If you're looking for luxury, this probably isn't the hotel for you, however, if you are on a budget and you just need a home base from which to explore the city, this was a perfectly fine place to stay. The rooms are sparse, but comfortable. The air conditioning was solid. It is a very short walk both from a Metro station, as well as from a tramway station that gives you very fast access to several key tourist highlights (the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, the port, the Hippodrome, Hagia Sofia, The Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, ect). Indeed, it was actually a pretty pleasant walk to those locations from this hotel, and I often didn't even use the tram. The neighborhood seemed at first glace to be a bit run down, but it is quite lively and safe, with families and children out walking around, and street cafes filled with patrons. And a short walk up the tramline gets you to a 'nicer' part of town, filled with cafes and shops of a higher-end. The staff was very kind and helpful. So again, if you need something practical and are ready to forego luxury, The Hotel Grand Istanbul is a very cost-effective option.
