Aziyade Hotel - Istanbul, Turkey 

"Thoroughly recommended"
Posted: Mon, Nov 23 2009
Aziyade Hotel staff are welcoming, efficient and cordial, the rooms spotlessly clean and comfortably equipped, (even with a safety box) perhaps a little on the small side. The public areas are pleasantly decorated and the restaurant on the top floor has lovely views over the Bosphorus although the weather was atrocious during our three days there. Drinks are reasonably priced, internet use is free, and nothing is too much trouble for these nice people. Thoroughly recommended. I hope someone from the management of this hotel reads this review.

Sophie Brown
Posted: Thu, Nov 06 2008
This was our first visit to Istanbul. Knowing what we know now, we would have taken a cab from the airport to the hotel - much cheaper than transfers. Transfers to and from the hotel/airport ended up being £150 (ridicuolous) but we were nervous about safety in cabs - we shouldn't have worried! Public transport is cheap, regular and easy to use. The fish stalls by the Gelata bridge make for a cheap and novel lunch - so fresh and delicious. There were no real bargains at the Grand Bazaar. THe Spice market was superb and much better value - the locals were shopping there. To escape the huslte and bustle - take a cab to Ortakoy for the weekend craft markets and a fab fish lunch. Avoid restuarants where they are promotiong anything "traditional" - musicians, breadmaking etc... they are tourist traps and you get a hefty service charge (20%) added to your bill. Food very cheap, but as you would expect in a muslim culture, alcohol was expensive (usually more than our meal!) Traffic congestion in Istanbul is bad - so allow plenty of travel time to get back to the airport!

Sophie Brown
Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008
This was our first visit to Istanbul. Knowing what we know now, we would have taken a cab from the airport to the hotel - much cheaper than transfers. Transfers to and from the hotel/airport ended up being ?150 (ridicuolous) but we were nervous about safety in cabs - we shouldn't have worried! Public transport is cheap, regular and easy to use. The fish stalls by the Gelata bridge make for a cheap and novel lunch - so fresh and delicious. There were no real bargains at the Grand Bazaar. THe Spice market was superb and much better value - the locals were shopping there. To escape the huslte and bustle - take a cab to Ortakoy for the weekend craft markets and a fab fish lunch. Avoid restuarants where they are promotiong anything "traditional" - musicians, breadmaking etc... they are tourist traps and you get a hefty service charge (20%) added to your bill. Food very cheap, but as you would expect in a muslim culture, alcohol was expensive (usually more than our meal!) Traffic congestion in Istanbul is bad - so allow plenty of travel time to get back to the airport!