Ferman Hotel Old City -Special Category

The breakfast was plentiful with the lovely additions of freshly cut watermelon, fresh honey from a honeycomb and delicious local cheeses. The 360 view from the breakfast terrace was spectacular - an unbroken view of the Blue Mosque on one side and the sparkling Bosphorus on the other. The family room was very comfortable and had everything you would need including a small fridge, wardrobe space and comfortable beds. The staff were warm and welcoming and the location was fantastic - on a quiet cobbled street but a few minutes walk from all the action around Sultanahmet.

We had some fun trying to destinguish between the shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the shower, since they had all been refilled into the incorrect bottles. The decor in general was a little tired but this added to the charm. It was lovely to have big windows overlooking the river in our family room, which we loved to open to have fresh air, however, they opened fully (no safety catch) and there was a sheer drop outside - had my children been younger, I would have been a bit nervous about the windows.

The location of the hotel is perfect for first timers in Istanbul. Breakfast was quite decent. and the view from lounge is quite pleasing as one can see the sea of Marmara on one side while on the other side, Blue mosque and Hagia sophia. The staff at the reception is very helpful, Nuri and others at the reception provided guidance and advise in moving around Do i want to go there again ? no, because if i go to Istanbul, i would like to stay on Asian side to avoid the too much tourists and the cost associated (for everything) with touristy place. Of course being on Asian side will come with a little more hassle , but transport in Istanbul is quite good. And one can easily move around on public transports.

The hotel does not provide water for drinking. So, one has to make sure that you have enough water before you go to bed. Room lighting was ok. The balcony was quite dusty and there was no view from the balcony as the room was on -1 floor. outdoor patio swing needs replacement as well.

Decent comfortable size rooms and friendly staff that were happy to help

Breakfast selection could be better

Loved staying at this hotel. Had an amazing room with an amazing elevated sea view, and could see the Blue Mosque if we stood on the end of our lovely large balcony. Buffet breakfast was excellent and the serving staff were very helpful - from the breakfast room you could see the sea, and the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia - amazing views. Front desk staff we dealt with was excellent - the staff member who checked us in gave us a great overview of everything we needed to know on a map when we arrived and was happy to answer any further questions. It's a short walk to the key old sights, within 5-10 mins you can see the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia and then another 5 mins or so to Topkapi Palace. And a 5 min walk to a calm bazaar with a wonderful shop for fixed price textiles and Turkish towels (Jennifer's - there is a cheaper shop and a more expensive boutique) as well as souvenir shops etc. There is an amazing restaurant (Dubb Ethnic) two doors down with amazing food and a great atmosphere, as well as friendly genuine staff. The hotel itself was very quiet with a lovely laneway feel

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