Thanks again Karen.

I have never been to Istanbul but my wife visited a long time ago. We are excited to spend time exploring it. There seem to be a lot of hotel options so I will need to spend some time researching what we want to see and then finding the best location. The Doubletree does look nicely situated though!

If I am understanding the AZ visa process correctly, the visa, once issued, is good for 90 days, correct? So since we are traveling in late November we will likely apply for the visa in early September. In your research did you find any reviews on the Travisa mail-in service offered by the AZ Embassy in DC? I am debating using the mail-in service or going with a visa agent. I have used agents in the past, specifically for Russia and China. I find they add value in those instances as mail-in applications are not allowed (and the applications can be tricky to complete correctly). But I don't know if the Travisa mail-in option is worth considering.

Karen, you mentioned that you were seemingly the only tourists. I don't know if you have seen the NY Times 52 places to visit in 2015 but Baku is on the list. I wonder if they will see an uptick in tourism as a result?
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...o-in-2015.html