TO ERTÜRK
For me, the most important part of an Airbnb is the hospitality of the host, and Ertürk is the epitome of a gracious host. Ertürk was friendly, patient, genuine, and generous from the start as were his father and his girlfriend. My booking process took several days, as I was unsure of my travel plans. Ertürk messaged me throughout, providing me with information while remaining patient with me. When I confirmed the booking, he was flexible and accommodating regarding my arrival time. His father met me at the flat to greet me, and he even carried my obscene amount of luggage up the stairs- bless his heart. Ertürk was available at all times to answer questions about any issues that arose. He, his father, and his girlfriend were also available to help me with an unrelated, private emergency.
TO THE FLAT
This was the fourth Airbnb I stayed at in Istanbul (During Lockdown December 2020 to January 2021), and it was by far my favorite. I prefer Airbnbs to hotels, because I dislike the cold, generally unclean atmosphere of hotels. Ertürk’s flat is the complete opposite of that. The best part about Ertürk’s flat is that it really feels like it could be your own home. You can tell that someone else has lived here and has cared for the apartment as their own. The flat looks just as it is seen on the pictures with the addition of some new plants. It is spacious and also the cleanest flat I stayed at. The lighting is warm and provides a cozy atmosphere. Warm water and heating all work very well, even in the wintertime, and a fan is available for the summer. I did not use them, but a TV and record player are available for use, and the WIFI works well. I specifically booked all Airbnbs with a washing machine and kitchen in case lockdown restrictions might apply to tourists. However, this was the first kitchen I actually cooked in, as that it had way more than the bare, cold necessities that most Airbnbs provide. Well thought out details such as really good knives, a great vegetable peeler, huge refrigerator, and big stove all made cooking in the open kitchen very easy and enjoyable. These details are what make the difference between a simple flat and a “home”. Take out delivery with GetirApp or the Yemeksepeti App also works well. The washing machine is labelled in English, and there is a drying rack in the apartment as well. There was also a good amount of cleaning supplies available for longer stays. In total I extended my stay twice and ended up staying for more than two weeks. If I could have stayed longer, I would have.
TO THE LOCATION
3 of the 4 Airbnbs I visited were in this area, so I was already acquainted with the area. A fruit and vegetable market, a bakery, and a corner store are all within 2-minute walking distance of the flat. A bus stop is also within 5-minute walking distance which would take you to Karaköy Tram 1 station, allowing you to access the main tourist attractions (Mosques, Bazaar, etc.). Taksim Square (and the Taksim metro station) are within 10-minute walking distance from the flat. During night the biTaksi app will get you to the basic places for 2-5EURs.
I am thankful to Ertürk for his hospitality and hope to be back soon. Should he ever travel to Austria, I would gladly host him there as well.