Turkey
Titanic City is an excellent four-star rated hotel located in the centre of Istanbul in the popular city location of Taksim square.
The hotel is in an excellent location next to the array of shopping areas and in close vicinity to the historical sights of Istanbul.
The staff are friendly and hospitable and put us in touch with relevant sightseeing tours which allowed us to visit all the sights of Istanbul in only five days! It was well worth the money and we really enjoyed our stay.
Titanic City Hotel, Lamartin Cad No 47 | Taksim, Istanbul 34437, Turkey
+90 212 238 9090
Google map: bit.ly/eUbw4P
We spent six nights in this hotel in 2008. It is in a great location in Sultanahmet near the Grand Bazaar, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque (which you have a great view of from the rooftop breakfast room) and Aya Sofia, as well as being a few steps from the tram that takes you across town. Our room was spacious and clean and we could hear the call to prayer, though luckily not enough for it disrupt our sleep! In any case, being able to hear the call to prayer adds to the experience of being in such a fascinating city. We loved our visit to Istanbul and would like to go again. If we do we plan to stay at Hotel Nena again.
www.istanbulhotelnena.com/
Binbirdirek Mah. Klodfarer Cad. No: 8/10 34122 Sultanahmet
+ 90 212 5165264
Google map: tinyurl.com/2w3stxo
War lover attached to my name is our room name in the hotel as rooms are identified by names rather than numbers. The location of the hotel is ideal. The room sizes are not standard - request the bigger size -it is much more comfortable. The breakfast was simple but very good and the staff are very good starting from Adnan, the manager, who is very proud of his hotel and whose vast knowledge was very useful in helping us. Oufoq (horizon in Turkish) is exceptionally nice, honest and helpful. Twice he made bookings for us and ensured the best seats by personally calling the functions managers.
www.hotelpoem.com/
Akbıyık Caddesi, Terbıyık Sokak No:12
Sultanahmet 34400 İstanbul
Google map: tinyurl.com/325pvtb
We have stayed at this lovely boutique hotel between July 5th and 10th. Perfect location in walking distance to all historical attractions Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar. Very attentive staff and beautifully decorated spacious rooms.
Akbiyik Cad. No:32 Sultanahmet-Istanbul. 0090 533 4886325. www.themillenniumsuites.com
The location of the hotel is excellent for a sightseeing trip to Istanbul, being approximately two minute's walk to Sutanahmet Square (Blue Mosque Aya Sophia and Topkapi Palace) in one direction and about five minutes to the Grand Bazaar in the other. Breakfast is served on the rooftop terrace that has an amazing view of some of the above mentioned sites, the Bosphorus straight and its famous bridge, and the Asian side of the city. We arrived early at the hotel, and while the room was being prepared for us, we were invited to relax and enjoy a complimentary Turkish coffee on the terrace - unforgetable. The level of professionalism of all, staff and management, combined with a genuine hospitability, made our five day stay at the hotel a memorable experience. Everybody was very helpful, trying hard to make our vacation as enjoyable as possible. The hotel is stylishly decorated and kept very clean. Our room was elegant, spacious, and quiet. We arranged transfers from and back to the airport with the hotel and this ran very smoothly. We highly recommend this hotel and we will definitely come back.
Binbirdirek Mh. Klodfarer Cd.
No:6 34122
Sultanahmet / Istanbul
Tel. +90 212 638 16 38
www.rasthotel.com/Default.aspx
Google map: tinyurl.com/2wh75oy
We spent a wonderful week in Instanbul staying at pasha!place. The apartment is perfectly situated next to Galata Tower, restaurants and shopping areas and is walking distance to Galata bridge. The apartment is beautifully renovated and furnished with much taste. And there is an absolutely fantastic view out of the livingroom window across the water to the Topkapi, Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque!
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This is a small hotel in a renovated wooden mansion of traditional Turkish design. We always make a beeline for it, whenever in Istanbul. It is an oasis of calm, just a few yards from the bustle of the blue mosque and the Hagia Sofia, and only a short walk from the Topkapi palace. There is a delightful garden, where drinks and snack meals are on offer, or there is a proper restaurant overlooking the garden. We recently (Nov '09) had a snack lunch of borek and beer, which was OK, and worth it for the sit down in such lovely surroundings. However, that was off season. In the summer there is a more imaginative lunch menu al fresco, and this peaceful lost world can't be recommended too highly if you are doing the sights. Sitting in the sun by the fountain eating plump Turkish Napoleon cherries is a treasured memory. Service is very proper, and prices are moderate. This is not a trendy boutique hotel - the rooms are all brass beds and antiques, but stylish and comfortable in a chinzy sort of way (with aircon). A double with breakfast is €250 in high season. And there's a Turkish bath!
