Eastern Mediterranean: Accommodations Listings
Included in this section:
73. Peloponnesian Highlights: Overlooked Greece (Hydra)
74. Turkey's Hot (Istanbul, Güzelyurt, Samos, Kusadasi)
73. Peloponnesian Highlights: Overlooked Greece
Sleeping in Hydra
(€1 = about $1.40, country code for greece: 30)
Alkionides Pension has 10 tidy rooms buried in Hydra's back lanes, around a beautiful and relaxing courtyard (Db-€70, Tb-€90, apartment-€100, breakfast-€5 extra per person, air-con, tel. & fax 22980-54055, mobile 69774-10460, www.alkionidespension.com, info@alkionidespension.com, Kofitsas family).
Pension Achilleas (formerly known as Pension Antonios) rents 10 small but pleasant and nicely maintained rooms in an old mansion with a relaxing courtyard terrace. Owner Dina likes to create a family atmosphere (Sb-€55, Db-€75, Tb-€85, prices soft off-season, cash only, air-con, tel. 22980-52050, fax 22980-53227, www.achilleas-hydra.com, achilleas@hydra.gr).
Pension Erofili is a reliable budget standby, renting 12 simple but well-priced rooms along a pleasant courtyard in the heart of town (Db-€55, Tb-€65, apartment-€90, rates soft in slow times, breakfast-€7, closed Nov-Feb, air-con, tel. & fax 22980-54049, mobile 69776-88487, www.pensionerofili.gr, info@pensionerofili.gr).
74. Turkey's Hot
Sleeping in Istanbul
(€1 = about $1.40, 1.25 YTL = about $1, country code: 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 Turkish Lira (TL). Hotels will take cash payment in TL or euros, and all of the recommended accommodations accept credit cards.
Lush Hotel SC is creative and fun. Its 35 mod rooms each have their own look and "personality" (check them all out on their website). Just a couple of blocks off Taksim Square, local musicians occasionally perform in their trendy brasserie until midnight (while all rooms are soundproofed, ask for one above the reception level). Guests enjoy a rich buffet breakfast every morning (Sb/Db-€99-239, 15 percent discount if you mention this book when you reserve and show it at check-in, guests receive 20 percent brasserie discount, elevator, Wi-Fi, Siraselviler Caddesi 12, tel. 0212/243-9595, www.lushhotel.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-€120–130, Db-€140–150, air-con, elevator, Internet access and Wi-Fi, 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, kadir_gok@yahoo.com).
Sleeping in Samos, Greece, off the Turkish Coast
(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 (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 2009. For lots more information, check out Rick Steves' Athens & the Peloponnese or Rick Steves' Istanbul guidebooks.