Reviews of Second Home hostel

11 February 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The best thing at Second Home is the staff. They are all super friendly and ready to help you with any need. Second Home is super close to the Gulhane tram station and all of the main tourist sights of Istanbul. It's nice that it's not located in the main area of Sultanhamet, because I've stayed in a hostel in that area before and you invariably are harassed by every restaurant you pass as you leave and return to your hostel. There is a crazy kitten at Second Home, so if you are allergic, or just don't like cats, than you probably won't want to stay there.

Disliked: Customer left no negative feedback.

09 February 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The location is absolutely perfect and staff members Gulsum and Mehmed went out of their way to be helpful to my needs (and I was high-maintenance!). The room I stayed in was spacious, clean, and had perfectly working amenities. The free breakfast is nice and the common area is set up such that it is easy to meet other travelers if you wish. The staff also does a great job to facilitiate fun and getting to know each other. They certainly promote a "second home" atmosphere.

Disliked: The room was a bit cold, however that didn't bother me but would some. However consider it was historically cold outside when I stayed. Also, the directions given by the hostel, while accurate, are tough to follow if you're new to town. So, do your own reasearch into getting there beforehand.

07 January 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The location couldn't be better. The staff were very helpful and friendly. The rooms and linens were very clean and comfortable.

Disliked: The showers did have an odd smell, but they were clean.

21 December 2011 Nediljko would recommend this property

Liked: Location is perfect

Disliked: Nothing really

04 December 2011 Valentina would recommend this property

Liked: It has a great location. Dorms are small but clean and cheap.

Disliked: Breakfast was quite poor. I have been at this hostel before and at that time breakfast was somehow better...

30 November 2011 Swen would recommend this property

Liked: Ideally located, very warm and welcoming atmosphere. I would defenitely stay there again. Very good value for money!

Disliked: The room I had was a bit small.

30 November 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The price was very reasonable. The hostel was very clean and the staff was helpful and friendly. The location is in the middle of all the major sights as well.

Disliked: We stayed in the basement of the hostel and did not get a key to our room.

27 November 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Can and Mehmet are excellent hosts and will do anything to make you enjoy your time in Turkey. In addition to showing you a great time in Istanbul they are very knowledgable about the rest of Turkey and can make good recommendations regarding accomodation and activities. Rooftop patio with the waterpipe and your new secondhome hostel friends is unforgettable!

Disliked: none

27 November 2011 Ethan would recommend this property

Liked: Great hostel. We had previously stayed in another hostel with a 90% rating (Sydney hostel). If that managed to get 90% then the Second Home should get 110%. It was amazing, the staff were great, the facilities were nice and the location was excellent.

Disliked: The breakfast was slightly boring... but how can you complain when it's free?

19 November 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Second Home has a great camaraderie atmosphere. Guests will hang out and talk in the common area, and there's always tea (and sometimes homemade baklava) to be had. The lounge upstairs is great for hookah, which the staff will gladly set up and puff alongside you. There's also a convenience store just down the street, if you want to cook up your own meals in the kitchen. When I went they had just adopted a one month-old kitten that was absolutely adorable.

Disliked: While clean, the bathroom had an odd smell to it.

16 November 2011 Cameron would recommend this property

Liked: The staff were amazingly welcoming! They helped us with the luggage and offered us some coffee or tea. The rooms were nice and clean. The location was AMAZING!!! We were located in the center of all the monuments and the bazaar. And the fact that you get Turkish coffee or tea for breakfast just made my stay. Oh, and they had a kitten in the lobby. : )

Disliked: We had the room with the en suite bathroom. When we got there, the toilet wouldn't flush and it smelled really bad. Also, the light on the shower would not work. However, as soon as we told the staff, they fixed everything! So, no real complaint here...

15 November 2011 ALEKSANDAR would recommend this property

Liked: central place

Disliked: Nothing

11 November 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Hostel is like its name - it is comfortable as home.

Disliked: nothing

10 November 2011 Mohd Taufik would recommend this property

Liked: Other than the obvious "second home" implication (at which it's materialized by the warm treatment from the staffs), the location of the hostel is very strategic. You could just walk to various attractions like Hagia Sofia Museum, Topkapi palace, etc.

Disliked: The rooms could be bigger, but for me it's enough for a backpacker like me, because if we travel to a country, we want to see the outside, not the rooms we're staying in! But still, it's modest, simple, and comfortable. The size is not important to me.

01 November 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Great location, helpful staff

Disliked: Nothing

28 October 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: location and staff. The quality of the rooms was also acceptable.

Disliked: overly expensive and extremely difficult for those who are given rooms on the 5th floor as there is no elevator

22 October 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Very nice hostel, perfect location!

Disliked: -

13 October 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: see above. Great place.

Disliked: nothing

12 October 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: frieness

Disliked: the wearing of other turists

12 October 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Location was excellent, bathroom and shower facilities were good. The lounge on the roof had good atmosphere and it was going having access to printing facilities for free (although the printer was frequently out of paper and the staff didn't have any they could provide).

Disliked: The hostel states they have a kitchen to use for personal cooking - there are almost no utensils or pots/pans to cook with and we had to cook our pasta in a kettle. I wouldn't rely on this kitchen if you are planning on doing your own cooking. Wifi access was patchy on higher floors.

11 October 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: homely feel. and in a good location.

Disliked: nothing much

08 October 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Cheap big room

Disliked: Stairs

26 September 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: everything

Disliked: nothing

25 September 2011 Adam would recommend this property

Liked: Everything was amazing. The staff were the most helpful I've had at any hostel. Booked a day trip for us, a turkish bath, shuttle transfers. A great turkish breakfast was served each day to you like you were at a restaurant. Location was great. Close to all the major sights and 2 markets (grand bazaar and spice bazaar). Lots of restaurants nearby and a grocery store 30 seconds away. We were put in a studio apartment that wasnt in the hostel building but was less than a minute away, the room was huge and better than the rooms at the hostel. Just an awesome hostel.

Disliked: Nothing. Would stay again for sure. Everything was perfect.

19 September 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The staff was really nice and helpfull 24/7 and hostel is near all the big sightseeing spots in istanbul. The roof terrace is amazing and free shischas up as well.

Disliked: It has just one 9 bed dorm and the rest of the rooms are 2 bed or 3 bed ensuit which is occupied with couples most of the time.