$75 is exhorbitant. At the moment depending on route and traffic the ride should cost 9-12 million TL (about $10). Make sure to say CEylan Intercontinental (pronounced JEYLAN) as they could possibly confuse it with another hotel or 2. Speaking of this, be careful about your bill at the end as the Ceylan family that owns the hotel is basically in receivership as they had their bank seized by the government not long ago. Small bits of price gauging are the norm.

The $45 for the visa is straightforward and there are exchange places everywhere, even on a corner perpendicular to the hotel on Cumurhiyet Caddesi.