Berk’s apartment is fantastically located for sightseeing and tourism despite some steep walks which you will get all over the city. His and his team’s warm welcome and hospitality were key in keeping us at this location, especially when an ac stopped working and a technician was sent out quickly to repair it. Berk and his man Beyram were very responsive with helping with taxis, suggestions and advice. However we had a few other issues which sadly dulled our experience in Istanbul.
There is no A/C in the living room making the spot a bit warm in the evenings. There is a fan though, and opening up the terrace means huge mosquitoes.
The bathroom shower is unfeasibly moldy on the floor and ceiling making it somewhat hazardous to those with allergies or breathing issues. The toilet downstairs is cramped and the commode improperly secured to the floor, making use uncomfortable.
The terrace area is not private in that all neighbours overlook the space from their balconies.
A flooring separator and door jamb section came off during our stay from improper fastening and the staircase is unsafe for small children without a bannister or pole. If some of these issues were fixed up, I’m sure the space would match Berk’s hospitality which was accommodating and very helpful. Berk provided amenities such as welcome basket of snacks, drinks and wine and his man Beyram was a very cheerful and helpful aide for our reported issues. Also the PS3 does not play games or DVDs but was good for Netflix.
This was a mixed bag of a stay but the host’s hospitality made all the difference.