I read a couple of posts on this thread that expressed less
than enthusiastic sentiments regarding the orient hostel(in
Istanbul) but, since the criticism has been ambiguous and
oblique, I'm not really sure why people are turned off the
place. I'm leaving for Istanbul in a couple of days and
have made the Orient one of my definite options as a place
to crash. should I reconsider?
If anyone has scoop about why this hostel should not be
graced w/ my presence, I'd appreciate hearing about it.
I'm also more than eager to receive recommendations from
people who've been to Istanbul regarding cheap( i'm on a
tight budget), clean, safe( i'm a chick travelling solo) and
friendly places to stay.
Thanks.
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I did not hear so many things about Orient Hostel.But If
you need any pension.I is called Turkmen Hotel and Pension.
Check out Istanbul Guide and You can have clean and cheap
pensions.Business is slow in Istanbul That's why
prices are not so high.
Nurdogan
Http://www.istanbulguide.net/corhot.htm
If you need any info about Istanbul,I might be able to give
you some help
It's not that the hostel is awful, I had a great time there and
met heaps of people, I think maybe people expected it to be
a lot nicer than it is. There are cleaner and
more...aesthetically pleasing places around. But if I went
back to Istanbul, I would probably still go to the Orient just
for the variety of travellers you meet there.
I went there last year. Excxellent for young travellers.
It's cheapest to sleep on the roof, or slightly more to
sleep in a dorm. Loads of travellers there and a quality
bar with belly dancing!!
well, for starters the showers were cold, the tour agency
in the hostel told me the tour package to Cappadocia that I
wanted was not available due to the hotel being full
(luckily I booked at the Yucelt hostel and found out I was
one of four people staying at the hotel in question when I
arrived), the food in the roof top cafe is overpriced and
bland, the belly dancing is made for western consumption if
you know what an authentic belly dancing experience is
like, and the internet access is overpriced compared to
across the street. The rooms are standard hostel fare and
granted are the cheapest in Istanbul. Yes, you will meet
other travellers there as well. However, you are much
better off staying at the Sultan or Yucelt IMO. You will
meet people there too, and still partake in the Orient
activities if you so choose.
Maybe you should head for the Orient when you arrive, then
if you don't like it, make your first priority finding a
better place. Nurdogan is right, it's a buyer's market
(and you can trust his advice).
I don't know how tight your budget is, but last month I
paid $35/night for a double at the Kervan Guest House right
in front of the Cistern & Aya Sofia. 5 rooms (awesome view
from room #4 & terrace), spotless & remodeled in 1997,
breakfast included, friendly staff. Find Turgut in his
shop below and make him an offer.
Richard
Hi, I and 2 friends(we are 16 yr old males) are planning a 10 day cycling trip in Cyprus this summer. Any advice, tips, routes from those of you who have done this?
Many thanks,
Asaf
hi there
i stayed at the orient for 4 nights early this month. when
i arrived it was pretty empty and i had a room with six
beds in it to myself. that lasted about two nights. the
basement area, where my room was, smelled of urine. uck.
also there was only one shower for 12 people, as the other
was broken and was never fixed. there are no locks on the
room doors, or the shower door. the cafe up top is a nice
setting, but DO NOT buy your meals there. horribly,
horribly overpriced and the staff is surly, at best. re:
internet access, it was cheaper there than across the
street, but the connection was very slow, and if you never
actually connect (quite common there) they will charge you
anyway. Go across the street where the connections are
faster, albeit more pricey, but you get great service. free
chai, a nice setting, etc.
one last thing. they kicked a whole floor of people out one
day because they had a big reservation coming. trouble was,
they didn't give anyone any warning so those folks had to
either find other accom. or pay for a more expensive room.
when i return in a few months, i'm staying at the HI hostel
up the road. apparently it's the same price, and a much
better place.
cheers, and bonne route
Robin
I just got back from a month in Turkey last week and I spent some time in Istanbul at the Sultan Tourist Hostel - just round the corner from the Orient - the same price! Friendly staff - good roof-top bar -affiliated with FEZ, good rooms, clean, good showers etc. I heard while travelling round some very dodgy stuff about the Orient - one of the staff attacked a backpacker (fisty-cuffs) because he was'interested' in a girl he was dancing with - anyway Im sure theres more to it but my advice is to avoid the Orient!!!
I spent a month in Istanbul Jan-Feb this year, and had a pretty good look around. The Orient is fine, however I would definately reccomend the Sultan, just around the corner. When I was there, admittedly the off season, it was cheaper than the Orient, it had Hot Water, friendly reliable staff and a generally cool atmosphere.
A good indicator is that people (Turkish speaking expats) working for Fez for a couple of years chose to stay there.
I would also reccomend dropping in to Fez and say gidday to Stuart for a heads up on what to do where to go. He will point you in the right direction, no hard sell on his part either.