Sultan's Secret: Turkey's #1 Hostel? (You HAVE to See This!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into Sultan's Secret, supposedly Turkey's number one hostel. (Spoiler alert: I'm skeptical, but also… intrigued?) This isn't just some dry review; it's a rollercoaster ride through my actual experience, smells, and (probably unnecessary) opinions. Get ready, because this is gonna be a long one.
First Impressions (and the Glorious Mess of Arrival):
Right, so I rocked up to Sultan's Secret, which, let's be honest, sounds way more clandestine and exciting than a hostel probably has a right to. Finding the place was a bit of a mission, even with Google Maps. (The "getting around" section later might just be a cry for help.) But hey, that's part of the adventure, right?
Accessibility - Hold Your Horses…
My initial concern (and for many, the first dealbreaker) is accessibility. I'll be brutally honest: I didn't see a ton of explicit provisions here. While there is an elevator (good!), I'm not sure about the overall layout for wheelchair users in the shared spaces or for facilities for disabled guests. I'm not an expert on accessibility, but I advise anyone with specific needs to call ahead and ask point-blank questions. Don’t rely on vague mentions.
Cleanliness and Safety: Am I Actually Safe Here?
Okay, let’s cut to the chase: safety in a hostel is paramount. They say they’ve got the whole "pandemic protocol" thing sorted, which I’m always skeptical about. I noticed hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere (points!), and staff trained in safety protocol but the jury is still out on what that actually looks like. The CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Security [24-hour] and security/safety feature are a must. Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, and rooms sanitized between stays is what all the marketing is focused on. I'm genuinely pleased by this, but you know what they say, trust but verify. I mean, smoke alarms, fire extinguisher, are a good sign. I’d still bring some own sanitizing wipes just in case. And a hazmat suit, because, well, 2024. The doctor/nurse on call is a bonus I usually never use, but you never know!
Rooms – My Little Sultan's Sanctuary (or Not):
I booked a standard (non-smoking, of course) room. Here’s the lowdown:
- Available in all rooms: Air conditioning (bliss!), air conditioner (also bliss!), daily housekeeping, safe box (because, Istanbul!), Wi-Fi [free], non-smoking, soundproofing, and the basic necessities.
- The Good Stuff: My room had a comfy bed, a decent shower (not the exploding kind), and decent air conditioning, which is GOLD in Istanbul in the summer. There was complimentary tea and free bottled water
- The "Meh" Stuff: The décor was a bit… utilitarian. The desk was tiny, the chair wasn’t great, and the window wasn't as panoramic as the photos suggested. The TV was a dinosaur. And, and… the blackout curtains actually worked so I could sleep in!
Internet: Gotta Stay Connected (or Else):
Internet access – wireless, Wi-Fi [free], Internet access – LAN (for the old school gamers), Internet is a must, and I'm happy to report, Sultan's Secret delivered. The Wi-Fi in public areas and the in-room wifi was mostly reliable. I could stream Netflix and stalk my ex on the ‘gram. However, the occasional dropout was a pain in the arse.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Feed Me, Sultan!
This is where things get interesting (and potentially disastrous for my waistline).
- The Breakfast Bonanza: Breakfast [buffet]. The spread was decent. I mean, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, and enough to keep me going until lunch. Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, were available.
- Restaurants: the restaurant, the poolside bar, and snack bar.
- Other: There’s a bar and happy hour.
Things to Do – Beyond Sultan’s Secret
Listen, I’m not going to spend my whole trip in the hostel. But Sultan’s Secret does offer a few options:
- Ways to Relax: Massage, Sauna, Spa/sauna and Steamroom.
- Fitness: They have a fitness center which I sadly (cough, cough) didn’t have time to try.
- Poolside: The pool with view is a major draw. It’s not huge, but it's a welcome respite after a day of haggling in the Grand Bazaar.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Extras:
- Services: Concierge, Daily housekeeping, Luggage storage, Laundry service, and currency exchange.
- Business Facilities: Business facilities, Meeting/banquet facilities and Xerox/fax in business center, were available.
