Eastern Mediterranean: Accommodations Listings
Included in this section:
72. Peloponnesian Highlights: Overlooked Greece (Finikoundas)
73. Turkey's Hot (Istanbul, Güzelyurt, Samos, Kusadasi)
72. Peloponnesian Highlights: Overlooked Greece
Sleeping in Finikoundas
(€1 = $1.40, country code: 30)
Korakakis Beach Hotel is the best inexpensive hotel in town, with fine rooms and beach views (tel. 2723/071-221, korakaki@otenet.gr).
For cheap rooms in a private home, try Dhomatia Alexis Tomaras (tel. 2723/071-378).
73: Turkey's Hot
Sleeping in Istanbul
(€1 = $1.40, country code for Turkey: 90)
Sleeping near İstiklal street (İstiklal Caddesi) puts you right at the center of the living city. This hip part of town never sleeps. From restaurants, cafés, theatres, and art galleries to bookstores, fashion boutiques, rock bars, and jazz clubs, there's something here for locals and visitors of all ages. In the New District, you can melt right in and become part of the colorful scene.
Prices are listed in euros here and at most Istanbul hotels, because the euro is a more stable currency than the New Turkish Lira (YTL). Hotels will take cash payment in YTL or euros, and all of the recommended accommodations accept credit cards.
Hotel Empress Zoe SC, about a hundred yards downhill from the main gate of Topkapı Palace, is well-run and has oodles of character. The 25 rooms are scattered in several fun buildings surrounding a courtyard with chunks of old Ottoman walls. The treehouse floor plan is memorable, and the unique rooms have pizzazz (budget S-€60, standard S-€75, budget Db-€70, standard Db-€115, standard Tb-€125, suite-€150–250, 10 percent discount with cash, prices drop 20–25 percent in low season, air-con, tight spiral staircase with no elevator, Cankurtaran Mahallesi, Akbıyık Caddesi 4/1, tel. 0212/518-2504, fax 0212/518-5699, www.emzoe.com, info@emzoe.com).
Germir Palace Hotel SC, on a busy street near Taksim Square, comes with an old-fashioned but tastefully plush lobby, and 49 heavily perfumed rooms. Comfortable and classy, in a sophisticated Art Nouveau shell and with a smartly uniformed staff, it's a winner (Sb-€100–120, Db-€120–150, air-con, elevator, Cumhuriyet Caddesi 17, tel. 0212/361-1110, fax 0212/361-1070, www.germirpalas.com, hotel@germirpalas.com). From Taksim Square, with İstiklal street behind you, walk up the busy street (Cumhuriyet) that runs alongside a big park; the hotel is on the left after two blocks, across from the park.
Sleeping in Güzelyurt, Turkey
(Country code for Turkey: 90)
Hotel Karballa (Çarşı içi, tel. 382/451-2103, fax 382/451-2107, www.karballahotel.com, info@karballahotel.com).
Kadir's Antique Gelveri Houses (tel. 382/451-2166, www.kadirshouses.com, kadir_gok@yahoo.com).
Sleeping in Samos, Greece, off the Turkish Coast
(€1 = $1.40, country code for Greece: 30)
Hotel Sámos has lumpy beds, thin walls, an elevator, roof-top cafeteria and pool (open 10:00–18:00). Think location, location, location (Sb-€50, Db-€68, Tb-€84, low season: Sb-€42, Db-€55, Tb-€70, includes uninspiring breakfast, 11 The. Sofouli ste. 83100, tel. 22730/283778 or 22730/809012, fax 22730/23771 or 22730/28482, www.samoshotel.gr, hotsamos@otenet.gr).
Sleeping in Kusadasi, Turkey
(Country code for Turkey: 90)
Grand Oder Otel (Ataturk Bulvari Girsi Yat Limani Karsisi, tel. 256/618-1690, fax 256/618-1689, www.onderotel.com).
Updated for 2008. For lots more information, check out our best-selling guidebooks.