What do you think of this itinerary to Istanbul and several other cities?
Sep 8, 19, 8:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
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Posts: 191
What do you think of this itinerary to Istanbul and several other cities?
Hi everyone,
I was thinking about going to Turkey late November but decided just to visit Istanbul because it looks the other parts would be much better to visit when it's not too cold. Added other cities instead.
I've put this itinerary together but would like to see what you think of it. Is it too packed? Should I cut some cities? Is there a better way to travel between these places?
Day 1: Home airport to Istanbul, direct flight arriving day 2.
Day 2: Arrive in Istanbul at 5 PM, check in hotel, dinner, sleep!
Day 3: Istanbul
Day 4: Istanbul
Day 5: Istanbul
Day 6: Depart Istanbul to Sofia, flight leaves at 2:45 pm and arrives at 3:05 pm, afternoon in Sofia
Day 7: Sofia
Day 8: Sofia
Day 9: Depart Sofia to Bucharest, arrives at 10:55 am, afternoon in Bucharest
Day 10: Bucharest
Day 11: Bucharest, to Budapest at 1:10 pm, arrives at 1:35 pm, afternoon in Budapest
Day 12: Budapest
Day 13: Budapest
Day 14: Budapest, depart to Prague 7:45 pm, arrives on Prague at 9:00 pm, sleep
Day 15: Prague
Day 16: Prague
Day 17: Prague, Depart to Vienna 6:50 pm, arrive 7:40 pm (no flight from Prague to home, only an overnight layover in Vienna).
Day 18: Vienna to home, leaving 10 am.
Total cost (just airfares, not hotels or anything else): 60,000 United Miles + $515.83
I was thinking about going to Turkey late November but decided just to visit Istanbul because it looks the other parts would be much better to visit when it's not too cold. Added other cities instead.
I've put this itinerary together but would like to see what you think of it. Is it too packed? Should I cut some cities? Is there a better way to travel between these places?
Day 1: Home airport to Istanbul, direct flight arriving day 2.
Day 2: Arrive in Istanbul at 5 PM, check in hotel, dinner, sleep!
Day 3: Istanbul
Day 4: Istanbul
Day 5: Istanbul
Day 6: Depart Istanbul to Sofia, flight leaves at 2:45 pm and arrives at 3:05 pm, afternoon in Sofia
Day 7: Sofia
Day 8: Sofia
Day 9: Depart Sofia to Bucharest, arrives at 10:55 am, afternoon in Bucharest
Day 10: Bucharest
Day 11: Bucharest, to Budapest at 1:10 pm, arrives at 1:35 pm, afternoon in Budapest
Day 12: Budapest
Day 13: Budapest
Day 14: Budapest, depart to Prague 7:45 pm, arrives on Prague at 9:00 pm, sleep
Day 15: Prague
Day 16: Prague
Day 17: Prague, Depart to Vienna 6:50 pm, arrive 7:40 pm (no flight from Prague to home, only an overnight layover in Vienna).
Day 18: Vienna to home, leaving 10 am.
Total cost (just airfares, not hotels or anything else): 60,000 United Miles + $515.83
Sep 8, 19, 11:12 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
Have you been to Vienna before? If not you'll definitely want more than an overnight. Istanbul, Budapest & Prague are great cities.
Does your UA ticket include using the excursionist perk?
While it doesn't work with your current routing Budapest, Vienna & Prague are easily connected via fast trains.
Does your UA ticket include using the excursionist perk?
While it doesn't work with your current routing Budapest, Vienna & Prague are easily connected via fast trains.
Sep 8, 19, 11:31 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,508
PRG-VIE-BUD are not far apart by train.
Route--> Great Circle Mapper
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Sep 8, 19 at 11:49 pm Reason: revised map
Sep 13, 19, 4:57 pm
#4
formerly dave h.
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Seattle - it's not Hell, but you can SEA it from here!
Programs: SkyMiles, IHG nobody, HH nobody
Posts: 186
you didn't say what you like to do or see, but 3.5 days in Budapest seem like a lot. Budapest is great, but i saw what i needed to see in about a day and a half.
i'd cut one day from Budapest (move Day 14 through 17 up one) and add a day to Vienna.
but like Rick Steves says: assume you'll be returning.
i'd cut one day from Budapest (move Day 14 through 17 up one) and add a day to Vienna.
but like Rick Steves says: assume you'll be returning.
Sep 14, 19, 6:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Gold, DL MM 8/22/16!
