Istanbul has accommodations suitable for any budget. For luxury, you can stay in one of the international hotels located on the hills around Taksim, many of which offer views of the Bosporus or the Golden Horn. Restored villas in Sultanahmet offer a chance to relive some of the city's history, and a stay in Aksaray or Sirkeci promises the full experience of Istanbul's active urban life on a budget. You can find inexpensive but comfortable pensions and small hotels in Beyoglu. Reservations may be necessary during summer or around Christmas. Booking your room early will often get you a much better rate. During the off-season, hoteliers will usually give you a 20%-30% discount off the rack rate if you request it, especially if you are staying for several days.
Avoid any hotel that is suggested to you by a taxi driver—any place that relies on giving kickbacks to cabbies to get clients is not the kind of place you want to stay, by definition. Also avoid the cheap bed-and-breakfast places, especially those around Tarlabasi Boulevard near Taksim, which often double as transvestite brothels.
