Istanbul Hotel Amira
 

We are thinking about booking this hotel for our one week stay in October. Has anyone stayed here and if so what is your opinion of the quality and location and well as access to the transit so we can explore the New City as well? Reviews make it sound wonderful. Our son backpacked through here a year ago and had suggested it might be too touristy and had suggested staying up near Taskim Square but I was having trouble finding a quaint hotel there that could match the Amira for price and amenities. Aside from the usual tourist sights in the Old City and exploring the New CIty, we also want to take a boat trip up the Bosphorus.

Hi

Yes, the old city i.e Sultanahmet is very touristy. This is where many of the sights are located. So too the incessant carpet salesmen. And as for nightlife, forget it! But I loved staying in Sultanahmet. It had so much charm and felt so timeless. It really depends what you're after.

We are also booked for early October. Maybe we'll see you then! It has consistently great reviews and we are so looking forward to our first (but hopefully not last) visit.

Hi, actually left this hotel yesterday and here at another due to only having 2 nights available.

Anyhow, the hotel itself is awesome. Good rooms, good amenities and bordering on 5 star quality for items in the room.

Downsides: The hotel itself is located down a hill from the main tram line. Everything touristic is a hill climb. If you dont mind then great. Taxis are available outside but will charge you double unless you argue with them.

Breakfast is very basic. Runny powdered eggs, some curried sausage. Basic bread, yogurt, olives, sliced of cheese ad baloney type meats. Nothing special and you will still be hungry.

The terrace view is basic, nothing spectacular.

If I were to have to book a hotel again I would probably get something on flatter ground or closer to a tram line as you will be walking a lot. Bring good walking shoes. Trip report to follow.

Hi Balboa850

Thank you for your review. How long is the walk to the tram?

Canadian Jane - we are booked at the Hotel Amira for 7 days beginning next Saturday, June 11 so we'll report back our experiences during and after our trip.

That hill climb is a real drag, but so many of the nicer hotels are located on the down side of the tram. I guess the good part is that it is usually the first thing you do each day, and so much better than having to climb the hill at the end of a long day of sightseeing! But you don't ever feel like it's an easy thing to just run back to the hotel for a minute - or just to freshen up. You never want to climb that hill again. The hotel looks wonderful.

we spent 7 nights in 2 different stays at the Hotel Amira in June and loved it. We just posted a review on TripAdvisor. The staff is great, the facility is super for the cost, the rooftop terrace is wonderful with nice view, upscale furniture and bar service, workout facility and wifi.

I'm not sure why everyone complains about the WALK UP THE HILL. We are in our mid 50s and it is no big deal. It is a bit uphill but nothing too strenuous and 5 minutes before you get to the Blue Mosque/Hippodrome and about 10 minutes to Aya Sofya. Super secure, clean, new hotel with wonderful staff. we're already booking our next trip back there.

We just booked this for October 2012. Any updated reviews? Powdered eggs and bologna is scaring me! The hill does not and I am lazy, lazy, lazy.