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Stay the night: A jia Hotel, Istanbul
Adrian Mourby glides by the congested city on a river taxi ride to this elegant boutique hotel
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Waterfront address: The former summer mansion, built in the 19th century, welcomes guests to its 16 bedrooms
A jia means Asia, an appropriate name for one of the first buildings that visitors to Istanbul encounter when they cross to the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
Recently, this luxurious all-white boutique hotel has found a splendid new way to help guests to avoid Istanbul s nightmarish traffic jams. A romantic weekend in one of the greatest cities in Europe (and Asia) can all too easily be wrecked by two hours spent crawling into the city by car from Ataturk International.
Everyone admits the traffic is getting worse, so, making the most of its position on the waterside, A jia will now send a polished water taxi to collect you. The transfer price is €150, which is twice what an ordinary taxi might cost, but the journey time is halved and the view of Istanbul, as you glide along, is simply superb.
The hotel itself is a refurbished yal (Turkish for house or mansion on the waterside). It was built in the 19th century for Ahmet Rasim Pasha, who in 1873 was appointed mayor and chief of police in Istanbul. In 2002, a local businessman named Serdar Bilgili bought the derelict yal and converted it into a small luxury hotel which has since hosted such celebrities as Salma Hayek, Bryan Ferry, Mike Tyson and Bill Clinton.
The architect was Resit Soley, another remarkably energetic figure in Istanbul. In his spare time, Soley has turned the Aegean island of Bozcaada into a winery of note under his own Corvus label.
The rooms
The hotel has 16 rooms and all but one of them have views of the Bosphorus. The Pasha Suite is where celebrities try to stay, for its gracious central balcony on to the waterfront. Equally impressive, though, is the Mezzanine suite, which makes great use of the traditional high ceilings of Istanbul s summer houses. All rooms have calm white interiors, natural wool flooring, Turkish rugs and retro armchairs. The televisions all come with DVD players and movies are available from reception for free. Bed linen is Italian and so are the toiletries, by Acqua di Parma.
The food and drink
Hasan Karabulut, late of the Framissima Beach resort, Hurghada, and Casa Dell Arte, Bodrum s first boutique art hotel, oversees the A jia Restaurant. This is based in the original owner s dining room but spills out in the summer to feed up to 250 people on the terraces. Waiters in white shirts and black bowties take a genial interest in guests and work from a menu that specialises in Italian and other Mediterranean food. Signature dishes include caramelised rib of beef and lamb shank confit. The wine list has a good range of Californian reds as well as some good (but not inexpensive) French whites. The cheaper – but increasingly well regarded – option is Turkish wines, such as Kavaklidere Bogazkere and Doluca Okuzgozu. Expect to pay €42 (£35) per person, excluding wine.
The extras
A jia offers free transfers across the river Bosphorus from Istanbul s European quaysides. Pick-up points are in Emirgan, Istinye, Rumeli, Hisari and Bebek. There is no gym, but in-room massages can be arranged at a rate of €100 for two hours. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.
The access
Children are welcome. Pets are not. There is good access for guests with disabilities throughout the hotel, a lift to all floors, plus one specially modified room. However, boat transfers would not be possible for anyone in a wheelchair.
The bill
Double rooms from €227 per night. Breakfast is €18 (£15) per person. Elixir Holidays (020-7722 2288; elixirholi days.com) offers a three-night package for £960 per person, including boat transfers from Ataturk International, all breakfasts, and one dinner with local wine
The address
A jia Hotel, Cubuklu Caddessi 27, Istanbul, Turkey (00 90 216 413 9300)
Stay the night: A jia Hotel, Istanbul
Adrian Mourby glides by the congested city on a river taxi ride to this elegant boutique hotel
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Waterfront address: The former summer mansion, built in the 19th century, welcomes guests to its 16 bedrooms
A jia means Asia, an appropriate name for one of the first buildings that visitors to Istanbul encounter when they cross to the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
Recently, this luxurious all-white boutique hotel has found a splendid new way to help guests to avoid Istanbul s nightmarish traffic jams. A romantic weekend in one of the greatest cities in Europe (and Asia) can all too easily be wrecked by two hours spent crawling into the city by car from Ataturk International.
Everyone admits the traffic is getting worse, so, making the most of its position on the waterside, A jia will now send a polished water taxi to collect you. The transfer price is €150, which is twice what an ordinary taxi might cost, but the journey time is halved and the view of Istanbul, as you glide along, is simply superb.
The hotel itself is a refurbished yal (Turkish for house or mansion on the waterside). It was built in the 19th century for Ahmet Rasim Pasha, who in 1873 was appointed mayor and chief of police in Istanbul. In 2002, a local businessman named Serdar Bilgili bought the derelict yal and converted it into a small luxury hotel which has since hosted such celebrities as Salma Hayek, Bryan Ferry, Mike Tyson and Bill Clinton.
