a night or two in istanbul

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
14/12/2008 18:00

best travel agent to organise please.Sultanahmet district

Dawnie1


Joined: 27/09/2008
Posts: 217

Message Posted:
14/12/2008 18:07

We used Apple Tours near to The Colony, but Ankara Travel are also good near to Niazis.

We stayed in the Arcadia right in Sultanahmet, the views from the bar/terrace are outstanding over the Blue Mosque. There are cheaper places but we have returned there twice as its so central & worth it for the views alone.

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
14/12/2008 18:30

thanks for that.will have to take hanky when I see |Blue Mosque at night

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
14/12/2008 18:40

Would recommend Ankara Travel, they are so helpful and by far the cheapest, don't know about the blue Mosque, watch out for the red lights

pilgrim



Joined: 11/05/2007
Posts: 1404

Message Posted:
14/12/2008 19:31

Topkapi Palace nearby, outstanding

Cyprusquest


Joined: 09/12/2008
Posts: 428

Message Posted:
14/12/2008 21:58

Have you looked at http://www.flightholiday.co.uk they have some of tours to and a lot of hotels in Istanbul.



I have heard that as a rule they are excelent value and quality.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
14/12/2008 22:50

Mikelapta, We can help, hotels tours or breaks even with the GP in 2009 Tom IAH

MICK THE FISH


Joined: 27/05/2008
Posts: 180

Message Posted:
15/12/2008 06:34

I did this trip in October - I asked the forum for advice on what to see, amazing response. Thought the place was fablulous.



Although I hadn't booked with them - flightholiday were particularly helpful.



Should you want any other information, please contact me. (I can recommend an excellent place to eat).



Only one annoying thing - realising that it is much cheaper in Istanbul than here !!



have a good trip

Turbo


Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 833

Message Posted:
15/12/2008 06:49

Istanbul, its still great value for your money, dont forget to see the Basilica cistern around the corner from the mosque, if you are lucky, you may catch them on a night when they are doing a concert down there, the acoustics are great, take a good look at the one column with Medusa's head ( she is upside down for a reason). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Cistern



A great area not too well known is Kumkapi, tons of restaurants in one area, its like one big party, best fish in town , festival atmosphere.

I wish I was going too. A bit cold this time of year though. have a great trip.

Dawnie1


Joined: 27/09/2008
Posts: 217

Message Posted:
15/12/2008 10:09

Turbo I agree Kumkapi is a great place & it is walkable from Sultanahmet. Loads of fish restaurants & a great buzz.



Mike, there is so much to see & do, its a fantastic city.



One tip though, always ask is using a taxi for them to use the meter, otherwise you will be overcharged!!!!

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
15/12/2008 10:56

sorry should have said,I now live in Lapta,single,so solo few nights.My wife was from Uzbekistan,so met her there a few times.So Mr.flight holiday will be flying Ercan to Istanbul,say Thursday until Saturday.Give me a good price reasonable hotel<3/4*>sultanahmet district.

Mike

dolphin


Joined: 15/12/2008
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
16/12/2008 10:28

watch thıs space for extremely good flıghts between here and ıstanbulş accomadatıon can also be arranged! just waıtıng for confırmatıon on great flıght prıces.

when me and my daughter went to ıstanbul we stayed ın the Halı hotel, ask for a room at the front, fab vıews, should get ıt for 50 euros a room

Adress : Klodfarer Cd. No:20 Sultanahmet-Istanbul

Phone : +90 (212) 516 21 70 (2 lines),

+90 (212) 516 17 77 (2 lines)

Fax : +90 (212) 516 21 72

http://www.halihotel.com

- come and see me at polatkan tourısm on the round about near the pıa bella hotel!

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
16/12/2008 13:47

Mike we try not to transact business on forums as that would be bad security for you and not anyone elses business.



Email me with the details and a number to call you on and we will call you.



