Originally Posted by hfly
$100 is daylight robbery, as noted there should be no bargaining involved, and they use meters. After the airport taxi stand reorganized 3 years ago, there is even a complaint number, etc. Assuming that your hotel is in either Sultanahmet, Taksim, Ortakoy, and that you arrive bet 6AM and midnight the fare should be somewhere between 20-25 million TL depending on traffic, route, etc (appx $14-$17) - after midnight there is a 50% surcharge. The bus is really not necessary as with more than one person there is no cost savings whatsoever, and it is less convenient on all accounts.
I would not go to Sunset as I was food poisoned there once and know two other people that were food poisoned there on other occasions. Kumkapi, is a tourist cliche where tourists are routinely ripped off and I would not suggest it. Kebap restaurants are good and I would suggest Tike or Kosebasi.
Hmm...I use to rotate Istanbul and New York when I worked for a Turkish ibank and we use to go to Sunset alot...no food poisoning as I know of...but anyway, I don't dispute that foreigners (or regulars for that matter) get ill in Turkey sometimes.
The kumkapi is a fun place to take newbies to Ist. It is a ripoff but its something they should see (just like the Bazaar). And we're not talking about alot of money here.
Anyway, try the Ciraggan Palace thing as its completely safe. And for more safer but good food, there's always the multitude to restaurants at the Swissotel, etc.
But if you are brave, there are lots of great food to be had on the streets...in Bebek for one...