Originally Posted by
bhrubin
We weren't overly impressed with the FS Bosphorus, actually. We found the Bosphorus view rooms and suites obscenely overpriced for what you go, and we weren't fans of the more formal ambience and marble showcase. The FS Sultanahmet was a much more intimate and beautiful property in our view, but we didn't love the location beyond its convenience for touring the major sites (which we did in a day!). The FS Sultanahmet was also very expensive and not totally worth it in our view. But between the two, we'd take the FS Sultanahmet.
I had a split stay at FS Bosphorus and FS Sultanahmet recently, and I definitely preferred the latter for the reasons you mentioned. Even though both are historical buildings, FS Sultanahmet just felt much more charming and atmospheric. FS Bosphorus was beautiful, but the decor felt more generic and forgettable. The best thing about FS Bosphorus was the very impressive pools.
I found the entry-level rates (around $300/night) for both properties very reasonable, but I visited after the tourism decline in Istanbul. The rooms were a decent size for a city hotel, but I agree that the Bosphorus view rooms (not even getting into suites) are extortionately priced. For a room roughly the same size as the entry-level one but with a view of the Bosphorus, it would have been $1,300/night. That's on par with the entry-level rate at the most expensive hotels in Paris.