Grand Seigneur, Istanbul

Advantages: 3* Hotel in a 5* location
Disadvantages: Noisy rooms.

.... The nearest tram stop is a 5-6 minute walk from this hotel. Each station is located usually in the middle of the road surrounded by a security rail. You pay YTL1.30 ( about 55p) at an adjoining kiosk for a "jeton" The jeton will get you through the turnstile and once inside you can tram around all day until you take another turnstile to get out. The journey down to the water's edge and the Galata Bridge is very scenic and passes the outer stone walls of the huge Topkapi museum . The Galata Bridge effectively divides what is called the Golden Horn from the Bosphorous and is the arrival and departure point for most of the ferries and tourist boat trips. Taking the tram the other way brings you within a short walking distance of the Kapilicarsi or Grand Bazaar. which I didn't have time to see but had some good write ups. To me, Istanbul... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Princess Islands
Disadvantages: Constant Haggling

...I reccommend Istanbul as a must for any traveller. It is the most beautiful city that I have been to and i have travelled my share of the World. The highlights of this bustling city full of people has to be the Blue Mosque for me. Its amazing Architecture reaching back several hundred years is truly an amazing sight. The high domes and the intricate detail on the Inside with domes and arches merging into each other is truly a sight for any mathmetician/architect to view. My first thoughts were how did they make it with the tools they must have had in those days. To add to the delight of the Mosque there is a truly delightful garden with winding pathways and a beautiful fountain in the middle. One can sit on the benches surrounding the fountain during the hot summer days and feel the gentle spray of water on ones face. Istanbul also... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: everything is cheap and good!
Disadvantages: no one speaks good english, strange(pervers) religion, infernal trafic

...Simply incredible experience! Though I do not recommend you to go alone by yourself, esspecially if you are a woman. Many and great museums, palaces to visit, great cafes and great candy with lots of fistic, also very much and cheap kebap. If you are not very shy you will be also able to obtain very good prises for various things in the Grand Bazar. Trick: never show them how much you want a think, the more enthusiasm you show, the more they will grow the price. Also never tell them that you actually come from the UK, USA or an highly developed country, chose Romania, Ethiopia some country where people don't have very much money, in this way they will also lower the prices a bit more. Remember: there is no such thing as a fix price in Istanbul! I went to DHS to send a package to Romania, knew that DHS is a seriours company, here... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful