Aylin was the perfect host. She arranged a cheap, prepaid taxi to collect us from the airport and drop us off at her apartment with minimal fuss. She arranged every restaurant booking for us - as well as last minute rearrangements when we got caught up sightseeing - and she was quick to respond to every question thrown at her, using the Airbnb app. Nothing was too much trouble! The apartment was brilliant - practically brand new, squeaky clean, great natural lighting and most importantly, right next to the exciting sights and sounds of Beyoglu. The Bosphorus is within walking distance, or if you prefer, a nearby funicular will take you there in minutes (a lifesaver coming back up the hill). The metro station is a also just round the corner, making the whole city really accessible.
We had a wonderful stay in Istanbul and I can heartily recommend Aylin. Currently she's our AirBnB host to beat.