dina4

Liz,
Happy to answer your questions....

We felt very safe everywhere we went.

We caught the cruise in the little harbor at Orkatoy. I do not remember how much it was, but I know it was not expensive at all.

Yes, we did use turkish lira, not euros.

have a great trip!!

ahotpoet

DIna,
If you are still around, thanks for your trip report.

I will be going there in May. If you had had one more day to spend there what would you have done?

dina4

Good question...
Probably see the tokpaki palace or spend more time walking around the old town or the grand bazaar.
Maybe taking an evening ferry up the bosphorus and have dinner at one other fishing villages.
Maybe see the dolmabache palace .

Hope that helps,

dina4

and sorry for the typos

ahotpoet

Thanks Dina
After reading your trip report I decided to stay an extra day in Istanbul. You really communicated well.

dina4

i hope you have a great trip!

atakan78

http://www.luxuryhotelsofistanbul.co...ul_turkey.html

Is this the hotel you have stayed in? How is your review about location of the hotel? Thanks in advance.

dina4

Yes, that is the hotel. We stayed there with starwood points (for free), and we loved it. However, if I were paying for the hotel, I would have probably chosen a hotel closer to the old town.

Alorzija

We stayed in the Garden House hotel it is near to all attractions. The pick you up and deliver you to-from airport. Gorgeous place, you can walk everywhere.This was last year. This year we are moving to Istanbul to live, loved it so much.
Thank you dina4, helpful and wonderful trip report.
!

dina4

Thanks, Alorzija. I am happy to have your rec e: the Garden House Hotel in case I want to save my starwood points next time i am in istanbul.
i wish you all the best in your move!

julia1

Bookmarking...

Aussiemaid

Hi dina4...Loved your report. Sadly our only glimpse of Istanbul will be from a cruise ship. Our really adventurous days are behind us, as DH is now in his 70's. We are taking a private tour with a couple of other people, and while we are pretty good walkers, the question of available toilets has come up. Got any practical advice for us?

tedgale

Dina, what should we two expect to pay for a guide for a day?

Any advice from others on a guide/ company? ( I note your recommendation for Yavuz -- thought I'd canvass more generally before contacting him)

dina4

Hi Ted,
We had Yavuz for 6 hours. He charges 250 TL for the whole day, which was about $150. An outstanding value, imo. We gave him a nice tip. i do remember from my research, that he was more affordable than others. i had contacted and almost used BITINYA TOURS, but ended up choosing Yavuz instead. we were very pleased!

hi Aussiemaid,
i don't remember ever having a problem finding toilets. and i tend to need to visit them often.
your private tour guide should be able to help navigate you, i would imagine.

amcginn

What airline did you travel on? How was it.

dina4

We flew turkish air home -- it was REALLY FANTASTIC for economy class on a very long nonstop from istanbul to los angeles.

burberry212

Dina4 - thanks for a wonderful trip report. We are visiting istanbul next month and really looking forward to the trip.
Did you get turkish lira from the istanbul airport or from US?
We are staying at the W (free starwood points), any tips on the hotel?
Any suggestions on shopping spices, turkish tea and other stuff? How does the bargaining work?

ceeast

Thanks so much for your trip report. We are planning a visit in November. Hoping for 2 weeks but it may be shorter. I'm wondering how you found your guide in case we have only a few days to visit.

ceeast

Thanks so much for your trip report. We are planning a visit in November. Hoping for 2 weeks but it may be shorter. I'm wondering how you found your guide in case we have only a few days to visit.