Birlik Hotel

For the price, I really had nothing to complain about. My room had a nice view, and the hosts, a father and son, were friendly. I stayed three nights. The room was clean and not especially small, with restaurants, shops, and attractions all an easy walk away. It’s on a hill, though, and dragging lots of luggage over the rocky little roads would be tough. The alleys nearby can look a bit sketchy after dark, but I walked around and felt safe.

I spent six days here. The room was clean and it stayed quiet at night, and the staff were friendly. Reception spoke English very fluently. The bathroom felt a little cramped, so using the shower cabin was somewhat awkward. Breakfast was decent: not much choice, but what they had was good. I enjoyed my stay and would recommend it.

I was only here for a few days, which suited the place well. It’s clean, inexpensive, and comfortable, though the room was tiny and the bathroom even more cramped.

The check-in left the rest of our stay feeling uncomfortable. We were told right away that we’d need another hotel because my girlfriend and I aren’t married. I pointed out that the reservation was nonrefundable and included my phone number, so they could have contacted me beforehand to say unmarried couples couldn’t stay. After I pushed a little, they let us remain. The location is good, and the rooms are decent but nothing special. Breakfast was okay. The bathrooms had poor ventilation and some mold, and the AC didn’t cool the room or remove moisture, so opening the window was the only way to cool off. It’s a price-performance kind of stay. For something better in Istanbul, you’ll have to pay more.