The architect was Resit Soley, another remarkably energetic figure in Istanbul. In his spare time, Soley has turned the Aegean island of Bozcaada into a winery of note under his own Corvus label.
The rooms
The hotel has 16 rooms and all but one of them have views of the Bosphorus. The Pasha Suite is where celebrities try to stay, for its gracious central balcony on to the waterfront. Equally impressive, though, is the Mezzanine suite, which makes great use of the traditional high ceilings of Istanbul s summer houses. All rooms have calm white interiors, natural wool flooring, Turkish rugs and retro armchairs. The televisions all come with DVD players and movies are available from reception for free. Bed linen is Italian and so are the toiletries, by Acqua di Parma.
The food and drink
Hasan Karabulut, late of the Framissima Beach resort, Hurghada, and Casa Dell Arte, Bodrum s first boutique art hotel, oversees the A jia Restaurant. This is based in the original owner s dining room but spills out in the summer to feed up to 250 people on the terraces. Waiters in white shirts and black bowties take a genial interest in guests and work from a menu that specialises in Italian and other Mediterranean food. Signature dishes include caramelised rib of beef and lamb shank confit. The wine list has a good range of Californian reds as well as some good (but not inexpensive) French whites. The cheaper – but increasingly well regarded – option is Turkish wines, such as Kavaklidere Bogazkere and Doluca Okuzgozu. Expect to pay €42 (£35) per person, excluding wine.
The extras
A jia offers free transfers across the river Bosphorus from Istanbul s European quaysides. Pick-up points are in Emirgan, Istinye, Rumeli, Hisari and Bebek. There is no gym, but in-room massages can be arranged at a rate of €100 for two hours. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.
The access
Children are welcome. Pets are not. There is good access for guests with disabilities throughout the hotel, a lift to all floors, plus one specially modified room. However, boat transfers would not be possible for anyone in a wheelchair.
The bill
Double rooms from €227 per night. Breakfast is €18 (£15) per person. Elixir Holidays (020-7722 2288; elixirholi days.com) offers a three-night package for £960 per person, including boat transfers from Ataturk International, all breakfasts, and one dinner with local wine
The address
A jia Hotel, Cubuklu Caddessi 27, Istanbul, Turkey (00 90 216 413 9300)
Stay the night: A jia Hotel, Istanbul
Adrian Mourby glides by the congested city on a river taxi ride to this elegant boutique hotel
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Waterfront address: The former summer mansion, built in the 19th century, welcomes guests to its 16 bedrooms
A jia means Asia, an appropriate name for one of the first buildings that visitors to Istanbul encounter when they cross to the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
Recently, this luxurious all-white boutique hotel has found a splendid new way to help guests to avoid Istanbul s nightmarish traffic jams. A romantic weekend in one of the greatest cities in Europe (and Asia) can all too easily be wrecked by two hours spent crawling into the city by car from Ataturk International.
Everyone admits the traffic is getting worse, so, making the most of its position on the waterside, A jia will now send a polished water taxi to collect you. The transfer price is €150, which is twice what an ordinary taxi might cost, but the journey time is halved and the view of Istanbul, as you glide along, is simply superb.
The hotel itself is a refurbished yal (Turkish for house or mansion on the waterside). It was built in the 19th century for Ahmet Rasim Pasha, who in 1873 was appointed mayor and chief of police in Istanbul. In 2002, a local businessman named Serdar Bilgili bought the derelict yal and converted it into a small luxury hotel which has since hosted such celebrities as Salma Hayek, Bryan Ferry, Mike Tyson and Bill Clinton.
The architect was Resit Soley, another remarkably energetic figure in Istanbul. In his spare time, Soley has turned the Aegean island of Bozcaada into a winery of note under his own Corvus label.
The rooms
The hotel has 16 rooms and all but one of them have views of the Bosphorus. The Pasha Suite is where celebrities try to stay, for its gracious central balcony on to the waterfront. Equally impressive, though, is the Mezzanine suite, which makes great use of the traditional high ceilings of Istanbul s summer houses. All rooms have calm white interiors, natural wool flooring, Turkish rugs and retro armchairs. The televisions all come with DVD players and movies are available from reception for free. Bed linen is Italian and so are the toiletries, by Acqua di Parma.
The food and drink
Hasan Karabulut, late of the Framissima Beach resort, Hurghada, and Casa Dell Arte, Bodrum s first boutique art hotel, oversees the A jia Restaurant. This is based in the original owner s dining room but spills out in the summer to feed up to 250 people on the terraces. Waiters in white shirts and black bowties take a genial interest in guests and work from a menu that specialises in Italian and other Mediterranean food. Signature dishes include caramelised rib of beef and lamb shank confit. The wine list has a good range of Californian reds as well as some good (but not inexpensive) French whites. The cheaper – but increasingly well regarded – option is Turkish wines, such as Kavaklidere Bogazkere and Doluca Okuzgozu. Expect to pay €42 (£35) per person, excluding wine.
