Our accommodations while in Istanbul were at the Hotel Legend - A lovely little hotel that was the right combination of comfortable, well located and affordable (I was a student after all).
It was a well worn but clean hotel with absolutely no chain hotel feel whatsoever. The rooms were small but had private balconies and very cool views. The location couldn't be beat and was walking distance from most of the sites of central Istanbul, as well as great restaurants and an internet cafe. The man behind the counter delighted in trying to teach us Turkish phrases. Most of all the cost was extremely reasonable. Our stay here the first week was paid for out of our tuition but I came back through Istanbul and stayed here in a private room for $50.00/night - this was of course several years ago (2004).
The hotel had a little gift shop, a great restaurant, roof top patio with awesome views and a hookah bar. I got very used to having a cup of tea in the evenings on the rooftop patio, listening to the evening call to prayer from the Blue Mosque just a couple blocks away. I think it is part of a regional chain, but it certainly doesn't feel like a Marriott. It's still there and under the same name:
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Above left: The Hotel Legend. Above Right: Peykhane Caddessi, the street that runs in front of the hotel. Left: Hotel staircase. The elevator was ancient, fit two people and didn't have a door. Below: Views from the Rooftop patio. |
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Above: The hookah bar - Kate, Abe and Squirt. Left: Aksakal Sokak, another street near the hotel. Views of the Blue mosque from the patio. |
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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Daren Willden, unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.