Shahrzad did everything possible to make us feel welcome in her flat. The directions she gave to get to the apartment from the airport were excellent and we found it with no problems. Shahrzad had to be at work when we arrived, but her mother was home to greet us and get us settled in, even offering us tea and chocolates. It was a really lovely welcome after an early morning and long travel day. The apartment is large and airy, and the decorations and color choices make the place feel hip. It is across the street from a bus that takes you directly into the old city. Whenever we were in, Shahrzad was always offering for us to hang out, have coffee, or play cards. She gave us good recommendations for things to see in the city, and even lent us a reloadable Istanbulkart for the public transit. We felt very lucky to find a good place to stay with a great host. We would absolutely stay again!