Hi, we're off to Istanbul first week of May, and looking for recommendations as to where to stay (district, and even hotel)..

Ideally we would like to stay next to the sea but be in easy travelling distance of the Golden Horn and all the attractions there. I am not too impressed by the hotels in that area as they all seemed to be hemmed in by busy roads or other buildings. I thought I'd found the ideal place, the Crowne Plaza in Florya but when I checked it out on Google Earth I found it to be almost at the end of the main runway at the international airport. Any help would be most appreciated, thanks.

You might look in the Sultanahmet district.

Many years ago, I stayed at the Hotel Sapphire, which met my needs very well. It still gets good reviews, so you might check it out. Certainly that area is well suited to exploring Istanbul's many treasures.

I might be able to give you a couple of hotel ideas if you give an idea of your budget per night.
I would probably not stay in Sultanahmet myself, although I have stayed there in the past---in hotels on both the high and low price range.

Stayed here on daughters recommendation....great in all ways, food etc ..resident cat.

Georges Hotel Galata https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=...bfc31b784b22ec

Take a look at Hotel Empress Zoe. Loved it.

We always preferred Sultanahmet over several trips, but last year my husband stayed at the Suadiye Hotel on the Asian side and was very happy with his choice. You may want to check it out, though I have no idea if it’s near the Golden Horn where you want to be. SUADIYE HOTEL

02164458424

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Pera Palas Hotel. Every time! This was the hotel built in 1892 (or thereabouts) by the Wagons-Lits Company for its Orient Express passengers. Many famous people have stayed there, Agatha Christie's room is a museum. Why just stay in A.N.Other hotel just to have a roof over your head when you can actually stay in a real piece of history?

I stayed there en route to and from Syria by train in 1995, and the lobby is where in 2005 I discovered my wife was pregnant with our first child, and couldn't wait to run upstairs and give her the good news... (long story!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pera_Palace_Hotel

Yes, the PERA PALACE! Oozes history and character.

Apologies for highjacking this post, but ekscrunchy have you stayed at any of the luxury hotels on the Bosporus? Going there next summer…

I'll take a look at some of my notes from people who know the city if you are pressed for where to stay...e happy to help!!

I did spent about a week at the Four Seasons(Sultanhamet) and it was a great hotel but location was not the best...

EKScrunchy, any opinion on staying in Beyoglu? Sorry to hijack?

I'd say it's a good location...better than Sultanahmet....

I enjoyed our stay at the 4S Sultanhamet and thought it was well located to explore the old city. Have also stayed at the Grand Hyatt which was ok and recently the Sanasarayan which was quite decent.

Ek,
Please tell me why you don't recommend Sultanahmet and why you recommend a different area. Thanks!

SLOleslie

An online friend of mine was recently in Istanbul, not her first visit. They stayed at the Swissotel Bosphorus and loved it.

She did comment to me though that the location was not good for a first time visitor and I should keep my reservation, which is at The Wings Hotel in Karakoy.

It isn't luxury, but it is four star, we have booked a suite with a balcony with Bosphorus views. It gets terrific reviews, and we will easily be able to walk over the Galata Bridge to Sultanahmet, or use the tram. Also easy to get to Taksim Square and very close to the ferries for visiting the Asian side.

perfect reply, eks. I can tell from reading forums and guides that Sultanahmet is not for us. We are looking at the Bosporus hotels. WILDLY expensive but, we’re at “that age” too and you only live once. It was between the Four Seasons Bosorus (free shuttle to Sultanhamet!) the Mandarin and the Ciragam Kempinski but the latter is too huge and noisy-event prone.