We made the mistake of driving to the hotel which is very close to the main attractions in Istanbul. On the day we were travelling the police decided to shut down one of the main roads so the traffic was chaos. We had to negotiate our way up the hill from the Galata bridge side.
We phoned the hotel to ask about parking and they actually sent someone to us to guide us in. Your sat nav probably takes you to a road with a white barrier across it and you think that this is wrong. It isn't. You need to enter this road and the hotel is actually at the end of it. They will park your car and look after it for you.
Although this is a small hotel it provides a big welcome. The reception lobby is small but comfortable and tastefully decorated. The Reception staff are absolutely amazing and they genuinely look after their guests.
Your room is clean and tidy and well laid out with everything you need for a comfortable stay. With herbal teas and a welcome aperitif the hotels provides good wardrobe facilities, a safe and TV which also has BBC news and foreign channels.
The bathroom is spotlessly clean with soaps and shampoos and bed is very comfortable. The location of this hotel is also very good. You are within walking distance of the Blue Mosque, Topkapi, Hagia Sophia, the underground cistern and much more.
Istanbul is full of street hawkers, particularly the covered bazaar. They use every trick in the book to get your attention. Even the shoe shiners will drop one of their brushes and wait for you to pick it up and shout for them. Quick as a flash they will then be cleaning your shoes! Try and have a local with you when your are buying anything expensive as you can bet your bottom dollar that the handbags, carpets and leather jackets are twice the price the locals pay!
Breakfast at the Agora Life Hotel is excellent. They go out of their way to make sure that they provide a proper Turkish breakfast - and more! Everything is fresh and well prepared and again the hotel staff excel with their smiles and welcomes you just cannot fault it. This is a genuine family hotel run by people who actually care.
Don't miss the terrace bar either. You get a stunning view of the Bosphorous bridge and the surrounding area. The hotel has a good Wi-Fi connection and routers on every floor. Important if you are on a business visit.
Would I stop here again? You bet I would. We had friends over from the UK and also had a business meeting but it was ideal for everyone. I strongly recommend this hotel and would like to say thank you to the staff for their professional expertise and warm welcome. The owner of this hotel can be very proud of what they have achieved here.
This is a good hotel in a central location by the metro. The hotel service is outstanding with staff very pleasant and friendly. The hotel is clean and the rooms are adequate for a short stay in Istanbul. The hotel is situated in Fatih and within a ten minute walk you can be at Hagia Sophie, Topkapi Palace, The Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar.
34110
Nice little restaurant just off the main shopping area. Good service and comprehensive menu of some of the favourites of Turkish Cuisine. The Etli Iskender Kebab was very good and served with yoghurt and bread. We followed this up with a traditional Turkish sweet and tea.
The cost was 56 TL which was reasonable for Istanbul and for the quality of the food served. I would definately visit again. The heaters in the open area of the restaurant are so effective even on the coldest days you can sit outside here.
This hotel stands out on a limb away from any main centre so its not ideal if you do not have transport of your own. When you arrive you pass through a security barrier and parking underground is chargeable at 18TL per night which is not great when you consider that you are already paying to stay at the hotel.
Disappointing for a Marriott Hotel there are plenty of other alternatives in Istanbul where the bar charges are more reasonable and with better rooms. We paid 50 TL for a toasted sandwich and two beers which by Turkish standards is daylight robbery.
Check in was fairly straight forward and efficient and the staff were pleasant and helpful. The room was large but airless and with no way of opening up the windows it felt oppressive and very much a utility rather than a pleasant place to stay. Avoid the mini bar or you will be charged a small fortune as seems to be the case with the breakfast.
On the upside the rooms were clean and with all the usual facilities you would expect from a Marriott hotel. Would I book this one again? Probably not.
The hotel is listed as being in Silivri when in reality it is miles away on the E100 high road in a fairly remote location so you will need to be travelling by car if you want to book this hotel or at least have pre arranged travel arrangements booked.
The hotel dominates the skyline and is a fairly new business and convention centre with a wide range of facilities. On driving into the hotel the hotel we noticed there was an immediate problem with subsidence in the car park. A large part of the car park was sunken in and potholed. However it looked as if work was in progress to rectify this situation.
Check in was simple and effective and the hotel is clearly built to a good standard even if it does look a little clinical and cold. All the corridors are empty of any furniture , sculptures etc which might have created a better atmosphere.
The room was of a decent size with its own balcony but not particularly clean and had obviously been prepared in a hurry. The air conditioning worked well and all the usual creature comforts were present in the room. On the down side the room did smell of tobacco smoke. Whilst I do not remember being offered smoking or no smoking at booking time I would advise anyone wanting to book a reservation to confirm that they have a non smoking room if this is important to you as unless specified it is not guaranteed.