Posts: 2,563
Unless you have some special personal reason for going to Bucharest, I'd be inclined to pull it out of the loop and give that time to Vienna.
Or, if Bucharest is a "must" and Sofia just happens to be on the list, I'd pull Sofia out. Would still give those days to Vienna.
I do agree with Mwenenzi as to train travel. There is a wealth of train travel info on www.seat61.com.
I like your middle of the day traveling. No rising at the crack of dawn, or risking getting stuck if you have the last plane/train out and there is an issue.
For a longer distance leg, you might consider a night train with a bed. You can sometimes replace a hotel night this way, and it is another adventure.
Or, if Bucharest is a "must" and Sofia just happens to be on the list, I'd pull Sofia out. Would still give those days to Vienna.
I do agree with Mwenenzi as to train travel. There is a wealth of train travel info on www.seat61.com.
I like your middle of the day traveling. No rising at the crack of dawn, or risking getting stuck if you have the last plane/train out and there is an issue.
For a longer distance leg, you might consider a night train with a bed. You can sometimes replace a hotel night this way, and it is another adventure.
Sep 15, 19, 2:07 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
Thank you everyone for the help.
We decided to postpone this travel for next year as we are looking for a more relaxed trip and don't want to be traveling too much through airports. But next year we will definitely look into trains, especially the night trains!
This November we will just do 10 days in Turkey. Probably 5-6 days in Istanbul and fly to another place for another 1-2 days before returning to the city. Any recommendations on this?
Thanks again!
We decided to postpone this travel for next year as we are looking for a more relaxed trip and don't want to be traveling too much through airports. But next year we will definitely look into trains, especially the night trains!
This November we will just do 10 days in Turkey. Probably 5-6 days in Istanbul and fly to another place for another 1-2 days before returning to the city. Any recommendations on this?
Thanks again!
Sep 16, 19, 8:21 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 13
Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv
I just returned from Bulgaria today after a 3 week driving trip. Roads are not great but doable. Sofia Airport is tiny, no great delays at any time and 15 mins from the city. Intercontinental a good choice, comfy beds and close to main street and sttractions and the Sofia free walking food tour and other tour meet up points. 1.5 days is enough. If you are fit, add a day to do the 7 lakes and Rila monestary tour. Worth the walk. About 8km loop, half uphill to get your view of all 7 lakes and a great chair lift ride.Pack your own lunch and outdoor gesr for wet or cold changes.
I noted Varna had direct flights to Istanbul, but I would go there for sunny climate not winter time. I think Plovdiv would be my Bulgarian, Turkey side trip choice.
Varna is amazing for a city beach destinstuon, stay in the newly renovate Cherno More Casino and you can walk down and hire a sun bed and est st the beach clubs in 600m walkimg and also enjoy the gsrdens, Catherdrals, old town parts and a communist car retro museum at Grand Mall.
Plovdiv is the best if you like dining, walking, Roman ruins and the airport is also close to town, free walking tours, stay in the pedestrian only area off the Mall or Kapana district and enjoy a really nice city vibe with lots of locals and visitors, also has really accessible roman ruins. Plovdiv much hotter than Sofia so we booked to stay 6km out of city at Landmark Hotel which has a pool. About 7 Lev for a taxi to town.
I could easily have skipped Sveti Vlas, Sunny Beach, Thracian Cliffs, Balchik and Golden beach is nice, but try to stay beachfront. Some hotels are way up the hill. Ditto for Sveti Vlas if you ever head there.
I noted Varna had direct flights to Istanbul, but I would go there for sunny climate not winter time. I think Plovdiv would be my Bulgarian, Turkey side trip choice.
Varna is amazing for a city beach destinstuon, stay in the newly renovate Cherno More Casino and you can walk down and hire a sun bed and est st the beach clubs in 600m walkimg and also enjoy the gsrdens, Catherdrals, old town parts and a communist car retro museum at Grand Mall.
Plovdiv is the best if you like dining, walking, Roman ruins and the airport is also close to town, free walking tours, stay in the pedestrian only area off the Mall or Kapana district and enjoy a really nice city vibe with lots of locals and visitors, also has really accessible roman ruins. Plovdiv much hotter than Sofia so we booked to stay 6km out of city at Landmark Hotel which has a pool. About 7 Lev for a taxi to town.
I could easily have skipped Sveti Vlas, Sunny Beach, Thracian Cliffs, Balchik and Golden beach is nice, but try to stay beachfront. Some hotels are way up the hill. Ditto for Sveti Vlas if you ever head there.