The extras
A jia offers free transfers across the river Bosphorus from Istanbul s European quaysides. Pick-up points are in Emirgan, Istinye, Rumeli, Hisari and Bebek. There is no gym, but in-room massages can be arranged at a rate of €100 for two hours. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.
The access
Children are welcome. Pets are not. There is good access for guests with disabilities throughout the hotel, a lift to all floors, plus one specially modified room. However, boat transfers would not be possible for anyone in a wheelchair.
The bill
Double rooms from €227 per night. Breakfast is €18 (£15) per person. Elixir Holidays (020-7722 2288; elixirholi days.com) offers a three-night package for £960 per person, including boat transfers from Ataturk International, all breakfasts, and one dinner with local wine
The address
A jia Hotel, Cubuklu Caddessi 27, Istanbul, Turkey (00 90 216 413 9300)
Whether you are dreaming of returning to Mandarin Boutique Hotel, or are yet to discover this idyllic rural retreat for the first time, there is no reason to delay planning your visit. Whilst we are almost fully booked for much of September, we still have some late availability for the remainder of August, as well as some spaces in late September and throughout October - the perfect time for exploring the unspoilt countryside on foot, hiking along the renowned Lycian Way or descending the stunning Butterfly Valley.
If you like to plan further ahead, we are already taking bookings for next year. Booking early is particularly recommended for stays around popular dates such as bank holiday weekends, and for groups wishing to book Mandarin in its entirety - with just eight luxurious guestrooms, we are the ideal venue for any select gathering, be it a special family celebration or a top-level business meeting. To enquire or make a booking, simply email mail@villamandarin.com, or call us on (0090) 252 642 1002.
What others have said about us
As a small, independent hotel, we naturally depend heavily on repeat guests and personal recommendations, and we have been so delighted by the comments our guests have left in our visitors book, that we have decided to share them on our website. Please click here to browse our guestbook and read some of the feedback offered by our clients.
Mandarin has also been recommended as an ideal honeymoon destination on about.com, and was reviewed by Annabel Thorpe in the Guardian newspaper as follows: "Fifteen minutes drive from Olu, the mountain hamlet of Faralya is a straggle of houses, simple pensions and the odd stylish hotel above a breathtaking canyon. Discovering the Mandarin in such rurality is a bit like finding a branch of Selfridges in deepest Suffolk; spacious rooms boast Jacuzzis, flat-screen TVs and elegant wooden four-posters, while the communal areas combine luxury with traditional furnishings. There is a good-sized pool, walks from the doorstep and sumptuous five-course evening meals. Adults only." The Guardian also included the nearby Butterfly Valley in its Top 10 Beaches in Turkey feature.
Culinary memories of Mandarin
For many of our guests, one of the highlights of staying at Mandarin are the home-cooked five-course dinners, served on our raised terrace gazing out along the Lycian coast and across the sea to Rhodes. Our girls closely guard their recipes, many of which have been passed down their families for generations, and of course the flavour of many of our dishes results from the excellent quality of the fresh local produce with which we are blessed in this unspoilt and fertile region. But for those keen to recreate an authentic taste of Turkey as a memory of their time with us, here are a couple of simple but delicious dishes that can be served as part of a spread of meze, ideally with freshly baked bread:
Fava (broad beans)
200g fresh broad beans, cleaned & shelled
2 onions
1 carrot
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
Bunch of fresh dill
A few strands of saffron
Juice of one lemon
Salt & pepper to taste
Boil the cleaned broad beans in lightly salted water for 15 minutes or until soft. Finely chop the onion, carrot and garlic and fry gently in the olive oil until tender. Add the drained beans and the remaining ingredients, keeping back half the dill, and process in a blender to a creamy consistency. Chill, then serve in small meze dishes, garnished with the remaining dill and drizzled with olive oil.
Pea Puree
100g fresh garden peas
100g chickpeas
1 tbsp tahini paste
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp olive oil
A few sprigs of dill
Salt & pepper to taste
Boil the garden peas and chick peas in lightly salted water until tender. Drain and leave to cool, then mix with the remaining ingredients in a blender. Serve in small meze dishes drizzled with olive oil, together with warmed flatbread. For more info: http://www.boutiquehotelsofturkey.com/mandarinhotel
Whether you are dreaming of returning to Mandarin Boutique Hotel, or are yet to discover this idyllic rural retreat for the first time, there is no reason to delay planning your visit. Whilst we are almost fully booked for much of September, we still have some late availability for the remainder of August, as well as some spaces in late September and throughout October - the perfect time for exploring the unspoilt countryside on foot, hiking along the renowned Lycian Way or descending the stunning Butterfly Valley.
