Discussion
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?
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?
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.Bit much for a long weekend?
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.Bit much for a long weekend?
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.
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.
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.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.
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.
I must arrange another trip there. The street food is probably the best I’ve ever tasted.
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 I must arrange another trip there. The street food is probably the best I ve ever tasted.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Resurrection!
Thinking 4-5 days.
Anything to be wary of etc
I love the idea that one travel ticket covers all forms, boat etc
When are you going? Don’t bother in August for instance as it will generally be unbearable.Thinking 4-5 days.
Anything to be wary of etc
I love the idea that one travel ticket covers all forms, boat etc
The things to be wary of are the same across most of that region and many holiday destinations
Ripoff taxis - you won’t need them, walk or take public transport using an Istanbul card
The typical street hustles you see everywhere
The addition to that of conversations with strangers that start “where you from?” At tourist sites. Just tell them you are from Eswatini and I find anywhere in the world that makes them walk away. Any conversation that includes “where are you from” in the street will be the start of a scam
Any restaurants in high tourist areas putting stuff on the table that you think is included but it isn’t. Be very clear when they put stuff down
Other than that just make sure you are dressed appropriately and are respectful when you visit places like the blue mosque and the Hagia Sophia.
Love Istanbul
Ha! I lived in central London for years. You sound like you re describing a typical tourist snare.
I watched a travel video programme recently on iplayer? Where they went to the old bits/off the beaten track. I’ll try and track it down if I can share to see if those areas are generally good.
I watched a travel video programme recently on iplayer? Where they went to the old bits/off the beaten track. I’ll try and track it down if I can share to see if those areas are generally good.
Edited by Hugo Stiglitz on Tuesday 2nd June 09:28
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Anything to be wary of etc
I'm a little embarrassed to say I got scammed at the public transport ticket top up machines.I was trying to figure out how to buy a ticket, some friendly guy comes up and offers to help, types in a bunch of stuff very quickly on the machine and I tap my credit card to pay. Turns out he switched the top up card out for his own one and I topped up ~£20 on his card and he gave me one with minimal credit on it.
Everything seems very expensive now, food is almost same price as London and entry to Hagia Sophia is €25 when previously it was free.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Ha! I lived in central London for years. You sound like you re describing a typical tourist snare.
I watched a travel video programme recently on iplayer? Where they went to the old bits/off the beaten track. I ll try and track it down if I can share to see if those areas are generally good.
absolutely all the same things as London although the unregulated taxis are the big trap but you dont need them anyway. You are generally OK off the beaten track in Istanbul. There are some areas around Taksim square that are not so great, Excuse the spellings haha Tarlabasi and Dolopdere and then really once you get into the outlying areas its the extremes at either end where the poor areas are and then you risk crime and transport issues Esenyurt is one end and the other extreme is called sultanbeyli. Having been there there isnt much to see in these areas apart from how the real locals live. If you are familiar with London think of them as similar areas to Tower Hamlets, East Ham and TottenhamI watched a travel video programme recently on iplayer? Where they went to the old bits/off the beaten track. I ll try and track it down if I can share to see if those areas are generally good.
Edited by Hugo Stiglitz on Tuesday 2nd June 09:28
Every day a journey said:
It's a what 5+ hr flight?
Bit much for a long weekend?
Never really understood that logic. It's 5hours for us to get to the south coast or 5hrs north would get us just past Edinburgh, neither would I rule out for a long weekend as being too far away yet with flights you always hear sentiments like the above. Bit much for a long weekend?
Driving is more tiring than flying, even for us paupers.
_Rodders_ said:
Every day a journey said:
It's a what 5+ hr flight?
Bit much for a long weekend?
Never really understood that logic. It's 5hours for us to get to the south coast or 5hrs north would get us just past Edinburgh, neither would I rule out for a long weekend as being too far away yet with flights you always hear sentiments like the above. Bit much for a long weekend?
Driving is more tiring than flying, even for us paupers.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff