We had a great weekend in Istanbul staying at Pamir's apartment. Despite being away, he ensured that his friend was there when we arrived to greet us at the flat. We were given three sets of keys, which was great, and meant our group was free to split up and travel around as they pleased.

The Kadıköy area, east of the Bosphorus, is a good choice if you want a laid back, quiet place to stay but still want easy access to the centre. The Marmaray train or a ferry from the harbour just next door will get you to the centre within one hour travelling time from the apartment (and both options are cheap). The neighbourhood is mostly small streets with many local shops and cafes, but a big shopping centre is also within easy walking distance.

The rooms and facilities provided in the apartment matched well with what we saw the description and the photos. If I am back in Istanbul in future with a group of people I would definitely consider staying here again.