Most Turkish hotels offer rooms with private bathrooms, and include breakfast in the rates. Here are the ratings by [...]]]> Hotels in Istanbul and throughout Turkey cover the full range of lodgings, from luxury palace hotels through charming, historic inns to simple but clean and cheap pensions and hostels, and even rental villas and flats/ apartments.

Most Turkish hotels offer rooms with private bathrooms, and include breakfast in the rates. Here are the ratings by the national Ministry of Tourism, and my (rough) price estimates for double (two-person) rooms:

Special-Class Hotels & Inns (TL85-300+)
Luckily for us visitors, Turkey has hundreds of special places to stay that don’t fit easily into the star categories: Ottoman mansion inns, historic houses, boutique hotels, Cappadocian cave dwellings, etc. These often have loads of character, at least some modern comforts (and sometimes all comforts), and are priced accordingly, anywhere from TL85 to TL300 double and occasionally higher.

The Association of Historical & Boutique Hoteliers of Turkey (ÖZBI), has over 60 member hotels of this type.

5-star hotels (TL200-350+)

Expected luxury and all services. Worldwide chains (Hilton, Kempinski, Marriott, Ritz Carlton, Sheraton, etc) tend to be smoother but substantially more expensive than the local Turkish chains (Dedeman, Divan, Merit, etc), which offer a bit less class but better value. Breakfast is definitely not included in the normal rates (although it may be in package deals), and costs an amazing TL30 extra in many cases.

4-star hotels (TL125-275)

Very comfortable local hotels, independent or small Turkish chains, with multilingual staff, nice restaurant and bar, air conditioning, and good breakfast, etc.

3-star hotels (TL75-125)
Comfortable, with satellite TV, minibars, perhaps even a swimming pool or nightclub in smaller cities and resorts.

Here’s the best place to look for the less expensive hotels, inns, guesthouses and hostels:

2-star hotels (TL50-85)
Good value! May have TVs in rooms, or just a TV lounge; some pretensions to decor, decent breakfast.

1-star hotels (TL35-50)
Great value for the budget-minded; simple, homey, often like a European pension. Not a lot of services, though usually Internet, TV in the lounge, clean rooms with (tiny) private shower, and usually a simple breakfast.

No-star hotels (TL20-50)
The smallest, cheapest, simplest local hotels are rated by the municipal authorities. These spartan places often have rooms with only beds and a light bulb; a communal cold-water sink and shower are down the hall; a hot shower (if available) costs extra. No breakfast available. If you’re traveling on a starvation budget, they’re good. No-star places in a city may be funky or grim; in seaside resorts they’re often friendly and convenient.

Hostels

Turkey has several excellent hostels of the new type: not the spartan, puritan youth and hikers’ barracks of the past but comfortable, congenial, low-cost, high-enjoyment lodgings targeted at adventurous travelers of all ages, but primarily younger ones. The many services may include Internet access, bars and lounges, travel-booking services, and even belly-dance shows. Here’s how to find them:

Villas & Flats/Apartments
Perhaps the fastest-growing lodging possibility, villas are springing up all along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, and flats/apartments are being refurbished in the major cities for families, small groups, and those coming for visits longer than the normal few days.

Here are current Turkish Lira exchange rates. Note that new Turkish Lira bills/notes were introduced starting January 1, 2009.