I am having a very difficult time getting accommodations for five nights in Istanbul. I have checked with probably over 30 or more hotels and Inns and all of the ones you guys have recommended and many more. I have very specific dates and am not flexible, unfortunately. Has anyone else ever had this kind of trouble there? This has become a full time job, basically! I have traveled the world for over 40 years and have never run into anything like this. Of course, I am also inflexible about not wanting to spend $2000 for 5 nights and only being in the Old City. Anyone have any thoughts on this besides-- give up! I already have my air tickets, too.

Try Hotel Tash Konak..resonable, clean, good location.. We enjoyed the plae and there is a lovely roof view..and good brkfst. BTW we got a 10% discount for TL and they have a shuttle from the airport.

Have and they are very nice. They only have 2 out of the 5 nights available.

We stayed at the hotel Hali and were satisfied. But I suspect that you are looking for something more upscale.

Not at all upscale. And I have tried them and nothing for my dates. Thank you both!

Have you searched through booking.com? You should be able to see a range of options that are available for your nights in your price range, and maybe even in the area in which you prefer to stay. Of course, some hotels and B&Bs don't use booking.com, but more and more do, so it's a good starting point for searching.

Good luck!

Have you tried http://www.grandpeninsulahotel.com/grand_peninsula/ ?
Nice hotel at good prices and great location.

We are in Istanbul right now and can attest to the fact that many hotels are booked full. Mostly the ones that are highly rated by Tripadvisor. The desk clerk says from mow until Nivember is high season.

Thank you emily!~ And kja yes, I have been using booking.com and everything else. What's available now on Booking are either rooms that are described as "hell" on trip advisor or very very high priced one. Like over $2000. for 5 days which is out of the question. I am long past a "starting point". Thank you all for your feedback. And grimmy I have sent a request to the Grand Peninsula and haven't heard back yet. Any other suggestions are gladly welcomed.

Did you try Almina Hotel? They are across the street from Tash Konak. Perhaps the staff @ Tash K. know of some place if you took the 2 nights. Worth a try!!They might be able to accomodate you in some place they know. If you like I can try to contact the wonderful tour guide we had. She may know of something. I have her email if it is still good.

Another thought...Turkey Travel Planner.. a very knowledgeable, trustworthy site.. Maybe they can suggest..

Have you tried www.flipkey.com?

Hotel Grand Peninsula: fully booked!

Is flipkey for hotels and Inns? I have used them for apartment and villa rentals. I will also check that out and Turkey travel planner and any other thoughts on the matter are greatly desired.

I did have a reservation, or so I thought, at a hotel that came recommended by another hotel. It was a new hotel with only one review. I went through their website and put in the c.c. card #, etc, and received an actual confirmation number. Next day received an email from the manager confirming my reservation again. Two days later I received an email from the assistant manager and someone else telling me that they never received my c.c. # and besides they are booked! I scanned the reservation document and attached it to an email to them along with the email of confirmation from the manager and still it took them 48 hours to get back to me to say they didn't have room for us! So, at this point, I am somewhat weary of recommendations from other hotels. And by the way, the recommendation came from Hotel Amira which is highly recommended itself. I would stay there but of course they are fully booked.

I am working on flip key now and hopefully some good results! Wish me luck! Really want to go to Istanbul!

Now on to Turkey Travel Planner~~~ Already two rejections from Flip key but still have hope.

Good luck.. TTP is a treasure trove of info. Hope they have some places to look at. saw an interesting guest house mentioned this AM..Maybe!!!

I would consider breaking my trip into 2-3 and also 3-2 and trying booking.com for the shorter time periods. You could well pick up more hotels that just don't have that full stretch of free nights.

What dates are you travelling? What about the Hotel Alp Guesthouse - http://www.alpguesthouse.com/the-hotel/. We stayed across the road at the Hanedan Hotel - http://www.hanedanhotel.com. Bare boned but very adequate. Fantastic breakfast terrace. Both these hotels are in a quiet and convenient location in the Old City.

Thank you worldinabag: full and full; they were a couple of my firsts. I have tried all the Fodors favorites. However on the Turkey Travel Planner website I believe we may have found something. I heard back from a sweet little place....very bare bones as you say worldinabag~~ I agree Amer_can it is a treasure trove. And thank you linawood, good idea. I'll let you know when all is finalized.