What about Istanbul?
 

I know thats an open ended question. I was looking for a interesting spot for my vacation in May and I thought it would be fun to do something different. With the value of the dollar so low I was thinking that I wanted to find a location where I can get more for my money. What about Istanbul? Whats the prices like? the food? hotels? sights? how much time do I need there?

I have a lot of questions!

Istanbul is a fascinating city. Great food, sights, the Bazaar, mosques, wonderful people, reasonable prices but haggle haggle haggle anyway. Do a week or more. Watch out for gypsies. I was there in June. May should be better.

We spent 10 days in Turkey 1 year ago and I am so glad we did. We spent the first 5 days in Kusadasi, enjoying a day on a boat, a day at Ephesus, a day trip to the Temple of Apollo, and a quiet day around the town, visiting shops and having a massage,

We moved on to Istanbul for 5 nights, and could have used a few more days. We visited the Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia, Church of St. Saviour in Chora, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, the Cistern, attended a performance of folk dances, ate fish sandwiches at the waterside, enjoyed a wide variety of food and really loved our visit!

Our hotel(Celal Sultan in Sultanahmet) was not luxurious, but very comfortable with a great buffet breakfast included for 85 euro/night. Our meals ranged from street take-away to white tablecloth dining. By all means, go and enjoy the gracious hospitality and the phenominal history and architecture!

I haven't been to Istanbul since Oct. 2000, but I remember I loved it. A very interesting city, we spent 4 days there. I felt that was a good amount. The money exchange was on their old currency so can't help there. Barb and Hop listed the great sights to see. I think Istanbul is a great choice.

Hi

We went to Turkey including a 5 day stay in Istanbul last September. The Turks are lovely people. Istanbul is an incredible city. There is much to see and do. You get a lot of bang for your buck. Turkish food is suberb. I noticed a lack of obesity there. Alot of food is grilled not fried in saturated fat. I've emailed you some notes you may find useful. Good luck.

TIP: The Turks love using US and Euros rather than New Turkish Lira as they are more stable/strong currencies. This puts you at a disadvantage when negotiating for purchases. Learn to deal with the local currency.

I'm going to Istanbul for three nights in April. I'm so excited, as I have heard so many wonderful things about it. I've been to Kusadasi and Ephesus in the past and can confirm that the Turkish people are truly lovely. Hope we all have a great time!

My husband and I are traveling to Turkey for 10 days in April -- our son is an exchange student at a university in Istanbul, and my husband was stationed there in the military over 30 yrs ago, so we're very excited about this trip.

We are staying in IST for 3 nts, then flying to Cappadocia for 3 nts, then returning to IST for the last 3 nts. I am looking for small-group walking tours in IST, and have had no success so far. Do any of you who've been there recently have suggestions?

Another question: all our hotels offer a 10% discount for payment in cash, and they're happy to get USD. This seems like a good choice to me - although I'm not thrilled about carrying large amounts of cash -- since we will avoid ATM withdrawal fees as well as conversion/transaction charges on AmEx. Does this make sense?

And to the OP - if you do a search in the New York Times travel section, you'll find a number of good recent articles about Istanbul. I'm still looking for more info sources as well.

Pittsburgher: I found this site on the internet re: walking group tours of Istanbul. Hope it helps.
www.istanbulwalks.com/
Marty

Martin -- Thanks for your help. That's close to what I'm looking for. There seem to be lots of 'private' tourguides, but we enjoy going with a group as well.

worldinabag -- if you don't mind sharing, I would love to have your notes as well -- [email protected]. And do you have an opinion about the economy of taking USD to pay hotel bills to save transaction fees etc? Thanks!

Pittsburgher: Here's another site for walking tours of Istanbul:
http://www.festtravel.com/festtravel...ugh%20Istanbul

Marty

We really enjoy travel to Turkey and will be there next month. Here is web site that we have used.
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/index.html

Hi Pittsburgher

I have sent you my notes on Istanbul.

Paying your hotel bill in US dollars is fine. Did the hotel quote a rate in US dollars? That's preferable so you know exactly where you stand costwise. In fact we paid ours in Euros. This was easy because the hotel quoted a rate in Euros.

I don't think you sent them to me either. I am looking forward to them.

Hi Richard and Pittsburgher

Richard I didn't forget about you - I sent the notes on Tuesday, 27 February. Pittsburgher I've tried twice just now but your spam filter bounced them back! Maybe you guys can email me on [email protected] with an alternative email address.

worldinabag: I tried sending you an e-mail as described but got a response that the e-mail address was no good. Will appreciate your sending me your notes on Istanbul at [email protected]. Thx, Nancy

Worldinabag,

I also tried to e-mail you and got it bounced back. WOuld love to have your notes, since we're going to Turkey this summer. Thanks so much!

Why bring cash from North America with you to pay your hotel bill? Bring an ATM card, there are machines all over Istanbul, including about 5 kiosks across the street from the Hagia Sophia.

My Gucci, do you use two tin cans and a piece of string to make a phone call?

I hope you are not planning on staying in Sultanahmet; it is so touristy.

Oh no I goofed my email address!! Sorry folks, here it is - [email protected]. Nancy I've sent you the notes.

I stayed in Sultanahmet. Yes it certainly is touristy. But if you're adventurous you can get off the trail and really experience the Old City. Call to Prayer at 5.30 in the morning is not for everyone but I found it to be magical!

Weadles, sorry forgot to mention - by all means email me and I'll only be too happy to send you my notes.

I never got the notes, send again.

Istanbul is a fabulous place with a mix of both old and new heritage and cultures.

I won't repeat the sound advice given by others and the Fodors Guides re: things to see and do such as the Blue Mosque, etc.

