Kondoskali Hotel

A nice, inexpensive place to spend the night, around 20 minutes from the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. There are lots of gift and clothing shops, plus restaurants serving Turkish food, and public transport is only a few steps away. The building has several floors, and breakfast is available. It's simple but filling. The reception staff are pleasant and good people. We could communicate partly in English, and they could also use a translator app. They helped us a lot when it was time to leave: in the middle of the night they put us in a taxi, and we got to our pickup point without any trouble. Wishing you prosperity, with thanks from tourists from Ukraine.

Finding a huge bedbug under the sheet was the point where we knew we couldn't stay. I had checked the Airbnb reviews before booking, but hadn't seen the Google reviews yet. The room wasn't ready when we arrived because the previous guests had only just left, so I can't judge how clean it was after housekeeping. The rooms were tiny, despite the wide-angle photos, the floor panels were warped, and it was very hot even on a cloudy day. We hurried back to reception, with only a photo of the bedbug. We'd arrived two hours before check-in after confirming we could leave our backpacks while exploring Istanbul. The listing called the place a boutique hotel, but it felt like an old building converted at minimal cost. We'd also read that our apartment was on the fifth floor with no lift; we hadn't expected such steep stairs and a narrow staircase. At the fourth floor we found the top floor, and our rental had been built on the roof, probably illegally. Carrying suitcases up would have been a real challenge. The neighborhood felt wrong for a family. Getting off at Yeni Kapi, we saw shabby streets and mostly male characters who seemed dubious. Some nearby buildings were ruined, and others within about 50 metres had been burned out and abandoned. It felt unpleasant by day and risky to return to in the evening. The owner tried to reassure us that it was safe. We'd booked three nights through Airbnb for over 180 euro including commission. The photos and location had looked appealing, near attractions and the metro. If the listing had named the hotel, I could have searched its reviews first and perhaps avoided having our family holiday in Istanbul ruined. When we told the owner staying was out of the question, he just shrugged and said the booking was non-refundable, so we wouldn't get our money back. I called Airbnb support. They were sorry about our experience, but accepted his explanation that the room hadn't been cleaned and told us we should check in after 2 pm. Their proposed solution was for us to wait with the children until bedbugs came out from the bed corners, then photograph them. I couldn't accept that. I wouldn't consider this place. What you get doesn't match the pictures. Check Google Street View and the reviews first, and avoid it. Don't count on Airbnb support either. This was probably our last booking with them.

The terrace was a highlight for us: it has a great sea view, is free to use whenever you like, and you can take your meal up there. From the room, we could hear seagulls because the hotel is so close to the water. We stayed three nights as two women traveling on a budget. The room was very clean and uncluttered, and the towels were fresh and smelled nice. We had hot water in the shower, which can apparently be an issue in the neighborhood. Breakfast was included in the price and looked like the photos. Getting around was easy. The train station is about a five-minute walk, the metro around 15 minutes, and the tourist and historic sights are all within roughly 20 minutes on foot. There are six floors including the terrace, with rooms on five floors, and no elevator. That could be hard if you're carrying luggage or traveling with a baby. Special thanks to Mr Ali, who carried our bags to the room door and answered all our questions. For the price, I recommend it. We had a lovely trip and I'd choose this place again if I get the chance.

Ali was such a kind, sweet person, and we were lucky he was the first one to welcome us. The location is great, close to lots of tourist attractions. There were cockroaches, though, and the place isn't suitable for older people.