Istanbul
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RedWhiteMonkey

Original Poster:

8,222 posts

203 months

Wednesday 7th January
quotequote all
I'm currently looking into the annual lads trip (normally six of us, all nearly 50) and a long weekend on Istanbul has been suggested. I've been there before with my wife but that involved slightly less boozing than one the lad's weekends, so l'm looking for some advice.

Where is a good area to look at being based? I was thinking around the Galata Tower, any thoughts or suggestions?

To save costs we tend to share rooms. I'm looking for twin rooms first but was wondering is there a problem in Turkey with two men sharing a double room?

Ussrcossack

860 posts

63 months

Wednesday 7th January
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Well homosexuality isn't illegal so shouldn't be a problem

What about Taskim Sq to locate

Every day a journey

2,593 posts

59 months

Wednesday 7th January
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It's a what 5+ hr flight?

Bit much for a long weekend?

RedWhiteMonkey

Original Poster:

8,222 posts

203 months

Wednesday 7th January
quotequote all
Every day a journey said:
It's a what 5+ hr flight?

Bit much for a long weekend?
I'll be flying from Stuttgart, so 3 hours for me. The rest probably from Manchester, so 4 hours for them. Get an early Friday morning flight there and late Monday afternoon flight back and that seems perfectly fine to me.

Every day a journey

2,593 posts

59 months

Wednesday 7th January
quotequote all
RedWhiteMonkey said:
Every day a journey said:
It's a what 5+ hr flight?

Bit much for a long weekend?
I'll be flying from Stuttgart, so 3 hours for me. The rest probably from Manchester, so 4 hours for them. Get an early Friday morning flight there and late Monday afternoon flight back and that seems perfectly fine to me.
Fair enough.

Rumdoodle

1,618 posts

41 months

Wednesday 7th January
quotequote all
Ussrcossack said:
Well homosexuality isn't illegal so shouldn't be a problem

What about Taskim Sq to locate
I concur. No problem with room sharing and Taksim is a good spot to be based.

RedWhiteMonkey

Original Poster:

8,222 posts

203 months

Wednesday 7th January
quotequote all
Cheers, I'll look round Taksim

MarkJS

2,023 posts

168 months

Wednesday 7th January
quotequote all
I can recommend the Neorion Hotel. It’s also located in an ideal location to explore the city.

Have a great time - Istanbul is a fantastic place.

craigjm

20,231 posts

221 months

Wednesday 7th January
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Not sure I would bother for a lads weekend to be fair as it’s not really a drinking culture and “bars” are not really in big numbers unless in hotels. The culture is much more more restaurant based. That’s certainly my experience having been a few times and not surprising as it’s a s Muslim country.

If you do go the taxim is a good shout and I would also look at Kadikoy. Also stayed in the Sultan area. The transport and ferries are cheap.

RedWhiteMonkey

Original Poster:

8,222 posts

203 months

Thursday 8th January
quotequote all
craigjm said:
Not sure I would bother for a lads weekend to be fair as it s not really a drinking culture and bars are not really in big numbers unless in hotels. The culture is much more more restaurant based. That s certainly my experience having been a few times and not surprising as it s a s Muslim country.

If you do go the taxim is a good shout and I would also look at Kadikoy. Also stayed in the Sultan area. The transport and ferries are cheap.
The last few trips have been Northern Europe and we fancy something a bit different this time. I've been before and I found it to be very secular despite being the capital of a Muslim country. There seemed to be plenty of bars to me and as we're all pushing 50 we're unlikely to be looking for a banging nightclub. We do try to at least one cultural thing during our weekends as well.

TrevorHill

499 posts

12 months

Thursday 8th January
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Istanbul is such a wonderful place, literally where east meets west. Taksim Square is obviously one of best known places in the city and a great place to meet and watch the world go by. A cruise down the river is a must in my opinion as is a visit to the Blue Mosque. A visit to many of the local markets too. There is so much to do that you would need a month there.
I must arrange another trip there. The street food is probably the best I’ve ever tasted.

craigjm

20,231 posts

221 months

Thursday 8th January
quotequote all
TrevorHill said:
Istanbul is such a wonderful place, literally where east meets west. Taksim Square is obviously one of best known places in the city and a great place to meet and watch the world go by. A cruise down the river is a must in my opinion as is a visit to the Blue Mosque. A visit to many of the local markets too. There is so much to do that you would need a month there.
I must arrange another trip there. The street food is probably the best I ve ever tasted.
Agreed. What surprised me the first time I went was the princes islands all reachable by public ferry