Saban is a very gracious and understanding host. His English is extremely good, and he’s always ready to help or give a recommendation based on what you need. He provided us with a map and circled all of the amenities that we required in the city – including grocery stores and laundry facilities.

The location was near the city walls of Theodosius in the Sultanahmet neighborhood – it’s a 10 minute uphill walk to the Aya Sofia, Blue mosque, hippodrome and the tramway station. There are only a few good places to eat within walking distance. The call to prayer can be heard from this location – so bring ear plugs.

The apartment itself was quite large, and the beds were firm but really comfortable. Even though it’s an apartment, a cleaning service comes in to sweep, mop, shake out rugs, change sheets, provide new linens, do the dishes, etc… The apartment did smell of cat urine, but when we pointed that out, the cleaners tore the place apart and bleached everything (I assume). The smell was gone by the time we returned that afternoon.

I was not thrilled at the heavy metal gate slamming all night as residents returned from their daily adventures, and people in the hallways were SO loud sometimes. After one particularly long night of the LOUD people staying next door and the guys smoking on the stoop outside our window until 3 am, Saban stepped in to offer us other available rooms and talked to the men outside (who then ceased chatting at all hours!!). We really appreciated the extra attention.

I would recommend this as an alternative to staying in a hotel – especially in this neighborhood.