If you like to plan further ahead, we are already taking bookings for next year. Booking early is particularly recommended for stays around popular dates such as bank holiday weekends, and for groups wishing to book Mandarin in its entirety - with just eight luxurious guestrooms, we are the ideal venue for any select gathering, be it a special family celebration or a top-level business meeting. To enquire or make a booking, simply email mail@villamandarin.com, or call us on (0090) 252 642 1002.
What others have said about us
As a small, independent hotel, we naturally depend heavily on repeat guests and personal recommendations, and we have been so delighted by the comments our guests have left in our visitors book, that we have decided to share them on our website. Please click here to browse our guestbook and read some of the feedback offered by our clients.
Mandarin has also been recommended as an ideal honeymoon destination on about.com, and was reviewed by Annabel Thorpe in the Guardian newspaper as follows: "Fifteen minutes drive from Olu, the mountain hamlet of Faralya is a straggle of houses, simple pensions and the odd stylish hotel above a breathtaking canyon. Discovering the Mandarin in such rurality is a bit like finding a branch of Selfridges in deepest Suffolk; spacious rooms boast Jacuzzis, flat-screen TVs and elegant wooden four-posters, while the communal areas combine luxury with traditional furnishings. There is a good-sized pool, walks from the doorstep and sumptuous five-course evening meals. Adults only." The Guardian also included the nearby Butterfly Valley in its Top 10 Beaches in Turkey feature.
Culinary memories of Mandarin
For many of our guests, one of the highlights of staying at Mandarin are the home-cooked five-course dinners, served on our raised terrace gazing out along the Lycian coast and across the sea to Rhodes. Our girls closely guard their recipes, many of which have been passed down their families for generations, and of course the flavour of many of our dishes results from the excellent quality of the fresh local produce with which we are blessed in this unspoilt and fertile region. But for those keen to recreate an authentic taste of Turkey as a memory of their time with us, here are a couple of simple but delicious dishes that can be served as part of a spread of meze, ideally with freshly baked bread:
Fava (broad beans)
200g fresh broad beans, cleaned & shelled
2 onions
1 carrot
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
Bunch of fresh dill
A few strands of saffron
Juice of one lemon
Salt & pepper to taste
Boil the cleaned broad beans in lightly salted water for 15 minutes or until soft. Finely chop the onion, carrot and garlic and fry gently in the olive oil until tender. Add the drained beans and the remaining ingredients, keeping back half the dill, and process in a blender to a creamy consistency. Chill, then serve in small meze dishes, garnished with the remaining dill and drizzled with olive oil.
Pea Puree
100g fresh garden peas
100g chickpeas
1 tbsp tahini paste
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp olive oil
A few sprigs of dill
Salt & pepper to taste
Boil the garden peas and chick peas in lightly salted water until tender. Drain and leave to cool, then mix with the remaining ingredients in a blender. Serve in small meze dishes drizzled with olive oil, together with warmed flatbread. For more info: http://www.boutiquehotelsofturkey.com/mandarinhotel
Whether you are dreaming of returning to Mandarin Boutique Hotel, or are yet to discover this idyllic rural retreat for the first time, there is no reason to delay planning your visit. Whilst we are almost fully booked for much of September, we still have some late availability for the remainder of August, as well as some spaces in late September and throughout October - the perfect time for exploring the unspoilt countryside on foot, hiking along the renowned Lycian Way or descending the stunning Butterfly Valley.
If you like to plan further ahead, we are already taking bookings for next year. Booking early is particularly recommended for stays around popular dates such as bank holiday weekends, and for groups wishing to book Mandarin in its entirety - with just eight luxurious guestrooms, we are the ideal venue for any select gathering, be it a special family celebration or a top-level business meeting. To enquire or make a booking, simply email mail@villamandarin.com, or call us on (0090) 252 642 1002.
What others have said about us
As a small, independent hotel, we naturally depend heavily on repeat guests and personal recommendations, and we have been so delighted by the comments our guests have left in our visitors book, that we have decided to share them on our website. Please click here to browse our guestbook and read some of the feedback offered by our clients.
Mandarin has also been recommended as an ideal honeymoon destination on about.com, and was reviewed by Annabel Thorpe in the Guardian newspaper as follows: "Fifteen minutes drive from Olu, the mountain hamlet of Faralya is a straggle of houses, simple pensions and the odd stylish hotel above a breathtaking canyon. Discovering the Mandarin in such rurality is a bit like finding a branch of Selfridges in deepest Suffolk; spacious rooms boast Jacuzzis, flat-screen TVs and elegant wooden four-posters, while the communal areas combine luxury with traditional furnishings. There is a good-sized pool, walks from the doorstep and sumptuous five-course evening meals. Adults only." The Guardian also included the nearby Butterfly Valley in its Top 10 Beaches in Turkey feature.
