So you are going to Istanbul, are you? Can you hear the sighs of envy breaking all around you? Istanbul is representative of an exotic eclecticism. Straddling two continents the city is piquantly balanced over a slim strait. Traversing its length and breadth you will be enthralled to view rich substantiations of its East Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman legacies. Modern buildings gently nudge ancient monuments with inoffensive élan. And standing tall right in the midst of the striking Bosphorus Strait is the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul, a luxury hotel that beckons its guests from all over the world in its warm and opulent embrace. As your bright, orange-colored airport taxi lumbers up the Super Plaza (where the hotel is situated) you will draw in your breath at the stateliness of the building flaunting the dernier cri in postmodernism.
A blend of Ottoman sophistication and Western affluence may be evinced in each of this luxury hotel’s 244 guest rooms. If you wish to live it up in style we suggest you check into this luxury axis called the Bosphorus View Suite. Yes, you guessed it right, this 690-square foot long indulgence spot overlooks the dashing Bosphorus Strait. If you have business guests you can avail of its large living room to entertain them in. Your bedroom would have a large television set mounted with a flat screen. It will also be multi-lingual and interactive. Plus, you would have access to high-speed internet, telephones with multi-lines and voice mail, and fax and computer, among other things. The outsized marbled bathroom with a large bathtub and shower has had many guests exclaim in wonder. What is more, your guests too will have access to a separate toilet.
And if you check into the gigantesque Ritz-Carlton Suite you will be privy to a private Jacuzzi along with a lovely view of the city and the strait it inhabits. In addition to a living room and bedroom, you will also have your own opulent dining room plus a separate butler’s entrance.
After a hectic morning drive through the city you can saunter in for a leisurely cup of afternoon tea at the luxury hotel’s Lobby Lounge as live piano and violin play softly in the background. Hot chocolate cakes and international tea blends wait to tickle your palate while tepid caramel with honey sauce goes beautifully with local beverages. Take your pick.
During dinner you should try traditional Turkish hot or cold mezze plates or salmon sashimi with coriander and tomato salsa.
And if you are looking for a truly romantic interlude you could check into the Guney Park Terrace where you can look out at the panoramic vista proffered by the enticing Princess Islands. While a live band plays in the background you can sample some delectable barbecue dishes grilled over hot charcoal.
The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul also boasts a luxury spa that is a world apart. Known as the Laveda Spa, it has nine treatment rooms, all of them well-appointed. The range of massage therapies, saunas, and holistic therapies has to be experienced to be believed. Here is indeed metaphorical luxury.