JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea

A chandelier modeled on flying carpet folklore hangs in the double-height lobby of this Forbes Four Star waterfront hotel in Istanbul's Ataköy district, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Marmara Sea behind it. The tower is recent and glossy, the spa is properly calm, and the rooms lean into the water views. It sits a little outside the old city, which is either a drawback or a reason to finally explore the quieter western shore.