We booked a presidential suite, but they gave us their more expensive king’s suite, which, though slightly smaller, has a balcony with a great view of the Blue Mosque. It was very comfortable. We picked this property because we could walk to the mosques and the Topkapi palace, and that proved quite easy to do.
The people were very nice and accommodating. Fatma of customer relations greeted us and remembered us at breakfast. Manager Ozan treated us to a refreshing apple tea while signed in. Here something we had not expected occurred. We had pre-booked tours of Hagia Sophia and Topkapi, but it turns out Ozam was able to offer us private tours for less than or equal to the price of the group tours we pre-booked. Since we had our bookings, we did not take his tours, but when we go back in the future we will.
If you have not stayed in a predominantly Muslim country before, you will find the people are wonderful hosts. You will hear the Muezzin calls to prayer from the mosque minarets five times a day, including before dawn, but that is part of the atmosphere, and we didn’t mind.
Expect many people to try to sell you handmade carpets in Turkey. Even the hotel retains a carpet shop from before it became a hotel. There is also a spice and sweets shop attached.
Overall, we felt this hotel was a very good choice, and will book it again when we go back in the future.