http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34208 The Muyan Suites will give you the feel of unforgettable luxury and one-of-a-kind character go hand-in-hand.
Lively style and warm hospitality greet you with its elegance and inviting atmosphere; the look of Muyan Suites is distinguished and quietly reassuring.
First class amenities, personalized service, a friendly atmosphere and exceptional comfort combine with our ideal location just steps away from Sultanahmet, the heart of the city and history such as Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Archeological Museum, Basilica Cystern and many more historical monuments and 500 metres from the Grand Bazaar. The hotel is 17 kilometers away from the Istanbul Atatürk Airport.
]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34208 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34013 And If the weather is less than kind, there is an indoor restaurant on the floor below with equally good views.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34013 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29557 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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29557 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27834 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27834 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27497 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27497 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27274 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27274 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26837 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26837 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26676 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26676 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26619 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26619 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26273 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26273 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26255
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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26255 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26254 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26254 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26245 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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26245 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26214
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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26214 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25393
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!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25393 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24226 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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24226 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23440 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23440 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23397
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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23397 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23362
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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23362 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11930 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11930