DL/KL/LX: ORD-IST $529 (UA match noted)
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,429
Thanks guys -- yeah, I actually thought this was a great deal -- not only for mileage reasons, but it's rare you can get such a good airfare over the week Christmas (Dec 24th-30th). I plan to spend 5 days there.
Does anyone have any suggestions for activities/itinerary? I was hoping to keep it under $700 each (for 2 people sharing rooms) for 6 days/5 nights of food/hotels/activities. Maybe it's not feasible, but certainly worth a try.
Does anyone have any suggestions for activities/itinerary? I was hoping to keep it under $700 each (for 2 people sharing rooms) for 6 days/5 nights of food/hotels/activities. Maybe it's not feasible, but certainly worth a try.
#17
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
Programs: UA 2MM, DL 500k, AA 500k, Hyatt GP 1M, HH Gold, Rad. Gold, CP Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 9,950
Thanks guys -- yeah, I actually thought this was a great deal -- not only for mileage reasons, but it's rare you can get such a good airfare over the week Christmas (Dec 24th-30th). I plan to spend 5 days there.
Does anyone have any suggestions for activities/itinerary? I was hoping to keep it under $700 each (for 2 people sharing rooms) for 6 days/5 nights of food/hotels/activities. Maybe it's not feasible, but certainly worth a try.
Does anyone have any suggestions for activities/itinerary? I was hoping to keep it under $700 each (for 2 people sharing rooms) for 6 days/5 nights of food/hotels/activities. Maybe it's not feasible, but certainly worth a try.
And click on an Istanbul link in the city column if you want just the Istanbul forum.
#18
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: Gold DL, Silver UA, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 255
Thanks guys -- yeah, I actually thought this was a great deal -- not only for mileage reasons, but it's rare you can get such a good airfare over the week Christmas (Dec 24th-30th). I plan to spend 5 days there.
Does anyone have any suggestions for activities/itinerary? I was hoping to keep it under $700 each (for 2 people sharing rooms) for 6 days/5 nights of food/hotels/activities. Maybe it's not feasible, but certainly worth a try.
Does anyone have any suggestions for activities/itinerary? I was hoping to keep it under $700 each (for 2 people sharing rooms) for 6 days/5 nights of food/hotels/activities. Maybe it's not feasible, but certainly worth a try.
Make sure you hit the "Simit Sarai" chain of local restaurants for a cheap lunch. Also smoke hoookah and go to a haman.
PM me if you need further tips. I stay at the Eklektik Galata guesthouse. You can find it online. It's off Istiqlal and very reasonable (100 euro for two people per night incl. a delicious breakfast).
Also, do NOT miss the fish sandwiches sold right off the Galata bridge from the side of the old town. Right when you get off the bridge if you are walking, on your right hand side (facing old town and spice bazaar) you will see a lot of Turkish people sitting down in a shack-like tent eating delicious pita with fish. Amazing. And filling at about 2TL a sandwich.
Have fun.
#20
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
Programs: UA 2MM, DL 500k, AA 500k, Hyatt GP 1M, HH Gold, Rad. Gold, CP Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 9,950
I've just read that the TL is also falling - but it was against sterling. Is this true, material, a trend, or transient? And vs. the dollar? Thank you.
#21
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Southern California
Programs: UA Platinum, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 317
My husband and I backpacked around Turkey for a month for our honeymoon and we loved it. Istanbul was wonderful. I could eat chicken doner every day...cheap and delicious!
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,429
Unfortunately, the good dates I had over christmas do seem to be gone though.
#25
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Milwaukee, Wi. USA
Posts: 675
Cold
Last year I did an around the world trip using the Mistake Fare from Hong Kong to Istanbul in premium coach as a major component of the trip. Most of my time in Asia was spent in Thailand.
When I arrived in January in Istanbul for a three day stopover, the water in the fountain in front of my Holiday Inn was frozen. When I toured the Topkapi to see the relics from the life of the Prophet, I was freezing (the palace buildings are not heated. Neither is the Church of the Holy Wisdom.
The last day it snowed lightly.
Take warm cloths.
When I arrived in January in Istanbul for a three day stopover, the water in the fountain in front of my Holiday Inn was frozen. When I toured the Topkapi to see the relics from the life of the Prophet, I was freezing (the palace buildings are not heated. Neither is the Church of the Holy Wisdom.
The last day it snowed lightly.
Take warm cloths.
#26
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: MSP
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM (FO soon), A3 Gold, TK Classic Plus, SPG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Diamond, National EE
Posts: 1,003
#27
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
You must've left the day I arrived as the snow followed me into town. It was cold but not horrible. Then again, I was coming from Stockholm so maybe my judgment was impaired.
It can get cold in the winter but that doesn't make it any less beautiful IMO.
It can get cold in the winter but that doesn't make it any less beautiful IMO.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: Various
Posts: 6,521
I finally jumped on this today for PIT-IST over Thanksgiving. We have a connection through ORD on the way out, and JFK on the way back. There's a nice discount on children's fares, so it was around $650 for the adults, and $570 for the children - not bad.
This trip will take my husband and son over the line for *G on UA, which is nice, and put me between PP and 1K. We love Turkey, and haven't been back for a few years, so this all works out very nicely.
This trip will take my husband and son over the line for *G on UA, which is nice, and put me between PP and 1K. We love Turkey, and haven't been back for a few years, so this all works out very nicely.