Doruk is an awesome host, and his apartment is amazing (it's currently worth $1 million, actually). It's located in the hip and young part of Istanbul near Galata Tower (the SoHo or West Village of Istanbul, if you will), which is so much more fun than staying near the Blue Mosque (think crowded Times Square!). There are lots of great coffee shops, juice bars, lunch and dinner places, ice cream stands, clothing stores, etc. in the area. It's very easy to get to any of the attractions from here via a tram (Doruk will give you a pass that you can recharge), and it's a quick walk away. The Blue Mosque, the Spice Market, the Grand Bazaar, the Hagia Sophia are all within minutes on the tram. We were a group of six, and we rented two apartments (one above the other). The first floor apartment has two levels and an awesome bridge overlooking the downstairs. Many bedrooms. A full kitchen with a big table to enjoy a snack with friends. A washer. A huge TV with hundreds of channels (including ones in English). An amazing value. Also, we asked Doruk to join us a few times for drinks/dinner, and he was always available on WhatsApp when we needed suggestions on places to eat or things to do. He instantly responds to emails and AirBnB messages as well. Can't wait to be back! Doruk, that was the best trip we've had so far!!!