The term ‘wow factor’ is an annoyingly overused cliché seemingly loved by PRs grasping for superlatives when they don’t necessarily exist.
How refreshing it is, then, that I can report, with no hint of exaggeration or PR spin, my own recent and genuine ‘wow’ moment. It was at the Raffles Istanbul, and induced the kind of short, sharp and audible intake of breath you might have when winning the lottery, or permanently deleting a really important e-mail.My ‘lottery moment’ happened when the bellboy opened the door to my Horizon Suite, perched on a suitably high floor of the uber cool hilltop highrise. My excitement wasn’t so much the 183 square metres of elegant opulence spread out before me (though that surely helped), which featured all the luxuries you’d expect from a Raffles suite: contemporary and Turkish furnishings; attractive wall art; deep carpets and immaculate wooden floors; designer bathroom amenities and the most aesthetically pleasing tray of Turkish sweet delicacies I’ve ever seen. Rather, it was the morning sunlight streaming through the ceiling-to-floor windows, wrapping around the whole exterior of this exquisite corner suite, and inviting me through the sliding doors onto a breezy balcony you could play football on.And there is was, the ‘wow’ factor. Unfolding below and ahead of me was a million dollar vista – in the foreground the rooftops of the wealthy Besiktas district, beyond which one of the world’s most famous waterways glittered in the sunlight, my gaze distracted only by glints from the cars snaking across the first bridge to cross the Bosphorous into Asia and massive tankers moving through the narrow strait. With a view that good, it would be easy to overlook the fact that there’s a stylish hotel and surroundings to explore. Art aficionados will appreciate the lobby and corridors adorned with eye catching pieces, mostly by local artists. There’s a large sculpture in the lobby. While there was no outdoor swimming pool when we visited (it was under construction), there is a beautiful and huge (3,000 square metres) spa with indoor pool, a traditional Turkish hammam and an array of signature treatments. Other than the suite, that view and the clean elegance of the public areas of the hotel, another standout feature is the service. Granted, the property was not busy (and if truth be told therefore lacked atmosphere) when I stayed, but one can tell when service comes from the heart rather than the training manual. Staff at Raffles Istanbul seem to strive to create a chemistry with their guests, but it never felt like a set formula. The hotel calls it ‘emotional luxury’ and I think I now know what they mean.It’s the sort of personalised service I discovered during two delicious Turkish-themed breakfasts at the Rocca restaurant, where the waiter unfailingly remembered my multiple preferences from the previous day and was happy to suggest (as I was happy to trust him) alternative choices. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to sample the Michelin-starred Arola outlet, though the reviews are excellent, but I did enjoy a post-dinner drink at the sumptuously comfortable and cosy Writers Bar. Retail junkies will be glad to know that the hotel is connected directly to the Raffles Arcade, featuring la crème de la crème of luxury brands. It is also in the same complex as the Zorlu Centre, arguably Istanbul’s nicest (and newest) high end shopping mall with pleasant piazzas, cafes and restaurants. Another thing I liked about this hotel was the location. Perched above the city close to well-off residential and commercial areas, it is only a 10-minute cab ride (or 45-minute downhill saunter) to the nearest jetties for a ride on the Bosphorous. Allow half an hour to get to the Grand Bazaar or the Blue Mosque, traffic permitting.As I soaked in the hot tub one early evening in the suite’s expansive bathroom looking through the windows at the sunset-lit hilltops to the west of the city, I reflected on some of the reviews of Raffles Istanbul I had read on TripAdvisor. One guest had summed it up as ‘pure class’ and as I doused myself with expensive cosmetics in contemplation of another evening on the balcony with that view for company, I really couldn’t have agreed more.By Mark Lazell