Culinary memories of Mandarin
For many of our guests, one of the highlights of staying at Mandarin are the home-cooked five-course dinners, served on our raised terrace gazing out along the Lycian coast and across the sea to Rhodes. Our girls closely guard their recipes, many of which have been passed down their families for generations, and of course the flavour of many of our dishes results from the excellent quality of the fresh local produce with which we are blessed in this unspoilt and fertile region. But for those keen to recreate an authentic taste of Turkey as a memory of their time with us, here are a couple of simple but delicious dishes that can be served as part of a spread of meze, ideally with freshly baked bread:
Fava (broad beans)
200g fresh broad beans, cleaned & shelled
2 onions
1 carrot
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
Bunch of fresh dill
A few strands of saffron
Juice of one lemon
Salt & pepper to taste
Boil the cleaned broad beans in lightly salted water for 15 minutes or until soft. Finely chop the onion, carrot and garlic and fry gently in the olive oil until tender. Add the drained beans and the remaining ingredients, keeping back half the dill, and process in a blender to a creamy consistency. Chill, then serve in small meze dishes, garnished with the remaining dill and drizzled with olive oil.
Pea Puree
100g fresh garden peas
100g chickpeas
1 tbsp tahini paste
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp olive oil
A few sprigs of dill
Salt & pepper to taste
Boil the garden peas and chick peas in lightly salted water until tender. Drain and leave to cool, then mix with the remaining ingredients in a blender. Serve in small meze dishes drizzled with olive oil, together with warmed flatbread. For more info: http://www.boutiquehotelsofturkey.com/mandarinhotel
Stay the night: A jia Hotel, Istanbul
Adrian Mourby glides by the congested city on a river taxi ride to this elegant boutique hotel
Sunday, 8 August 2010 - İndependent
Waterfront address: The former summer mansion, built in the 19th century, welcomes guests to its 16 bedrooms
A jia means Asia, an appropriate name for one of the first buildings that visitors to Istanbul encounter when they cross to the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
Recently, this luxurious all-white boutique hotel has found a splendid new way to help guests to avoid Istanbul s nightmarish traffic jams. A romantic weekend in one of the greatest cities in Europe (and Asia) can all too easily be wrecked by two hours spent crawling into the city by car from Ataturk International.
Everyone admits the traffic is getting worse, so, making the most of its position on the waterside, A jia will now send a polished water taxi to collect you. The transfer price is €150, which is twice what an ordinary taxi might cost, but the journey time is halved and the view of Istanbul, as you glide along, is simply superb.
The hotel itself is a refurbished yal (Turkish for house or mansion on the waterside). It was built in the 19th century for Ahmet Rasim Pasha, who in 1873 was appointed mayor and chief of police in Istanbul. In 2002, a local businessman named Serdar Bilgili bought the derelict yal and converted it into a small luxury hotel which has since hosted such celebrities as Salma Hayek, Bryan Ferry, Mike Tyson and Bill Clinton.
The architect was Resit Soley, another remarkably energetic figure in Istanbul. In his spare time, Soley has turned the Aegean island of Bozcaada into a winery of note under his own Corvus label.
The rooms
The hotel has 16 rooms and all but one of them have views of the Bosphorus. The Pasha Suite is where celebrities try to stay, for its gracious central balcony on to the waterfront. Equally impressive, though, is the Mezzanine suite, which makes great use of the traditional high ceilings of Istanbul s summer houses. All rooms have calm white interiors, natural wool flooring, Turkish rugs and retro armchairs. The televisions all come with DVD players and movies are available from reception for free. Bed linen is Italian and so are the toiletries, by Acqua di Parma.
The food and drink
Hasan Karabulut, late of the Framissima Beach resort, Hurghada, and Casa Dell Arte, Bodrum s first boutique art hotel, oversees the A jia Restaurant. This is based in the original owner s dining room but spills out in the summer to feed up to 250 people on the terraces. Waiters in white shirts and black bowties take a genial interest in guests and work from a menu that specialises in Italian and other Mediterranean food. Signature dishes include caramelised rib of beef and lamb shank confit. The wine list has a good range of Californian reds as well as some good (but not inexpensive) French whites. The cheaper – but increasingly well regarded – option is Turkish wines, such as Kavaklidere Bogazkere and Doluca Okuzgozu. Expect to pay €42 (£35) per person, excluding wine.
The extras
A jia offers free transfers across the river Bosphorus from Istanbul s European quaysides. Pick-up points are in Emirgan, Istinye, Rumeli, Hisari and Bebek. There is no gym, but in-room massages can be arranged at a rate of €100 for two hours. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.
The access
Children are welcome. Pets are not. There is good access for guests with disabilities throughout the hotel, a lift to all floors, plus one specially modified room. However, boat transfers would not be possible for anyone in a wheelchair.
