Jennifer Hattam

A new travel website, Simonseeks , had its official launch last month, featuring community-written and expert guides to almost 50 locations, mostly in Europe, but also around the world, from Hong Kong to Cape Town to New York. I spent a couple of months last fall researching and writing the expert guide to Istanbul , selecting 40 top hotels , 40 restaurants worth visiting, and 20 can't-miss sights , as well as making extensive recommendations on shopping , nightlife , and getting around , and offering my own " insider tips " and personal favorites in the city I've now called home for three years -- keeping a few special places to myself, of course.

After helping update guides to Istanbul and Turkey for DK Travel and Weissmann Reports , I've started an assignment as the "Istanbul expert" for Simonseeks , a new British travel site. I'll be scoping out the best hotels and restaurants in the city, and writing guides to sightseeing, shopping, nightlife, and getting around -- not to mention highlighting some of my personal favorite spots in my adopted home. The Istanbul guide will debut later in the fall -- watch this space for more details. To go along with my new gig, I've also started up a second Twitter account, @TheTurkishLife , devoted to all things Istanbul and Turkey.