The hotel was beautiful. The staff was excellent and extremely accommodating. They helped us ship our treasures back home. The location is great, you are within walking distance of the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Cistern, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. Take a private tour and you'll get to see areas of Istanbul off the beaten track. You can book it through the hotel. It's well worth the money. My wife and I visited during the Ramadan holiday. If you can do it, do it, we felt welcome and very comfortable. All the cafes and shops were open. The people we met were happy we visited their country. Safety was a non issue my wife and I felt very comfortable walking around during the day and at night. Don't believe everything you are told about Istanbul in the news. Not true!!! Visit and you won't be disappointed.