The Sapphire hotel lies in the old town of Istanbul, conveniently located for visitors who want to do sightseeing. It's in walking distance to Topkapi palace, the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market and the ferry terminal (from where one can go on a Bosporus tour, cross to the Asian part of Istanbul or go to the Golden Horn). Our room was small but had everything we needed for a pleasant stay. The room and bathroom were clean and room service did a great job for our entire 5 night stay. The beds were comfy and the TV also had international channels. The bathroom was fully equipped with hair dryer, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel and a little kit with a nail file, cotton buds and cotton pads. We even managed to go to the pool, whirlpool and sauna during our stay. For which the supplied bathing robes came in handy. The facilities were basic but nice. The breakfast catered for all preferences. From traditional Turkish breakfast with a wide variety of cheeses and olives on offer, as well as fresh tomatoes and cucumber, to cake, Müsli, fried sausage, scrambled egg, boiled eggs and lots of fresh fruits. The even had a little counter where one could get a fresh omelette to your taste (choosing from a variety of fillings). The staff was very friendly and helpful too. If you stay several nights, they even offer free one-way transport from Attatürk airport. I arranged this prior to our stay via email and it all worked fine. We arrived late at night and with delay, but nevertheless were greeted at the airport by our driver. The return cost 20TL each.
We enjoyed our stay at the Sapphire hotel and would stay here again. read more