Jul 21, 2015, 8:54 pm
Last edit by: ISTFlyer
It's strange this thread has no Wiki, so here it is, created 7/21/2015
PLEASE READ THE OP Post first
For case related questions ( ex: Am I eligible, etc... ) contact[email protected] first before posting your question here.
TK free hotel room rules:
Note:
- You still need e-VISA to enter Turkish for a Tour or Hotel. The prices vary by countries ($60 USD for Canadian, $20 for USA, etc...)
You can apply here at https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
Tour website is at http://www.istanbulinhours.com/
There are 3 tours offered (Schedule)
A Bosphorus cruise, with food and drinks, is available for business class passengers of more than 7 hour layover (€183 as of Nov. 2017)
Here's a list of the common hotels that are reported in this thread:
Marriott Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel (72% TripAdvisor – most common)
Akgün Istanbul Hotel (44% TripAdvisor–common – far from the airport)
Wow Airport Hotel (56% TripAdvisor–common - very close to airport)
DoubleTree
Wyndham İstanbul Petek (92% TripAdvisor)
Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel (53% TripAdvisor)
Hilton Garden Inn
Courtyard by Marriott Istanbul International Airport
Gonen Hotel Istanbul
Pullman Istanbul Airport Hotel
PLEASE READ THE OP Post first
For case related questions ( ex: Am I eligible, etc... ) contact[email protected] first before posting your question here.
TK free hotel room rules:
A complimentary hotel accommodation (maximum 2 nights) will be provided to our valuable passengers when there are more than 10 hours (for economy cabin passengers) and 7 or more hours (for business cabin passengers) waiting during their international connecting flights due to Turkish Airlines’ schedule structure. However, if your destination can be reached by an alternative flight to your first flight and the waiting time is less, you cannot take advantage of the hotel service. This service is not applicable when there is a shorter connection available within the time frame mentioned above. The first and the connecting flights must be with Turkish Airlines. All passengers must hold a confirmed reservation for the first and the connecting flights. Complimentary accommodation will be arranged with Turkish Airlines’ corporate partners and will be provided through the “Hotel Desk” located after the customs’ check point at the arrival. Passengers must check for any visa requirements when entering Turkey. In the event where a visa is not granted, Turkish Airlines assumes no responsibility for providing complimentary hotel accommodation.
Note:
- You still need e-VISA to enter Turkish for a Tour or Hotel. The prices vary by countries ($60 USD for Canadian, $20 for USA, etc...)
You can apply here at https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
Tour website is at http://www.istanbulinhours.com/
There are 3 tours offered (Schedule)
- Tour 1 8:30am - 11am - Sightseeing Tour
- Tour 2 9am - 3pm - Tour
- Tour 3 9am - 6pm - Tour
- Tour 4 12pm - 6pm - Tour
- Tour 5 4pm - 9pm - Cultural Walk Tour
A Bosphorus cruise, with food and drinks, is available for business class passengers of more than 7 hour layover (€183 as of Nov. 2017)
Here's a list of the common hotels that are reported in this thread:
Marriott Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel (72% TripAdvisor – most common)
Akgün Istanbul Hotel (44% TripAdvisor–common – far from the airport)
Wow Airport Hotel (56% TripAdvisor–common - very close to airport)
DoubleTree
Wyndham İstanbul Petek (92% TripAdvisor)
Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel (53% TripAdvisor)
Hilton Garden Inn
Courtyard by Marriott Istanbul International Airport
Gonen Hotel Istanbul
Pullman Istanbul Airport Hotel
FAQ 8: Free hotel/tour/cruise when connecting at IST
May 14, 2015, 2:33 pm
#391
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Bethesda, MD
Programs: Dulles Airport Traveler's Aid Volunteer, hopefully future United IK member
Posts: 116
I would just book a hotel yourself. It may have just been June but most of the hotels I saw in Istanbul were very reasonably priced. I booked Sehir hotel Old City for under 60 Euros for 2 nights. Side Pension/ Hotel which I might also stay at which is right in the middle of some of the major sites with a breakfast terrace which gives you some great views have some very good prices per night. Of course it would be cheaper in the low season but for a night, You are looking at between 40-60 Euro a night depending on the hotel or pension rooms.
