Fantastic Location and beautiful apartment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/03/12 Review Submitted: 01/08/12

This rental is conveniently located and is accessible to great restaurants and fabulous shopping. The apartment was even lovelier than the pictures and it is a quiet retreat despite being in the middle of Beyoglu's hustle and bustle. Nahide and her family were accommodating hosts and very helpful. I will definitely be back!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

A Gem in the Heart of Istanbul Chic Boho Neighborhood

Guest: Marika (New York)
Date of Stay: 09/22/11 Review Submitted: 09/26/11

This apartment was an ideal base in Istanbul. So much character and charm and the BEST views of the old city. The photos on the listing don't do it justice- it's spectacular. The neighborhood is the new cultural hot spot of Istanbul- similar to East or West Village of NYC. Many bars, clubs and unique enclaves with lots of charm. Nahide was also a pleasure to deal with. When returning to Istanbul, there's no question of where I will be staying. Definitely returning to this spot!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.

Fabulous Apartment Overlooking Istanbul Located in Hip Neighborhood

Guest: Seth (Seattle, Washington USA)
Date of Stay: 08/15/11 Review Submitted: 09/10/11

Our family of 3 (with an eleven year-old) had an amazing stay for a week here. The location is ideal, easy walk to Istiklal Cad. with its hundreds of shops and restaurants while the apartment is tucked away on a quiet side street. Just exploring the blocks around the apartment provided a phenomenal experience. Lots of antique stores, cool second-hand shops, contemporary clothing designers, cafes, art galleries and the Galatasaray Turkish Bath is directly across the street. You walk up 5 steep flights of stairs to the apartment. Once you arrive on the main floor there is a living room, kitchen with a small eating area, bathroom and then another set of stairs to a sleeping loft that has a queen and twin bed. Off the main room is a balcony from which you can see the Galata Tower and out across the Golden Horn to the Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque and many of the major landmarks of Sultanhamet. We spend our mornings drinking coffee and having breakfast on the balcony, which was a highlight of the trip. The apartment is adequately stocked with kitchen suppliers. The wifi, washing machine and all of the kitchen utilities functioned as expected. The owner arraigned a driver to pick us up when we arrived from the airport since we were very jet lagged from the long trip (flew in from the US West Coast). And the owner’s mom met us when we arrived, making our entry to the apartment and Istanbul smooth and easy. Istanbul is a compelling, teeming, yet very hospitable city. This apartment was the perfect base from which to explore, take some down-time and begin to get to know Turkey.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

A view to die for

Guest: Jane (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 03/27/11 Review Submitted: 04/28/11

We stayed in this wonderful apartment for 5 nights in April, 2011 for our first trip to Istanbul. The location is absolutely fantastic, on a small sidestreet right off Istiklal. It was really easy for us to get there from Ataturk airrport... take the Havas bus to Taksim and just walk for 10 min. There is a very convenient little supermarket right on the sidestreet, and we really enjoyed dining at Hayvore next to it (which was featured in Istanbuleats.com as one of their favorite spots to eat in Istanbul). The same sidestreet, on the other side of Istiklal Cad., is full of bars featuring live music and is a great place to have a beer or two before heading back to apartment. And then there is the view off your balcony... the photos don't do that view any justice. It is THE postcard view you would want if you are paying top dollar to dine at some fancy rooftop restaurant. At night, you can see Topkapi palace, Aya Sophia, Blue Mosque and the Suleimaniye Mosque all lit up in their brilliant colors. Nahide and her family was very friendly and helpful to us when we arrived. When we had a problem with the satellite tv (overzealous cleaning lady), Nahide's husband fixed it himself that night right away. I would stay at this apartment again in a heartbeat. Thanks for the great memories, I miss Istanbul already. *Since the apartment is on the top floor, please be mindful you would have to walk up 4 flights of stairs to get to the penthouse. There is no elevator.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

Outstanding!

Guest: Adam (Houston, Texas, U.S.A.)
Date of Stay: 05/31/10 Review Submitted: 06/20/10

Everything was as good or better than promised in the listing! Amazing view from the terrace, the photos are accurate but even they can't do it justice, it's so beautiful. It was on the top (5th) floor, and no elevator, so be prepared for a bit of exercise, but it was definitely worth the effort. Located perfectly, just a block from the Istiklal, yet very quiet and peaceful due to location in residential and embassy area. Beyoglu is the best part of Istanbul: restaurants (Midpoint, Saray, and don't miss Kat 5), shopping, bars/clubs, and from here it's just a short walk to the funicular, then a walk or tram ride across the bridge to the major tourist sites and bazaars. The apartment was clean and very nicely furnished; we felt like we were staying in someone's home. The owner/manager is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the area, lives just in the next building, and was always available if we needed help. I would recommend this or any of her other nearby properties, and look forward to visiting again soon!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

Guest: Anne & Gary Dunning (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 02/11/10 Review Submitted: 02/11/10

We just returned from a weeklong winter getaway at this lovely apartment in Istanbul. We would highly recommend it if you are looking for a comfortable and stylish place to stay in the center of the action in Istanbul. The location is great with easy access to transit, lots of great shops and restaurants close by and a wonderful view across the Golden Horn. The apartment itself is well-appointed, clean and modern with some beautiful Turkish touches. A great place to stay!

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Guest: M. Levine (California, USA)
Date of Stay: 02/02/10 Review Submitted: 02/02/10

Our family of four stayed in this apartment during our winter vacation. We truly enjoyed the space. It is beautifully appointed, clean and the kitchen fully equipped. The location is unbeatable. Right in the middle of the bustling life of Istakal and yet, miles away from the noise. The owner Sule, is very kind and very helpful and goes out of her way to give her guests a hand and to make them feel at home. I highly recommend this lovely apartment for your vacation. You will enjoy the beautiful Galata tower view from the balcony and all the local wonderful shops around the neighborhood. We certainly will stay with Sule next time we visit Istanbul. Any one wishing to discuss this further should feel free to send me an e-mail. I will be happy to respond. Mrs. Soval California Bay Area

Owner response:Thank you Soval family. Wish to see you again.

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