Hello!

Just booked trip to Istanbul which leaves on 2/18/12. I have been looking for inexpensive hotels that are in a good location, include breakfast and transfers from airport to hotel (and back if possible). So far, I have found Basileus Hotel and Hotel Sebnem. Any other suggestions?

We stayed at Basileus hotel in January. Lovely hotel, fantastic location and really helpful staff. Would not hesitate to stay there again.

Hi

Both hotels look lovely and seem good value for your money. I'm leaning towards the Sebnem. The main reason is the views from the roof top terrace. We didn't stay at this hotel but the one we did stay had a terrace. We had breakfast there and sometimes had a few drinks there (BYO). Views of the Bosphorus during the day and the Hagia Sophia lit up at night. Magic! So I suggest using the Sebnem's terrace will be a highlight of your stay. If you can secure a room with Bosphorus views even if it costs a little extra you will not regret it.

Not sure what inexpensive means to you, but we stayed at the Dersaadat (sp?). They offer a discount for cash payment. Location was great, as were views from terrace and breakfast. The room rate included airport transfer (oneway).

I've been living here for more than four years, so I don't have a lot of recent personal experience with Istanbul hotels, but I do have friends who visit the city from time to time. They generally rely on guidebooks or on websites like The Guide Istanbul, which has listings of hotels by area, price, etc: http://bit.ly/wfdLqK

Don't exclude hotels outside the Sultanahmet area, either (it's close to many of Istanbul's tourist sites, to be sure, but hardly the only area of interest in this huge metropolis).

It depends on what you are looking for out of a hotel. If you are just looking for a functional abode and a place to rest your head at night, read on. I was in Istanbul in October and we stayed at the Hotel Ilkay, right on the main artery where the tram runs. Be sure to request the new building. We were in the connected old building, which was more rundown, but it was clean and the place was well run. I remember liking the Turkish sheets we slept on. The included breakfast spread was pretty good too (sure beats continental breakfasts in the US). As we arrived they sat us for a short info/city orientation session and a cup of famous apple tea in their adjoining restaurant/bar, which was a nice way to get started. Transfers are not included, but we learned that this is a good, inexpensive option: http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/g...akpak_xfr.html
(a friend passed us this website, which is a treasure chest of useful info)

Hotel Ilkay was part of a package, so you'd have to check out the reg price, but I am pretty sure it is reasonable. It's the budget hotel within a group, so if you prefer something with more amenities, check out the Sirkeci Group links.
http://www.ilkayhotel.com/

We stayed at the Dersaadet also. It had a great location, buffet breakfast up on the terrace. The rooms are on the small side but totally adequate for us.

Hotel Hali, whose terrace overlooks the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. But I do not know if they offer an airport pick-up. All the travel agencies around the Sultanahmet area offer rides to the airports, and their schedules fit with international departures (we left at 2 a.m.) which tend to be bunched together at each airport.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57622934223233