May 15, 2015, 1:25 am
#392
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, TP Silver
Posts: 888
I remember somewhere saying that if there is an earlier connection flight available for the passenger, but this specific passenger is booked on a later connection flight which makes a 10+ hour stopover, no hotel is offered. Is this true? For example, if my ticket is Moscow-Istanbul arriving 4pm, and then instead of connecting to the 18:20 flight (TK11) , i am connecting to the next morning flight (TK3) - is a hotel offered? Does it make a difference why my flight was booked that way - If because cheaper, then no hotel, if because no availability on earlier flight, yes hotel?
Thanks.
Thanks.
May 15, 2015, 2:23 am
#393
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
I think your decision is wise. Given the unexpensive Istanbul rates and the waste of time for the whole complimentary hotel process, I'd not think it twice.
After all the ground for the TK offer is to let passengers rest, not having their tourist time.
May 21, 2015, 8:49 pm
#394
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: DL Diamond, WN A-List, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 685
As far as I know yes.
I think your decision is wise. Given the unexpensive Istanbul rates and the waste of time for the whole complimentary hotel process, I'd not think it twice.
After all the ground for the TK offer is to let passengers rest, not having their tourist time.
I think your decision is wise. Given the unexpensive Istanbul rates and the waste of time for the whole complimentary hotel process, I'd not think it twice.
After all the ground for the TK offer is to let passengers rest, not having their tourist time.
- Marriott Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel (72% TripAdvisor–most common)
- Akgün Istanbul Hotel (44% TripAdvisor–common–far from the airport)
- Wow Airport Hotel (56% TripAdvisor–common)
- DoubleTree
- Wyndham İstanbul Petek (92% TripAdvisor)
- Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel (53% TripAdvisor)
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Courtyard by Marriott Istanbul International Airport
- Gonen Hotel Istanbul
Might be worth a google to check their distance to the airport...
Jun 11, 2015, 11:56 am
#395
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 47
Entry Visa is now $30 USD. I had read that it was $20. It's cash only so plan accordingly. You can also pay in Euros or Lira.
Ended up at Hilton Garden Inn about 10 minutes from airport. Very nice except non-smoking room was pretty smoky. The hotel is new from what the cab driver told me and it felt like it. Took cab to Sultanahmet Square. Paid 70 Turkish Lira inbound and 56 Lira on way back.
Ended up at Hilton Garden Inn about 10 minutes from airport. Very nice except non-smoking room was pretty smoky. The hotel is new from what the cab driver told me and it felt like it. Took cab to Sultanahmet Square. Paid 70 Turkish Lira inbound and 56 Lira on way back.
Jun 11, 2015, 11:58 am
#396
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MAN,TLV
Programs: Silver:BA,VX,AB, QF. Gold:A3,RJ,AZ,GF, EY,SPG,Marriott,Choice, Carlson. Dia/Plat:HH,IHG,BW,Accor
Posts: 1,965
Entry Visa is now $30 USD. I had read that it was $20. It's cash only so plan accordingly. You can also pay in Euros or Lira.
Ended up at Hilton Garden Inn about 10 minutes from airport. Very nice except non-smoking room was pretty smoky. The hotel is new from what the cab driver told me and it felt like it. Took cab to Sultanahmet Square. Paid 70 Turkish Lira inbound and 56 Lira on way back.
Ended up at Hilton Garden Inn about 10 minutes from airport. Very nice except non-smoking room was pretty smoky. The hotel is new from what the cab driver told me and it felt like it. Took cab to Sultanahmet Square. Paid 70 Turkish Lira inbound and 56 Lira on way back.
Jun 12, 2015, 7:22 am
#397
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Antwerp - Belgium
Programs: Hilton Diamond ? TK*E
Posts: 51
Jun 18, 2015, 2:52 am
#398
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: AF FB Gold, TK Elite
Posts: 274
Hi,
Does anyone have experience on "borderline" connections? I am arriving at 22:00 and leaving at 07:55 the next day - which means five minutes short of the 10 hours.
