The best period do visit Istanbul is from late May through to early September, when you will get a lot of sun and treated by mild temperatures.The high season, from June to August offers a lot of arts and music festivals worth attending, however that is also the time when the city is the most crowded and prices reach their peak.
Low season, from November till April is when you can spot grey smog hanging over the city, however, temperatures are still really mild in autumn and winter. The advantage for visiting Istanbul off season is lack of hordes of tourists that cause hoteliers to offer best hotel deals possible. Many arts and sporting events, religious festivals as well as public holidays throughout the year interrupt regular rhythm of the city, therefore it is wise to check what’s on calendar before planning your itinerary. Some sights may be closed and the city becomes packed with locals enjoying their day out.
As for attractions, the one place not to miss is Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, regardless whether you like shopping or not. The unique atmosphere of this site will make you remember this trip for life. This maze of little streets filled with small shops, goods overflowing counters and eager shopkeepers seldom leaves you empty handed after the sightseeing. It is usual that you will receive about 50% discounts on anything you can lay your eyes on, as long as you negotiate with the salesman. If you find Grand Bazaar a place to visit more than once, there are several hotels offering great hotel deals conveniently located near the site.
The Ministry of Tourism has introduced star rating system, that is well known worldwide, to rate most hotels in Istanbul. Therefore you can expect basic but comfortable one star hotels up to luxury five star hotels. There is also another licensed type of accommodation, similar to bed & breakfast hotels called Special Licence Hotels and guest pensions. The safest and most convenient areas to stay in Istanbul are around city centre, where it is advised to stay, especially if it’s your first trip to Turkey’s capital. Sultanahmet district is perfect for major tourist attractions and only walking distance from Grand Bazaar.
Istanbul has observed recently growth in the number of luxury hotels. It is quite common to find a hotel belonging to international chain, where you can expect the same quality of service worldwide. Most 5 star hotels are placed in areas that boast views of Marmara or Bosphorus as well as nearby finest international restaurants. Very often hotels offer popular Turkish baths, that are very important attraction to enjoy because of the tradition as well as the experience on its own.
Due to various exchange rate it is common to find quotes for accommodation in Euro or US Dollars. Usually the price includes breakfast, however it is worth to double check before booking. Difference in high and low season may be as high as 40-50%. Also Christmas period tends to be more expensive, however it is not the case every year, usually depending on the availability of hotel rooms. If you intend to stay longer, you may be able to negotiate a better price for the extended stay. Most discounted rates are easy to find on last minute hotel booking websites, so it is quite convenient to book a cheap hotel in Istanbul without moving away from your desk. Because of the nature of cooperation between hoteliers and online booking sites, very often you will find that booking directly with hotels may be more expensive. Therefore it is worth shopping around online before you make any final decisionsA
Author: John Legend, writer for 5 star hotels in istanbul, image by watchsmart
