Elif's guesthouse is very welcoming and feels just like home. It is just a 5 minutes walking distance from the Blue Mosque, the Ayasophia and the Topkapi Palace. . We loved our room overlooking the street and with a view of the Golden Horn. Especially the four poster bed and stylish local mosaic lamps and wall hangings. Although small, it had everything we could need, including a fridge,a TV, a dressing table,a cupboard with spare blankets and a safe...and for a very good price! The bathroom was impeccably and spotlessly clean with all amenities. Apart from an electricity outage for a short while the first night , we were amazingly comfortable and felt incredibly safe. The entrance door is automatically locked, there was cctv for security, and the young lads at the reception were courteous and professional to a fault. All our bookings and guidance for tours were arranged within minutes.
Elif herself is a warm and helpful person. We felt that we had known her for ages, although we were just meeting her for the first time.
The breakfast was a huge spread of local delicacies, including olives prepared in different ways (our favourite), we were totally spoilt for choice!
Finally, the courteous service and help did not end at checkout. We were thoughtfully guided to place our luggage at reception on checkout so we could spend time sightseeing before departing for the airport. We were also requested to help ourselves to tea or coffee on the terrace while we waited.
All in all, it was an extraordinary experience for both mother and daughter traveling alone and via Airbnb for the first time.