מגדלור Cheers Lighthouse

Hostelworld provides zero protection for travelers. A hostel was able to maliciously cancel my booking on the day of check-in, falsely claiming I "didn't arrive on time," simply to bypass the refund window and trap my money. Hostelworld’s system completely failed to verify the truth, blindly accepted the property's false claim, and automatically processed it as if I had requested the cancellation. If you want a secure booking platform that actually protects your money and your travel plans from deceptive properties, do not use Hostelworld. They will let managers exploit their app at your expense.

Total scam. They waited until the very day of my check-in to cancel my booking just so they could pocket the money after the refund window closed. Then, Cheers Lighthouse lied to Hostelworld claiming I "didn't show up on time" and blamed everyone but themselves. Untrustworthy and deceitful management. Avoid at all costs.

Absolute worst management and a complete lack of professionalism. They canceled my reservation but actively blamed both me and Hostelworld for it, refusing to take any accountability. What makes it malicious is their timing and tactics: they deliberately waited until the actual day of my scheduled check-in to process the cancellation. They falsely claimed on the Hostelworld app that I "did not arrive on time for check-in," which is an outright lie used to cover their tracks after the refund window had already passed. When I confronted the hostel manager directly, they just pointed fingers, deflected blame, and denied any involvement. They trap your money, wait out the clock, and then lie to the booking platform to justify canceling your room at the absolute last minute. Save yourself the stress and avoid this place—they are dishonest and completely unreliable.

Unfortunately, it's not a well-managed place. I had to wait until 3:15 to check in, which was supposed to be at 2:00 PM. But on the day of my checkout, they showed up and practically kicked me out of the room. It's a common practice. Other guests are very disappointed. The cleanliness is poor. The music is very loud, from early in the morning until late at night.

This hostel is incredibly welcoming, the staff is always available and friendly, there's entertainment every evening, and the breakfast is delicious and plentiful. The view of the Sea of ​​Marmara is truly worth it, especially while sipping your morning coffee! The location is ideal, just a few minutes' walk from the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Hagia Sophia. The neighborhood is lively and has everything you need. A special mention goes to the manager, Erman, who rescued me from a major computer problem (I work remotely while traveling). He searched for and found the solution when I thought I was in deep trouble. He even went to a repair shop before I even asked him for anything, and without his initiative, patience, and attentiveness, I don't think my trip would have been the same! Thank you to the whole team, all the best, and I look forward to returning!

First of all ,the staff members were really friendly and helpful even warmly specially Egemen and Nihao,also the housekeeper,they all worked very long hours and worked hard but the bathrooms were really need attention…other reviews were right about the smells and cleanness… breakfast was very healthy and light,unlike the rest of the food in Istanbul was extremely oily,greasy and salty. The owner seemed to have short tempered with the staffs. It offered various activities and laundry service,airports rides.

It's impossible that it's a 3-star hotel. It's not in that category. I don't recommend it, maybe for young people on a tight budget and with low expectations.

Heyy, it was nice and cozy. Ali from India 😁 Tessekuler edrim

i really enjoyed my staying here it felt like home and met beautiful people from different countries and the staff were amazing people especially ege , nihat and tatiana what a beautiful people definitely gonna comeback there again whenever I'm in istanbul

How does it feel to keep someone outside late at night when they've already made a reservation and paid for it?

A business that inconveniences its customers.

It was a great experience for me. I have never stayed in a hostel before, and after seeing the friendliness and hospitality of the staff here, I definitely plan to come back. The central location was also a great choice for tourists. The breakfast experience was also very good with a view of the Bosphorus. The rooms were clean and in good condition. I recommend it! Greetings from Azerbaijan!