Grand Hyatt Istanbul, the Hotel Review

This summer, we spent a few unforgettable weeks in Turkey, exploring the Mediterranean coast, hiking to ancient ruins, and diving into the vibrant culture of Istanbul. In this Grand Hyatt Istanbul review, we’ll cover what it’s like to stay at one of the best-located Hyatt properties in the city, perfect for families and World of Hyatt members looking to redeem points.

Istanbul is a massive, vibrant city, and if you’re staying on points, choosing a centrally located hotel from your preferred chain is key. The Grand Hyatt Istanbul sits in the heart of the city, just minutes from Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, popular restaurants, and local shops, making it an ideal base for both sightseeing and relaxing between adventures.

How to book Grand Hyatt Istanbul on points

We booked a Standard room (they offer 2 Twin Beds or 1 King Bed room available) for only 12,000 Hyatt Points per night (a total of 24,000 Hyatt Points for two nights).

The cash rate for a Standard room was $315.87 (including taxes and fees) per night. That’s 2.63 cents per point, a great redemption value!

Check in at Grand Hyatt Istanbul

The original plan was to stay in Istanbul for just one night before heading back to California at the end of our journey in Turkey since we had already explored the city at the beginning of our trip.

Eventually, we decided it was worth spending one more day in the city, taking it easy before a long-haul flight back to America. Long story short, we booked another night for 12,000 Hyatt points at Grand Hyatt Istanbul, making it two nights but on separate reservations.

At check-in, the front desk at Grand Hyatt Istanbul didn’t appear to realize we had a two-night stay booked under back-to-back single-night reservations. We explained that we intended to combine them into one continuous stay and asked if a Hyatt Globalist suite upgrade might be available. Unfortunately, the standard suite upgrade was only offered for the second night.

For the first night, we requested a rollaway bed, but unfortunately, it never arrived, even after a follow-up call to the front desk. By 9 p.m., with two tired kids, we ended up turning the chaise lounge into a makeshift bed for the night. We requested an extra bedding set, which thankfully was brought up within 10 minutes.

The following morning, around 11 a.m., we were moved into a spacious Grand King Suite. This upgraded room featured a separate living area, walk-in closet, kitchenette, soaking tub, and a rain shower, offering much more space and comfort for the remainder of our stay.

Parking at Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Since we had just arrived in Istanbul back from our road trip, we still had the rental car we decided to drop off at the Istanbul Airport right before our flight. Globalists get free parking on award night stays (usually including valet parking if available), so we decided to park the car at the hotel.

Grand Hyatt Istanbul offers both covered self-parking and valet parking, each available for a fee. We chose valet parking, assuming the Hyatt Globalist free parking benefit would apply.

However, at checkout, we learned that the hotel’s policy only covers self-parking for Globalist members; valet parking is not included. Fortunately, the front desk made an exception and kindly waived the valet fee, which we truly appreciated.

💡 Good to Know

Even though that Hyatt hotels are within the same chain, always check the hotel policy first as it may still vary from hotel to hotel, especially internationally.

Grand Suite King at Grand Hyatt Istanbul

The room we got upgraded to was an 860 sq. ft. (80 sq. m.) one-bedroom suite on the 8th floor, featuring a King Bed, living area, rain shower, workspace, walk-in closet, and a kitchenette. For reference, this was a Standard Suite.

Grand Suite King Grand Hyatt Istanbul, living room

The living room was spacious and had a lovely oversized couch, a chair, a workspace, and a little coffee/tea station.

There was a dining area with a complete dining set, a stove, a fridge, and a microwave. We didn’t get a chance to use it since it was only a two-night stay, but it’s very convenient to have a kitchenette when you’re staying with kids and great to have the option of dining in the room. The hotel staff kindly left us a fruit bowl on the counter so the girls could snack on some apples and bananas.

This was the view from our room:

The bedroom at Grand Suite King, Grand Hyatt Istanbul

The bedroom featured one king bed, a sofa, and a walking closet. We loved that it had panoramic windows, so the room was filled with natural light.

The bathroom at Grand Suite King, Grand Hyatt Istanbul

The bathroom was spacious and had a bathtub and a separate shower cabin with a rain shower. It also had complimentary full-sized toiletries and even sponges.

Dining options at Grand Hyatt Istanbul

34 restaurant, Grand Hyatt Istanbul

There was an onsite restaurant called 34 with indoor and outdoor seating options. The restaurant was open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (lunch and dinner from 11 am to 11 pm).

The outdoor patio was spacious but still cozy with fireplaces and surrounded by greenery. We had dinner there on our first evening in the hotel (we didn’t have a reservation, and there was no wait to get seated).

The menu had various options – from traditional Turkish and Mediterranean to a good seafood variety.

Breakfast at 34 restaurant, Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Breakfast was served buffet style at the onsite restaurant from 7 am to 10:30 am daily.

As Globalists, we got a daily complimentary breakfast for 4 of us, and it’s one of our favorite Globalists’ perks.

There was an omelet station where you could order eggs in any style and a barista corner where you could get coffee drinks or a mimosa. Overall, they had so many breakfast options that you could literally choose anything you wanted, from pastries, eggs, cereal, and fruits, to traditional Turkish breakfast dishes.

Mezzanine Lounge & Bar, a Globalist Lounge at Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Grand Hyatt Istanbul also had a Lounge (on the 8th floor) with complimentary light fares such as snacks and drinks and a daily happy hour. To gain access to the lounge, you needed to be a Globalist or redeem a Club Access Award before check-in.

You could also have breakfast there. However, it’s worth noting that the breakfast at 34 had many more options.

The lounge had plenty of open seats while we were there, but it didn’t seem like a good choice for people with kids since the atmosphere was tranquil there.

Amenities at Grand Hyatt Istanbul

The hotel featured a large outdoor pool and a hot tub. We did not get a chance to use the pool, but the area looked relaxing and welcoming.

Bottom line

in the heart of the city. While it tends to feel busier and more convention-oriented than the neighboring Park Hyatt Istanbul – Maçka Palas, it still delivers solid value. The rooms may feel slightly dated, but they’re clean, spacious, and well-maintained.

From a Hyatt points redemption perspective, it’s hard to beat the rate of just 12,000 World of Hyatt points per night for a standard room, especially when paired with complimentary Globalist breakfast and potential suite upgrades. If you’re searching for a centrally located hotel in Istanbul with great value, this Grand Hyatt Istanbul review shows it’s a strong option to consider.

On Points With Kids Summary

Two nights at Grand Hyatt Istanbul were booked for 12,000 Hyatt Points per night. The cash rate for two nights was $631.74 ($315.87 per night on average, including taxes and fees), which equals 2.63 cents per point, a great value, especially if you consider the Standard Suite upgrade that we got!

You can apply for the following credit cards to earn Hyatt points that can be redeemed at the Grand Hyatt Istanbul:

• Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card application
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card application (Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to the World of Hyatt program)