Hasekisultan Suite House

Haseki Sultan Suites was our home for 3 nights in Istanbul. We arrived late from Bursa and Ahmet the manager apparently doubles up as cashier for the retail shop beneath the apartment came to greet us and helped to bring the luggage to our unit. There was no lift, so all help is appreciated. Malak perhaps is one of the most mentioned names in Istanbul reviews and I can understand why. We are not really fussy travellers and can live with sub standard service but she was really on a different level. She was always obliging if we needed help on changing bedsheets, clearing the rubbish and other domestic cleaning matters. After check-in, Malak came back later to hand us bottles of drinking water and soda. It was so nice of her, and Ahmet, for the unexpected welcome gift. She was also there to greet us off and take back the apartment keys when we checked-out. The rooms were ample-sized, bathrooms working fine with hot water all day long. There was also hot plate stove and plenty of kitchenware available in the kitchenette. We did not expect the kitchenette to be so well-equipped. We just wished that the unit has microwave oven, it would have been easier for us to warm food. Having a grocer downstairs was really a plus point for Haseki Sultan. If we needed anything like drinking water or bread, we didn't need to head far for supply. The prices were reasonable too e.g. 4 liras for a 5-litre drinking water. The only issue we had was the undulating geography of the area. We needed to traverse a steep hill up to the main street and trams but it is the same problem for most hotels and apartments in Istanbul, so I wouldn't say it is a unique negative point for Haseki Sultan. Just to highlight that they take EUR as payment. Fortunately we prepared the required EUR amount upfront.