• traveled 14 years ago
Hotel. Cozy, clean, pleasant four in an urban style. pros 1. Breakfasts are hearty and tasty. 2. Observation circular platform on the 5th floor - a magnificent view of the city. In summer you can sunbathe, there are showers and a bar (open in summer) 3. spa center - until 1.00 swimming pool, hammam, sauna, gym - free of charge.
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Hotel.
Cozy, clean, pleasant four in an urban style.
pros
1. Breakfasts are hearty and tasty.
2. Observation circular platform on the 5th floor - a magnificent view of the city. In summer you can sunbathe, there are showers and a bar (open in summer)
3. spa center - until 1.00 swimming pool, hammam, sauna, gym - free of charge. Very pleasant interior. There is a bar. The pool is deep, don't let the kids in alone.
4. Russian-speaking staff at the reception and in the spa
5. Smoking is prohibited on the territory of the hotel, a fine of 70 lira. However, some individuals smoked in the spa and no one said anything to them, unfortunately.
Minuses
1. If the windows of your room face the restaurant, you will listen to music from the speaker until one in the morning, in addition, at 5 am you will be awakened by a call to prayer from mosques, and at 7 am neighbors gathering for breakfast. We changed the room to a quieter one (without problems and surcharges).
2. It takes 3 stops to get to the city center by light metro.
Where to eat.
(also suitable for the hotel Zurich, which is opposite the Mosaic. )
They ate in Laleli and in the city center. Prices from 30 to 50 lire with absolutely the same quality ($ 1 - 1.5 lira) for a dinner for two.
Useful-
Exit the hotel and go left along the mini-supermarket, where you will be met by the colorful owner of the "divorce cafe". You will recognize the owner immediately - he looks like Al Pacino.
Apparently, tourists who have just arrived at the hotel get to him, tired and with bulging eyes, thinking where to eat. (which we were). We took 1 plate of dumplings, 1 portion of kebab (in the plate with kebab there is already a spoonful of rice, french fries and greens, that is a side dish), 1 glass of beer and a cup of tea. They paid 35 dollars. Moreover, he signed the “tax” on the bill (for what I don’t know, it just adds 5 dollars to the bill). In the morning we already realized that we were divorced. Then we went to eat at the Gulen cafe (from the hotel to the left past the divorce cafe around the corner of the house, again to the left. Walk 5 minutes.
They took $ 20 - 2 large bowls of soup (by the way, very tasty and satisfying), salad, 2 portions of meat (all portions of meat already include a side dish, so it makes no sense to order something like potatoes or rice), tea.
On the opposite side of this cafe there is an eatery "Ali Baba", they pack food with them (I sent my husband for dinner, when after the storm of excursions there was no strength left in the evening))). There is also a bakery of sweets (cheaper nowhere seen). We took a lot of sweets by weight with us home.
Tours
We went from some travel. In the city - 65 dollars per person. Walk along the Bosphorus - $ 50 per person. Do not toil, do not throw this money down the drain, walk yourself, learn for yourself.
Useful
1. be sure to buy a guidebook and a map (better in advance, although they are sold in Russian everywhere in the center). At the airport, the counters with free cards were empty.
2. main mini-excursion
- Exit the hotel in a straight line to the avenue where the light metro runs.
Buy a token ( 1.75 lira; I remind you 1 dollar on average 1.5 lira). You are at the Laleli University stop. If you stand facing the university, then go right to the center.
At the next stop - the Grand Bazaar, at the third - Sultana Khmet (the stops are announced, the metro map hangs at the stops). Visit Hagia Sophia (10 lira), Blue Mosque (free, by the hour; schedule on the end - you need to go around the main entrance on the right), to the right and up from Sofia - Topkapi Palace (25 lira per person, along with a visit to the harem; advice - in Topkapi is a must take an audio guide, otherwise it will not be interesting - 20 lire per person; you can also take a live guide).
There are a lot of cute cats in the square and in general everywhere. Animals are well-groomed, affectionate, sociable, survive at the expense of tourists and residents. We didn’t finish our portions of kebab (large ones) and always wrapped part of it in a napkin for cats. It's nice to be full yourself and share with someone else. Noise makers on strings for cats are sold on the square.
There are also dogs, they are thinner, apparently not held in high esteem. In Topkapi, the cats are very hungry, they eat bread. By the way, there is a cafe with a view of the Bosphorus. Very beautiful.
The Galata Tower is a must! Istanbul from a bird's eye view (10 lira per person): We go further from Sultanahmet to the right to the final one, transfer to a new train in the same direction, to the stop "galata". Next, crawl up the streets (when you crawl with your legs, you will understand why I put it that way; ). The tower has a cafe overlooking the city. Be sure to visit. A seagull will fly to you outside the window. Treat her with something by opening the window. (Great photos provided).
A walk along the Bosphorus costs 10 lira, i. e. 6.6 dollars (independently without a guide), 25 dollars per person with a Russian guide is sold on the square near Sofia, 50 dollars per person was through our travel agency. As the saying goes, feel the difference.
Near the Mosaic - the Sheikhzade mosque and the aqueduct built 345g (100 m walk through the park of the mosque)
Weather in January.
Cool, windy, rainy, 6 degrees, the water runs down the streets ankle-deep. Frozen like dogs. There is no time to walk around the city. Be sure to take warm clothes and rubber boots (which were so fashionable this season; the girls will understand me). She regretted that she did not come in a winter coat. Then the weather improved and the sightseeing round of the city optimistically intensified.
Useful at Istanbul Airport
The charter back was delayed, the prices at the airport are crazy. On the top floor there is Sbarro - 18 lira per person a set lunch - salad, side dish, knuckle, pizza kusman, tea.
