Oh, what to do? Stay in the larger Sultanhan Hotel (which has nice amenities, but some find it a bit careworn) or the small, tidy Sari Konak (which has no extra amenities, but seems a bit more tidy and cared for). We are travelling with teenagers, and wonder if the bigger hotel might be a bit more exciting for them than the boutique hotel. On the other hand, if Sultanhan is worn down, it can be frustrating to deal with. Would LOVE input. By the way, the trip is during Xmas -- and we are so hoping it doesn't snow!

Bigger hotel is usually better for teenagers. Since you have 3-4 people in a group, a large room or suite in any hotel usually is of better quality than smaller rooms. The view from the roof is not bad for Sultanhan and it is quite close to the the tram station, so commuting back at night after a long day is not as exhausting. The cost per room seems a bit high but per person cost is reasonable if 4 people can fit in a room.

We stayed at Sari Konak in 2006 and thought it was pleasant and, I guess, tidy. The rooms are relatively small and sufficient for 2 people. They may have larger rooms but I am sure you have probably already asked them.
Breakfast was good and the owners are very nice and helpful. Location is ok.
Have a great trip.

Both hotels are nice, probably with children you should consider both hotels locations first. I never heard of Sultanhan's being worn down, it is still a great hotel with good location! I am happy with the feed back of Sultanhan.

Thanks so much -- all opinions so appreciated. For some reason, we're having a hard time finding a nice hotel for our gang, something lovely but not pricey, old-fashioned but not run down. Because it's our first time in Turkey, we want to stay in Sultanahmet so that we're close to the big mosques etc and perhaps save Beyoglu/Cihangir for another trip. But what do we know? (Not much.) So again, all thoughts on Istanbul welcome. Feel free to share your opinions on ANYTHING. thanks / P

We stayed at the Hotel Niles in Sept. It was fabulous. We opted for a suite which had a microwave, kettle and fridge. The bathroom was a great size. The suites were just rently completed and we thought were a great deal at 117 E per night. Breakfast was on the roof top deck which has a a great view of the sea. Breakfast was included in the room rate.Room 411 also has a huge deck and a view. Perhaps you may not wish to sit on the deck in Dec, but the view would be nice. The hotel is a few blocks from the tram line and a 10 minute walk from the major sites (Blue Mosque etc). I'm not sure about the other rooms in the hotel, but the suite we had was great. The hotel employees were also very friendly and helpful.

We just stayed at the Hotel Sapphire in Sultanahmet. Kids 17, 15 and 11. Great area and nice hotel. Not very expensive and terrific reviews on Tripadvisor.

We stayed at the Faros, on the tram line and down the street from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. It was a great hotel with a fantastic restaurant. Fairly small (20-some rooms, I think), but big enough to have amenities. Very nice bathroom and the room itself was big (although there were just two of us). You might check it out. There are so many; choosing a hotel in Istanbul was the thing I probably spent the most time on in planning our trip. Good luck!

Ellen