The bill
Double rooms from €227 per night. Breakfast is €18 (£15) per person. Elixir Holidays (020-7722 2288; elixirholi days.com) offers a three-night package for £960 per person, including boat transfers from Ataturk International, all breakfasts, and one dinner with local wine
The address
A jia Hotel, Cubuklu Caddessi 27, Istanbul, Turkey (00 90 216 413 9300; ajiahotel.com).
Stay the night: A jia Hotel, Istanbul
Adrian Mourby glides by the congested city on a river taxi ride to this elegant boutique hotel
Sunday, 8 August 2010 - İndependent
Waterfront address: The former summer mansion, built in the 19th century, welcomes guests to its 16 bedrooms
A jia means Asia, an appropriate name for one of the first buildings that visitors to Istanbul encounter when they cross to the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
Recently, this luxurious all-white boutique hotel has found a splendid new way to help guests to avoid Istanbul s nightmarish traffic jams. A romantic weekend in one of the greatest cities in Europe (and Asia) can all too easily be wrecked by two hours spent crawling into the city by car from Ataturk International.
Everyone admits the traffic is getting worse, so, making the most of its position on the waterside, A jia will now send a polished water taxi to collect you. The transfer price is €150, which is twice what an ordinary taxi might cost, but the journey time is halved and the view of Istanbul, as you glide along, is simply superb.
The hotel itself is a refurbished yal (Turkish for house or mansion on the waterside). It was built in the 19th century for Ahmet Rasim Pasha, who in 1873 was appointed mayor and chief of police in Istanbul. In 2002, a local businessman named Serdar Bilgili bought the derelict yal and converted it into a small luxury hotel which has since hosted such celebrities as Salma Hayek, Bryan Ferry, Mike Tyson and Bill Clinton.
The architect was Resit Soley, another remarkably energetic figure in Istanbul. In his spare time, Soley has turned the Aegean island of Bozcaada into a winery of note under his own Corvus label.
The rooms
The hotel has 16 rooms and all but one of them have views of the Bosphorus. The Pasha Suite is where celebrities try to stay, for its gracious central balcony on to the waterfront. Equally impressive, though, is the Mezzanine suite, which makes great use of the traditional high ceilings of Istanbul s summer houses. All rooms have calm white interiors, natural wool flooring, Turkish rugs and retro armchairs. The televisions all come with DVD players and movies are available from reception for free. Bed linen is Italian and so are the toiletries, by Acqua di Parma.
The food and drink
Hasan Karabulut, late of the Framissima Beach resort, Hurghada, and Casa Dell Arte, Bodrum s first boutique art hotel, oversees the A jia Restaurant. This is based in the original owner s dining room but spills out in the summer to feed up to 250 people on the terraces. Waiters in white shirts and black bowties take a genial interest in guests and work from a menu that specialises in Italian and other Mediterranean food. Signature dishes include caramelised rib of beef and lamb shank confit. The wine list has a good range of Californian reds as well as some good (but not inexpensive) French whites. The cheaper – but increasingly well regarded – option is Turkish wines, such as Kavaklidere Bogazkere and Doluca Okuzgozu. Expect to pay €42 (£35) per person, excluding wine.
The extras
A jia offers free transfers across the river Bosphorus from Istanbul s European quaysides. Pick-up points are in Emirgan, Istinye, Rumeli, Hisari and Bebek. There is no gym, but in-room massages can be arranged at a rate of €100 for two hours. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.
The access
Children are welcome. Pets are not. There is good access for guests with disabilities throughout the hotel, a lift to all floors, plus one specially modified room. However, boat transfers would not be possible for anyone in a wheelchair.
The bill
Double rooms from €227 per night. Breakfast is €18 (£15) per person. Elixir Holidays (020-7722 2288; elixirholi days.com) offers a three-night package for £960 per person, including boat transfers from Ataturk International, all breakfasts, and one dinner with local wine
The address
A jia Hotel, Cubuklu Caddessi 27, Istanbul, Turkey (00 90 216 413 9300; ajiahotel.com).
Stay the night: A jia Hotel, Istanbul
Adrian Mourby glides by the congested city on a river taxi ride to this elegant boutique hotel
Sunday, 8 August 2010 - İndependent
Waterfront address: The former summer mansion, built in the 19th century, welcomes guests to its 16 bedrooms
A jia means Asia, an appropriate name for one of the first buildings that visitors to Istanbul encounter when they cross to the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
Recently, this luxurious all-white boutique hotel has found a splendid new way to help guests to avoid Istanbul s nightmarish traffic jams. A romantic weekend in one of the greatest cities in Europe (and Asia) can all too easily be wrecked by two hours spent crawling into the city by car from Ataturk International.
Everyone admits the traffic is getting worse, so, making the most of its position on the waterside, A jia will now send a polished water taxi to collect you. The transfer price is €150, which is twice what an ordinary taxi might cost, but the journey time is halved and the view of Istanbul, as you glide along, is simply superb.
