Job Discussion Forums

[Theresa]

Hi!
Im now here in the capital and in a week or so I may well have to go to a hostel in Ulus...... This is of course not an ideal situation! Does anybody know of a room for rent? Am disheartened by the exhorbitant rents wanted for horrible furnished places and meeting sleezy emlakcis. Am debating the whole issue of going for unfurnished and buying furniture but thats not going to happen in the next couple of weeks (esp as I dont even have a bed). I dont know anyone (sob sob!!) I can share with here. Even short term, say a month would give me the chance to look around more.

On the subject of Ulus and hostels there, has anyone got any tips on which ones are ok there? I have a list from my Lonely Planet but you never know

Any help and suggestions gratefuly received

[gelin]

Personally, I don't think Ulus is where I would want to be. I'd first find a hotel maybe in Kizilay (which aren't so great either, but the area is better than Ulus) and bargain with the management. Good luck.

[ghost]

Take a one month course at Tomer, Kizilay, and you can get accommodation as well with a Turkish family. The families are controlled by the school, and provide decent meals and a single room. When you finish your course you can stay on with the family.

Excellent way to improve your Turkish skills.

Make sure you specify you want a 'real family' - when ghost went to Tomer in July 2003 - his family consisted of one single female Turkish 'hippy.' And nothing wrong with that, except that there was almost never any chance to practice Turkish because the hippy was never home.

The meals were good (chicken and vegetables and rice) and left on the cooker, for ghost to heat up when he wanted.

[dmb]

[ghost]

Ulus is fine for single males who want to avail of many of the 'cheapie' hotels around there - and you have a large choice in the $10-$15 per night range. Ghost always managed to find hotels in Ulus with private bathrooms in the $8-$10 range (equivalent), and one imagines that prices are still about the same.

If you go for Ulus - use the 'Lonely Planet' - have your top price in mind, plead poverty, and if you don't like the price - walk....as they have dozens of choices there. Ulus has a lot of decent restaurants with very modest prices. Also, you are a stone's throw from the large 'Kultur Park' with the boating lake, kahveler and other amenities. Interesting to walk around there in the afternoon and evening and catch the crowds.

When ghost studied at Tomer, several students there elected domicile in those hotels in Ulus. The price was good, and usually includes a full turkish breakfast (ekmek, peynir, tereyagi, bal, yumurta, cay). The students were male.

At night in Ulus area, you see a few shady characters (who might not necessarily be threatening - just their appearance) and a single 'gringo' female might attract unwanted attention.

For this reason, and others, foreign females would probably not be so comfortable there. It is more of a man's world and working class.

Kizilay is better, but more expensive. There are some decent hotels there, but you will pay closer to $40-$50 dollars per night there. They are not cheap.

[Theresa]

Thanks for all the help. Ghost you should really write a guide!!!! Found a place in Maltepe-through helpful taxi driver. Visited Ulus at night and it's a bit dodgy for a long-term stay so have opted for Maltepe at 20 YTL a night.
Thanks again