Is it worth to try the hotel desk, and risk having to pass twice immigration for nothing, or are the odds really not in my favor ?
Thanks !
Does anyone have experience on "borderline" connections? I am arriving at 22:00 and leaving at 07:55 the next day - which means five minutes short of the 10 hours.
Is it worth to try the hotel desk, and risk having to pass twice immigration for nothing, or are the odds really not in my favor ?
Thanks !
Jun 29, 2015, 7:13 am
#399
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 47
On return trip, ended up at Green Park Hotel Merter, which was about 15 minutes from airport. Pretty average hotel. Old and rundown rooms. A far cry from the Hilton Garden Inn a few weeks ago. Also, neither dinner or breakfast were included. (Breakfast was included at Hilton Garden Inn.) Strangely, some people in our group were given a free dinner voucher and others were not. (They told us that Turkish Airlines made that determination--not sure what the criteria was.) I had to pay 55 Turkish Lira for dinner at the hotel. Buffet food was pretty awful, but there is nothing walking distance to get food ...
Jun 29, 2015, 3:35 pm
#400
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 234
Here's a list of the common hotels that are reported in this thread:
Might be worth a google to check their distance to the airport...
- Marriott Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel (72% TripAdvisor–most common)
- Akgün Istanbul Hotel (44% TripAdvisor–common–far from the airport)
- Wow Airport Hotel (56% TripAdvisor–common)
- DoubleTree
- Wyndham İstanbul Petek (92% TripAdvisor)
- Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel (53% TripAdvisor)
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Courtyard by Marriott Istanbul International Airport
- Gonen Hotel Istanbul
Might be worth a google to check their distance to the airport...
Jun 30, 2015, 12:12 am
#401
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MAN,TLV
Programs: Silver:BA,VX,AB, QF. Gold:A3,RJ,AZ,GF, EY,SPG,Marriott,Choice, Carlson. Dia/Plat:HH,IHG,BW,Accor
Posts: 1,965
I dont assume that there would be many "typical routes" offering the hotel stay, because all "typical routes" Turkish would probably have an connecting flight available with less than 8hr stopover.
Jul 2, 2015, 7:58 am
#402
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Europe
Posts: 216
There must be dozens and dozens of flight combinations that qualify for this. Most of the times a night stay over is enough (I know it sounds generic).
In any case, there must be NO earlier flight. If you could spend less hours there but decided to buy a longer connection, it's most likely that you do not qualify for a hotel. (but they will probably give you the tour)
In any case, there must be NO earlier flight. If you could spend less hours there but decided to buy a longer connection, it's most likely that you do not qualify for a hotel. (but they will probably give you the tour)
Jul 3, 2015, 1:25 am
#403
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
I do not think a list is feasible, there may be endless cross-connections, nor TK has any interest to possibly publish it.
Jul 21, 2015, 12:09 pm
#404
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1
I'm booking a flight with Turkish and of course I'd like to qualify for the free hotel 
I will land in IST at 19:00. I have 2 choices for the next flight. The first one is at 8 am, while the second one is at 11:30 am. Both are more than 10h after the first flight, but I'd rather book the second one so I don't have to wake up early.
My question is, will I still qualify for the free hotel if I choose the second flight?
The terms state "This service is not applicable when there is a shorter connection available within the time frame mentioned above.".
I will land in IST at 19:00. I have 2 choices for the next flight. The first one is at 8 am, while the second one is at 11:30 am. Both are more than 10h after the first flight, but I'd rather book the second one so I don't have to wake up early.
My question is, will I still qualify for the free hotel if I choose the second flight?
The terms state "This service is not applicable when there is a shorter connection available within the time frame mentioned above.".
Jul 21, 2015, 7:56 pm
#405
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Houston TX
Programs: United 1K,
Posts: 41
Hey Peeps,
Traveling from TPE to IAH Via IST in Business Class... I have a 8 hours layover which I know get you a free hotel voucher but I am on award ticket would that matter?
Traveling from TPE to IAH Via IST in Business Class... I have a 8 hours layover which I know get you a free hotel voucher but I am on award ticket would that matter?