For the Kids – Sultan's Secret Junior?
I didn’t bring any kids, but I will say that being family/child friendly is a bonus.
Accessibility is Key - But How Does It Stack Up?
This area gets a mixed bag. I love being able to easily get airport transfer, the elevator and the doorman.
The Verdict (and the Offer!)
Okay, so Sultan's Secret isn’t perfect. It’s got its quirks. It's a bit of a mixed bag. But… it’s got a lot going for it. The location is amazing. The pool alone is worth the price of admission. The cleanliness seemed to be on point (at least, I didn’t die). Honestly, for the price, it's a solid option.
Here's the Deal I'm Offering YOU:
(Drumroll, Please!) Book your stay at Sultan's Secret using the code "SECRETADVENTURE" and get:
- 10% off your entire stay!
- A FREE welcome drink at the poolside bar, (because you'll need it after a day of exploring.)
- A complimentary Istanbul guide to help you navigate the city's hidden gems (and avoid getting lost like I did!).
- This offer is available for bookings made before [Date - a week from today] and is valid for stays anytime during the next six months.
- Don't wait! Click here [Link to Booking Page] and use code SECRETADVENTURE to unlock your Istanbul adventure!
Final Thoughts:
Would I go back? Definitely. It's a good base for exploring Istanbul, and that pool is calling my name. Just, you know, bring your own wipes and a healthy dose of skepticism. Happy travels!
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause you're about to get the unfiltered, slightly caffeinated truth about my stay at Sultan Hostel & Guest House in Istanbul. This ain't your sterile, perfectly manicured travel blog. This is… well, let's call it a "vividly documented journey through questionable decisions and surprisingly good kebabs."
Sultan Hostel & Guest House: A Love Story (Maybe?)
Day 1: Arrival – The Great Orientation Debacle
- 8:00 AM (ish): Landed at Istanbul Airport. Jet lag already whispering sweet nothings of a coma. Found the Havaist bus, even though I swore I was directionally challenged (turns out, I'm just a stubborn tourist).
- 10:00 AM: Arrived in Sultanahmet – a sensory overload of honking cars, shouting vendors, and the ethereal beauty of the Blue Mosque peeking through the chaos. Found the hostel… which seemed to be approximately the size of a shoebox. The lobby? More like a hallway with a couch.
- 10:15 AM: Met Mustafa, the perpetually-wearing-a-t-shirt-with-a-funny-saying receptionist. He was either perpetually exhausted or perpetually high. Tough to tell. Gave me my key, a tiny, jangling thing that felt like it belonged to a dollhouse.
- 10:30 AM: Room… was… well, let's say "cozy." Think "dorm room meets prison cell," but with slightly better lighting. Shared with three guys, one of whom snored like a freight train. (Note to self: Invest in earplugs. And maybe a hazmat suit.)
- 11:00 AM: Attempted to get my bearings. Lost. Got distracted by a cat. Chased cat. Lost the cat. Officially, day one was a bust.
- 1:00 PM: Food! Found a hole-in-the-wall kebab place near the hostel. Best. Kebab. Ever. Seriously. Juicy meat, perfect spices, fluffy bread. Ate two. Felt slightly ashamed, but mostly glorious.
- 2:00 PM: The Blue Mosque. Breathtaking. The sheer scale, the intricate details… it actually brought a lump to my throat for a moment. Then, I got elbowed by a selfie stick-wielding tourist. Reality check.
- 3:00 PM: Haggling in the Grand Bazaar. This was… an experience. I'm pretty sure I overpaid for a scarf. But the colors! The textures! The sheer audacity of the vendors trying to sell me everything from Turkish delights to a wife (just kidding… maybe). Walked away dizzy and holding a bag that definitely smells like spices.
- 6:00 PM: Attempted to make friends. Failed. Everyone seemed to be fluent in a language I didn't speak. Resorted to awkwardly nodding and smiling.