Tour operator and travel agency NEC TRaVEL
I will write a separate review, they deserve it (in the best sense of the word).
Generally
A beautiful city.
Cozy, clean, pleasant four in an urban style.
pros
1. Breakfasts are hearty and tasty.
2. Observation circular platform on the 5th floor - a magnificent view of the city. In summer you can sunbathe, there are showers and a bar (open in summer)
3. spa center - until 1.00 swimming pool, hammam, sauna, gym - free of charge. Very pleasant interior. There is a bar. The pool is deep, don't let the kids in alone.
4. Russian-speaking staff at the reception and in the spa
5. Smoking is prohibited on the territory of the hotel, a fine of 70 lira. However, some individuals smoked in the spa and no one said anything to them, unfortunately.
Minuses
1. If the windows of your room face the restaurant, you will listen to music from the speaker until one in the morning, in addition, at 5 am you will be awakened by a call to prayer from mosques, and at 7 am neighbors gathering for breakfast. We changed the room to a quieter one (without problems and surcharges).
2. It takes 3 stops to get to the city center by light metro.
Where to eat.
(also suitable for the hotel Zurich, which is opposite the Mosaic. )
They ate in Laleli and in the city center. Prices from 30 to 50 lire with absolutely the same quality ($ 1 - 1.5 lira) for a dinner for two.
Useful-
Exit the hotel and go left along the mini-supermarket, where you will be met by the colorful owner of the "divorce cafe". You will recognize the owner immediately - he looks like Al Pacino.
Apparently, tourists who have just arrived at the hotel get to him, tired and with bulging eyes, thinking where to eat. (which we were). We took 1 plate of dumplings, 1 portion of kebab (in the plate with kebab there is already a spoonful of rice, french fries and greens, that is a side dish), 1 glass of beer and a cup of tea. They paid 35 dollars. Moreover, he signed the “tax” on the bill (for what I don’t know, it just adds 5 dollars to the bill). In the morning we already realized that we were divorced. Then we went to eat at the Gulen cafe (from the hotel to the left past the divorce cafe around the corner of the house, again to the left. Walk 5 minutes.
They took $ 20 - 2 large bowls of soup (by the way, very tasty and satisfying), salad, 2 portions of meat (all portions of meat already include a side dish, so it makes no sense to order something like potatoes or rice), tea.
On the opposite side of this cafe there is an eatery "Ali Baba", they pack food with them (I sent my husband for dinner, when after the storm of excursions there was no strength left in the evening))). There is also a bakery of sweets (cheaper nowhere seen). We took a lot of sweets by weight with us home.
Tours
We went from some travel. In the city - 65 dollars per person. Walk along the Bosphorus - $ 50 per person. Do not toil, do not throw this money down the drain, walk yourself, learn for yourself.
Useful
1. be sure to buy a guidebook and a map (better in advance, although they are sold in Russian everywhere in the center). At the airport, the counters with free cards were empty.
2. main mini-excursion
- Exit the hotel in a straight line to the avenue where the light metro runs.
Buy a token ( 1.75 lira; I remind you 1 dollar on average 1.5 lira). You are at the Laleli University stop. If you stand facing the university, then go right to the center.
At the next stop - the Grand Bazaar, at the third - Sultana Khmet (the stops are announced, the metro map hangs at the stops). Visit Hagia Sophia (10 lira), Blue Mosque (free, by the hour; schedule on the end - you need to go around the main entrance on the right), to the right and up from Sofia - Topkapi Palace (25 lira per person, along with a visit to the harem; advice - in Topkapi is a must take an audio guide, otherwise it will not be interesting - 20 lire per person; you can also take a live guide).
There are a lot of cute cats in the square and in general everywhere. Animals are well-groomed, affectionate, sociable, survive at the expense of tourists and residents. We didn’t finish our portions of kebab (large ones) and always wrapped part of it in a napkin for cats. It's nice to be full yourself and share with someone else. Noise makers on strings for cats are sold on the square.
There are also dogs, they are thinner, apparently not held in high esteem. In Topkapi, the cats are very hungry, they eat bread. By the way, there is a cafe with a view of the Bosphorus. Very beautiful.
The Galata Tower is a must! Istanbul from a bird's eye view (10 lira per person): We go further from Sultanahmet to the right to the final one, transfer to a new train in the same direction, to the stop "galata". Next, crawl up the streets (when you crawl with your legs, you will understand why I put it that way; ). The tower has a cafe overlooking the city. Be sure to visit. A seagull will fly to you outside the window. Treat her with something by opening the window. (Great photos provided).
A walk along the Bosphorus costs 10 lira, i. e. 6.6 dollars (independently without a guide), 25 dollars per person with a Russian guide is sold on the square near Sofia, 50 dollars per person was through our travel agency. As the saying goes, feel the difference.
Near the Mosaic - the Sheikhzade mosque and the aqueduct built 345g (100 m walk through the park of the mosque)
Weather in January.
Cool, windy, rainy, 6 degrees, the water runs down the streets ankle-deep. Frozen like dogs. There is no time to walk around the city. Be sure to take warm clothes and rubber boots (which were so fashionable this season; the girls will understand me). She regretted that she did not come in a winter coat. Then the weather improved and the sightseeing round of the city optimistically intensified.
Useful at Istanbul Airport
The charter back was delayed, the prices at the airport are crazy. On the top floor there is Sbarro - 18 lira per person a set lunch - salad, side dish, knuckle, pizza kusman, tea.
Tour operator and travel agency NEC TRaVEL
I will write a separate review, they deserve it (in the best sense of the word).
Generally
A beautiful city.
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