Self-catering in Istanbul

Q: We would like to find self catering accommodation in Istanbul for a week in April 2012 for two. Maybe you could suggest something central a bit out of the usual tourist area. - Pam Reeders

A: You will find a vast number of apartments for short-term rental in Istanbul. Spend some time going through websites and you will soon get a feel for what is available and the current pricing. Most of the apartments will be on the European side of the city, especially in the Taksim Square area of the city. This is a great place to stay if you want to be close to restaurants, shops and entertainment. If you prefer to be close to the Bosphorus River, the areas to choose are Bebek, Kurucesme, Arnavutkoy and Rumeli Hisar. Good areas in the hills overlooking the river include Etiler, Ulus, Levent and Ortakoy. I checked the www.only-apartments.com website and two apartments caught my eye. The first was a duplex apartment in Taksim, which was available for 437 Euros for seven nights, including all fees. This spacious modern apartment has internet access, a washing machine, satellite TV, air conditioning and heating, and a doorman. The second unit I liked was a charming one-bedroom apartment located in the vibey Sultanahmet area of the Old City. Named Apartsultan, it was on offer for 100 Euros per night. You can go to the Istanbul section of the www.housetrip.com website for a selection of decent apartments. The rates of those I checked were around 70-90 Euros per night, but some were as low as 47 Euros per night. You can find other interesting low-cost options on the www.flatsinistanbul.com website, including a small studio for 39 Euros per night. If you are considering an upmarket apartment, try the www.istanbulplace.com website, which features units selected and renovated by a Turkish-British family. (4/9/11)