Istanbul - the best of both worlds

Advantages: Fascinating, historic, romantic, magical, nowhere else like it
Disadvantages: Must go at the right time, can be very busy

...some of the footballers from Galatasaray, Fenerbahce or Besiktas posing in the VIP areas. There is a massive amount of accommodation in Istanbul; all the international chains are there but there is a vast selection of accommodation right across the spectrum. Wherever you stay I would recommend you take advantage of airport transfers, if you are arriving or departing by air. The larger hotels do this independently but the hostels and smaller hotels have a joint service which they will book for you. Your first time in Istanbul can be quite overwhelming and the transfer service is less expensive than you might think. Usually I don't bother with them but Istanbul is one city where you might want to consider it. Istanbul is a wonderfully exhilarating city to visit. It's a place where you use all your senses and a true "experience". There...

fizzytom 05.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Istanbul (Turkey)

Istanbul one city in two continents

Advantages: So many wonderful sights, clean and easy to get around, reasonable prices
Disadvantages: Smoking in some places put us off our meals

...Istanbul sightseeing. This is a review of my experience and really there is so much to see and do you need to read a few of the great reviews on this site, as I did before we went in order to make your own mind up as to what you want to experience for yourself. There is no way I could go into depth about every sight, I have tried to create a desire to go and a taste of what is there. WHEN WE WERE IN ISTANBUL: We spent five days in Istanbul just before Easter 2009 and we stayed at the Orient Express Hotel in the Sirkeci area of old Istanbul. (Another separate review) Istanbul is the only city built on two continents and split by the sea. The Bosporus is the section of water which unites the two continents and joins the Sea of Marmara to the Black sea. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The first thing that struck me as we drove from the Airport to...

catsholiday 27.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Istanbul (Turkey)

Fine seafood cuisine in prime Istanbul tourist territory

Advantages: Excellent seafood, good value for money, good tourist location
Disadvantages: I'm about 20km away from it

...INTRODUCTION On my business trip to Turkey, I get to go to Istanbul centre at the weekends if I?m lucky. There aren?t many decent restaurants where I am staying and so any chance to find one is very welcome. It was when walking around the tourist mainstay of Sultanahmet that myself and a colleague had to choose somewhere to eat, which was proving tricky, as the Lonely Planet recommendation for the area didn?t seem to exist any more. As this area is one of Istanbul?s main tourist traps, this threw me a bit. Restaurants in big city tourist areas to me guarantee several things; proximity to sights, high prices, outside tables, insistent restaurateurs and menus disappointingly tailored for tourists. The choice came down to which one we instinctively liked and I favoured Pasha, as it seemed to have a decent seafood menu, so in we...

larsbaby 16.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Pasha, Istanbul

Renaissance Hotel, Istanbul.

Advantages: Close to the airport, very grand, good facilities
Disadvantages: Rather bland, very average food, expensive

...I have had a one night stay here recently. I had never been to Istanbul before so was excited about my visit. This hotel is a five star hotel owned by the Marriott group. It's located 11 miles from the centre of Istanbul which is easy to get to by public transport or taxi. The airport is about 3 miles away and the hotel runs a free shuttle bus. First impressions: The hotel is a striking, blue glass plated tower with 27th floors and 404 rooms. It looks very grand and modern. The lobby is quite spacious and there is a security guard and a metal detector as you first enter the hotel as there have been several recent terrorist attacks in Istanbul. Check In: This was very quick and easy as there were plenty of staff milling around. They seem to speak a variety of different languages and were very polite and efficient without being...

Katieshaz 19.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Renaissance Polat, Istanbul

Orient Express but not on rails - Great Istanbul hotel

Advantages: Great location, very good customer service and food in restaurants good
Disadvantages: rooms a little dark and we had no view , could not flush toilet paper in the toilet

...The Orient Express Hotel , Hudavendigar Cad No: 34-34110 www.orientexpresshotel.com This hotel is part of the Sirkeci group which is a group of hotels and restaurants in Istanbul. Sirkeci is also an area of the old part of Istanbul and The Sirkeci Railway Station was the terminus of the famous Orient Express train and was just round the corner from the hotel. GETTING THERE: We arrived at the airport after a flight from Birmingham via Amsterdam and having read a number of reviews about the taxis from the airport and their enthusiasm for speed and reluctance to accept a fair fare or take four people in one taxi, we choose to book an airport transfer. We were met by a gentleman with our name on his notice and then escorted to a taxi outside. The journey was quite speedy but incident free, a couple of hairy moments, some very close...

catsholiday 25.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Orient Express Hotel, Istanbul