- 8:00 PM: Found a rooftop bar near the hostel. Ordered a beer facing the Golden Horn. Beautiful, serene, peaceful… except for the karaoke singer butchering "Bohemian Rhapsody." Ran away halfway through.
- 9:00 PM: Back to the hostel, contemplating my life choices. Snoring. Earplugs. Night.
Day 2: Hagia Sophia & The Great Lost Sock Saga
- 9:00 AM (ish): Woke up. Snoring. Rage. Coffee.
- 10:00 AM: Hagia Sophia. This place is seriously mind-blowing. A church turned mosque turned museum? The history is intense. Felt a little overwhelmed, but also strangely moved by the sheer resilience of the place. And the architecture! Majestic.
- 12:00 PM: Discovered I had lost a sock. Investigating. Checked the bunk, checked the bathroom, checked my luggage. No sock. This became a thing. The Lost Sock Saga.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. More kebab, because, priorities.
- 2:00 PM: Topkapi Palace. So much gold. So many incredibly ornate rooms. The harem section felt… a little claustrophobic. Wondered how many socks were lost in the palace's vastness.
- 3:30 PM: Tried the Turkish bath (hamam). Let's just say: I've never been cleaner (or more naked) in my life. I was scrubbed, massaged, and practically reborn. Highly recommend.
- 6:00 PM: Continued the Lost Sock investigation. Asked Mustafa if he'd seen it. He just shrugged and offered me a free Turkish tea.
- 7:00 PM: Decided to embrace the chaos. Went to a small cafe near the hostel. Ordered a coffee. The waiter didn't speak English and brought me three coffees. I laughed. It was fun.
- 8:00 PM: Ate the three coffees. Stayed up all night. The great Lost Sock has been forgotten
Day 3: Adventure! (Kind Of)
- 9:00 AM (ish): Woke up with a caffeine headache the size of Asia.
- 10:00 AM: Decided to take a ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul. I got a little seasick, but the views were great.
- 11:00 AM: Walked around Kadıköy. Found a local bazaar. Ate more food. I think I ate one kebab per day.
- 13:00 PM: I was lost in the streets of Kadıköy and I thought the Lost Sock thing.
- 15:00 PM: Back to the hostel, I was super tired and sleepy.
- 17:00 PM: Talked with Mustafa and tried to make a friend.
- 19:00 PM: Did you know that Istanbul has a lot of cats?
- 21:00 PM: I had to leave the hostel.
Final Thoughts:
Sultan Hostel & Guest House wasn't perfect. It was noisy, a little cramped, and the Lost Sock Saga will forever haunt my dreams. But… it was real. It was a base camp for exploring a city that's bursting with life, history, and some of the best food I've ever tasted. And, believe it or not, I kinda liked it. Maybe. Possibly. Okay yeah, I liked it. And hey, at least I have a great story to tell, and to try to find that sock one day. The search continues…
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Sultan's Secret: The Hostel That Actually Lives Up to the Hype? (Or Does It?) - FAQs, My Brain Dump Edition
Seriously, Is Sultan's Secret REALLY Turkey's #1 Hostel? I keep seeing that.
Okay, let's be real. The number one thing you *think* when you see "Turkey's #1" is, "Uh huh, sure." Right? I felt that EXACTLY. My initial cynicism was OFF THE CHARTS. But… I’m gonna cautiously say… it’s… *probably* in the running. It's not perfect (we'll get to that), but the vibe? The location? The general *awesomeness* factor? It’s seriously high up there. I mean, I've stayed in some *dreadful* hostels, places that felt like abandoned prison cells. Sultan's Secret? Not even CLOSE. It tries. It really, really tries. And MOST of the time, it actually *succeeds*.
What's the location like? I'm envisioning a dark alley and a guy with a trench coat…
NOPE! Totally the OPPOSITE. Sultan's Secret is right smack dab in the middle of Sultanahmet, the historical heart of Istanbul. Think of it this way: Hagia Sophia is practically spitting distance. The Blue Mosque? You can practically see it from the rooftop terrace (more on that later... it's a *scene*). You’re surrounded by history, bustling markets, the delicious aroma of doner kebab… Basically, you can stumble out of bed, open your door, and land in the middle of ISTANBUL. It's *insane*. My first morning, I was still half-asleep, wandered out, and BAM! Ancient ruins. It was… a lot. But a GOOD lot. Just be prepared for crowds. Tourists. Lots of them. But hey, you're a tourist too, right? (I am. I embrace it.)
