This is a lovely, well-located apartment in the heart of Cihangir. I have a couple of pros and cons that might help:
Pros:
- Ozgur is a great host and is very responsive to text messages. She was not in Istanbul during my stay but helped me order water-cooler sized bottles of water, and was quick to respond if I had an issue.
- The location of the apartment really is perfect. It is just a stone's throw away from the water's edge and the tram line, a 10min walk to the Kabatas ferry. There is a taxi station just around the corner. Grocery stores and restaurants galore. There is nothing you would have to leave this area to find.
- It is generally a quiet street, a street or two away from busy restaurants.
- The apartment is perfect size for a solo traveller, long term.
- There are just 4 steps to the apartment, so a huge plus for those traveling with a lot of bags.
Cons:
- This is the host's apartment so it is well lived in. I am quite particular about cleanliness, and I found that it wasn't as clean as I was expecting. For a long term rental, I wasn't expecting water marks on reflective surfaces or dust on shelves.
- The bathroom probably needs a once-over by a handyman... the shower fixtures are falling apart, and the sealing of the shower is lacking. Some of the skirting boards are loose, and stick out. But these are all pretty easy fixes.
I think that the pros way outweigh the cons in this airbnb, and the cons are easily remedied.
I would absolutely recommend staying in this sweet apartment, in the coolest area of Istanbul!