Before my stay here, I was staying at a five star hotel fourty minutes away from Taksim. I was looking for a different, authentic experience and it was exactly what I got here. Very central and right in the middle where everything is happening. I was concerned that it might not be safe, because travelling as a single female can be daunting, but it wasn't an issue at all. The location is close to a taxi stop too.
Very good value for money, maybe the cheapest in the area. I will admit, it is noisy at night but you soon learn to rather join the crowd and take a powernap in the afternoon.
I can definitely recommend if you are not looking for something smart. There are so many things to do in the area.