Hasan made our very short stay (one night) memorable by going above and beyond the call of duty: introducing us to his barber (my husband badly needed a cut) and to a great local cafe. His flat is cosy and warm on a cool evening, with a great selection of tea and a comfortable bed. Hasan is a generous host and an excellent Turkish-language tutor!

His apartment is perfect for anyone wanting to experience a real Turkish neighbourhood. In the Asian side of Istanbul, Pendik is a characterful suburb of the old city, with links to the centre (the Metro now extends out to Pendik and will soon be heading to the airport). It is about 10 minutes from the airport by cab, but make sure you call Hasan so that he can give the driver directions -- we got lost on our way to his apartment, and then caught up in road works, but that was completely our fault because we did not! Our return journey, on the other hand, was quick and trouble free.