We just got back from visiting Istanbul, and images continue to bombard me (in a good way). We absolutely loved the boutique hotel we stayed at – Witt Istanbul Suites (http://www.wittistanbul.com/). By American standards this is a 4* hotel, but I found the services and the classic, modern design (both beautiful and functional) to be a 5* experience. Arguably, the biggest draw backs are it is in the newer European section (Cihangir) and it requires climbing up a very steep hill. On the flip side, it boasts a great night life (this is the art district, full of a lot of young and hip people), a lot of great clubs / restaurants, and gives you plenty of exercise to help burn off that incredible Turkish food! Here’s a great blog posting I found which captured the essence of the hotel (via pictures):
If you go, be sure to snag either a Sea View Suite (corner room, as high as possible), or better yet, the Penthouse. All reasonably priced, including an extensive breakfast.
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