We had a REALLY GREAT time exploring Istanbul while staying at Roda&Chiko's place. The location was wonderfully close, not only to the famed Galata Tower, but also to convenience/grocery stores, ATMs, and fun neighborhoods. The nearby cafes, bakeries, and restaurants were top-notch, and we could walk to them within minutes. In fact, we were able to walk to most places during our stay, including across the bridge to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and other sights. We walked to our Bosphorus Cruise. We truly enjoyed ourselves and got in better shape in the process. Also we were able to catch a cab very quickly on our way back to the airport.
Other positives are: aesthetically pleasing place with balcony, lots of windows, and lots of light; comfortable, firm bed that appeared to be king size; plenty of towels; good closet and drawer space; and good communications with the host. We didn't mind that the place required quite a climb to get to (some taxis will get you right to the Galata Tower, but several others dropped us at the foot of the hill, saying that was as far as they could go), and then required four flights of stairs. The first day it was a bit difficult to get our luggage up the stairs (thank goodness we only had carryon bags), but the climbing got easier and easier as we got into shape.
In the interest of providing full information for the traveling public, I should mention some minor issues, although they did not prevent us from having a great time. The shower required constant adjusting to avoid getting too hot or cold, but we could still take comfortable showers by doing so. We ran out of hot water for awhile, but Chiko sent someone to fix it within a day. The toilet paper must be disposed of in a trash can due to the age of the building and its plumbing, but this should not be bothersome to most people who are used to foreign travel. The wifi/cell connection was not reliable all of the time. However, unless you are traveling on business, these issues were not serious, and should not deter anyone from booking this wonderful bargain of a place in the perfect location. Loved it!