The Istanberry flats were exactly like in the pictures. Clean and bright. Our hosts were incredibly helpful and nice. Their office which is really 15 seconds away can deal with any request you might have as a tourist. The neigbourhood...is what one would describe as run down..but I would just describe it as "real". Real people, real markets, real shops, real everyday life. It was very central you can walk to Taxim and to the tunel and to the metro and to the Tram. The "run down neighbourhood", is only 2 blocks away from the very busy main shopping street of Istanbul Istaclal. So really it's just around the corner. The market on Sundays was an amazing experience (we were asked to share breakfast with the men in the market and welcomed to their make shift table) .I loved watching the "real" market people set up around 09.00 in the morning (so you won't be woken up), and it went on until 20.00. Then the take down, which was also very interesting to watch, ended at about 24.00 when the gypsy kids and finished gathering up the carrots and lettuce leaves and the street cleaners and finished cleaning up. They have a hair dryer, although it is not listed, they gave me an icepack for my sore back and an extra pillow when I asked for it. Istanbul is a noisy city , but this area was fine. You could also hear the Imam calling for prayer in the distance , which was nice but not ripping you out of your sleep. Their shower was amazing. really strong pressure and always hot water , which is important when you have been walking for 10 hours. I can only recommend it! Thank you very much!!