Quirky and Friendly (Hotel Poem (Istanbul))

Member Name: llamass

Product:	Hotel Poem (Istanbul)
Date:	29/05/09 (23 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clean, great views

Disadvantages: Small so book ahead for rooms in high season

Hotel Poem is an excellent small hotel in the mid-range of prices and with a quirky, family feel to it. The name of the hotel comes rom the fact that the 16 rooms are named after famous Turkish poems (which are displayed, translated into English). Together with the friendly staff the hotel seemed to really care about the people who stayed in it and wanted them to have a good time.

The location is ideal awith around five minutes walking time to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. The hotel is at the foot of Terbiyik Solak Street (No. 12), just off Akbiyik Caddesi a main road in the ancient Sultanahmet area. The hotel offer airport pickups.

The rooms varied in size a little although they were all quite small. One of the rooms we stayed in (we moved because we wanted two beds not because there was anything wrong with the first room!) was really very small so with the double bed in the room there was only space to squeeze past at one side. All the rooms were spotlessly clean as were the en suite bathrooms. The bathrooms were of a reasonable size, with large and powerful showers. There are two superior rooms available and although I did not see them they were a level above the other rooms and supposed to have great views across the Bosphorus river.

The breakfast is included in the price and is a buffet of cut fruits, cheeses, breads and pastries as well as the normal coffee, tea and juices. All the food was fresh and tasty. There was also a dinner menu although I never ate in the hotel apart from breakfast. They also served cold beer and soft drinks throughout the day.

The hotel is in a renovated 19th century house and has an outdoor patio area where you can relax in the sunshine. Also there is a rooftop terrace that offers fantastic views over the Bosphorus, old town and up towards the Blue Mosque which is illuminated at night.

The hotel costs are as follows in EUROS (note high season is March to Nov, plus the Christmas holidays):
Single low-45; high-55
Double or Twin low-70; high-80
Triple low-80; high-95
Superior room 'Listening to Istanbul' low-100; high-130
Superior room 'All of a Sudden' low-120; high-150

The hotel can be booked online at www.hotelpoem.com, and there are also contact numbers for booking by phone.

Summary: Unusual little hotel that is excellent value for money