ekscrunchy

Would like to hear from travelers who have stayed at the Four Seasons. What was your opinion of the hotel and its location? Do you have any sources for getting a good price on the (expensive) rooms? We would like to stay in a comfortable hotel with lots of charm for several days this fall prior to driving down the coast. Any other recommendations for hotels in the 200 Euro per night (per room) range?? Does not have to be in Sultanahmet.

ekscrunchy

ttt

sinan

If you are willing to pay $200 I recommend you stai in CIRAGAN PALACE. Little bit far from Sultanahmet BUT Hotel is NO;1

Sinan Akdeniz

Firstmate

I would concur with Sinan. I have stayed at the Kempinski Ciragan Palace a few times. It is great. Hotel restaurant great. Bar great. I enjoyed it very much. Have never stayed at the Four Season, however, have been there. It looks is a nice property as well. The Ciragan Palace is not so far from Sultanahmet. It is only a short taxi ride, or one can take the water taxi across the Bosphorous. I am planning to return to Istanbul in Sept.or Oct. and will definately stay at the Ciragan Palace.

JerryS

Based on their websites and rates contained therein, the lowest priced rooms at the Istanbul Four Seasons and the Ciragan Palace, not including VAT and breakfast, will cost you at least $350US. They sometimes run specials but these usually only apply to the Winter months.
We stayed at the Four Seasons in 1998 (at that time we paid $260US including VAT and breakfast) and I recommend it without reservation. It is a small charming hotel with impeccable and personal service. I believe the Four Seasons only had 65 room whereas the Ciragan Palace has close to 300 rooms. Also, the location of the Four SEasons is near almost everything you want to see in Istanbul. A cab ride from the Ciragan Palace to Sultanahmet in the morning will take a half hour or so, if you are lucky.

Carta_Pisana

I had friends stay at the 4 Seasons - I was staying at a hotel right behind the Blue Mosque. The service was phenominal - I wasn't even staying there. Complimentry umbrellas at the door when it was raining - little treats constatntly sent to the room. If it's your first time in Istanbul I would stay at the Four Seasons - great location. Had dinner at Ciragan - I found the hotel a bit too large and grand and distant from the main sights. I liked the intimacy of the Four Seaons - I only wish I could afford to sat there by myself - ahh the curse of single life.

ekscrunchy

Thank you all very much for your tips. I would not, however, consider the Ciragan Kempiniski due to its location. Most of us have all been to Turkey in the past, but I have not been back since the 1970s so it will be like a new destination to me. I have checked the prices on the Four Seasons web site but I still wonder if I can get a better deal on the price through a local travel agent, especially since we will need about 5 or so rooms. Can anyone help??? Any tips?? I should say that the time in Istanbul will come after a week in Santorini and prior to a drive down the Turkish coast (destination as yet unknown..maybe Bodrum?) and a brief visit to Athens on the way home.
The trip is a celebration of a big birthday for one of us and we want it to go smoothly and comfortably.

zbjoon

I stayed in Four Season’s hotel in 1999. The hotel might have changed some in 6 years. I was traveling alone and had a single room with a view of the Blue Mosque. Looked beautiful both at day and night with the blue lighting. I think I paid between $200.00 to $250.00 a night. The hotel was a beautiful hotel. The hotel and the room were very tastefully decorated. Even the robe was tasteful and matched the decoration. The lighting at night was well coordinated in the hotel restaurant at the patio and that mixed with call to prayer from Blue Mosque was magical. They had an article about this hotel in Architectural Digest at the time with pictures. The location to the main three sites could not get any better. It was walking distance. The security was really good as well. Since I was traveling alone I was careful. I noticed that the room numbers were kept from the hotel personnel and it was on a need-to-know basis. The folks who worked in the hotel were very nice and helpful. This hotel was formerly a prison and they had changed it to a hotel. Anyway, Four Season’s hotel is one my lasting memories of the beautiful Istanbul. The only negative might be that since it is surrounded by the tourist attractions, the atmosphere is not representing the real Istanbul.

JerryS

ekscrunchy, I would call the hotel directly and ask to speak with the Manager. They may be willing to negotiate a special rate for 5 rooms, especially if it is a less busy time of year. Good luck.

Italiaphile

We just returned from Istanbul with friends who stayed at the Four Seasons. It was a great hotel. The location is perfect. Even though we weren't staying there, but just meeting up with our friends each day, the staff were incredibly friendly, gave us umbrellas in a downpour, called cabs for us. One evening they sent complimentary dessert for three to the room -- for the child staying at the hotel plus our two
children. No breakfast included in the standard Four Seasons price and our friends found pastries just across the road. Incidentally, we stayed at the Dersaadet, a few minutes walk away, and loved it. The breakfast was excellent and the staff very helpful and very warm. Great city!