Can't tell you what hotel Regent uses Jim, but can report we spent three days in Istanbul in late April, staying at the Gezi Bosphorous Hotel near Taksim Square. Very good modern hotel, with reasonable rates and an excellent view, but only from the Deluxe Bosphorus-view rooms – standard rooms look into a walled “garden”. The rooms themselves are not overly large, but are exceptionally well furnished and maintained. The included full breakfast has lots of choices, and the staff was always helpful and friendly.

We booked the hotel and 3 days of private touring through Ekol Travel [www.ekoltravel.com/] and thought the cost was fair, the guides and drivers very good, and the city itself fabulous.