Aylin's apartment and communication was absolutely fantastic. She quickly responded to any messages that we sent and was there to greet us on arrival. The apartment is exactly like the pictures; it seems brand new! Aylin told us a bit about the city and recommended places to eat, tips for sightseeing, etc. It's around a 10 minute walk from the Galata Tower and the main high street which is full of shops and restaurants (and leads to Taksim Square). We didn't use public transport when in Istanbul, we walked everywhere. Couldn't have asked for a better apartment or host. If we come to Istanbul again, we'll definitely be seeing if Aylin has anything available.