While Germany is closed for lockdowns and Christmas vacations I decided to work remotely over the holidays. So I decided for Istanbul and Taygun's apartment. Since my company's servers are located in Germany and the US, I was preoccupied whether internet connection would work, including all VPNs and firewalls. For two weeks I had stable connection, reliable 50mbs download/10 upload. Daily zoom calls with video, shared desktops, working on shared documents from multiple PCs in parallel, streaming YouTube on the background. No probs.
And I love sitting in videocons and watching marine traffic in Bosporus!!!
The location is outstanding: a calm street in the middle of a vibrant neighborhood. All public transportation (metro, bus, tram, ferry) within 10 minutes of walking distance.
The apartment is fully equipped: kitchen with sharp knives, olive oil, salt and pepper; washing machine with detergent; towels, shampoo and soap.
Taygun is a great host! Overwhelmingly kind and responsive. He can organize the transfer, give advices, share with you best places in the neighborhood. I love his cafe Jupiter close nearby!
Possible downsides: the street of the apartment is a narrow dead end, frequently blocked by the cars of people living there. You might think twice if you travel on the car and need a parking slot available. Moreover, Istanbul is a city on the hills, often with steep slopes. If you stay in this apartment, be prepared to climb the stairs. Both staircases on the streets and iron stairs within the house. The apartment might look pricy when you compare with what you can get in other areas. But, location and quality justify the price.
I love this apartment, absolutely recommend it!