Meltem's flat is a fourth-floor walk up in a small apartment building in a middle class neighbourhood within easy walking distance of the Kabatas tram station, located downhill (with its direct connection to Sultanahmet), and the Taksim metro station & Gumussuyu bus terminus, both uphill. All the windows facing east--living and dining rooms & bedroom--have great views of the Bosphorus and the Asian side of Istanbul beyond. You could spend hours, as we did, just sitting by the window and watching the traffic on the water, day or night. The flat itself is small but everything you need fits into this compact space. We were a family of four and the sofa bed in the living room expanded to easily accommodate our two, pre-teen kids. Meltem had thoughtfully provided enough bed linen and towels for us all. The air conditioner in the living room cools the entire flat. We didn't cook in the flat, preferring to eat all our meals out--Istanbul is great for the variety and taste of its cuisine--but there is a fully equipped kitchen should you choose to prepare your own meals. There is a grocer at the bottom of the next building, and for longer term supplies, a supermarket just after the Mercure Hotel on Inonu Cd. We were there during Id-ul-Fitr (Seker Bayrami, in Turkish) and unfortunately I fell victim to a pickpocketing incident on a crowded tram, losing my wallet and all its contents. Beyond just commiserating, Meltem and her partner, Erdinc, were nothing short of fantastic in helping me contact my bank back home at very short notice. We're grateful, too, to two of their friends and neighbours, who helped out separately, at check-in and later when I had my wallet stolen. We would definitely stay in their warm home again.