Istanbul's rich history, ancient buildings, galleries and museums attract large numbers of visitors. It has emerged as a popular city break destination in recent years with a growing reputation for hip bars and clubs. Tourists and business travelers are well-catered to with accommodations ranging from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels. Research and planning on the Internet before travel can make booking a hotel in Istanbul a simple task.
Study a map of Istanbul before starting to look for hotels and decide where in the city you want to stay. Istanbul is a large city with many neighborhoods, spread across both sides of the Bosporus. Many tourist friendly hotels are located near central attractions, so make sure you are searching for hotels conveniently located near what you want to see.
Use websites that specialize in Istanbul accommodations to research hotels. Istanbul Hotels and Istanbul Stay are two useful resources. You can search by class of hotel, price range and location. These sites list the facilities offered by individual hotels and may offer discounts for lengthier stays booked through them.
Look on independent websites such as Tripadvisor, which provide genuine reviews of accommodations from recent guests. Check the ratings given by recent visitors and the comments made. Take a look at Tripadvisor's forums for Istanbul and see if there are comments about a particular hotel or area of the city that you are interested in staying in.
Find out if a hotel you like has its own website. Many Istanbul hotels have their own sites, and you will be able to find greater detail about the hotel's amenities and rooms. Look also for information on transportation links and restaurants if you plan to dine out. You can also contact a hotel directly with inquiries from its website. Compare prices on the hotel's own site and on the hotel listings sites, and book the best deal.
Try the Late Rooms website if you are trying to find a room in Istanbul at the last minute. This site offers accommodations at reduced rates as hotels look to use unsold rooms rather than leaving them empty. You can check for rooms and rates and book online or by phone.
