(ipekyoluotel.net) – Fatih neighborhood, Istanbul, Turkey 

How I heard of this place: Chris was frantically looking for a hotel near the airport or on a direct route to the airport for our flight tomorrow in the early afternoon, during our last night in Edirne. After finding that most hotels on the water were already sold out of rooms, he came upon a hotel with a great internet-only deal. We jumped on it, and are so happy we did!

Type of cuisine: Room service: hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken nugget, chicken schnitzel, fries and salad.

Ambiance: The privacy of our own, upgraded, luxury suite – as big as our apartment! – with a balcony about the same size, overlooking the beauty of the Bosphorus and the Istanbul cityscape.

What I ordered: I selected the Chicken Nugget and Fries (10TL) with a Sprite-like beverage called Fruko (4TL). Chris opted for a Cheeseburger (11TL). And we each ordered a Salad (8TL each) for something green and fresh to add to our plates.

On a return visit, Friday, 6 April 2012: Turkish breakfast extraordinaire! We had everything from tomatoes and cucumbers, olives, cheese to spam-like bologna, hard-boiled eggs and a variety of breads with all the individual packets of toppings for which you could wish. Cereal, thinly sliced cakes, fake juices, tea and coffee to wash it all down. My favorite part: halva! I had been craving it for a few days and was so happy to see it neatly piled for our breakfast enjoyment.

What I loved: The bright orange chicken nuggets made me laugh, but most enjoyed the salad: the buttery, fresh lettuce, the juicy, ripe tomatoes, the crisp and flavorful cucumbers tossed in a light dressing of fresh lemon juice and real olive oil.

Why I loved it: I loved it most because it made Chris so happy to order room service and have a real honeymoon stay at a hotel. I loved it secondly because of the gorgeous view from our balcony, where we sat in the sun, watching the boats cross the Bosphorus, birds fly delicately overhead and in the distance, and the city glimmering in the background.

Cost: Low to average (10-12TL per entree)