The pictures of the apartment were accurate, and travelling with two children under the age of two, we appreciated the elevator - something that the majority of residential buildings in central Istanbul lacks

The neighbourhood is vibrant and fun. The area is hilly and it was a bit of a challenge to get around with our double pram, but this was something we knew about before booking and we still chose to stay here because of the cafes, shops and restaurants nearby. It felt like the genuine, authentic Istanbul we wanted to get to know. A bit like the Lower East Side in Manhattan rather than the touristy Time Square experience.

We stayed while there were protests over authority's handling of the mine explosion, and there were some rockets fired on the street right outside the apartment. Though we were worried, Ali gave us a lot of support and offered us help should we wish to relocate. The protests quickly dispersed and life in the streets below resumed as normal and the rest of our stay passed without incident.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Istanbul and our stay at Ali's apartment. It is somewhere we would happily recommend to our friends.