Burgu Arjaan by Rotana Istanbul Asia

There is something reassuringly practical about a hotel that lets you make tea, wash clothes and order food to your room at any hour. Burgu Arjaan by Rotana Istanbul Asia is an apartment-style hotel in Maltepe, on Istanbul's Asian side, with 112 rooms and suites, two pools and a wellness club for the hours when your feet have had enough of the city.

The hotel suits you if you want Istanbul as a working destination rather than a postcard backdrop. You can stay in, eat on site, use the fitness facilities or step straight onto the metro for the next part of the day. Its website is available in English, Arabic and Turkish, so English-speaking guests can find their way around the hotel information without having to decode everything through an app.

You are in Maltepe, Istanbul, on the Asian side of the city. The Altayçeşme entrance to Maltepe Metro Station is next to the hotel, which is the useful sort of neighbour when you are planning a day across Istanbul rather than negotiating traffic for every outing. Bagdat Avenue is 4 miles away, with its shops, restaurants and city life, while Kadıköy is about 5 miles from the hotel.

This is an urban base, not a seaside hotel. Bostancı Public Beach is about 4 miles away, and Caddebostan 2 Beach is about 4.5 miles away. For a quieter change of pavement, Maltepe Sahil Orhangazi Şehir Parkı is about 1 mile away; several smaller parks are also within walking distance. Maiden's Tower is about 9 miles away, placing one of Istanbul's recognisable landmarks within reach when you want a proper sightseeing day.

The useful distinction here is not simply the room name; it is whether you want a compact base or enough space to stop living out of a dive bag. Every room has a kitchenette with a hob, microwave, kitchenware and dining table, plus a washing machine and tumble dryer. That gives you somewhere to sort yourself out after a long day, and somewhere to put the kettle while the city carries on outside.

For two people who mainly need a comfortable place to sleep, the Compact Studio with City View keeps things straightforward. Couples wanting more breathing space can move up to a one-bedroom suite, with the sea-view version offering a different outlook from the city-facing rooms. Travelling with family or friends, the Family Suite and Two-Bedroom Suite make more sense because the separate living areas, sofa and dining space give you room to sit down without turning the bed into the only chair in the room.

Air conditioning, heating and soundproofing cover the basics of a decent night's recovery. Rooms also come with a minibar, tea and coffee facilities, satellite television, high-speed WiFi, a safe, iron and ironing equipment. Bathrobes and slippers are useful after the indoor pool or sauna, while 24-hour in-room dining means you can eat without going back out once the day has finally caught up with you.

Four food-and-drink outlets keep meals usefully close. Elements All Day Dining Restaurant works across international cuisines, with breakfast served as a vegetarian, halal buffet. That is the sort of arrangement that lets you eat properly before heading out, rather than trying to build a meal from coffee and good intentions.

For something lighter, B&T Café-Deli serves snacks, healthy salads, sandwiches, muffins and desserts in a modern European café setting. Elements Bar is the evening option for a drink in a more formal setting, while the Pool Bar serves beside the outdoor pool during the summer season. There is also 24-hour room service, so a late return does not automatically mean dinner becomes a packet of biscuits from the minibar. Happy hour is available too.

Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club is the main reason to stay on site once the day's sightseeing is done. The fitness centre has cardio and workout equipment, professional instructors and personalised programmes, while the wellness side includes a sauna, steam room, spa relaxation area and massages. In plain terms, you can train, sweat, cool down and then spend some time horizontal without having to cross the city for each stage.

There are two pools: one indoors and one outdoors. The outdoor pool comes with sun loungers and a Pool Bar during the summer season; the indoor pool requires swim caps. Pool towels and changing rooms are available, and the hotel also has a sun terrace, terrace and garden for less structured downtime. Families have an indoor play area and the Flipper's Kids Club, where children can use games and educational toys with trained supervisors.

The hotel also has eight meeting rooms with modern audio-visual and lighting systems, which matters more to business travellers than to most divers, but confirms the general character of the place: this is a fully functioning city hotel, not a small beach property that closes down when the sun goes in.

Maltepe Metro Station is beside the hotel, making public transport the obvious tool for exploring the Asian side and connecting with the wider city. Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is about 10 miles away by road, while Istanbul Airport is about 33 miles away by road. Airport transfers are not listed among the hotel services, so arrange your onward transport separately rather than assuming a vehicle will be waiting outside.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. The reception is open around the clock, with luggage storage, an ATM, a tour desk and wake-up service available. Free private parking is provided in the garage, although spaces cannot be reserved. WiFi is free throughout the hotel, and daily housekeeping, laundry and dry-cleaning services make the apartment-style rooms easier to use for a longer stay.

Children of any age are welcome, and extra beds or cots can be requested, subject to the room selected and availability. Guests under 18 must check in with a parent or official guardian, and the minimum age for check-in is 18. Pets are allowed. The hotel accepts bank cards and cash.