Budget Istanbul Hotels
Budget Istanbul Hotels for under $70
Most people do not know that Istanbul has a number of decent two and three star hotels. Many tourists just take an inclusive package deal and probably end up paying exorbitant sums for hotels in Istanbul which have nothing more to offer than décor compared to the 2 and 3 star budget Istanbul hotels. Since most of the time in this great city you will be spending outside of your hotel room, visiting all the many sites of Istanbul, sampling the wonderful cuisine of Turkey or sitting in a cafe and watching the life in the streets, , it is really not worth spending a lot of money just to go to sleep in a 5 star luxury hotel which will cost you a fortune costs a fortune. Many of these small, inexpensive hotels in Istanbul are family owned and very charming.
One great hotel which will suit the budget traveler is located near the cultural center of Istanbul, is known as the Elan hotel. With a superb view of the Golden Horn and close to a major transportation center, the Elan Hotel is a gem. With 47 single and few double rooms, this hotel is often packed all year round. The Elan Hotel also has a bar and a decent restaurant which you can dine at, but outside there are many more cafes which offer excellent meals at lower prices. All the rooms at Hotel élan have Air Conditioning, a mini bar, TV and decent bathroom facilities. The cost for staying at the Elan Hotel is about $40-$50 a night, depending on season and availability.
Avicenna Hotel
The Avicenna Hotel is another superb budget hotel which is offering some great discounts at the present time. Located just minutes away from the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, the wooden house hotel has been renovated several times and now is a combination of traditional Turkish culture and modern day western decor. Each of the rooms is enriched with the latest gadgets – free internet, cable TV, mini bar, babysitting, laundry, etc. The hotel offer exclusive comfort with great service. You will find the hotel also has a Terrace restaurant and bar, should you want to stay in for the night. The cost of staying here is only $70.a night, depending on the package you can get from the Avicenna Hotel.
Another great budget Istanbul hotel at Hocapasa Sokak No. 36 is the Turvan Hotel situated in the Sirkeci district, near the Topkapi Palace, St. Sophia and the Blue Mosque and very close to the railway terminal. The Turvan Hotel is surrounded by transportation links to most places in Istanbul. The hotel is next to the Grand Bazaar with its sweet aromatic smell delicious cashew nuts and roasted pistachios and wonderful shopping, and the Yerebatan Underground Cistern. The Turvan Hotel has decent rooms, tastefully decorated with modern Turkish furnishings, which are clean and tidy and the service is great. There is a restaurant, bar and large Turkish bath in the hotel for guests. For only $45-$60 a night, one can get to enjoy the best of budget hotels Istanbul.
The Grand Seigneur Hotel Istanbul is an old inn which has been converted into a hotel. It has undergone extensive renovations which today reflect the glorious Ottoman architecture during different eras. The Grand Seigneur Hotel has only 22 rooms and from each room one can obtain great views of the Bosphorus and Topkapi )Palace. Guests at the Grand Seigneur Hotel are not treated as customers but as royalty. The cost of staying this hotel is starts at 77 euros if you book from their website at www.grandseigneurhotel.com.
With the current recession, this is perhaps the best time to visit Istanbul,Turkey. Almost every budget hotel has big discounts and many even offer tour packages at low cost. The majority of budget hotels in Istanbul have web sites where bookings can be made. Usually, the hotels will offer cheaper prices if someone books through their own website rather than through a hotel booking site. However, check out prices and compare before you book your budget Istanbul hotel room. For those who have never been to Istanbul- a word of advice. Pack light and take an extra empty suitcase because you will be coming home with a lot more than what you bargained for. The shopping is wonderful in Istanbul, from leather clothing, carpets, fabrics, candies, colorful glass lamps, spices, the list is endless as to what you can pick up in the way of souvenirs on your Istanbul vacation.
