Your choice of a hotel is an important part of your vacation. If things are not going your way – the traffic’s horrendous, the weather’s not cooperating and you arrived at the museum just after it closed – there are some things you do not have control over! But it’s nice to know that you can come back to your hotel room and chill out.
Here are some things you must consider when choosing a hotel:
- Decide what level of comfort you want vis a vis your budget. Of course, the lower the stars, the less services you should expect. So it really depends on whether it’s okay for you to have a simple room or a hotel that provides you all the services you want. You should balance your preferred comfort level with how much you’re willing, or able, to spend. Remember, though, that the closer to Sultanahmet you are, the more expensive the rates. Most probably, you can find a better room somewhere else that costs just as much.
- Choose a hotel that provides what’s important to you. What would you like – a warm and comfortable bed, a hearty breakfast, a room with a view, a room in a historic building? It does not necessarily follow that all of these can be found in one hotel. Do you want to be close to the historic sites, or do you consider the commute part of the holiday experience. If being connected is important for you, choose a hotel that offers wi-fi internet, so that you can bring your laptop and surf during downtimes.
- Shop around. Look at the forums and travel websites that provide reviews of the different hotels. This can help you make your decision.
Here is a short (and partial) list of hotels in Istanbul:
A’jia Hotel www.ajiahotel.com
Anemon Galata www.anemongalata.com
Ansen Suite www.ansensuite.com
Antik Hotel www.antikhotel.com
Apricot Hotel www.apricothotel.com
Arena Hotel www.arenahotel.com
Ayasofya Pensions www.ayasofyapensions.com
Bentley Hotel www.bentley-hotel.com
Blue House www.bluehouse.com.tr
Ceylan Inter-continental www.interconti.com
Cihangir Hotel www.cihangirhotel.com
Ciragan Palace www.ciraganpalace.com
Deniz Konak www.denizkonakhotel.com
Dersaadet Hotel www.dersaadethotel.com
Eresin Crown Hotel www.eresinsultanahmet.com.tr
Fehmi Bey Hotel www.fehmibey.com
Four Seasons – Bosphorus www.fourseasons.com/bosphorus
Four Seasons Hotel www.fshr.com
Galata Antique Hotel www.galataantiquehotel.com
Germir Palas Hotel www.germirpalas.com
Hotel Armada www.armadahotel.com.tr
Hotel Empress Zoe www.emzoe.com
Hotel Erguval www.erguvanhotelistanbul.com
Hotel Niles www.hotelniles.com
Hyatt Regency Istanbul http://istanbul.regency.hyatt.com/
Les Ottomans www.lesottomans.com
Lady Diana Hotel www.ladydianahotel.com
Lares Park Hotel www.laresparkhotel.com
Lush Hotel www.lushhotel.com
Marmara Istanbul/Marmara Pera www.themarmarahotels.com
Misafir Suites www.misafirsuites.com
Ottoman Hotel Imperial www.ottomanhotelimperial.com
Pera Palas Hotel www.perapalas.com
Pera Rose Hotel www.perarose.com
The Point Hotel www.pointhotel.com
Radison SAS Bosphorus www.radissonsas.com
Richmond Hotels www.richmondhotels.com.tr
Ritz Carlton Istanbul www.ritzcarlton.com
Sapphire Hotel www.hotelsapphire.com
Sari Konak www.sarikonak.com
Sirkeci Konak www.sirkecikonak.com
Sofa Hotel www.thesofahotel.com
Sude Konak www.sudekonak.com
Sultan’s Inn www.sultansinn.com
Sultanahmet Palace Hotel www.sultanahmetpalace.com
Sultanhan Hotel www.sultanhanhotel.com
Sumahan www.sumahan.com
Swissotel www.swissotel.com
Villa Zurich www.hotelvillazurich.com
W Istanbul www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels
WOW Convention Istanbul www.wowconventionistanbul.com
Yenesehir Palace www.yenisehirpalas.com
Zeugma Hotel www.zeugmahotel.com
Hotels that are worth a mention include the Pera Palace, where Agatha Christie was said to have written her famous novel, Murder on the Orient Express and the Ciragan Palace, which used to be home to Ottoman Sultans but is not restored and reconstructed into something more modern.