I also recommend some kind of water trip on the Bosphorous. Ask the advice your hotel about the nearest place to pick up water craft, whether you just want a short ferry cruise, a dinner or tour cruise, or (as we did one time) a ferry to a nearby suburb with a number of semi-casual-but-very-good waterside fish restaurants -- a lovely evening or lunch on the weekend.

Some prefer to stay in the older section near the cultural sites, but I've only stayed in the major chain hotels across the Golden Horn in the more modern areas, largely chosen for business/professional purposes (two Hiltons and a Swisshotel.) These often have major security clearances, but such is life.

We enjoyed a touristy stop at the Whirling Dervish show at what was the terminal of the Orient Express. Yes, it's touristy, but the show was truly lovely. The restaurant that adjoins it has good (not great) food.

The food is often wonderful (or at least good) at any price level if you are reasonably adventurous in your tastes. One thing that is common in the "everday" places (read: not the tourist-oriented cafes right near the famous sites,) which have a cafeteria-like set-up where the dishes are displayed at the serving counter, you tell the waitstaff what you'd like, and you are served. I've found these in different directions a block or two away from the main tourist strips. People are welcoming and cordial; pointing to the dish that looks good is the norm for those who do not speak Turkish (I do not.) Probably the cafes around the tourist spots are good enough, but they are often busy, at which point I head down the block and try my luck.

The menus can range widely, but vegetables and fish are a big part of the diet, as well as meats. It is not difficult to get a healthy meal here.

'Must admit that I am not that impressed wth Turkish wine. It's serviceable, but there is a lot of better wine in the world, even at cheap prices. But I tried it everywhere I dined.

Prices go from relatively cheap to as expensive as in many world-class cities with significant numbers of midde-and upper income people. FYI: if yougo on a cuirse of the Bosphorous, some of the homes rank right up there with Manhattan penthouse proces. Of course, these are not the average Turk's abode.

Many enjoy the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. While really interesting, and with some good finds, my problem with the Grand Bazaar is that almost every shopkeeper will want to chat with you -- in a row of 30+ shops on each side of an aisles, and there are many, many aisles. It's part hard sell, part courtesy, part of the bargaining process if you show the slightest bit of itnerest, but I find it tiring and hate bargaining. To each his/her own. 'Too bad for me, since it is an interesting place. Still, I know that many of the shoppers here are wholesalers, not just the individual shopper, and you may find some questionable goods, e.g. there were many knock-offs of Bulgari necklaces last June. Don't count on a dressing room in these tiny stalls, either. Just come prepared and enjoy.

Some other background:

The Turkish lira went through some gyrations in value last year (mostly down,) so many hotels prefer to book in US dollars or euros for reservations and other payments. Also: there SHOULD be no "old" Turkish lira around, but even last June when it was supposed to be out of circulation, some older shopkeepers or one taxi driver would try to pass it off. The old lira has at least three 0's after a digit. Yes, I've seen a 250,000 lira note, that was worth practically nothing. Again, this was a very rare occurrence, but it happens.

While I have not been everywhere in the world, this is also a place where I would ask the taxi driver how much he will charge to take you to _______ before you get in the cab. You should also ask your hotel to advise how much you will be charged from one place to another. Life may be tough in these parts, but the taxis drivers here impressed me with how often they'd try to cheat, e.g. quoting 2-3 times the normal rate. Many were very honest; more than a few were not. Again, it might have had something to do with the fact that we stayed in upmarket US/European hotels, but I've rarely had this level of hassle in other places in the world. (But again, some of the dicier places have the company hiring a driver for us.)

None of this should scare you off Istanbul. My usual experience there has seen very warm, courteous, hospitable people (including some trips to Ephesus, Kusadasi, etc.)

Many people there speak English, but not all.

Recently visited Istanbul and loved it. Great place to go. Split our time between the Empress Zoe hotel (highly recommend!) in Sultanahmet and the Ritz-Carlton in the "new" city. We MUCH preferred staying in Sultanahmet-far more atmospheric. Took took a taxi over to the town of Kanlica on the Asian side and had lunch at the Ajia Hotel which is on the water and fabulous.

I am surprised to hear so many positive coments.

Another thumbs up for Istanbul and also for the Empress Zoe. Spent over a week there in October 2001 and would love to go back.

Glad I came across this post. I will be in Istanbul for a total of 6 days in September/October and the information in this post is very helpful for my trip planning! :)

Nancy

Got your email. I sent you the notes a couple of days ago and again just now to [email protected]. Maybe your spam filter is blocking me!

I've been thinking about Turkey for this September. Seems like a good idea to get a bit exotic and still feel comfortable.

"I am surprised to hear so many positive coments."

Why surprised? Didn´t you like it? I have not met a single person who didn´t enjoy Istanbul. Definitely a town where we will return often. Nowadays I am also planning to combine it with Bursa.

I agree with all of the positive comments. Here is a trip report from my visit there in October, 2005; note that I was traveling alone for much of my time there:


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34695639

Sigh. Istanbul is nice but it is no longer cheap. Until a few years ago, the basic currency was for travellers was USD. Now prices are primarily in Euros. With the low dollar againstthe Euro, prices have skyrocked for Americans. It's cheaper than western Europe, but no longer cheap. Historic sites in Turkey also tend to be very expensive. They were expensive even before the Euro switch.

At least they did away with the ridiculous $100 tourist visa for Americans.

We will be heading to Istanbul in 2 weeks (for a quick 1 day visit to hook up with a friend) - and then on to Kusadasi and Bodrum for several days. This will be the 3rd March in a row that we've hit Istanbul! LOVE the city and the country!