Here is my list of budget hotels in Istanbul. Again, prices are outdated though. Sandy

HOTELS

International Youth Hostel, foot of the Sofia Mosque. $6 per person. Since it is generally full of travelers coming from all over Turkey, it is a good place to get your bearings.

Barut's Guesthouse, Ishakpasa Cad. No. 8, Sultanahmet-Istanbul, Turkey. Within walking distance to many of the historic sites of old Istanbul. Double: $30.

Berk's Guest House, 27 Kutlugun Sokak, Cankurtaran, Sultanahmet, Istanbul 34400; (90-212)517-6561. Located within a few minutes' walk from the major sites. 7 standard rooms that are clean and comfortable with fans, 2 deluxe rooms with air conditioners and hotel-room amenities. Breakfast lounge where buffet served next to flowr garden; roof lounge with spectacular view. Across from Four Season's Hotel. From airport or bus terminal have driver follow Kennedy Caddesi (Sahil Yolu), left at Cankurtaran traffic lite (right after Kalyon Hotel) go up Ishakpcan Caddesi to Kutlugun Sokak. Double $50, deluxe double $70. American contact: Berk Evrensel, P.O. Box 7873 Atlantic City, NJ 08404; 609-266-9084.

Hotel Empress Zoe, Akbiyik Vaddesi, Adliye Sokak 10, 90-212/518-2504; fax 518-5699. Next to Hagia Sophia Church. Rooms small, but appealinag with off-white walls, dark wood trim and creamy marble bathrooms. Hotel's cozy lounge and roof terrace offer views of Sea of Marmara. Ann Nevans, the American owner, knows all the best restaurants, night spots and interesting markets. Double $60-$65 breakfast included.

Hotel Nomade, Ticarethane Sokak 15, 212-511-1296; fax 513-2404. Double room with bath is $45.

Hotel Park, Utangac Sokak 26, tel 90-212/517-6590. Modernized double room with bath is $35-$50, or $30-$40 with shared bath.

Hotel Konak, Elmadag, Cumhuriyet Caddesi Nisbet Sok. 9; 484744. Just down the block from the Hilton. Nice, comfortable, inexpensive hotel. Double: about $30.

Hotel Harem, 2 Ambar Sokak; 310-6800. Set in the Asian sector, it leans out over an great view of the Haghia Sophia. It is noisy; try for rooms on the quieter side which also have newly refurbished bathrooms, overlooking the pool. Double: $44.

Hotel Turkoman; 2 Asmali Cesme Sokak; 516-2956. A small, simple hotel near the Blue Mosque. There is an enthusiastic young staff lending a youth-hostel feel to the place. Double: $35-$40.

Hidiv Kasri, Cubuklu; 331-2651. Once the summer home of Egypt's royal family, on a hill overlooking the Bosporus. Another historically rich Automobile Association hotel. Not all the rooms have bathrooms. Double $147 for the Khedivial Suite in which you will live like royalty! Some rooms have doubles as low as $47.

Hotel Eysan, Rihtim Cad. 26 across the Bosporus, in Kadikoy; 346-2440. A comfortable 52-room hotel. Double: $54.

Hotel Hippodrome, Mimar Mehmetaga Cad. 17; 517-4529. Conveniently near the Blue Mosque is a clean, simply furnished hotel. Double: $65.

Havuzlu Konak, Mescit Sokak, Safranbolu; (90-372)725-2883. In a tiny town about 50 miles from the Black Sea coast. A 25-room hotel that is delightful and at $40 a night double, quite a bargain. Safranbolu was a favorite winter residence of wealthy Ottomans at the turn of the century and this is the largest mansion in town. The rooms are decorated in traditional style, each with a brass bedstead, shelves filled with copper craft work and Turkish kilims on the floor.