Istanbul hotels
 

We are planning to be in Istanbul between December 30 and January 5, 2009 and hoping to stay at the Four Seasons hotel. I know there are 2. Has anyone stayed at the new one at Bosphorous yet? We were thinking of staying the first three days in the Sultanahmet one (to be close to sightseeing) and the last 3 days in the Bosphorous one. Our plans are not firm yet so any other suggestions for outstanding hotels in Istanbul would be appreciated? Thanks.

We stayed at the one in Sultanahmet for 2 nights before we caught our cruise leaving from Istanbul. We absolutely loved it! Within walking distance of the Blue Mosque, Topakai (sp?) Palace. Small property and the grounds/service were beautiful and outstanding.

This is soo good to know as we are off to Turkey next year and we plan to stay at the FS in Sultanahmet.

Any other details you want to share, please do!!

thanks a mil!

The Bosphorus location has not yet opened. I believe it opens in June.

The Sultanahmet location is much better for sightseeing - restaurant options, shopping etc.

I have watched the slow progress of the constructionon the Bosphorus site as I regularly walked past it when staying at the Kempinski several hundred meters away.
I was not impressed by the construction or the design.
The design is " U " shaped with an old building as the botto of the U toward the water.
Many rooms will only have a view of the coutyard and entrance area. Most appear to be in the newly built area. The old building retained on the site, was empty for some years and was completely renovated . I think this contains reception , public areas and some suites.

Some rooms will overlook the school next to the hotel and have limited views too.
Thus , unless you opt for a premium room and suite , it appears you will not see too much of the water from your room.
The hotel is just a short walk from the ferry boat docks and with one trnsfer take you to the more touristy sights.

The Ciragan Palace Kempinski is a 5 star property - excelent dining and views from all rooms on Bosphorus side. The view is worth the stay in my opinion.
Normally excelent service from staff ,some there for many years and have worked their way into good positions .

When I was in Istanbul in the spring of 1999, I didn't stay at the Four Seasons Sultanhamet, but had drinks and food there as I was staying a few steps away at the Hotel Empress Zoe. The Four Seasons Sultanhamet is beautiful and the food and drinks were wonderful. It was voted as #1 hotel in Europe for some years. And it's definitley in the heart of things. I went all over Istanbul, hitting the streets either by myself or with a guest I met at my hotel and I liked the Sultanhamet area best.I'm a big Four Seasons fan and have stayed at them in S.E.Asia. I can't imagine going wrong with any FS. Happy Travels!

I have a question for molker re: the Empress Zoe and the construction at the Four Seasons. We won't be there until March 2009, but wondered how far along the construction might be and how it seems to be affecting the Empress Zoe?

For a Bosphorus hotel with style, you might try this place www.sumahan.com
Every room is a waterfront one and there are only about 10 guest rooms so I found the scale to be preferable over some of the larger places. The hotel is located in Cengilkoy (Asian side) on the Bosphorus, and the small town has waterfront dining, some really beautiful villas and not too much else of interest to tourists. I wouldn't recommend the hotel if it was your very first time in Istanbul or if you hadn't already stayed at the Four Seasons Sultanhamet, but that's only because the hotel is removed from Istanbul enough to leave people feeling out of the action. To their credit they offer a water taxi (though it has limited hours) and the Istanbul city ferries dock about a 5 minute walk away from the hotel, making transpaortation not such an issue. I also took a taxi from Taksim a couple times. In my experience, the ferry ride to and from Eminonu and the feeling of staying slightly outside of Istanbul added to my visit.

Another option could be www.ajiahotel.com , particularly if you might like a contemporary styled place.

Finally www.lesottomans.com is an excellent, though pricey option.

Opaldog

read my post again - the construction I make reference to is of the new Four Seasons on the Bosphorus in the neighborhood of Besiktas - the original Four Seasons and Zoe are located in Sultanahmet - a good distance away and across the Golden Horn.

The new Four Seasons is supposedly to open in June 2008, thus that construction should be complete.


Impossible to predict who constructs what in March 2009- this is Istanbul

Sorry molker, I missed that.

Molker:

FYI:

The Four Seasons in Sultanahmet is expanding, too, causing noise issues for the Empress Zoe which backs up to the Four Seasons. This was a very legitimate question.

Lighten up- no one mentioned anything about a legimate question- I merely referred to my comments about the Bosphorus nothing about the sultanahmet - if you take exception - too bad

Wow, sorry if I caused a problem. It is not always easy to know how a reply is actually being delivered; if the poster is annoyed or in my case, reading a reply in haste and getting it wrong. Reading weekenders reply, I didn't get the feeling that they were being too harsh. I appreciate any information that I can get from this website.

FS.Bosphorus is under construction and there is an expansion of FS Sultanahmet as well. So veryone is right in a sense. Only not right thing is that FS or its investers are building the ugly construction over an ancient Byzantine palace grounds destroying a world heritage for extra dollars.....no matter FS is an excellent hotel amongst best European hotel warded by Conde Nast Traveller

Happy Travelling
Murat

Thanks everyone for your replies. Molker I really appreciate your first hand information and the details that would otherwise not be known. I have already made a reservation for 5 nights at the sultanahmet location. I will wait to read some reviews by fodorites before making a decision as to whether to stay a couple of nights in the Bosphorous location. What I find odd is that the Four Seasons website has very limited information/photos on the rooms at the bosphorous location. Thanks again everyone.

monsoon:

I just looked up some info in my journal for a Turkey trip we took in 1995... we stayed at the Hyatt Regency overlooking the Bosphorus...at a rate of $170. Things have dramatically changed in Turkey...I see the rates at the FS have now surpased $1000.

Murat, you never seem to mention these rates? How come!!

IF I decided to return to Turkey now, (and we are not strict budget travelers), I would be quite reluctant to spend $5000 for a five night stay. Just an opinion, not that it makes any difference to you, I'm sure.

Guenmai...the good old beautiful Empress Z at less than $200 would probably be our choice, or even the same old Hyatt at $300+...But, that's what makes travel such fun and excitement...there's a dollar-figure for everyone, high, low or in the middle, as it may be.

Have a great trip, Monsoon. I'd be shocked it you didn't like the FS at either location.

stu t.

Hi Tower,

I did not see anyone asking about rates of Four seasons, question was if Bosphorus was open :-))

Now it is open but I have not been there yet....Also the first W hotels in Europe has been opened in Istanbul. There are many more hotels to be opened shortly in Istanbul as thye demand is growing.

Four seasons everywhere in the world is most expensive or what is the defination of expensive ? I would not know. Lets say more pricy than others plus there is only one Bosphorus straight in the world so I am not surprised with the rate......



So with 5000 USD you can still have a good holiday with a bit of splurge and not necessarily with staying at 4 seasons. I promise to help you to achieve the goal if you want so :-))

Best regards from Sunny & Hot Cappadocia (thanks God nights are nice and cool)

Murat

Tower...When I stayed at the Hotel Empress Zoe, spring 1999, my room was either $50. or $55, I can't remember off of the top of my head.
I paid in cash...U.S. dollars...and directly to the hotel owner as she was there daily, so I got a discount. The owner is from San Francisco.
How prices have changed, but the price there still seems to be good and the location couldn't be better. Happy Travels!

Good old days :-))