Tom

IAH

info@flightholiday.co.uk



PS for a selection of Istanbul hotels try this link http://www.flightholiday.co.uk/fh/Istanbul_Hotels.php with rooms from well below 16.00 GBP per night twin share - we can also offer SAW Istanbul shuttles to go with your Pegasus flights.

Turbo


Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 833

Message Posted:
18/12/2008 06:59

Seres Hotel, right in the heart of it all, great deals, equal walking distance to mosques, market seafront and Topkapi palace (100 feet away) and the zoo and park take an umbrella so the cranes don't poop on your head..

very clean, great service, airport pick up and drop off , if u go there, ask for a front room, you get a great view of the bay and the bridges. Also a great rooftop restaurant, u can see the old towers and mosques, don't forget your camera.

Also warm clothing highly recommended.



http://www.sereshotel.com/

Becks


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 130

Message Posted:
18/12/2008 09:41

you will love Istanbul. Vist the Dolmabahce Palace.The grand bazaar and Yedikule Hisarı Castle. You will have a graet time.

Cyprusquest


Joined: 09/12/2008
Posts: 428

Message Posted:
02/01/2009 16:30

Flew through Istanbul after Xmas stayed in Sultanahment used flightholiday for it all and it was good in via Pegasus from Ercan out with Turkish to Birmingham all arranged by them good trip and reasonable price for last minute

neil27


Joined: 16/07/2008
Posts: 93

Message Posted:
02/01/2009 16:59

Hi, I'm not sure if you are going from the UK or TRNC. If the UK then I recommend flying with EASYJET to the Sahia Gochen airport and getting the bus into Istanbul - the flights are a very good price and the bus is also inexpensive. We booked our hotel off the internet - the Artefes hotel in the Sultanhamet area booked with Lastminute.com. We would recomend the roman underground cistern ( across the road from Santa Sofia ) + the sites already mentioned

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
02/01/2009 22:49

Hi Neil27



How much was the bus and how much the hotel per night?



Easyjet into Sabiha Gokcen can be far more expensive than Pegasus and if Luton is not convenient for this journey then Satnsted may be.



http://www.flightholiday.co.uk based on the Tayhan Hotel one night including return shuttle the package could be as little as £23.50 per person. (The hotel you suggest is £54.00 per night tonight based on twin share without shuttles on last minute!).

neil27


Joined: 16/07/2008
Posts: 93

Message Posted:
02/01/2009 23:26

Hi Flightholiday,



We stayed for 3 nights and paid about £230 each for flight and hotel with Lastminute. The coach in and back was aprox £8 per person each way.

the butler


Joined: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1958

Message Posted:
03/01/2009 01:19

Hi Mikelapta,



I honestly don't think 2 nights will be long enough for you to see much in Istanbul. My hubby and I went in October for a week, we stayed in Sultanhamet but we could have stayed another week there is so much to see.

We flew Pegasus from Sabiha Gokcen to Ercan and you have to leave your hotel at 8.am in the morning to catch the flight. I would say you need at least 4 nights there to make the journey worthwhile.



The Butlers wife

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
03/01/2009 15:11

Neil Next time (assuming you are flying from TRNC) please, please, please contact me http://www.flightholiday.co.uk or a travel agent in Girne look at the flight exclusive prices that can be offered including transfers and day tours. http://www.flightholiday.co.uk/fh/Short_Tours_Turkey.php - if you got the flight inclusive deal from the UK it was good value.



I hope the tour you took was an excelent one and you started to enjoy the city which needs many days to explore and enjoy.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
03/01/2009 15:26

Hi The B's Wife



Pegasus have a number of flights on many days SAW / ECN - it sounds like you picked the wrong days - you are so right even a couple of weeks is hardly enough. Extra new inyternal flights till late this year are due to be announced by Pegasus fairly soon. "Watch this space."

Turbo


Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 833

Message Posted:
03/01/2009 21:54

Hi, the Butlers wife, , totally agree, we went for 7 days, then changed it to 14 days. Too much to see.