Muhlisbey Hotel Istanbul

Here is another one in my series about charming and affordable boutique hotels in many parts of the world, which are particularly suitable for single woman travelers. The Muhlisbey Hotel is located in the heart of Istanbul's historical Sultanahmed district. It's a converted wooden house with only a few rooms, but what rooms!! Given the nature of the building, they are small but what they may lack in size they sure make up in comfort. The rooms have recently been remodelled and combine cozy with stark-chic! You even find slippers and a robe, the bathroom features a rain shower and - important for us women travelers - a hairdryer which actually works. Breakfast is on the roof terrace where you have an unobstructed view of the Blue Mosque on one side and the Hagia Sofia on the other. Both are so close you seem to be able to touch them. Across the road is the Four Seasons Hotel and the groundfloor houses a beautiful small shop which sells antique Ottoman clothes, bedspreads, pillow covers and other precious handcrafted trinkets which you will be hard pressed to find anywhere in Istanbul in such quality.