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With some notable exceptions, the hotels in the east are basic, with little in the way of the luxuries you might find in Istanbul or along Turkey's Mediterranean coast. A few boutique hotels are beginning to pop up though, particularly in Mardin, and most cities have at least one decent modern hotel catering to Turkish business travelers. It's advisable to book these well in advance, though there are always plenty of clean and comfortable budget options available.
This wonderfully restored late 19th-century Russian-built mansion is extremely stylish, with a cool, minimalist white-and-gray color scheme, original art on the walls depicting monuments in Kars, and comfortable rooms furnished with contemporary flair. The top two floors of the three-story building have long balconies in the back, where you can sit and order a drink from the bar. Breakfast is served in an enclosed courtyard.
The name of this beautiful old mansion-hotel means "sky" and indeed some of the rooftop rooms open to above; in others, furniture is clustered so nothing touches the extraordinarily well-preserved stonework. Tasteful modern design merges seamlessly throughout with the original craftsmanship, and the breakfasts are particularly special.
Popular with Mt. Ararat climbers, this hotel is geared to backpackers but tries harder than most places in town, making it one of the best options in the area. The lobby makes a promising start, although the rooms themselves have fairly average furniture and aging carpets. All rooms have balconies and the ones on the upper floors that face east have views of İshak Paşa Sarayı. In non-summer months, about half the rooms are used to house young schoolteachers from western Turkey who often speak English and are happy to meet visitors from around the world.
This established lodging option a little out of the center of Van makes an attempt at character with reproductions of Urartian art on the walls throughout and gold-embroidered bedspreads and floral wallpaper in the small but pleasant guest rooms. Some rooms face the noisy street—so ask for one in back, though some may overlook a brick wall. The Pastane Café, with Turkish cakes and sweets, is a popular meeting spot. The front-desk staff can help arrange tours of the area.
These rooms in a series of historic homes with modern additions have stone walls and nice but smallish bathrooms, while suites are especially atmospheric and well worth the extra price. The main building has a breezy terrace with wicker chairs where you can have a drink or a meal and take in the fine view, and a good restaurant serves local dishes in a cavernous space below the hotel.
Although decorated in a questionably outdated fashion, this hotel is one of the better midrange options in town with near-budget rates. The rooms are comfortable enough and have nice bathrooms with large walk-in cabinet showers. There's a bar in the lobby with a range of international and domestic drinks on offer.
On the northwest edge of the old town, Urfa's Hilton offers the style and services you'd expect from a top international chain. Modern, plush, and comfortable, it's a relaxed bastion of Westernization in one of Turkey's most conservative cities, although that means there's a total cultural disconnect with the city around it. There is a full range of facilities including a pool and a gym.
Just a block off the main square, the Horon has spacious rooms, friendly service, and a rooftop restaurant where you can enjoy breakfast overlooking the sea. Though it's undergone a number of modern renovations, the local character has been preserved.
Built of local stone, imitating the local architectural style, this sprawling hotel tries to mix Urfa character with five-star luxury by offering spacious and comfortable rooms, with large beds, wood furniture, vaulted ceilings, and bathrooms with mosaic-like tiles and baths. Service is attentive and professional and a pool is cut into a rock chamber under the hotel.
This low stone building has comfortable, clean rooms and good bathrooms, and is the best of the few places to stay on Mt. Nemrut itself. The restaurant is decked out in kilims and rugs (although there are hard benches), and opens to a deck that has a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains and of the stars at night; the food is simple but tasty and the beers are cold. The hotel also has a pleasant garden with cherry and quince trees.
One of Trabzon's best budget options, Hotel Nur has spotless (though small) rooms, some overlooking the main square---those on the higher floors, facing the front, even have a sea view. There's also a lovely terrace where you can bring your own drinks.
The owners of this hotel have converted their family home perched on the city walls into a beautiful retreat, where stone-walled, vaulted-ceiling rooms are beautifully decorated in a mix of traditional and modern styles and surround an airy courtyard. Dining is on a rooftop terrace or in a vast, stone-walled hall, and a cushioned lounge is the perfect place to relax.
Right in the center of Trabzon, in a bustling area near the main bazaar, this modern hotel is a good value for the price.
At this attractive 16th-century kervansaray with sandstone walls and vaulted ceilings, rooms are a little dated and on the small side, but you're really paying for the atmosphere and the location. There is a lovely courtyard with a fountain where you can eat dinner or have a drink (unless there's a wedding, which is a frequent occurrence during the summer), and the hotel pool is a welcome sight in Diyarbakır's heat. Rooms on the ground floor don't have air-conditioning, though they tend to stay quite cool even in summer.
In the small village of Karadut, just 8 km (5 miles) from Mt. Nemrut's summit, Kervansaray is a viable option for those that want to stay close to the main attraction. It offers half-board accommodations in simple but clean rooms, and the terrace has stunning mountain views.
A modern building made of traditional local stone, the Reyhani has beautiful upscale rooms and three terraces with views that are the envy of all Mardin. Unfortunately, most of the rooms don't get the views, but the large suites are a worthwhile splurge if you want to take in the Mesopotamian views during your stay. Service is first-rate and the gourmet restaurant serves excellent food though the dinner choice is often limited.
Since opening in 2013, this hotel has quickly become the best option in the Nemrut area with its comfortable and nicely furnished mid-range rooms and a decent range of facilities including a pool and sauna. The covered rooftop breakfast room has what is probably the best view in town.
As the name implies, these bright, decent-size rooms just inside Dağ Kapısı, Diyarbakır's main city gate, offer comfort and sleek modern amenities rather than character. Most guests are businesspeople from western Turkey, but the English-speaking staff is accommodating to tourists as well.
Located in a field on the edge of the east side of the old town, this is the only Syriac-run hotel in Midyat and it's popular with returning former locals.
With a pool, quiet garden, and spacious and comfortable rooms, each with a small couch, this well-run hotel is a good base for visiting Mt. Nemrut. The friendly staff can help arrange excursions to the sight.
Two adjacent old houses just below Mardin's landmark Zinciriye Medrese are simple, elegant, and filled with character, with magnificent views from rooms that are comfortable and pleasantly atmospheric but vary greatly in size. The most magnificent room, called the Şark Odasi, or Oriental Room, is a chairless lounge space, with cushions on the floor, and the roof terrace is lovely.
Trabzon's fanciest hotel, done up in an art deco–meets--Moorish style, offers large, elegant, and comfortably furnished rooms and a courteous and professional staff. The marble-lined, atrium-like lobby is topped by a stained-glass dome.
