Sterling Hotel

Unfortunately, Hotel Sterling Garni falls far short of a 4-star experience. The lobby, though it could be impressive, was marred by the smell of cigarettes and cluttered with random magazines and branded bags?!?, which felt out of place. The front desk staff member was polite and very friendly, but it’s surprising that there isn’t at least a basic uniform—seeing him in a track suit wasn’t professional. The elevator has been plagued by an unsolvable “electricity problem” for what seems like years. My room’s carpet clearly needed vacuuming, and while the mattress was comfortable, it was just placed on a wooden box?! On the positive side, the bathroom was clean, spacious, and well-maintained. Parking impossible to find in the street. Overall, I can only give this place 2 stars, mostly because I had a large room and the location was perfect for my needs.

Unfortunately, I'd have to characterize this hotel as a "ruin". It was good when I was born, but it badly needs investment in both facilities and staffing. My room would've been lovely, but it simply wasn't clean. The front desk isn't actually working 24/7 as advertised, so I had a few very unpleasant minutes at 2:50 a.m. at the closed hotel door. This place definitely has potential, but I'd rather avoid it before it's maintained properly.

As a hospitality management professional with over 15 years of experience , including managerial roles at top-tier hotels like Hyatt, Rixos, and Hilton, I will evaluate this hotel strictly against international HACCP standards. A 4-star rating is a global benchmark the hotel claims to meet, but here’s the reality: Cleaning Issues - No cleaning for 4 days - Toilet seat and beds had **strange hairs**. - Dirty men’s socks behind the shoe rack. - Turkish Airlines napkins in the closet (at least the previous guest had good taste in airlines 😉). Property Condition : Clearly, significant funds were invested in the hotel—*but when?* By my estimate, the property is 8–10 years old and desperately needs renovation. Replace carpets with tiles—carpets require regular cleaning; if neglected, stick to tiles. Yes, tiles are cold— include disposable slippers in the room. My carpet had a sticky stain (vomit? spilled drink? leaking from an unplugged fridge?). Walking barefoot was impossible (no slippers!), and conducting Zoom meetings with a wet, sticky stain underfoot is… questionable. AC Units : In 4–5 star hotels, ACs are cleaned annually for mold . I didn’t dare turn mine on—it’s clearly neglected and would blow moldy air. Also, remotes are only provided after you beg at the front desk. Missing Basics : - No phone, room service (common even in 2–3 star hotels), minibar, hairdryer, kettle, or cups in the room. - Requested a kettle? I gave some€ to set me a kettle to the front desk and was told “We have one kettle for the entire hotel—come downstairs!” On my second request, they joked, *“You drink a lot of water!”* (I interrupted a manager scrolling on his phone—he was polite, though) Dear colleagues: Hotel staff DO NOT USE PHONES IN GUEST AREAS. This is strictly prohibited Lighting : Hallways are *pitch-dark*. Hotel lighting MUST operate 24/7 — not automated, just ON. Rating : I give *1 star* solely for the staff’s friendliness. By international standards, this is 0 stars. Remove the stars and rebrand as a BOUTIQUE HOTEL - fewer complaints, trendier image. But don’t claim “exceptional service”: no uniforms, no standards, no cleaning/room service, no hairdryer/kettle. This is how you hear the music by the hotel owner with the closed doors on Sunday (video) Final Note : I booked last-minute (skipped reviews, used Genius). Moved to a proper international net hotel and couldn’t be happier. If this hotel implements even one suggestion from this review, there’s hope. If not, it’ll be a “charming ruin” in 3 years. Best review by British mister few years ago :-) X