Bondiboy

Kayseri is in Southern Turkey - at least 500-600 miles from Istanbul.

FlyerGoldII

I have emailed to the general email addresses (listed on the web sites of the Istanbul hotels). No response. Can someone give me the email addresses of the general managers (or some other responsible person) who I can email my request (to be waitlisted)?

nollag

The general manager’s e-mail is [email protected]

Also might be worth looking at the Movenpick in Levent, which is about 10 minutes away from Taxim square on the very clean and efficient subway. Certainly a lot faster and cheaper than getting a cab from there.

http://www.moevenpick-hotels.com/hot...ul/welcome.htm

Around Taxim area, get ready for the very persistent and ultra-friendly young males who will entice you with offers of local night clubs or carpets for sale. They try every trick in the book to get you to engage with them.

I usually just blank them.

FlyerGoldII

I have connected with Mr. Jacobs by email. He stated that he will put me on the waiting list, for the 2 Hiltons. Right now, there is a 35 person waiting list for the Istanbul Hilton Hotel.

I wonder if someone can give me the name and email address of Mr. Jacob's counterpart at the Conrad Hotel. I presumed that Mr. Jacobs would have been the general manager there too - although I realize that the Hilton and Conrad brands of hotels are different, they are both brands within the "Hilton family of hotels".

nollag

I could do - but a polite thank you would have been appreciated

FlyerGoldII

Yes, I did forget to thank you, so I will indeed thank you.

However, I did ask Mr. Jacobs, and he did give me the information about the general manager for the Conrad Hotel.

However, the convention housing bureau came through today, with a sudden cancellation at the Conrad - so I booked a room there. the price is steep - 400 euros per night.

How is the Contrad Istanbul rated? - I did see trip advisor (I am having posting the link) - the hotel reviews are not (with some exceptions) not all that good.

PS-I will post the information on the contact info of the Conrad Hotel general manager at a later date - I am now travelling, and the information is saved on my home computer.

Bondiboy

The Conrad is just OK. But there is no way on earth that I would pay EUR 400 per night. It is just not worth it.

There rates must be inflated for your conference because when I stayed there earlier this year I paid and "internet special" rate of $99 (dollars not Euros).

Be aware that the Conrad has two different levels of Executive Floor.

The most elite level is called the "Butler Level" and the service there is exceptionally good. The level below that is called the "Executive Level" and is fairly ordinary.

The Conrad is just a little out of the way and you will need a taxi to get to and from places to eat/drink.

By the way .. did you try for award reservations? Space was available when I responded to your original post.

FlyerGoldII

Thank you, for your response.

As a Gold member, I guess the best I can hope for is the upgrade to the executive level?

PS-I did not have enough HHonors points, even for a 1 day award; even if I had the points, I would not use them for business purposes - the rate, even if it inflated - will reimbursed to me from a travel fund.

I did not get the room directly from the hotel; I obtained it from the conference housing bureau. Therefore, the "inflated rate" is less inflated than if one could book the room directly from the hotel.

wanderlust_jules

Any chance this is for EFIC and is pharma related?

FlyerGoldII

I am a medical oncologist (physician treating cancers with drug therapy) who is attending the European Society of Medical Oncology conference. For those hotels which still have rooms, the rates are more expensive when booked through them as booked through the conference housing bureau.

bamboola

Rather than taking a taxi, is there another safe and easy way to get to the hotel? We will have very little luggage.

mecabq

Turkish Airlines (THY) offers a bus from the airport (either terminal) to the THY office in Taksim, which is about two blocks from the Hilton.

It should be very easy to find right outside the arrivals area. Or you can ask at the helpful information booths in the terminal.

It costs around YTL 10 (about $7). I have taken it, and it's a good way to go. Very comfortable, clean, etc. But make sure you take the one bound for "Taksim," as opposed to other points served by other buses.

Flying Lawyer

Will there be anybody in IST for the Formula I race in late August?

bamboola

Thanks, mecabq. I feel much more comfortable with this option because I've heard that it's unsafe for a woman to travel by taxi alone.

hfly

and who told you such garbage? I would venture that a woman taking a taxi alone in Istanbul is safer than in many Western European capitals.