Holiday Inn Express Ankara Feels Like a Motel—Overpriced, Poor Service

Calling Holiday Inn Express Ankara the worst hotel I’ve ever stayed at wouldn’t be an exaggeration. In fact, it’s not even a real hotel—just an overpriced motel disguised as a four-star stay. Honestly, it doesn’t even deserve three stars.

The service is nonexistent. At peak breakfast hours, the elevators in this 10-story building were out of service, leaving the one working elevator packed like a metrobus in rush hour. There’s no room service, and the so-called “restaurant” is a joke. Last night, my colleague and I decided to try their ₺600 “Daily Menu”, expecting a proper meal. Instead, we received:

Half of a tiny stuffed eggplant (barely any ground beef inside)
A small portion of rice
A sad-looking side salad
A bowl of soup
Even worse? No table service. The chef and waiter simply placed the food near the kitchen and told us to pick it up ourselves. This meal wasn’t worth ₺60, let alone ₺600!

The rooms aren’t any better. Complimentary water, tea, and coffee aren’t restocked the next day. When I called reception to ask about it, the staff told me, “Find the beverage attendant yourself and ask for more.” Unbelievable.

My advice? Stay away from this place. There are far better hotels at this price point. Thankfully, this is my last night here—never again!