Istanbul Hotels & Grand Bazaar
|
||
 |
"In Istanbul, just direct people to the Pera Palas hotel, tell them to eat there most of the time, too, and don't worry about them any more. Great place, pure 19th Century British Empire-with Ottoman overtones-cheap, safe, and unbeatable. We had lunch at the Hilton once, just for the hell of it, and what a drag that is!" (Dr. Dean H. Obrecht, Rochester, New York)... "The Hotel Teras is across the street from the University and the entrance to the bazaar. The location in the old city is perfect far transportation and for sightseeing.
As far as we could discover, most Istanbul hotels are either "Hilton type" or below what we could take. Teras was recommended by an American embassy friend and we are most happy to recommend it to others" (Frank L. Esterquest, Oxford, Ohio)... "We liked the Alp Hotel, in the Beyoglu section (European), near the end of Ataturk Bridge and on same street as the British Embassy. Very Clean, view of the city and water from our room. The proprietor speaks English and is exceedingly helpful. Breakfast is available in the hotel dining room. This is by far the best value we found in Istanbul" (Mrs. Barbara Papesch, Switzerland)...
"After checking many other hotels, we came upon the Hotel Sedir, right across the street from the Pera Palace; rooms were very nice and, with a bath included. One tip that should be remembered when dealing with the Turkish hotel people: always have agreed-upon prices written out and be sure to double-check all addition" (Mr. & Mrs. James Hester, Binningen, Switzerland)... "Although technically in Europe, Istanbul is a fascinating and essentially oriental city; anyone who can spare the time should visit it. I had a plain but comfortable room at the Gar Palas hotel, across from the station, and I was told that the Ipek Palas near the station, one of the better hotels" (Henry S. Sloan, New York, New York)...
"Istanbul is a really exciting and cheap city. (1) The starvation budget hotel area is Sirkeci, 4 blocks to the left of Galata Bridge in the old city. Fifty or so cheap hotels the Büyük Eskisehir and the Ipek Palas are both good and clean. (2) Kadiköy, on the Asian side (ferry from new city side of Galata Bridge) is another good area to explore. In the first two blocks to the left of the ferry landing are two clean, good hotels. First is the Marmaris, second is the Kordon (English spoken here). Between these two hotels, still on the Bosphorus, is a superb 2nd-class restaurant, located on the street corner. We recommend 2nd-class ('2ci sinif') restaurants all over the city, by the way.
They are always small but clean, and they have excellent food. (3) Trips: from the old city side of Galata Bridge, take a ferry up the Bosphorus to Sarujer, a lovely two-hour trip past the ancient fortress, the Ottoman mansions and the wooded hills-all for few dollars. At Sarujer landing is a Big Splurge restaurant, Canli Balik, the most beautiful eating place we found in two years in Turkey. We had lunch there-I an omelet and salad, my husband kraney kebab; but watch the menu carefully... out over the Bosphorus. The bus back to Taksim Square takes 45 minutes... Bus from Yeni Camii (old city end of Galata) goes to the Archaeological Museum, Topkapi Sarayi (the best sight in Turkey perfect gem of the decadent grandeur that was the Ottoman Empire), Aya Sofia and the Blue Mosques... Don't miss the Karye Museum, the most beautiful Byzantine mosaics we've seen. It's hard to find though. Take the Edirne Kapa bus to the end of the line, and then ask... Covered bazaar prices are lower in the morning, because the guided tours come by in the afternoon.
...Big Splurge: Abdullah Restaurant on Istiklal Caddesi, about 4 blocks down from Taksim Square on the left. Marvelous food. Stick to the beautifully prepared Turkish food, and you can have a real dinner" (Nan and Jim Borton, Alexandria, Virginia)... "Try the Piknik Restaurant, 40 Istiklal Caddesi, Beyoglu, where you'll get any kind of Near Eastern food, and a goodly selection of the American-European variety, perfectly prepared and served. Good cellar. Very cheap and interesting Turkish cuisine may be found all over Istanbul, but often in surroundings which simply cannot be tolerated by those people who desire cleanliness.
The Istiklal Caddesi is a good street on which to hunt for places similar to the Piknik" (Mrs. Barbara Papesch, Switzerland)... "A good meal can be had at the Konyali restaurant across from the railroad station" (Henry S. Sloan, New York, New York)... "For a good, cheap restaurant, walk out of the Hotel Sedir and turn right; follow the street until it widens, and on the right you'll see a little cafe with a neat-looking blue and white color scheme... "All European marketplaces, bargaining, and goods pale before Istanbul's 'Grand Bazaar,' a labyrinth of tunnels, arcades, and courtyards which could take a most demanding shopper days to go through.
Luckily there are some good, cheap, and rather clean restaurants in the Bazaar. Suede coats, made to measure.. quite matchless gold and silver jewelry at all prices... Yo could buy brilliantly colored woven cloth, dinner-table size... antique finds of every type... sigh" (Mrs. Barbara Papesch, Switzerland)... "Anyone can enter the famous mosques, free, but there is a fee for the museums. The boat trips up the Bosphorus and to the Princes' Islands are also inexpensive and highly worthwhile" (Ted & Lynn Kotzin, Los Angeles, Calif.).
|
  Beauty Health Fashion TravelIstanbul Hotels & Grand Bazaar
|