  In the lap of Turkish luxury on the outer Istanbul extremities

Advantages: Superb facilities, friendly staff
Disadvantages: Remote location and complicated to get to the tourist areas, noisy weddings

.... There is also a business area to the left here, behind the lifts. LOCAL AREA Let?s not beat around the bush; saying that this hotel is in central Istanbul is like saying that Guildford is a suburb of London. It isn?t. In both cases we?re talking about 20km out from the centre of the city. If you walk out of the hotel turn right and walk round the back, past the nearest mosque and keep walking, you will arrive in a shopping area. It?s not particularly salubrious, but there are grocery stores and kebab stalls aplenty, as well as other interesting things like street fish vendors. At first sight, it?s not a particularly well off area, but after a while you come to realise that it isn?t so bad; the shops and streets are clean and the people quite well dressed. I have tried some of the restaurants and cafes in the area and some people...

larsbaby 13.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Titanic Business Hotel, Istanbul

A peaceful haven within sight of Istanbul

Advantages: Quiet, no traffic noise or pollution, good food, scenic
Disadvantages: Not huge amounts to do

...Just a short ferry ride from Istanbul, the Princes Islands are a brilliant place to kick back and escape the relentless noise and bustle of the city. Other than emergency vehicles, motorised vehicles are not allowed on the islands which makes them very peaceful and makes walking more enjoyable. I love to walk but Istanbul can be hard work for walkers and so visiting the Princes Islands gives you an opportunity to stroll without needing eyes in the back of your head. Huddled together in the Sea of Marmara, each island has a character of its own and it's easy to forget the proximity of one of the world's largest cities. The Islands can be visited all year round but ferry and hydrofoil services are less frequent in winter. One of the reasons they are so popular is that several of them have beaches and this is the nearest place to...

fizzytom 22.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Princess Islands, Istanbul

The authentic side of Istanbul dining

Advantages: Excellent food, great service, even some vegetarian options, authentic local dining
Disadvantages: Meat laden menu, no fish offered, calorie count off the scale, miles away from any tourist area

...the little taxi there, passing outer Istanbul suburb streets lined with shops and bars, we wondered what would await us. And then we arrived outside a high walled grassy area, behind which lay a large 2 storey building with bright neon signs. At this point I didn?t think I was in Turkey at all but rather some out of town restaurant from the USA, which typically would be this kind of building. THE RESTAURANT We entered the building via the main entrance. To the left of this seemed to be some kind of cloakroom, with the obligatory portrait of Attaturk on the wall. You will find this chap, the founder of Turkey and national hero, and his mug in most public places here. I?ve even seen people in the office have snaps of their families and holidays with one of Attaturk in a dinner jacket alongside rather incongruously. Make of this cult...

larsbaby 09.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ünlüer Et, Istanbul

Ooh la la in Istanbul?

Advantages: Cheap; handy location
Disadvantages: No air con so pretty bad in summer; tiny rooms

...When we stayed at the Paris Hostel and Hotel in Istanbul it was at the end of a three month circular trip and we wanted to try some different accommodation to the place we?d stayed at some fourteen weeks earlier. A week before we were due to arrive back in Istanbul we did an online search for something suitable and found the Paris H&H. I have no idea why it?s called "hostel AND hotel". Maybe they think a dormitory means a hostel and private rooms mean a hotel? Anyway, this is plain and simple accommodation with very few, if any, frills. It is hostel standard, or one or two star standard in hotel-speak. Had we known then just how much money we had left at the end of the trip, we?d have spent more, isn?t hindsight great? The hostel is in a very useful location in the Sultanahmet district approximately halfway between the Grand...

fizzytom 28.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Paris Hotel&Hostel, Istanbul

Lounging around, Istanbul International

Advantages: Lots of Shops and access to some great lounges!
Disadvantages: Restrauants are really expensive!

...Istanbuls Ataturk International Airport is Brand new and has all you'd expect from a modern international gateway. Its easily accessible via the metro straight to the city, and well connected with all parts of the world! Disabled travellers are well looked after, most routes are ramped, have flat travelators and lifts and there are modern disabled toilets. If you need access to GPRS or Wi-Fi technologies, the airport has reception all over and at high speeds. The are tons of shops and perfumes seem to be pretty reasonable(Paco for approx. £9.00). Theres all the standard type of shops and some super designer boutiques for those high rollers! If you've forgotten to get some Turkish delight there is a "god send" shop which allows you to by what i refer to as "touristy" Turkish delight, jelly like in sugar powder and no other...

imortal 10.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Istanbul Ataturk International Airport