First things first, the view from this flat is stunning. It’s exactly what I was hoping for. Also there are all the amenities - towels, plates, cups etc - that you could need. I did enjoy my short stay here.
However, there were some small annoying issues with check-in and the apartment itself that could have been avoided.
The check-in process that the host has set up is that you get the address and directions when you land at the airport via text. This means you have to buy a local SIM card immediately at the airport as US phones don’t work outside of the country. It’s a pretty easy process, but not sure what the business hours are so if you’re arriving early or late in the day this could be a big problem.
I had endless back and forth about what time I would arrive so someone could meet me at the apartment to give me keys. I had no way of knowing how long it would take me to get there from the airport and I had to field lots of calls asking how much longer I would be. It would be much easier if a key was left somewhere to pick up and address was given beforehand.
The apartment is very much centered around the view. It’s actually not a very comfortable place to sit and relax.
When I first arrived there were a number of blown light bulbs throughout the flat and no batteries in the much needed air conditioning: I had to go shopping to get all of these. Also, the lights on the upstairs terrace are broken which made it difficult to enjoy at night.
The building itself is very old and in serious need of repair. If you don’t know that Istanbul can have amazing apartments in dilapidated buildings this could be a rough introduction.
Lastly: please heed the warnings about the six flights of very steep, winding stairs. If you cannot physically pick up your luggage, you will have a very hard time reaching the apartment with it: the stairs are too steep to haul a case up step by step. And, bring a flashlight, or be ready to use the one on your phone: lots of the lights are not working along the hallway.