Layover in Istanbul

I would go for the Yotel, located in the airport. It's a bit pricey for what it is, but it's clean and comfortable. I have stayed there twice. It was a godsend for me during the great Covid shutdown of March 2020.

Actually, there are two of them, one air side and one land side. The airside one costs a little more, but you don't have to leave the terminal.

I think the yotel was a great suggestion. It is secure so no worries about dozing off and theft, there is a bed to lay down on, your own toilet, and even a shower. A smaller space, but it is your own space and you can truly rest and relax.

When I was in my early 60's I did a sleeppod in Singapore. It was better than spending the night in the open areas of the terminal. Staying in a hotel would have been very expensive (it's singapore, after all). Years later, I would spend the $$ for a basic hotel instead, with a decent bed, a private bathroom and a real shower, especially after a long-haul flight, which was not the case for me.

Thank you everyone. While the hotel sounds like a good solution, we just checked and they have no vacancy on the night we will be there (mid-October). Is anyone aware of any similar options?

Ouch! So sorry that the Yotel is full.

I just saw this post that you might find helpful:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/turkey-reviews/tour-of-turkey-lodging-in-the-ist-vicinity

Another option is to spend an extra day and go into the Istanbul if you can modify your plane ticket.

And the rest of the learning experience for these International travel newbies is to check back on other sites (especially going to the hotel's site) to see if space opens up. We now have a reservation, and thank you for your recommendations.

I am glad you were able to get a Yotel reservation. It's worth it for the convenience and stress reduction.

Even though you will have layover there so many places close to each other I recommend staying longer