Hotel Pera Palas, Istanbul, Turkey

Built to accommodate the pampered travellers arriving aboard the Orient Express, the historic Hotel Pera Palas (Pera Palace Hotel) holds a unique place in the annals of Istanbul lodging-places.

The Pera Palas is closed for renovation until late 2008, so you cannot stay there, or even take a stroll through its ornate halls, at least for the time being.

The hotel's once-rich but later somewhat dowdy orientalist décor was strongly evocative of fin-de-siècle Constantinople, and many of its rooms have updated comforts, though they're not equal to modern luxury hotels at this price (US$250 double).

The location is not bad, a mile away from Taksim Square in the heart of Beyoglu's historic Tepebasi district right next to the Palazzo Corpi (formerly the US Consulate-General).

The Pera Palas's grand salons are often rented out for social events, which made for noisy evenings. Refik Saydam Caddesi, a major traffic artery, streams right by the hotel's west side, adding to the noise.

When the hotel reopens, whether you stay here or just stroll in for a look, ask to see Atatürk's suite, kept as a museum. (Tip the bellman who shows you the suite about US$2.)

When you contact the hotel, please mention TurkeyTravelPlanner.com. Here's why.

Hotel Pera Palas
Mesrutiyet Caddesi No. 98-100
Tepebasi, Beyoglu, 80050 Istanbul, Turkey

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"Pera Palace, Constantinople" 1900 advertisement

Above, the Pera Palas, headquarters of Ottoman Orientalist nostalgia, in an advertisement from 1900
Below, the hotel today, and its grand salon.