Out of all the places I was able to stay in Europe, this was by far the most charming. It's in an area of Istanbul that is "up and coming" with a lot of young people and expats. The location is wonderful, a very short walk to a lot of coffee houses, restaurants, and bars. It's a 10-15 minute walk to a train stop that will take you directly to the famous Blue Mosque. It was also a 10-15 minute walk to Taksim Square. Though the location is extremely convenient, the area we stayed in tended to stay very lively until the wee hours of the morning, even on a Sunday night. For light sleepers, this could cause some issues.

Pelin was extremely welcoming, patiently waiting for my sister and me to arrive from the airport in heavy traffic. She also walked us to the apartment and was sure to give us recommendations on places to visit. She was also very responsive to all questions and concerns we had during our stay.