The bathroom was well laid out and everything was as it should be. The complimentary slippers were a nice touch. Breakfast in the morning was in the breakfast room by the pool. It consisted of a large selection of continental, cooked breakfast and traditional Turkish with fruit juices and tea and coffee. A fairly good breakfast in actual fact spoiled only by the fact that the orange juice is actually an orange squash rather than a true orange juice which defies belief really since Turkey is swimming in fresh oranges.
Not a bad place to stop if you have a car and want to take a look at Silivri one of the towns on the outskirts of Istanbul. It is also within 45 minutes of Ataturk Istanbul Airport with a straight forward drive along the motorway.
I used this hotel as an en-route stop over prior to catching a flight the next day from Istanbul. Because the morning flight was not too early this hotel was just the right distance from the airport for a leisurely drive in rather than have to cope with the hustle and bustle of the busy city of Istanbul. It was a good choice.
Plenty of parking and straight on to the main highway this is a good location for travellers. It is unpretencious and a bit tired in its style but the staff and managment are welcoming and go out of their way to make you feel at home here.
This is not a luxury hotel. Please judge this on your experience and the fact that it costs just £25 a night by UK prices and is so close to Istanbul. You might struggle to find this standard near the big city at these prices. The rooms are large but not as modern as you might find in some of the newer hotels. The decor is dated by modern standards but this will not stop you from getting a good nights sleep. Everything is clean enough.
The evening meal was very good. I was not too hungry so settled for some aperatif and had more of a snack than a meal which was tasty and more than adequate for my needs. They had an entertainer in the restaurant who sang Turkish songs with a good voice and with a passion. He was very good. Prices in the restaurant are quite reasonable for a hotel too.
Breakfast was perfect and I left the hotel at around 9 am in the morning. I cannot really fault this place and I would certainly use it again. I have no idea what it is like in peak season when the pool is open and the hotel is full. I would imagine the atmosphere could be quiet nice. My stay was in December at one of the quietest times of the year.
This restaurant came by recommendation. Having spent the entire day wandering around Istanbul we decided that it was time to try some good traditional food.
The Ortaklar Kebap Restaurant does not disappoint. The menu has a range of various kebabs from different regions around Turkey. There is even a vegetarian option. Just off the beaten track but still within walking distance of the main tourist attractions this restaurant is worth seeking out.
I had a delicious Iskender kebap and my friend went with chicken shish. Both dishes were well presented and expertly cooked. Although you see the small kitchen when you walk in and probably wonder how they manage to produce what they do in such a small space the results are perfect.
Service at this restaurant is excellent, They take credit cards or cash and the prices are about half that of restaurants near the tourist attractions. They also make it very clear on their leaflet that cleanliness, hygiene and health are very important here - and one look at the kitchen tells you that this is the case.
I couldn't really fault this place. You can tell that it is special because it is always busy and mainly full of locals who know that this is one of the best places to eat.
Definitely worth visiting. Give it a go!
This hotel is just 3 km away from the airport but finding it is a nightmare unless you are familiar with the city. The taxi drivers at the airport will not want to take you by taxi on a 3km run as they are waiting for more lucrative customers and will tell you that they do not know the address.
The hotels itself - once you get there - is a modern and convenient place to stop. There are shops nearby and although on a busy highway the noise is not too bad if you keep the windows shut. There is full air con so you have no reason to leave the windows open and let in all the traffic pollution anyway.
Check in was simple and straight forward. The staff were pleasant and helpful. This is a modern hotel with clean smart rooms and a complimentary mini bar which was an excellent added bonus that the hotel offers. Breakfast was also included in the booking which made this hotel very good value for money.
The rooms have a good sized TV and everything you would expect and need for your stay. The beds are comfortable enough, perhaps a little hard but everything works as you would expect and there are no unpleasant surprises.
The breakfast was good and the hotel will order a taxi for you to the airport which will cost you around 10 - 15 Lira ( about 6 Euro, £5 ).
This is a good place to stay if you need to be near the airport and don't not have a hire car to worry about finding the place. I would have no hesitation in recommending it.
Enjoy modern architecture and design during your rejuvenating stay at Ramada Encore Istanbul Florya Hotel. Our hotel is located close to Ataturk International Airport and the surrounding shopping centers.
34295
This is without doubt one of the better places to eat in Silivri. Obviously you can get fresh fish on the sea front parade but generally this is at a premium. Prices here at the Terbiyeli Restaurant are a little more reasonable although cheaper places can be found in the nearby town centre.
The daily menu price is not stated so be sure to ask and make sure that 'Todays Special' is priced rather than get a shock afterwards. It is the only thing on the menu that they do not price and if you ask the waiters what they recommend they will almost always point you to the specials.
The choice of menu is very good with a wide range of Turkish dishes being offered. The restaurant looks very smart but if you sit outside you are very near to the passing traffic and this road can get busy. Inside it is fairly airless with no air conditioning.
The food itself is quite tasty and fairly traditional by Turkish standards. It neither excels or disappoints. The service was good and timely. The total bill for a meal for two with soft drinks was 48 TL which is a little on the expensive side.