Local Expert
Jessica Tamtürk
Welcome to PlanetEye's Istanbul City Guide! My name is Jessica Tamtürk and I'll share with you insider's tips on how you can make the most of your trip to this intercontinental city.
Originally from…
Welcome to PlanetEye's Istanbul City Guide! My name is Jessica Tamtürk and I'll share with you insider's tips on how you can make the most of your trip to this intercontinental city.
Originally from Belgium, I now call Istanbul one of my home bases; the other being Los Angeles, California, the place where I grew up.
Whether you hail from the European or American continent, my roots – biological and experiential – makes me the virtual guide with the most to help you conquer this metropolis of over 15 million.
What you'll get through these pages is my unbiased opinion of destinations, hotels, and restaurants. You may even learn a little Turkish in the process through my STRICTLY SPEAKING segments at the end of each post. I'm a stickler for responsible tourism; that means that I firmly believe that the industry should integrate with a country rather than the destination complying itself to the whims of its yearly visitors. I hope you'll agree and use the language tool to mingle with the natives. You'll be glad you did!
Aside from keeping you updated on the ins and outs of the greatest city in the world (at least I think so), I'm hard at work developing a first edition, 500-page travel guide to Turkey for Avalon Travel Publishing.
If you like what you're reading, have a question or just need general info on Istanbul, then by all means drop me a line by visiting my website....
STRICTLY SPEAKING
Hos Geldiniz = Welcome!!!! (pron. Hosh Geldiniz) –
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HOTEL IBRAHIM PASHA (Sultanahmet)
Joining the pack of grown-up hotels in Sultanahmet, Hotel Ibrahim Pasha pops out with a deft mix of gay Paree refinery and neo-classical European flair ... An amicable, attentive staff tops it all off. This refurbished 19th-century townhouse opens to a lobby in muted shades of yellow highlighted by a reception desk --massive glass piece posed squarely on a genuine Corinthian capital--and the added warmth of a log-burning hearth.
Fifteen petite rooms are decorated tastefully in warm whites, peaked with deep-toned parquet and an unexpected pop of color from the Seraglio-inspired artwork.
Istanbul's nightlife is spent on roof terraces, and Hotel Ibrahim's doesn't disappoint with a commanding view of the Blue Mosque and the Egyptian obelisk.
If time allows, do cross the street for a visit to the many-domed palace of Ibrahim Pasha, which now functions as the refurbished Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. Amble through floors of unique collections of illuminated Turkish manuscripts, Islamic calligraphy and antique carpets. Highlight the tour by sipping hot tea from a tulip-shaped glass in its central garden.
ESSENTIALS
Address: Terzihane Sok. 5, Sultanahmet 34122 Istanbul
Phone: +90.212.518.0394
Email: contact@ibrahimpasha.com
Capacity: 16 rooms, PAX 32
Rates: Doubles 125-175€
STRICTLY SPEAKING
Terrace = Teras (pron. as it's read)