Originally Posted by
quitecontrary
Great trip report. Makes me want to go back to the FS - never been to an Aman!
With regard to the VIP arrivals and departures service Turkish Airways use it at IST for First class passengers (they used to fly F from London and we decided to try it) . Basically you're met at the plane by a hostess in red, taken by golf cart to immmigration luggage etc bypassing all the queues. The hostess phones the driver who is waiting in a black Mercedes at the door. Took less than 15 mins in total! Same on the return, driver picks up from hotel, phones hostess who meets you at the car, radios through to a First Class desk that is opened specially, buggy to the lounge, then buggy to the plane. Very slick operation. I'm not sure I'd pay for it if it wasn't included but it was great to experience once!
Musken - did you not book through Virtuoso - we booked the lowest priced Palace room and got upgraded to a Bosphorus View Palace room which wasn't enormous but there were only 2 of us. I liked it and spent ages looking in the antique shops for those lovely blue glass light shades they have everywhere. I love the terrace and pool area overlooking the river - brings to mind the MO in Bangkok.
I booked directly. Seems I need to change this. Not that upgrade to room with view would have made the room bigger (and it was fully booked anyway), but I constantly hear about these Virtuoso-benefits that I do not (always) manage to get on my own.
Regarding the view making you (and others) think of Bangkok, I personally thought that it was FAR more interesting with river view in Bangkok. Most boats passing the FS on Bosphorus were tourist boats, while in Bangkok I really felt that I experienced also the local life (or the boats looked more exotic at least). But it was nice to see still. Just Bangkok was even nicer.