Where would be the best, cheapest place to stay in Istanbul?

by Delilah
(Cornwall)

Hi I am planning to go overland from Paris to Istanbul. And I was wondering if you had any advice as to transport/accommodation etc. Thank you.

Answer: Your question has two parts, how to get from Paris to Istanbul and where to stay. First, the journey. You have three realistic choices if you're traveling on a budget. My favorite is by train, and you'll find plenty of information at the excellent seat61.com. The second cheap way to travel in Europe is by low-cost flight, although the Paris-Istanbul route isn't as well-served as some. Still, whichbudget.com should point you towards some cheap flights, and I've found some good deals at Mondial and Marmara (beware, the sites are in French only so you may have to use Google Translate if your French isn't up to it). I would also check Turkish Airlines because they often have rock-bottom specials. Finally, there's the bus - I wouldn't even consider it, not even if you're in search of local color - usually provided by seasonal workers heading home for a holiday. Most of these buses leave from Germany, where there is a large Turkish population, rather than from France.

When it comes to accommodation, my first stop would be Tripadvisor for recommendations. You could also try Hostelworld and hostels.com, both of which have cheap listings for hostels. And if you're really low on funds, why not try Couchsurfing? It's not cheap - it's free!

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Where would be the best, cheapest place to stay in Istanbul?

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Paris to Istanbul
by: Melissa

Hi, It sounds like a fun trip. A couple of things - when looking at trains, depending on age, check out the possibility of Interrail/Eurrail tickets which are one payment, go anywhere tickets. For bus options, there is a British-owned coach company, Eurolines, which operates comfortable long-distance coaches all across Europe at really low rates. You'll find them all easily on google with local booking.

As far as accommodation is concerned, they don't work as well in Istanbul itself, but over the rest of the trip, for budget accommodation, you would do well to check out the Youth Hostel Association (Hostelling International) - they aren't just for the young, have some great city properties at really low rates.

In Istanbul, dependent on your budget, one of the best cheaper places I know is the Naz Wooden House (www.nazwoodenhouseinn.com) which is ?50-?90 per night for a single ? cheap by Istanbul standards, right by Aya Sofya. Hope you have a great time!

Thanks for the railpass advice!
by: Delilah

Thank you! I am really looking forward to it, and, as I am 19, I am looking into Interrail tickets now, as I think I would prefer to do the trip by train but I am not sure how to go about it, if I should get a whole Europe ticket or one for each seperate country. I would have to double back at the end of the trip as I am meeting my sister in Barelona. Maybe it would be easier and cheaper to get just a global pass.