We are looking for a nice hotel near the airport (IST) for our last night in Istanbul before a very early flight back to the United States. Does anyone know of one?

There is a hotel at the airport. I don't remember the name of it at the moment but I could probably find it in my old file.
Let me know via this forum.

I suggest Polat Renaissance or, a bit further, the Sheraton.

Radisson SAS is also close but not in a vey good neighborhood.

I do not know if the old Cinar hotel is still operating. If it is, it's close to the Polat, only ten minute taxi ride, and probably has somewhat better rate.

Of'course, there is the Airport Hotel also.

In a last minute desperation move, we stayed at the Airport
IBIS in October. We were expecting the worse based on our
IBIS CDG experience but we were pleasantly surprised. New
hotel about a 10 min. taxi from the airport. Room very nice
(we actually had a distant view of Sultanhamet, food edible
and staff pleasant and helpful. Think we paid around 120 E.

....expecting the worsT! If you go there you have to tell
the cabbie you want the Mercure (which is adjoining) b/c
no-one has heard of the IBIS.

www.wowhotelsistanbul.com/?lang=EN - free shuttle or one metro stop (or a taxi) from the airport. If you have a boarding pass for Turkish Airlines you get a reduced rate. Standard international rooms, good breakfast buffet (I stayed at the 4-star, not the 5-star sibling).