Turkish Grand Prix - can anyone recommend a decent hotel in Istanbul?

Nicky30


Joined: 08/10/2010
Posts: 57

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 14:42

Hi, I'm going to the Turkish Grand Prix in May with my dad and wanted to combine the trip with a look around Istanbul. Can anyone recommend a decent hotel/district where we can see some of the sights, yet also be close to transport to the race track? I know the track is a ridiculously long way from the city centre, but has anyone else on this forum been before and, if so, can you offer me any advice? Thanks.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 14:48

Sultanahmet district would be my recommendation. Friends stayed in the Maywood and were very impressed with the setup. We've stayed at Gulhane Park and The Golden Crown before now and they were OK for a tight budget.

The tram system will take you to many places very cheaply and very efficiently

The circuit is quite some way at Kurtkoy but there are coaches.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 14:52

http://www.booking.com/hotel/tr/maywood.html?aid=318670&label=maywood-dKb_*boS2c55tjNG3G6E1gS5667762007&sid=a288478d54201ac90418f9a07a6514c8&lang=en-gb&selected_currency=hotel_currency

http://www.booking.com/hotel/tr/golden-crown.html?aid=318670&label=golden-crown-aHvZ7IBXKdAt1NrwUqCXwQS4741443997&sid=a288478d54201ac90418f9a07a6514c8&lang=en-gb&selected_currency=hotel_currency

http://www.booking.com/hotel/tr/gulhanepark.tr.html?aid=318670;label=gulhanepark-7nGo*FAlb6MNSkz_HAZMLwS4740958177;ws=&gclid=CKXI_7bpyKYCFRYv3wod6x4WHg

http://www.booking.com/hotel/tr/mina.html?aid=318670&label=hotel-86411-tr-M7eiOcVfA1zDUrl18O66wQS4742029537&sid=a288478d54201ac90418f9a07a6514c8&lang=en-gb&selected_currency=hotel_currency

This last link for the hotel Mina comes highly recommended by friends//

BTW Sirkeci is next to Sultanahmet

Nicky30


Joined: 08/10/2010
Posts: 57

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 14:53

Nice one, Groucho! I'll look into those. Thank you very much - massively appreciated.

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 15:38

Cannot offer advice on best value for money hotels but what is certain is that the hotels in general massively increase their prices as the Grand Prix approaches so perhaps best to book as early as possible.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 16:23

flightholiday - we offer packages that can be changed to suit you:

Both a Delux and a Budget format both start and finish in Istanbul so ift does not matter where you travel from.

http://www.flightholiday.co.uk/Istanbul_Formula_1_Tour.php

We have only been offering the Istanbul F1 since the first year when there was only one other operator available we include transfers on each race day not just to and from the airport.

If you want any further help call or email me

Tom

info@flightholiday.co.uk 0871 855 2925 or + 44 1594 544 077

cavalryman


Joined: 08/11/2010
Posts: 314

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 18:21

Nice one nicky will go mysef am trying to tie up monaco at pres then will go for istanbul

delikomsu



Joined: 27/10/2010
Posts: 504

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 18:56

flightholiday, is there any info yet on new airline flying to Dalaman from Ercan please?

AllyTT


Joined: 13/09/2008
Posts: 188

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 19:05

I'd recommend somewhere on the Asian side like Kadikoy or Bostanci instead of Sultanahmet as come race day it'll take forever to get to the track. It's easy enough to cross to the touristy areas of Istanbul from Kadikoy for the rest of the trip. Deniz Hotel is a nice affordable hotel right on the Bosphorus in Kadikoy, but like everywhere else in Istanbul the prices will go up for race weekend.. http://www.denizotel.com.tr/

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 20:12

Thing is Alison, Nicky wants to see Istanbul and the race is only one day unless she's going to the circuit for practice and qualifying sessions... Staying in an area like Sultanahmet will give her and her dad the best access to historic Istanbul on foot...



BTW Nicky you can use Google Earth to look at the Circuit and Istanbul and see where you fancy staying.

Isabella


Joined: 02/10/2008
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 20:41

When we were at the first Grand Prix held in Istanbul we stayed at Bebek - a district of Istanbul and it has a beautiful coast. We stayed at the Bebek hotel which stands on the European side of the Strait. We had a taxi to the Grand Prix which was quite reasonable. Beware though if you travel by taxi of getting a reliable taxi for your return journey. Fortunately our hotel sorted out our payment with the taxi driver for our return journey and we were told to just go inside the hotel. The taxi driver was trying to charge treble cost for the return journey.

marcosthechef



Joined: 30/11/2009
Posts: 646

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 21:23

Went last year and stayed in the Taxim Square Hotel, excellent week end and the F1 was wow

Nicky30


Joined: 08/10/2010
Posts: 57

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 22:27

That's excellent, everyone. Thank you so much. I'll do a bit more research based on what I've been advised on here, then I'll get a hotel booked sharpish before the prices rocket. Groucho, yeah, I'm going for the whole three days. It was my Christmas prez to my dad. Plus, it's a steal compared to the British Grand Prix, which is £180 just to stand up on the Sunday only. But definitely, seeing the sights of Istanbul is a priority too, since my dad has only been abroad once and I want him to get the travel bug. Isabella, cheers for the taxi advice! Can't stand con-artist cabbies. AllyTT, yep, will deffo look into the Asian side then. Mucho appreciated. Thanks all! X

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 22:32

If enough of you want to goat IAH we can arrange a group booking for "Cyprus44" - so far the count seems to be about 6 travellers. Maybe flightholiday can even get a deal on flights if there is a large enough party all starting from one point.

Talk to me as we would be happy to co-ordinate it..

Tom

info@flightholiday.co.uk

0871 855 2925

+ 44 1594 544 077

stephen48


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 224

Message Posted:
21/01/2011 10:43

i seem to remember a group going from here last year, there and back the same day. think the cost was around £150.00



any feedback on how this worked out?



thanks