The apartment was very nice, though smaller than it looks on the pictures. Still it was tidy and comfortable, with good beds and shower. There was enough place for 3 girls to get ready in the morning and it does say something. Nida was a great host: she welcomed us on arrival (even though it was Friday after 8 pm), recommended us main places to see and places to eat at, the evening before leaving she called us a taxi to the airoport and early in the morning her husbund was there to see us off. Nida speaks very good English and her husbund speaks Russian.
The neighbourhood might arise mixed feelings in someone who never been to Istambul, because there are some gloomy-looking desolate houses around Tarlabasi bulevard. Don't be alarmed! They are soon to undergo renovation and, if you trust Orhan Pamuk, do create a special Istambulian atmosphere of melancholie. In fact the always crowded nighlife-restaurants-shopping Istiklal street is literally 5 minutes away from the apartment. If you follow directions provided by hosts you'll enter it in front of Galatasaray Lyceum, which is almost the middle point of the street. To the right of you will be old Galata neighbourhood and the streets going down to Bosphorus and to the left Istiklal leads straight to Taksim square (both destinations are about 10 minutes walk from this point). Basically, if you are still unfamiliar with all abovementioned landmarks you only need to know that this is a great location! Also there are small shops around the corner from the apartment where you can by necessities and there is a nice little bazaar near Istiklal (Sahne sokak next to Cicek Pasaji).
In general the apartment and hosts left a very good impression, I will definitely recommend this place to a friend.