Hi Fodorites.

My partner and I are arriving in Istanbul this Thursday the 17th for five nights. We've been to Istanbul earlier this year(Jan/Feb) for two separate one night stays so we have a basic orientation of the city. Previously we stayed at the Santa Ottoman Boutique hotel in Taksim, on the same block as Prokopi. We would stay there again but thought we would try a slightly different area; Cihangir or another area of Taksim/Beyoglu. However, there was a post a few months ago about the safety of side streets in the area deteriorating significantly due to the street cafe's being removed. What is the situation presently? Should we stay only in a hotel that is on one of the main streets, or might it be ok to venture a block or two away? We are looking at a place on Kumbaraci Youkusu. Our budget is capped at about 90 euros per night so that doesn't help. I know this is last minute..

I'm composing another part about what we'd like to do, but I wanted to get this out there first so we can book a hotel. Thanks in advance for all help.

Cihangir area is nicer than where you stayed previously. Kumbaraci yokusu is a bit further from the main street and I will not recommend it in the Winter.

Maybe you can negotiate with Villa Zurich for a decent rate. You will like akarsu Street. Unfortunately i do not know the quality of the flats available in the area and cannot recommend any.

Also try the Cheya Residences at Gumussuyu/Taksim. It is a quiet but very safe area (only 100-150 meters from where we have lived since birth) (You can try to figure out the house I was born, which is owned by a cousin now)

A new hotel was recently opened at the location of an older one (re-constructed totally), at Gumussuyu, but could not see its name. Avoid Star Hotel, also nearby, because of tiny rooms and high fire risk.

In general, Talimhane is a very safe area with many hotels some of which will be in your budget range, although rather dull.

(You can try to figure out the house I was born, which is owned by a cousin now)

It is the one with so many steps, that if you do not get a heart attack, you will be rewarded with a wonderful meal and grand company. Your choice.

OC..the house where you were born has a giant bronze plaque at it's front entrance. Unfortunately, it has been a graffiti target and is beyond legibility. Transtating the Turkish, the messages were not too ccmplimentary. (Adu..I thought you had decided not to relaliate for the miserable time you had there last year)

In those days people were conceived and born in barns, just as in America and most other civilized countries of the world.

Adu payed for the 50 cent meal so had to climb the stairs. We carry the $2 paying guests up on our backs as kins of the Yokums in Turkey. For an additional Dollar we will agree not to read aloud the usual hundred pages from Tower's newest book.

Stu

The plaque is not bronze, it is aluminum and most nights OC uses it to wrap the leftovers.

OC did not include that for $2 the guest must bray like a donkey because OC cannot breath, bray, and carry the guest simeltaneously and pretend he is Sancho Panza.