, as often, meltingly nice.
The lounge is an OK place with a good view (and sound, the muezzin at prayer time are completely out there in such an environment for yours truly, who's not used to Middle East). Food is hardly edible, and staff, as often in Mediterranean countries, like their football, preferably loud on the Lounge flat screens. But it's part of the fun (I guess).
The mall next door is indeed rather ghastly, the Business Center is quite fussy but populated by welcoming ladies (no innuendo here).
I am looking forward to go there again, this time actually seeing something from the city, but as an isolated property to spend a couple of nights this is perfectly appropriate.
Since I was having no joy at the prospect of spending three days rushing in Turkey without seeing anything but the interior of a town car, a tech park and a hotel room, I thought "oh well", I went for it nevertheless.
Check in was nice and friendly, but I was escorted by a small army of Turkish partners out of an important-looking car so I guess it made sense. The upgrade was obviously ready and not caused by awe, though
The full suite is a mixed bag of really good things (walk in shower, space, funky phones) and not-so-good stuff (7 ashtrays, my personal record as I always book non-smoking rooms, relatively tacky decor). Housekeeping was, as often, meltingly nice.
The lounge is an OK place with a good view (and sound, the muezzin at prayer time are completely out there in such an environment for yours truly, who's not used to Middle East). Food is hardly edible, and staff, as often in Mediterranean countries, like their football, preferably loud on the Lounge flat screens. But it's part of the fun (I guess).
The mall next door is indeed rather ghastly, the Business Center is quite fussy but populated by welcoming ladies (no innuendo here).
I am looking forward to go there again, this time actually seeing something from the city, but as an isolated property to spend a couple of nights this is perfectly appropriate.
Last edited by ericj; Jun 28, 2008 at 11:58 am Reason: poor typing
Apr 2, 2011, 7:46 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 931
It looks like this hotel was split in two, with the smaller new building renamed Lugal Ankara Hotel and kept in the Luxury Collection, while the original main Sheraton Ankara tower was returned to the Sheraton chain. Seems like they're gradually weeding hotels with the Sheraton name out of the Luxury Collection, like the one in Phuket, to avoid confusion.