Okay, and the rooms? Are they the usual cramped hostel nightmares?
Alright, this is where things get a *little* less perfect. I booked a mixed dorm. Let's just say… the "sleeping arrangements" weren't the Ritz. The beds were basic (read: probably not brand new, let's be honest), the walls were thin (heard *everything* – including a snoring symphony I'll never forget), and space? Well, sharing a room with six other people doesn't exactly offer a lot of personal space. It was… cozy. And by cozy, I mean sometimes I felt slightly claustrophobic. But, and this is a BIG BUT, it *was* clean. The bathrooms were remarkably clean (considering the traffic), and the staff genuinely seemed to care. PLUS, the social vibe in the dorm? Amazing. I met some of the coolest people there. We're still in contact! So, yes, the rooms are a mixed bag. Manage your expectations. But the experience? Worth it, in my humble opinion.
Rooftop terrace? You mentioned it. What's the deal?
OH. MY. GOD. The rooftop terrace. Here's the thing. It's the *heart* of Sultan's Secret. It's where the magic happens. It's where you go to watch the sunset over the city and feel like you're in a movie. It’s where you drink cheap beer (essential), meet people, and swap travel stories until the early hours. It’s where…okay, listen. I met THIS GUY. Let’s call him… "Mehmet." He was Turkish, insanely charming, and talked me into trying raki (the Turkish anise-flavored spirit). Fast forward a few hours, and I was… well, let's just say I saw a lot of the city that night. And the next morning… well, let’s just say the rooftop terrace felt REALLY good while I nursed a massive hangover. So, yeah. The rooftop terrace? Epic. Highly recommended. But maybe pace yourself with the raki. (I didn't.)
What about the staff? Are they actually helpful?
Okay, here's where Sultan's Secret *really* shines. The staff? They're *fantastic*. Seriously. They're friendly, helpful, and generally go above and beyond. They can arrange tours, give you insider tips, and even just sit and chat if you're feeling lost. I had a small problem – I managed to lose my phone (don't ask) – and they were AMAZING. They helped me contact my bank, and figure out how to get a replacement. I mean, they were practically acting as my personal crisis management team. So, yeah. The staff? Absolute legends. (Big shoutout to whoever was working that week!)
Is it party central? I'm looking for a balance.
It’s a *balance*. There IS a party vibe. The rooftop terrace practically begs for it. But it’s not a "vomiting outside the hostel" kind of party. It's more like "having a few drinks, chatting with new friends, maybe staying up a bit too late, and being slightly hungover the next day" type of party. They arrange some fun activities like organized bar crawls or cooking classes. You can definitely find your tribe. If you're looking for a silent retreat, this probably isn't it. But if you like connecting with people and enjoying yourself, Sultan’s Secret strikes a pretty good balance. And, you know, you can always escape to your (sometimes cramped) room for some much-needed sleep. Or not. Mehmet, anyone...?
Any downsides? Gotta be something…
Okay, fine. Here’s the truth. It’s not *perfect*. The noise level in the dorms can be brutal. And I’m not going to lie, the breakfast (included, yay!) was… pretty basic. Think bread, jam, and maybe a sad boiled egg. Nothing to write home about. Also, as I mentioned, the rooms are… close quarters. And the common spaces, while welcoming, can get crowded. And, look, it’s a popular hostel. Expect to be surrounded by other travelers. Sometimes, it can feel a *little* bit like a tourist factory. But… and here’s the crucial point… the good stuff outweighs the bad. By a LOT.
Would you go back? Honestly.
Yes. Absolutely, without a doubt. Even with the cramped dorms, the basic breakfast, and the potential for noise, YESNomad Hotel Search
