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The aptly-named Orient Express
Hotel is
right on the Zeytinburnu-Kabatas
tramline between the Gülhane and Sirkeci stops.
It’s
a very convenient location
(map),
only a few minutes’ walk downhill
to the Sirkeci
train station and Eminönü
ferries, and just a 10-minute uphill
walk to Old
Istanbul and the Topkapi
Palace,
Archeological
Museums, Blue
Mosque and
Aya
Sofya.
This is a delightful small hotel whose
54 immaculate guest rooms are decorated
in a cheerful, simple but appealing
style with plenty of natural wood and
soothing colors. They come with
comfortable beds, televisions with
foreign-language programming, minibars,
free coffee- and tea-making equipment,
free Wifi Internet, and plenty
of space to sit and ponder
the day’s
sightseeing. Some rooms are
set aside for non-smokers.
The private bathrooms all
have bathtubs (some
of them mini-tubs) with showers, hairdryers,
bath amenities, telephones, and that
most thoughtful of hotel appliances,
a pull-out string line for drying clothing
items you've washed in the sink.
An open-buffet breakfast with
plentiful choices is served in the
basement breakfast room where guests
also receive complimentary copies of
the hotel’s own Sirkeci Daily
Express full of sightseeing tips
and other useful information.
In the afternoon, Orient Express
Hotel guests enjoy a complimentary Afternoon
Tea, with serve-yourself
tea, coffee and snacks.
The rooftop Imbat Restaurant offers
a great view out over the Bosphorus towards
the Galata
Tower in one direction
and towards the Topkapi
Palace in the
other. It serves mainly Mediterranean
cuisine, including seafood, interspersed
with some traditional Turkish choices.
There’s
a good choice of wines as
well.
Here's a delightful surprise: in
the basement is a small swimming
pool with poolside
bar, a great place
to wind down after a hot day’s
sightseeing.
And another: don't fail to enjoy the artwork with
which the hotel's walls are decorated:
pages from illuminated books, tile
panels, original paintings.... The
hotel's owner, Mr Faruk Boyaci, has
a good eye for interesting art.
The ground floor features the pleasant
Wagon Bar which has
been designed to imitate the interior
of one of Istanbul’s
famous and much-loved ferryboats – they
still leave from the Eminönü
docks not far from
the hotel.
The reception
area is decorated with posters
which recall the glory days of the
eponymous
Orient
Express trains that
used to steam into Sirkeci
station nearby.
(The historic station is due to receive
a facelift as part of the ongoing Marmaray
railway tunnel project, due
for completion in 2011).
The Orient Express is
a hotel which prides itself on its service and attention
to detail. Forgot your multi-fit
bath plug? Never fear, reception
can provide one for you. Need guidance
on what
to see? Ditto. A Guest
Relations Manager is almost always present in
the public areas to answer questions
and help you to make any travel arrangements
you may need.
The Orient Express Hotel is
part of the Sirkeci
Group Hotels,
owned by Mr Faruk Boyaci, which includes
the nearby Erboy
Hotel, Ilkay Hotel,
and Sirkeci
Konak Hotel. It’s
a good choice if you’re after
comfort without too steep a price tag.
Click
here to check rates
and availability at the Orient Express Hotel. When you
make a reservation, please
mention
TTP. Here’s why.
Orient Express Hotel
Hüdavendigâr Caddesi No.
34 (map)
34110 Sirkeci, Istanbul, Turkey
Tel +90 (212) 520 7161
Fax +90 (212) 526 8446
info@orientexpresshotel.com
www.orientexpresshotel.com
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