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You can check out " bagdat caddesi" or "erenkoy". Those places very near each other and you can see expats as much as in etiler.

Istanbul's traffic jam is absoultely awful. That's why people work in Istanbul prefer suburbs which are close to their works.

From Etiler to the asian side by car takes more than 1 hour. By bus, your husband should take at least 2 maybe 3 buses. Also, Etiler is a pretentious suburb. Living costs, entertainment etc. are more expensive than the other places.

I suggest you to live in asian side.
Regards

Gah. 1hr. It Sometimes takes us less then 20-25 to get from the Northern part of the Asian side to Beyoglu/Istiklal Cd. Though with traffic timing is always dicey. But I take the bus across the FSM Bridge every single week and it ha never taken me more then 30 minutes from Mecidikoy to Cavacik.

I live on the Asian side, and for me, EVERY expat I've met lives in the Bebek/Etiler area (at least that's where all the nannies are) its a bitch for me to try to get together with them because the pub transportation isn't quite what it is over here what it is just across the bridge.

So if I had a choice, I would leave the asian side behind without a backward glance.

But as Tunahus points out there are pros and cons to either place--depends on what you are looking for. I realize that your family have probably already moved here, so you slearly made you decision already--But that's my two cents for any other expats who are stuck in this same predicament.

Well, I born and raised in Etiler area. Currently live in LA and Istanbul. I recommend you to stick with Etiler/Bebek or Bagdat Caddesi, cause those places are more family orinted people live in. Also, you can find out many American related franchise stores and restaurants. Hope you will enjoy Istanbul and good luck to u with ur family.

I moved to Turkey 2 years ago and spent months to find out a right place to live and honestly speaking you will never find out until you come and leave here yourself.. After long investigation of both sides i ended up in Moda-Kadikoy and its great.. First of all its very very convenient!! Its not as hectic as European side but its very central. You get everythig you looking for withing 3-4 sq miles.  Shops, Bars, Park, Good School, seaside jogging area, Beatiful cafes with seaview, expats, and you can get to anywhere in istanbul from Kadikoy very easily. You can relax in a moda tea garden, Moda teras (nice cafe-rest) or or mingle with crowd in central kadikoy.. All available here..

You can definetely start from Kadikoy,Moda, Bagdat cad, Fenerbahce and then choose your next move if you are not happy!!