Istanbul : Historical Turkish Bath Experience in Old City

Posted By : Tracy_C
We were hyped, well when I say we, I mean me…… but Waterman (pretend husband) was incredibly skeptical and was dragged along.
So with a booking they had to be at 6pm …. And well ok….. I made the booking counting the 45 minutes of services (joint), 15 mins for them being late that still left 90 mins for us to be where we needed to be after - I went for it.
Instant confirmation! Success…..
We worked out it was only a 5 min walk from hotel so perfect - off we set……
Sketchy street entrance, but hey I’m thinking authentic right? Skeptical Waterman already peaking….. so in we went…
Then tick tock…. People queued, to get in and in the waiting area…. Wow this place must be awesome I’m thinking?
So we wait, and wait…… time is moving slower than a watched pot, Waterman flexes some muscle, I explain care factor zero as they’ve already got my cash….. slight delay they say….. this goes on and on…… over an hour…..
some of the interesting things that occurred as we waited….
- trenchcoat Trevor with slicked back fragments of hair in and out with his general manager tone, taking complaining people outside to voice their concerns so as not to upset the rest of us
- One of the masseuses (or are they Turkish bathists?) comes into reception and crouches down behind the counter…. We can’t see what he is doing from our low stained soiled couch, but the unmistakeable sound of the click click as he clips his nails (I hope fingernails) is deafening….. sideeyes all round at this point from all of us paying patrons!
- Then the same, Turkish bathist, collects lovely tea cups with those fingers that had been housing the grime of those fingernails and rounds them back to a kitchen
- Anyway…… finally it’s our turn!!!! At 705pm……
By now we had seen that everyone was wearing togs, slight problem we didn’t bring togs…. Ok we will skip the swimming bit…. But hey this is traditional right so you’re supposed to be naked???? But we did have knickers on so no problem
We are walked through the adjoining very fancy and salubrious hotel lobby as the hammans lift wasn’t working…. Ok no problem, this seems gorgeous.
Off to our little cubicle for 2 to change (no togs remember) and wrap ourselves in the towel and put everything in our locker
It was now it went from bad to worse, we were given little slippers…… the proverbial here SLIP! SLIP SLIP SLIP…… the things are not to be worn on very wet marble floors!!! At this point Waterman is leading the way down the precarious spiral staircase and thud thud thud….. before I’d even gotten to the corner I know that sound…. The sound of said Waterman falling down the stairs…. thanks SLIPpers….. up he gets, shaken but not perturbed on this quest!
SLIPpers removed we paddle along behind our leader towards our traditional Turkish scrubbing bliss.
Remember the salubrious hotel lobby? Well by now it was packed with people enjoying drinks and tea and pre dinner canapés….To our horror, we were now paraded back up the lift in only a towel paddling along in bare foot ….. I watched Watermans towel clinging to his hips only just…… just waiting for it to fall!
By this time I need to go to to the loo, so I have to chose to either risk serious concussion and potential death in the slippers, or germ hell by going bare feet…. I risk death and wear slippers…. Good choice me, as it was filthy.
Anyway, in we go to our semi private (as in half a door, so yeah was semi) and wait….. praying it would not be the fingernail man from earlier…. Behold it’s not! It’s a lovely very petite little lady….. I fumble along that we don’t have togs on…. And she seems ok with that and gets to work.
I go first so as to give Waterman an idea of what to expect…. This is where more of the delay comes as there was only one lady scrubbing not 1 each…..Water splashing, scrubbing, clay smothering, and yes all over….. arms and legs hoisted and a face splash making me realise water boarding must truly be torturous!
Whilst my clay is drying it’s Watermans turn….. this is when I could no longer hold in laughter….. a fair bit of eyebrow lifting and eye rolling from Waterman….. then lovely little lady drops her clay clump she’s rubbing all over waterman and in the haste to grab it smacks him in the nuts (clay was grabbed tho!)
Yet on she continues - what a trooper! I’m laughing cracking my clay….. and then the foaming scrub starts…this bit is actually really nice….. like too many suds in the washer, but nice…… waterboarding returns and then boom it’s Watermans turn for clay removal and foaming!
What this poor lovely little lady must have thought about us 2 overweight whales I guess we will never know…..
Time is up and we scurry (barefooted and looking like drowned rats) BACK THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL LOBBY….. the embarrassment just too much…..
dressed and ready to go, still with wet hair and looking all flustered we skedaddle BACK AGAIN THROUGH BEAUTIFUL LOBBY to return to reception area to fingernail guy, trenchcoat Trevor and the other waiting customers……
Whilst we won’t be back to this establishment, it hasn’t put me off trying another Turkish bath experience, just at a different place. Waterman on the other hand unlikely to succumb again!
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Posted On : 2024-05-11 16:27:01

Posted By : Rosa_R
Excellent a must for all woman who visit Istanbul. The experience surpassed the expectation Xoxoxoxoxozozozozozoxox
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Posted On : 2024-05-10 02:44:58

Posted By : ANTONELLA D
Everything was fantastic about the welcome at the final massage, a must try. I was here in April with a group of friends, we had a lot of fun, washing with a glove and foam on a hot stone and a super professional and relaxing massage. Excellent value for money.
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Posted On : 2024-05-01 17:25:32

Posted By : Randeep_K
Everything from start to finish great customer service, beautiful turkish hamman experience amazing massage.
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Posted On : 2024-05-01 09:45:53

Posted By : Clyneice_C
We had a wonderful experience the massage the baths the people were fun and provided great service for all
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Posted On : 2024-04-28 06:47:02

Posted By : Laura_F
I've been to a spa before and had a spa ritual done such as a body wrap, or your standard massage and nothing compares to a Turkish Bath Experience. Especially this one I had at the Wyndham Old City. I have already told all my friends and family about it. The staff were so attentive and kind. The actual service was beyond amazing, my attendant did a wonderful job. I was bashful at first but I left feeling like incredible. Thank you so much!
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Posted On : 2024-04-19 21:45:30

Posted By : Nichol_P
The most amazing experience! The staff were so kind and helpful and the process was very relaxing and refreshing. This is THE BEST place to go in Istanbul for your Turkish spa day experience!
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Posted On : 2024-04-08 08:30:07

Posted By : Chaimae E
My girlfriend and I made a reservation at Deniz, we were very well received and from the moment we arrived there until the moment I left the hammam I felt like a queen. Everything was good, massage, face mask😍 anyway for the people who go to Istanbul, especially go here and have everything arranged through Deniz. VAT women and men are separate.
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Posted On : 2024-04-01 01:01:33

Posted By : farzanag2019
Definitely a must visit! And coming back next time when I visit Istanbul. Deniz managed all of this and made sure we had the best experience..
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Posted On : 2024-03-31 13:32:52

Posted By : Taneisha_F
My husband and I had couple massage, Turkish bath. The ladies Siti and Prorfil were wonderful, they were professional and knew their job. We were treated like Royalties , it's the best body treatment we have ever received in our lives. Wished I had more time in Istanbul, would definitely go again.
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Posted On : 2024-03-31 05:55:54