This was my first trip to Istanbul after nearly a lifetime of dreaming about it and I can say without a doubt that I picked the perfect place to stay.

Serçin's place is so centrally located near everything you may want to see on a trip to Istanbul: transit, restaurants, sightseeing, and shopping. But also, it's tucked away on a smaller street so you can easily escape the hustle and bustle of the city when you need to.

And I needed to! Istanbul can be overwhelming to a first time visitor, and I found myself going back to the flat just when I needed a few minutes of peace. From the art on the walls, the funky carpets and drapes, and the well-thought out finishing touches, it was my sanctuary. I would sit on the comfy couch and read, or even better, go out into the amazing garden to relax, before going back out for sightseeing. Serçin provided maps and recommendations for what to do and eat and how to get there that proved invaluable to this lost American, even helping communicate with my cab driver to find the place upon arrival.

The kitchen was on the smaller side like you would find in any major city, but it was nice having the option to cook when I wanted. Serçin provided some basics, including coffee, tea, and eggs (why do eggs in Turkey taste so much better than in America?). The bathroom was a good size (watch the low door though!) and the water ran nice and hot with good pressure. The flat itself had heat that worked great, though I only needed to turn it on twice.

Serçin also really saved me by providing wifi which ran off a mobile 3G hotspot. She allowed me to take it with me as I explored the city, which saved me more than once, since I had trouble accessing wifi throughout Istanbul. Hint to change your settings to cancel auto-downloads: I accidentally went through too much data but Serçin was great and let me buy more!

I definitely plan to go back to Istanbul, and if I can stay there again, this will always be my first choice.