The hotel itself is a refurbished yal (Turkish for house or mansion on the waterside). It was built in the 19th century for Ahmet Rasim Pasha, who in 1873 was appointed mayor and chief of police in Istanbul. In 2002, a local businessman named Serdar Bilgili bought the derelict yal and converted it into a small luxury hotel which has since hosted such celebrities as Salma Hayek, Bryan Ferry, Mike Tyson and Bill Clinton.
The architect was Resit Soley, another remarkably energetic figure in Istanbul. In his spare time, Soley has turned the Aegean island of Bozcaada into a winery of note under his own Corvus label.
The rooms
The hotel has 16 rooms and all but one of them have views of the Bosphorus. The Pasha Suite is where celebrities try to stay, for its gracious central balcony on to the waterfront. Equally impressive, though, is the Mezzanine suite, which makes great use of the traditional high ceilings of Istanbul s summer houses. All rooms have calm white interiors, natural wool flooring, Turkish rugs and retro armchairs. The televisions all come with DVD players and movies are available from reception for free. Bed linen is Italian and so are the toiletries, by Acqua di Parma.
The food and drink
Hasan Karabulut, late of the Framissima Beach resort, Hurghada, and Casa Dell Arte, Bodrum s first boutique art hotel, oversees the A jia Restaurant. This is based in the original owner s dining room but spills out in the summer to feed up to 250 people on the terraces. Waiters in white shirts and black bowties take a genial interest in guests and work from a menu that specialises in Italian and other Mediterranean food. Signature dishes include caramelised rib of beef and lamb shank confit. The wine list has a good range of Californian reds as well as some good (but not inexpensive) French whites. The cheaper – but increasingly well regarded – option is Turkish wines, such as Kavaklidere Bogazkere and Doluca Okuzgozu. Expect to pay €42 (£35) per person, excluding wine.
The extras
A jia offers free transfers across the river Bosphorus from Istanbul s European quaysides. Pick-up points are in Emirgan, Istinye, Rumeli, Hisari and Bebek. There is no gym, but in-room massages can be arranged at a rate of €100 for two hours. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.
The access
Children are welcome. Pets are not. There is good access for guests with disabilities throughout the hotel, a lift to all floors, plus one specially modified room. However, boat transfers would not be possible for anyone in a wheelchair.
The bill
Double rooms from €227 per night. Breakfast is €18 (£15) per person. Elixir Holidays (020-7722 2288; elixirholi days.com) offers a three-night package for £960 per person, including boat transfers from Ataturk International, all breakfasts, and one dinner with local wine
The address
A jia Hotel, Cubuklu Caddessi 27, Istanbul, Turkey (00 90 216 413 9300; ajiahotel.com).
Roasting in Turkey Travel experts choose their best holidays on Turkey s coast, from villas in unspoilt fishing villages to boutique hotels and white-sand beaches * The Guardian, Saturday 10 April 2010 * Article history The ancient ruins of Olympos. Heaven sent ... the ancient ruins of Olympos on the beach at Cirali. Photograph: Brandon Sawaya Cesme peninsula, Aegean Turkey s coast is one of its greatest assets. Sadly, this is no secret to hotel developers and bus-loads of tourists. For the sea, eschew torrid and overdeveloped Bodrum for the boutique hotels of the Cesme peninsula, on the Aegean coast. Alacati is where Greek workers, brought from the islands by the Ottomans in the late 1800s, established vineyards. These all but disappeared in the last century, though new ones are being re-established, along with olive groves and lavender plantations. Come now though for the sandy beach, also a major centre for windsurfers. The Tas Otel (tasotel.com, doubles from €90), which opened in 2001, is a stylish conversion of a Greek mansion with a pool. Further to the north the seaside resort of Assos, where Aristotle once lived, retains its charm. You can visit the Temple of Athena there. Also make the time to take a trip down the coast from Alacati to gastronomic hotspot Ayvalik which is relatively undeveloped and surrounded by olive groves and has many Ottoman houses. Ferries run to the Greek island of Lesvos from here, too. John Scott, editor of Cornucopia magazine
Each page on the site will give the hotel information, photographs and rates and for hotels with their own websites we have included a direct link for a more comprehensive view of their property. We supply you with our own overview of the hotel and a guideline of facilities available, the rates have been negotiated to offer excellent value for money.
Enjoy this years Boutique Hotel&rsquote;s collection.
BoutiqueHotelsDirectory.com
Each page on the site will give the hotel information, photographs and rates and for hotels with their own websites we have included a direct link for a more comprehensive view of their property. We supply you with our own overview of the hotel and a guideline of facilities available, the rates have been negotiated to offer excellent value for money.
Enjoy this years Boutique Hotel&rsquote;s collection.
BoutiqueHotelsDirectory.com
A collection of boutique hotels around Turkey offering true value, ideal locations and a style of their own.