Address: Kabasakal 5, Sultanahmet, 34400 Istanbul
Phone: +90-21-2517-6785
Website: www.istanbulyesilev.com
Google map: tinyurl.com/ydcurqa
At the edge of the Black Sea and about an hour's boat ride from Istanbul up the Bosphorus River, sits the little known hillside town of Kilyos. A 20euro ride from the port, the Kilyos Kale hotel was situated at the top of this quiet town and holiday residents were all Turkish, except for my boyfriend and myself.
The rooms were large, with stunning views of the Black Sea and surrounding beaches, cleaned to pristine standards every morning and complete with quiet air con and coffee table and seating areas.
Food was inexpensive in the hotel and tourist prices in the town were unheard of makming it the cheapest three nights of our trip and we enjoyed some of the town's freshest fish in local restaurants just a couple mins walk away.
The hotel boasts a quiet but pleasant outdoor pool complete with stunning backdrop views and is less than a five min walk to one of three potential beaches in the local area.
Would reccommend this hotel to anyone needing a break from the city style of Istanbul but wanting to avoid the tourist rife areas of Bodrum and Marmaris.
Phone: +90 (0) 21220 11251
www.kilyoskalehotel.com
Cale Kaddisi no.78
34450
This beautiful old hotel is traditionally decorated, serves a great Turkish breakfast and its staff will go out of there way to help you. It is situated only 20m away from the Akbiyik Mosque, established in 1453 and the street it's on is filled with 500-year-old wooden buildings making it feel as if time is standing still. It's owner Mehdi is a fountain of knowledge, speaking four languages fluently, making sure you make the most out of your visits to the wealth of attractions situated 5-15 minutes walk away. If you truly want to experience Istanbul's colourful history and culture then this is the perfect place to do it from.
www.ahmetefendievi.com
+90-212-518-8465
Hotel Poem is a lovely, economical boutique hotel in the heart of Sultanahmet.
I think it's ideal for people travelling on a middling budget who would like comfort, cleanliness, character, charm and location without breaking the bank. People who prefer five-star luxury and facilities should expect to pay accordingly and would do better at the nearby Four Seasons (the ab fab refurbished prison in which Midnight Express was set).
The Hotel Poem however is set in a refurbished traditional 19th century Ottoman house. It's located in a quiet side street just off a characterful road lined with many shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. A few doors down from the hotel there is a wonderful traditional bakery - the smell of fresh bread is gorgeous and the taste even better.
It's a very short walk away from all the main sites (Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar etc) & handy for the city hop-on-off tour bus stop. The Poem is just around the corner from the Fez bus office (if you happen to be hopping on and off buses all around Turkey).
The Poem is a quiet oasis from the bustling city. It has a shady little garden terrace where you can eat a decent buffet breakfast or sit with a drink. There's also a lovely roof terrace that looks out to the nearby sea - great for catching the breeze with a cold drink on a hot summer evening.
The 17 rooms are named after traditional Turkish poems rather than numbered. I was travelling with two others and noted the rooms varied in size from large with balcony to a bit small and cramped - our bathroom was very small but everything was clean and worked fine.
Overall the Hotel Poem had everything we needed. It was charming, comfortable and clean, the staff were hospitable and the location fantastic. I would stay there again and recommend it as a great base from which to visit the exciting city of Istanbul.
www.hotelpoem.com
By Post: Akbıyık Caddesi, Terbıyık Sokak No:12, Sultanahmet 34400 İstanbul, Turkey
By Telephone
+90.212.638 97 44
+90.212.638 95 53
+90.212.458 17 92
info@hotelpoem.com, hotelpoem@superonline.com
The hotel's website says: The distance between Poem Hotel and the Ataturk International Airport is 18 kilometres (a 20 minute drive).
When you exit the customs area you may easily find a taxi since drivers are waiting outside of the arrival floor. If you ordered a pick-up service you will meet us at the exit of the customs area. If you experience any problem please dial 24 hours 0090 (212) 638 97 44 to contact our reception.
If hostels or huge faceless hotels aren't for you, chances are Hotel Poem will be. I stayed here last summer and the staff were so lovely to me - not only did they upgrade me to a three-bed room with views overlooking the Bosphorus, they also helped me out with my onward travels down to Selcuk. It was my first time travelling alone and they really made me feel welcome - in fact when I arrived at around 6pm on my first day, the hotelier said 'Ah, you must be Amy. We were wondering where you'd got to.' After the madness of navigating my way through the centre of Istanbul, it was a great relief to step into this homely hidden-away hotel and be welcomed like an old friend.
Smiles go a long way, but so does a good breakfast - especially when you're travelling on a budget. At Hotel Poem, you start your day with a help-yourself affair on a terrace hidden in the trees. Food was traditionally Turkish - and plates were piled high with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, eggs, bread and cake.
