Hotel Novano (Istanbul, Turkey)

Breakfast is impressive with great choices on offer. It goes on for quite a while, so there isn’t the regimentation that you find in most hotels. They go to a lot of effort to ensure that dishes are always fresh, so any latecomers receive the same quality as those earlier birds. Later, there’s no shortage of restaurants in the district. You certainly won’t starve here. The general location is excellent and the hotel has a safe and secure ‘feel’. Hagia Sofia and Topkapi Palace are among the places of interest that are within easy walking distance.

The initial impression is that the hotel is well decorated and very clean. The impression is duplicated in the room itself. Furnishings are simple, but perfectly adequate. The bathroom appears to have been upgraded and the water pressure is constant and good.

There’s a warm welcome upon arrival. Throughout the stay, members of staff are always helpful and very friendly. You have to pinch yourself sometimes to remember that this is a middle-range hotel. Well, it certainly is, price-wise; because you would happily pay more for what is supplied.

There’s little, if any soundproofing, so noise from neighbouring rooms can be a problem. The location is excellent, but you’ll probably be awakened very early in the morning, by prayers from the nearby Blue Mosque.

Rooms are somewhat on the small side, but very clean.

There’s no lift, so you’ll need to be fairly agile to relish the prospect of carrying luggage up more than one flight of stairs. *Specify a first floor room!