Perfect apartment - perfect location!

I can definately recommend this accomodation. It is in an excellent location, particularly for a tourist visit.

The Semaphore had everything you could need, was very comfortable and having two terraces was a real bonus. The owner had ensured all facilities were available.

The stay went so smoothly from picking the key up from the hotel close by to our leaving. Even the friendly locals were speaking to us within a couple of days.

The only small thing was a bit of smelly bathroom.

Very reasonably priced compared to so many places I enquired about. So if you are looking for a comfortable place to stay in this area the Semaphore is a very good choice.

We both have busy careers and our vacations need to be relaxing and stress-free. The Semaphore apartment was thus an ideal spot for us to explore the city’s cultural and historic areas on foot. After a week we were refreshed and ready to return to work.
The apartment is private and tastefully decorated and has all the amenities of home. We plan to return soon.

We, two couples, mid to end fifty, enjoyed our stay at Semaphore House very much. Two terraces to relax, a spacious apartment, well equipped, excellent beds, calm and interesting neighbourhood...
Shortly: all You need for a good time!

Maybe the stair case is not so suited for very young, very old or disabled people. Being an "age 55+" myself I can give a well grounded recommandation even for the older people.

Michael

We stayed here two weeks May/June 2008 and absolutely fell in love with the place. This place had EVERYTHING you can possibly think of for your comfort. So well stocked. The two terraces were so nice for sunbathing/relaxing with all the lounge chairs around. The pictures don't do this place justice. It was much more than we expected. I have made several trips to Istanbul and this was my favorite vacation home yet. You will feel like a local as friendly neighbors get used to seeing you around and greet you warmly and still so close to tourist attractions. It was so nice after being out all day to come home and have so much space to relax in. In fact Pascual, if you're ever interested in selling please let me know.....this is a dream vacation home in such an exotic city. I have traveled the world and have never written a review about a place I've stayed but I feel this place definitely deserves it as it clearly has travelers' comfort in mind and it definitely should be acknowledged for this.

Pascal's apartment at Semaphore house gives a glimpse of Istanbul that you just wouldn't get from a hotel. Its located in what looks like an up and coming neighborhood (lots of home improvements going on) within easy walking distance of everything, and also close to public transportation. It was a quiet family street set off the more touristy areas of Sultanahmet, but we found that relaxing and it felt very safe walking round at night. Really the pictures don't do it justice - the back terrace has intriguing views of neighborhood life and is a sunny spot for breakfast, while the front terrace with elegant wicker furniture is just the place to relax with a glass of wine after a hot day sightseeing. The apartment itself is very well maintained and has everything you need, whether you just want to make coffee or cook a full meal. There are small stores a stone's throw away for necessities. The beds were very very comfortable and there was air conditioning in the bedrooms but we didn't use it (in late June).The shower was fine and everything was extremely clean. The only problem we had was we too weren't sure where to put the rubbish. I texted Pascal and within a couple of minutes he told us to leave it under a tree about half a block down!. We'd definitely recommend it and would definitely return - we're planning a much more extended visit since four days in Istanbul is barely enough to scrape the surface.

Staying at this delightful apartment made us feel at home in Istanbul. The apartment itself was perfect - comfortable, bright, quiet, private, safe, open to fresh air and views. Families live downstairs. It is in a real neighborhood with children playing, friendly neighbors greeting us on the way to and from home, with small (non-touristy) shops. But walking distance to the greatest sights. We absolutely loved it!
Elizabeth and Bill

Beautifully appointed apartment. Clean, spacious, everything you could possibly need. Balconies front and back with views of the Blue Mosque from the back and the Sea from the front.
A short walk to transportation and sites in the old town. The local contacts at a nearby hotel were very friendly and helpful getting keys and taxis.
In a city with not too many apartments for foreigners this is a find. An added bonus: visits from a cute and friendly black and white fluffy cat.

My husband and I had a fantastic stay at this spacious apartment last year. We were there for almost a week.

The location is perfect - an easy, safe and quick walk to some of the main attractions - but in an area that feels real, with happy children of local families playing in the streets nearby. You can walk to the coast, up to the bazaar and to the main attractions of the Blue Mosque area.

The kitchen is well stocked with everything you need, so if you fancy cooking some of the fantastic produce that's available in the city, you can. There's a grocery shop a few doors down with all the essentials. If you can't be bothered to cook, you can wander up the area near to Blue Mosque where there are lots of places to eat. However if you want to try somewhere with more locals you just stroll off in the other direction, and it's the same distance to great cafes and restaurants.

The flat is really roomy - we've stayed in lots in other cities - and this had by far the most space and was the most comfortable. The decor is tasteful and it's great to be able to play your ipod using the apple music system that's there. We were out a lot, but also spent stacks of time restiing in the apartment.

The bathroom is spacious and clean, and you can do your washing and ironing in the utility room. There's loads of outdoor space on the line and everything dries so quickly.

We generally suffer in the heat, but even when it was scorching outside we were nice and cool inside or on the front terrace.

There's a choice of two terraces - both are fab - we used one to laze around on the comfy wicker loungers and the other to have our meals (with beautiful views). If you haven't brought your own things to read, there's a good selection with info on interesting things to do.

We met the owner who was off on another trip and he was a lovely chap - really charming. You can be sure that you are getting great value for money with this apartment, and when we come to Istanbul again we won't even consider booking anywhere else.

This place comes highly recommended - I had a good look before booking and there's nothing like it.

Marie & Jimmy