Lastly, there was the free-to-use computer in the lobby. Here, with the help of the reception staff, I mastered the Turkish keyboard, booked a bus to Izmir, and made contact with the Istanbul couchsurfing group - a really great bunch of people who meet every week.
For all this - and a gorgeous roof terrace too - it's pretty damn good considering rates start at 45 Euros.
Hotel Poem,
Akbıyık Caddesi, Terbıyık Sokak No:12
Sultanahmet 34400 İstanbul / TURKEY
www.hotelpoem.com
Tel -
+90.212.638 97 44
+90.212.638 95 53
+90.212.458 17 92
Nearest station - Sultanahmet
Goggle map: tinyurl.com/ybab2u6
A gem in the old city of Istanbul (a romantic place in itself), the Serkeci Konak is a boutique hotel that will leave you relaxed and loved up. A totally romantic hotel which we would go back to in a second!
The rooms are beautiful, comfortable and perfect for snuggling. An impressive breakfast spread is served until 10.30am, allowing for plenty of laying in, before either heading off into the Old City (which you can't help but fall in love in), or enjoy the delights the hotel has to offer: lounge in the pool and spa area (which offers a range of amazing massages including Turkish baths); enjoy drinks on the love seats on the roof terrace overlooking the Bosphorous; have (free) afternoon tea in the comfortable and private lounge area, and enjoy dinner in one of the two restaurants (one is a delicious sea food restaurant on the roof terrace looking out over the Bosphorous). We started every evening with cocktails on the roof while the sun set, before heading into town.
On arrival we were given free drinks and an introduction from one of the guest managers, all of whom are friendly knowledgeable, and looked out for us the whole time we were there without being imposing.
If you're not relaxed and loved up before you visit Serkeci Konak, you will be by the time you leave!
www.serkecikonak.com
Taya Hatun Sokak No:5 34120 Sirkeci
+90 212 528 43 44 pbx
Google map: tinyurl.com/ye35p3j
This is a luxury hotel on the Bosphorus with a wonderful view of historical buildings.
Hotel service is great with amazing buffet breakfast (anything and everything you may like to see), nice pool, sauna, etc. I enjoyed my stay very much.
Bayildim Caddesi No 2 Macka
www.deskbell.com/hotel.asp?Country=TR&City=Istanbul
discount.deskbell.com/hotel/10022611-10226452O.html
This building has very recently been converted into the Almina Hotel. The rooms are tastefully modern and extremely comfortable. The breakfast is excellent. The hotel is within easy walking distance of most of the major attractions of Istanbul. But best of all are the staff - nothing is too much trouble and they all go out of their way to make your stay memorable and perfect. I strongly recommend the Almina Hotel.
My wife and I stayed at Ada for three nights and had a wonderful experience. The hotel has a fantastic location within very close walking distance to the major tourist sights, Blue Mosque, St. Sophia etc.
When we arrived we they upgraded our room free of charge and it had a lovely view of the sea. The staff were always extremely helpful in helping us find a hammam, they bought tickets to various tours for us and were always extremely friendly. Our first morning we woke up after breakfast was finished but they insisted that they still fix us something (the rooftop where you eat is fantastic.)
The only odd thing that happened was that the cost per night was in Euros and not Lira so the stay was a bit more expensive than we thought it would be. However, we noticed this in many places in Istanbul. We quickly learned to ask how whether things were priced in Euros or Lira.
But again, it was a great stay in a wonderful room with wonderful service.
Comfortable rooms, superb beds, hotel facilities were above average. The continental breakfast was fresh of good quality and variety. The staff were extremely helpful. The hotel bar has terrific views over the old Istanbul looking onto the Bosphorus in the distance.
The hotel is based in a superb location and extremely central for all tram lines and tourist attractions such as the Topkapi palace, the Blue Mosque, Hadgi Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and so on. Walking distance for the Bosphorus ferry.
One criticism: because of its central situation by Taksim Square, the noise of traffic can be heard in the mornings. Overall a comfortable, central hotel, absolutely perfect for business, but especially for a city break.
Sıraselviler Caddesi No:45/1 Taksim 34437 ISTANBUL / TURKEY
www.starhotelsgroup.com/grand/index.htm
We recently stayed in this hotel on a long weekend visit to Istanbul and thoroughly recommend it. It's clean, tidy, with good amenities, but best of all the people who run the hotel - Tahir and Emu - are wonderfully friendly and helpful and really made our trip special.
Nothing special about the hotel itself - standard 3-star fare. But the views of Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Bosphorus from the rooftop restaurant and bar are pretty hard to beat.
Yerebatan Cad. Cami Cikmazi No:36-40 34410 Sultanahmet Istanbul. Tel: +90 (212) 512 02 07. www.andhotel.com
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