Each page on the site will give the hotel information, photographs and rates and for hotels with their own websites we have included a direct link for a more comprehensive view of their property. We supply you with our own overview of the hotel and a guideline of facilities available, the rates have been negotiated to offer excellent value for money.
Enjoy this years Boutique Hotel&rsquote;s collection.
BoutiqueHotelsDirectory.com
Yacht Boutique Hotel - Fethiye
Welcome to Yacht Hotel
We transform the holiday in your dreams into reality in the Yacht Hotel that is awaiting you in turquoise sea and lily white beach of Fethiye where you will rest by getting shut of the stress of trying work and where your children will have a heyday.
Yacht Hotel is a Boutique hotel which is the pupil of fethiye with its contemporary minimalist desing and Meiterranean architecture and 5 minutes far from the downtown, where you will be satisfy with the sea and nature.
We submit you all the details in the congruity of colors as well as in design by kneading with the quality of service. It is possible for you to anchor into blues of Aegean Sea and into enchanting view of sundown.
We are looking forward to see you in the lobby where the Turkish coffee with Turkish Delight is drunk after morning breakfast as prepared by taking the taste of the Mediterranean into consideration.
This hotel page 2303 times visited.
 | air condition | | Airport nearby | ||
| Airport pick-up | | Alarm | ||
| Baby Cot | | Bar-Cafe | ||
| Breakfast included | | Coffee-tea pot | ||
| Credit cards accepted | | Daily Room Cleaning | ||
| Disabled room | | Dry Cleaning | ||
| Electronic Key | | Elevator | ||
| Fax | | Fireplace | ||
| Free newspaper | | Free parking | ||
| Garden | | Hair dryer | ||
| Ice Machine | | İnternet | ||
| Laundry | | Massage | ||
| minibar | | Mountain view | ||
| Open 24 Hours | | Open full year | ||
| Outdoor swimming pool | | Parking area | ||
| Phone | | Playing room | ||
| Restaurant | | Room service | ||
| Safe box | | Satellite tv | ||
| Sea view | | Sommelier | ||
| Suit bedroom | | Television | ||
| Terrace | | Wake up service | ||
| Wine cellar | | Wireless |
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Promotion and Activities
Discount
10 % discount for Honeymoon Couples. 10% Discount on special days such as Valentine�s Day, etc.
Promotions:
Special Honeymoon Room, free a bottle of wine and fruit service.
Fethiye-Mugla-Turkey
Fethiye with its cultural wealth, natural beauties and geography, is among the important touristic centres of Turkey. It is famous for its works of art belong to Persians, Lycians, Carians and Romans. This charming county is in a bay within Fethiye Gulf where both large and small islands are scattered. The rear of the bay is surrounded by pine forests.
History
The ancient name of Fethiye, which was a coastal city at the borders of Lycia-Caria, is Telmessos. There is not definite information about the foundation of this Ancient city. According to the first written records, it has come into existence in the 5th century B.C. Telmessos, separate from Lycia, survived as an independent city for a long time. The city experienced the rule of Persia, Alexander the Great, Rome, Pergamum Kingdom, Byzantium, Menteşeoğulları Principality and Ottoman State respectively.
Climate
Mediterranean climate, which is hot and dry during summers and warm and rainy during winters, is dominant in the region. Temperature, which is approximately 30 degrees during the summer months, is generally over 10 degrees during winter. Sea water temperature never decreases under 16 degrees during each season.
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The Turquoise Sea and the white beach of Fethiye embrace Yacht Hotel, which is located in Karagözler, at a 5 minutes� walking distance to the city center. The sea view and the Mediterranean-style architecture of the hotel cast a spell on you, where you can spend a great holiday with pleasure, be it in the peaceful garden or in rooms. The owner of the hotel is Mustafa Argın. After leaving his stressful life as a solution partner of international projects in architectural consulting systems, he settled in Fethiye, he realized that Fethiye is still an untouched village like the ones he visited during his childhood. Feeling highly special and home here, he founded a hotel in Karagözler, which is historically and naturally rich. The architecture of the hotel is, most of all, specially designed. Its exemplary Mediterranean style is completed with harmony of colors, details of the design and service quality. The rooms are furnished with five-style furniture. Drinking a Turkish coffee in the lobby following breakfasts flavored with Mediterranean tastes is worth trying. With the accompaniment of the candles� dance, which Mr. Mustafa lights every night, you will witness how magnificent a sunset seems and feel like a captain anchoring in the blue tones of the Aegean Sea during your dinner at the a la carte restaurant. The hotel also offers you the opportunity to have a trip to untouched bays around Fethiye and Göcek.
Accommodation Prices
1. Karagozler 48300 Fethiye / Mugla/ Turkey
- 19 reviews of Yacht Hotel in Fethiye
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