Hotel Flash: Cost-effective, comfortable & convenient
I was actually waiting for a room at Seref Hotel but it took us long time waiting at the lobby and I was dead-tired from a 17-hour bus trip from Trabzon and we arrived at dawn in Istanbul and bide our time until 10am. We tried Seref because I had a pleasant stay there in 2009 but this time, they had us waiting and it's already around 12nn - and they didn't remember me when I stayed a week there less than a year ago only.
We went out and drag our luggages and spotted Hotel Flash just beside it, I've pass by this hotel several times in the past though I thought it was sleazy --- I was wrong.
The old man in the reception is kinda grumpy-looking but turned out to be ok. He asked us to wait until 1pm for the available room which is only less than half an hour, sure glad we did.
He gave us a room on the 4th floor (418 I think), facing the main Tarlabasi Boulevard which I really like. Although noisy at night, it was minimized when the 2 windows are closed, but the view of the city is really nice at night.
Just don't expect hotel amenities and the usual stuff and staff - only a receptionist, a lady room cleaner and a guy who'll show you to your room, period
The location is perfect, 3 minutes walk to Istiklal Caddesi - the happening street, 10 minutes to Taksim Square, 10 minutes or less to Tunnel tram. Dolmush to Aksaray that will connect you to the tram to Sultanahmet is on the other side of the road as well as those big buses.
The room is surprisingly big, beds are old but ok, unlike standard hotels which normally have either white sheets or uniformed colours, the bed sheets are in odd colours (see pics) but they change it after 2 days. Even the towels are in different shades of stripes. Much like your regular towels at home ... or not.
Odd or even... it made me feel comfortable, I had a good vibe about this hotel. I did not get the hotel-feeling, there's a sense of freedom though. It's like an apartment room but a lot better than a hostel - with in-room toilet shower and your privacy - at hostel price? The toilet shower - though clean - a slight problem with puddle of water when you start showering, the water stays on the floor, instead of flowing to the drain, which was cleaned anyway by the nice lady who make up the room in the morning.
There's an elevator, and you can leave your luggage at the lobby if your flight is in the evening. No breakfast though.
At TL 50 or EUR26 for two people - huge room, lots of space for your stuff and to move around, it can even sleep 3 - no complain. I like it - my budget love it - and I highly recommend it for people on hostel budget who needs privacy (EUR 26 for 2 is even cheaper than most hostels in Istanbul).
basic, simple, no fuss, cheap and a nice window view of the city.
