Ali's old-town apartment is particularly great if you are the first time in Istanbul and want to enjoy more touristic activities. Many main attractions are in walking distance. The tramway is a 5-10 minutes walk downhill, the next metro station is also in walking distance (uphill). This is an old building which has been renovated, which means it has great atmosphere and a great location. The downside (especially as a business traveler) is the lack of some mod-cons like a washing machine and you can pretty much hear everything of what your neighbours are doing. Overall a great place with a lot of personal charme.