This is one of the best vacation Airbnb's I have had the pleasure of renting. Firstly, the comfort and cleanliness of the apartment is to die for. Clearly Mesut and Eylul have designed the apartment as if they would live there. Everything we needed for a weeklong vacation in Istanbul was ready and available. The 3 large and 1 small bedrooms were comfortable and spacious. The kitchen was well stocked with all utensils and cooking requirements. The luxury of laundry washer/dryer was very convenient especially with 2 young kids. Being on the 4th floor, the plenty of sunshine was very refreshing. After long days around Istanbul, we always looked forward to the comfort of coming 'home' every night.
Secondly, the LOCATION is AMAZING being literally 20 feet from the door of the building to Galata tower. For a first time in Istanbul, it was very helpful to always have the tower as a reference point. Also with Tram about 5-10 minute walk down the hill to Karakoy station, one can easily go north to Dolmbache palace or south to Hagia Sophia/Grand Bazar. Also, the Metro is a 5 minute walk up towards Istiklal St or even just walking through the lively Istiklal St itself all the way to Taksim Square (You can also take the trolley through Istiklal St). Basically this Apartment is perfectly located for someone who wants a central location to all that Istanbul has to offer. Having said, being on a hill, there is a A LOT of walking but one should except that given they are coming to Istanbul. Also, the walk up to the fourth floor can be tiring but honestly is a good exercise for a young family with no elderly. I would also say that some taxis have difficulty getting to this location because of the narrow roads and traffic during peak hours. But easily resolved if you take public transportation or have the taxi drop you off near the base of the hill and you walk up.
Thirdly is the roof terrace which itself is worth the price of admission. The Galata Tower Observatory is literally a stone's throw from you. Waking up to a morning cup of coffee or an evening meal on the Terrace is very pleasant experience. This is also with the unbelievable view of many major attractions/locations. Who needs Galata tower when your apartment provides the same views?
Fourth, Mesut and Eylul were excellent in communicating well ahead of the trip and addressing our concerns such as providing a crib for our baby. We needed to delay our trip by 2 days and they were accommodating as well since the listing was not reserved. They always responded instantly and even offered to coordinate transfer service from airport. Mesut and his friend met us during checkin and even helped us carry our luggage to the apartment! Overall our Istanbul experience was simply amazing and the 'Oasis' played a huge part in making us feel at home while exploring this beautiful city.