Taksim Hotel V Plus: Cihangir rooms, some with sea views

The hotel stands on Pürtelaş Sokak in Cihangir, Beyoğlu, about 0.2 km from Taksim Square in a straight line. Galata Tower and Dolmabahçe Palace are each about 1.4 km away, Topkapı Palace about 2.5 km, Hagia Sophia about 3 km and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque about 3.4 km.

Of the two airports, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is about 31.1 km away and Istanbul Airport (IST) about 32.3 km, both in a straight line. The hotel runs a paid airport shuttle, which spares you the question of how to cover that distance with luggage.

The Economy Double Room is the smallest at 13 m², with one queen bed, a street view and space for up to three guests. The two Standard rooms, at 18 m² each, suit a couple: the Double or Twin has one double bed and a city view, while the Standard Double adds a twin bed and a sofa bed to the double bed and looks onto the street.

The Deluxe Double Room with Balcony and Sea View is 25 m², with a queen bed plus sofa bed. The Deluxe Room, Balcony, Sea View is 27 m², with a king bed plus sofa bed, and sleeps up to 4. Both are mid-size options for couples or small families who want a balcony. The Grand Double Room, 1 Bedroom, Sea View and the Suite with Sea View, both 35 m², spread sleeping space across twin beds and sofa beds in the first case and a queen bed and two sofa beds in the second.

For larger groups, the Connecting Family Room offers 31 m² with two queen beds, and the Family Suite is the largest at 40 m², with two queen beds and a double bed, sleeping up to five.

The hotel has a lift and facilities for disabled guests, so upper floors and accessible rooms are workable rather than a compromise. Family rooms, babysitting and evening entertainment make it a practical choice for those travelling with children, who are allowed at the hotel.

Beyond families, the hotel caters to two other kinds of traveller. Diving is on offer for guests who want it as part of the trip. Meeting and banquet rooms suit business or event travel.

Check-in runs from 14:00 and check-out until 12:00. Children are allowed, but pets are not.

The hotel has no parking of its own, so if you arrive by car you will need to sort out parking elsewhere in the area. The paid airport shuttle is the hotel's own answer for airport transfers.

It suits couples who want a small base near Taksim Square, families who need the Family Suite or the Connecting Family Room with babysitting available, and business travellers who need meeting rooms and a lift rather than resort facilities.

It is not the choice if you are bringing a pet, since pets are not allowed, or if you need on-site parking, since the hotel has none. Travellers sensitive to noise should note that only some rooms face the sea; the Economy and Standard Double rooms look onto the street.