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"fabulous"
I loved the Pera Palas. Its true it has faded grandeur but sooner or later it will be restored and so will the prices. The rooms are huge
beautiful bathrooms many with standing baths, great location.
Stay before the prices rocket!
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"Reliving History"
Well, this is simple. I love History and I waited for a long time to meet Istanbul. So, in order to keep the "Otoman" spirit for a week, nothing better than live for a week in the heart of the Empire. If you prefere "ambiance" instead of confort, this is your Hotel. If you are one of those who travel and stay in the hotel with the spa's, tennis courts, golf courses, commodations, etc, probably, Pera Palas is not your Hotel. Probably, Istanbul is not your city. To meet Istambul, the "real thing", you have to stay in Pera Palas. It's situated in the best place of the town: not in the tourist zone of Hagia Sophia or Blue Moske (a zone completly dead at night), but in the modern zone of the town, with bars, restaurants, shoppings and, mainly, life. For me, the day was to meet the turistic town (Hagia, Blue Moske, Suliman's Mosk, etc.), and, at night, you have to meet the other Istanbul,the modern one. So, for all these reasons, i think Pera Palas is the perfect hotel to stay in Istanbul.
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"Great hotel full of character, in best part of Istanbul"
LOVED the Pera Palas.
Had a huge room with views, was once quite opulent, but now faded (as is the whole hotel) but still was amazing charm and beauty.
Got a great deal on the room, by booking directly with hotel - and thought it was absolutely worth the price (we stayed a WEEK there!)
Location is actually fantastic, you are right in the hippest part of Istanbul with tons of cafes, restaurants, bars, and shopping withing a five minute walk (plus one of the most architecturally distinctive parts of the city). Great neighborhoods all around it, and it is (thankfully) AWAY from the tourist hustling of SultanAhmet - we found that to be extremely tiresome to be constantly harrased by touts in Sultanahmet. Taxis are $4 to get to Sultanamhet during the day, and at night, you are already in the heart of things.
Can't recommend it enough - thought it really made our stay in Istanbul fabulous.
Oh, we first booked three nights via the hotel website (cuz we were not sure we would want to stay there the whole time), and then we went to the front desk and got an even better rate for the last 4 nites - something to think about.
If you're looking for more upscale rooms/environmen, the Marmara is right across the street (great bar, great views) - but is three times the price (but also has a rooftop pool that we were dying to go into!).
From the elevator, to the lobby boys, to the large room, to the cool neighborhood, we loved it.
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