Hi.. well. .. i'm finally going to Turkey! plans 2 years ago were halted when i hurt my back at the last minute. so i'm researching again. we have our tickets (traveling with a friend since hubby wont travel) for last 2 weeks in September. SO excited !!
We have been looking at either Hanedan or TulipGuest House in Istanbul... any thoughts on these? or others? I think i like the area they are in.
Also, i think after researching, we'd like to stay in Goreme for a few nights. Tried to get a small room at Kelebek but its not available.. there is one we might get, but wanted to see if you'all have any recommendations that may be .. well.. more within our budget. this is a very low budget. the room we wanted was 50Euro but the one that is available is 95Euro. any thoughts would be very appreciated!

Pick your poison. http://www.venere.com/turkey/istanbul/

Sort by price, location, etc.... Always read the reviews from people who have stayed there.

I stayed in Hanedan in 2010. It was a good hotel but not really a "boutique" experience - clean enough, but a rather small room facing an alley and the bath smelled - probably from the old plumbing - but everything worked. Was certainly well situated for the sites.

In Cappadocia we stayed at Nirvana Cave hotel at a very good rate - I believe it was 50 euros if I'm remembering right. It was a cave room and the people there are very nice. I talked to 2 other people who spent a lot more than us and they were not happy with their rooms -- a cave is a cave -- Nirvana gave us that, at a good rat,e with a really good breakfast and a free glass of local wine as a welcome.

We used Butterfly Balloons for our hot air balloon ride and I also highly recommend them.

Thank you Rastaguy.. i have tooled around that website. Even tho i haven't been on Fodors for a while, i still feel like its more like "family"... and i SO enjoy and trust trip reports and recommendations i find here.
Thank you also, Sealonsf.. i'm checking out Nirvana. appreciate your thoughts!

www.aravan.com

Well, we haven't been yet -- leave in two days! -- so I suppose I have no business replying. But, we are staying in the Aydinli Cave House Hotel (http://www.thecavehotel.com/cavehotel/) in Goreme. It's sometimes billed as a B&B. It has great reviews and seems to be just what we're looking for.

Some of the smaller rooms are within your budget, calla (or, almost) and we got a discount for paying cash.

I'll have first-hand information in a couple of weeks!

Well, never mind. I didn't look carefully at the dates and I forgot that you've already been and gone, calla. Chalk it up to my pre-trip excitement...

We stayed in the Local Cave Hotel in 2010:

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Revi..._Province.html

It might be too late to use the pool but it was still a very nice place. More like 70 Euros I think.

Purdue, you're going to love Aydinli. Give Mustafa and Cem our best from Keith and Peggy in California!

thank you purdue... i see you are leaving today and i'm SO excited for you.. have a great trip! (i shared the last of my Turkish Delight with friends today... i'm ready to go back!)