Did you really go to Istanbul if you didn't go to a Turkish bath? Although you could enjoy this…read morecity/country without having been to a hammam, I think going to one really completes your experience. Those that I have asked personally and travel bloggers always express how much they loved their experiences at Turkish baths, so I decided I had to get one to see for myself. Having searched Yelp and comparing the ratings and facilities, I decided to come to this one because it seemed the most authentic and it had great reviews regarding service and employees.
This business divides their hours of operations between females and males. The women get the earlier hours and men get the later hours. I think men started at 4-11pm. Because I was in a foreign country, I emailed, rather than called, them to book my appointment. They responded within minutes with my confirmation. I loved how quick they were - it shows that they're attentive to their clients. My appointment was booked for 6pm, but I showed up earlier at around 530pm. Upon arrival, they enthusiastically welcomed me in just like family members do to their loved ones. They seated me to fill out some paperwork and provided complimentary juice. Afterwards, they led me up to the changing room.
And now, the real experience begins. I walked into the bathing area where they seated me and threw a bucket of water on me prior to being washed. Then I was led to the center of the room where there's a circular marble table that everyone lays on while waiting to be washed. It was therapeutic because the table was heated - I almost fell asleep lol. Then Alaatin called me to his station to get washed. Buckets of warm water, soap, and deep scrubbing were in full effect. I've never seen so much dirt on my skin. I felt like I was exfoliated to the point where I had new baby skin. It was amazing. On top of that, Alaatin was massage my back and shoulders as well. Throughout my experience, he made sure I was comfortable and even made conversation when appropriate. He is an ideal employee to work with - I loved it. Afterwards, they take you out to the lounge area where you can hang around until close. They have Wifi, phone chargers, and drinks/snacks to purchase. I hung around for probably 3 hours just laying there appreciating my new skin lol.
Honestly, I was a bit weary about doing this because I didn't know what to expect and I'm like "I can shower myself." My advice is to give this place a try and you'll really be able to experience a spa treatment like no other, and also get to realize how bad you are at cleaning yourself lol. I'm so glad I chose this place - amazing service with the best employees. Still dreaming of when I'll be able to go back.
