GLAMOUR HOTEL -- 3

SIRKECI, ISTANBUL

A Glamour Hotel single room is small -- about 150 square feet. The bathrooms are extremely small.

But you're not in one of the world's greatest cities to linger in the room.

You simply want clean, quiet, convenient, well-staffed and efficient.

Glamour gets at least 4.5 stars of 5 in each of those categories.

A stay during Ramazan was about $60 per night -- taxes and breakfast included.

The area is amazingly quiet -- and Istanbul is a pretty noisy city.

The bedding was excellent -- comfortable as a 5-star palace and 3-star prices.

The AC worked fine and there was an empty mini fridge, which came in handy for storing bottled water, soda and gourmet chocolate.

The best thing is the restaurants are far less expensive than the more touristy Sultanahmet or Beyoglu areas.

The food is even better and you will be eating among locals in Hocapasa Mahallesi.

I'd venture to say that locals outnumbered visitors 4 to 1 on the narrow, pedestrian streets around the Glamour Hotel.

http://www.glamourhotel.com/

GLAMOUR HOTEL - 2

SIRKECI, ISTANBUL

The Glamour Hotel is footsteps from the Sirkeci tram stop and very close to the Marmara Subway in the old Sirkeci Station that was the terminus for the famed Orient Express.

The Eminonu ferry docks are 5 minutes way.

The Glamour has a rooftop terrace with views of the Bosphorus and city.

The breakfast buffet, included with the room, is amazing.

Tons of breads, fruits, olives, cheeses, dips, salads, jams, pastries and more.

They actually have a real chef that oversees the 50+ item fresh buffet.

Wonderful Turkish tea is made to order. Juices and coffee also are included.

The front desk staff speaks excellent English and can give tips on what to pay for a taxi (so you don't get overly upcharged) and where to head on a rainy day.

Service is outstanding and rooms are spotless.

http://www.glamourhotel.com/

GLAMOUR HOTEL

SIRKECI, ISTANBUL

Sirkeci is one of my favorite places in Istanbul.

You can walk five minutes and be at the many terminals that launch ferries to the Asian Side, the Princes Islands, up the Golden Horn and to many ports along the Bosphorus, all the way to the edge of the Black Sea.

There must be nearly 100 small hotels, almost all 3 star, family-operated places that have clean, quiet, well-located rooms for about $50 USD per day including breakfast and taxes.

There is a tram stop in Sirkeci that will take you to Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Plaza and just about anywhere you want to be in the old city.

It also crosses the Galata Bridge and takes you as far as Kabatas in Beyoglu.

The subway line is close by as well.

Glamour Hotel is an excellent budget hotel in Sirkeci.

http://www.glamourhotel.com/