Jul 21, 2015, 8:54 pm
Last edit by: ISTFlyer
It's strange this thread has no Wiki, so here it is, created 7/21/2015
PLEASE READ THE OP Post first
For case related questions ( ex: Am I eligible, etc... ) contact[email protected] first before posting your question here.
TK free hotel room rules:
Note:
- You still need e-VISA to enter Turkish for a Tour or Hotel. The prices vary by countries ($60 USD for Canadian, $20 for USA, etc...)
You can apply here at https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
Tour website is at http://www.istanbulinhours.com/
There are 3 tours offered (Schedule)
A Bosphorus cruise, with food and drinks, is available for business class passengers of more than 7 hour layover (€183 as of Nov. 2017)
Here's a list of the common hotels that are reported in this thread:
Marriott Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel (72% TripAdvisor – most common)
Akgün Istanbul Hotel (44% TripAdvisor–common – far from the airport)
Wow Airport Hotel (56% TripAdvisor–common - very close to airport)
DoubleTree
Wyndham İstanbul Petek (92% TripAdvisor)
Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel (53% TripAdvisor)
Hilton Garden Inn
Courtyard by Marriott Istanbul International Airport
Gonen Hotel Istanbul
Pullman Istanbul Airport Hotel
PLEASE READ THE OP Post first
For case related questions ( ex: Am I eligible, etc... ) contact[email protected] first before posting your question here.
TK free hotel room rules:
A complimentary hotel accommodation (maximum 2 nights) will be provided to our valuable passengers when there are more than 10 hours (for economy cabin passengers) and 7 or more hours (for business cabin passengers) waiting during their international connecting flights due to Turkish Airlines’ schedule structure. However, if your destination can be reached by an alternative flight to your first flight and the waiting time is less, you cannot take advantage of the hotel service. This service is not applicable when there is a shorter connection available within the time frame mentioned above. The first and the connecting flights must be with Turkish Airlines. All passengers must hold a confirmed reservation for the first and the connecting flights. Complimentary accommodation will be arranged with Turkish Airlines’ corporate partners and will be provided through the “Hotel Desk” located after the customs’ check point at the arrival. Passengers must check for any visa requirements when entering Turkey. In the event where a visa is not granted, Turkish Airlines assumes no responsibility for providing complimentary hotel accommodation.
Note:
- You still need e-VISA to enter Turkish for a Tour or Hotel. The prices vary by countries ($60 USD for Canadian, $20 for USA, etc...)
You can apply here at https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
Tour website is at http://www.istanbulinhours.com/
There are 3 tours offered (Schedule)
- Tour 1 8:30am - 11am - Sightseeing Tour
- Tour 2 9am - 3pm - Tour
- Tour 3 9am - 6pm - Tour
- Tour 4 12pm - 6pm - Tour
- Tour 5 4pm - 9pm - Cultural Walk Tour
A Bosphorus cruise, with food and drinks, is available for business class passengers of more than 7 hour layover (€183 as of Nov. 2017)
Here's a list of the common hotels that are reported in this thread:
Marriott Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel (72% TripAdvisor – most common)
Akgün Istanbul Hotel (44% TripAdvisor–common – far from the airport)
Wow Airport Hotel (56% TripAdvisor–common - very close to airport)
DoubleTree
Wyndham İstanbul Petek (92% TripAdvisor)
Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel (53% TripAdvisor)
Hilton Garden Inn
Courtyard by Marriott Istanbul International Airport
Gonen Hotel Istanbul
Pullman Istanbul Airport Hotel
FAQ 8: Free hotel/tour/cruise when connecting at IST
Jan 15, 2017, 6:02 pm
#586
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 58
Oh OK, I thought it was just the departing flight that mattered. Thanks for the info!
Jan 21, 2017, 1:38 am
#587
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Atlanta, GA / San Francisco, CA
Programs: BA Gold, TK Elite Plus
Posts: 1,150
Just a data point, ELPL flying Y, sent to Lionel Hotel. Took 2 hours from hotel desk line to hotel checkin, so definitely would not bother with a short layover.
Jan 22, 2017, 9:18 am
#588
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Accra
Programs: Skywards Gold, TK Elite +, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 222
Does anyone know how flexible the hotel desk is with special hotel requests? I prefer staying at the Courtyard or the Renaissance Polat over the other hotels.
TK E+ flying J
TK E+ flying J
Jan 23, 2017, 11:04 pm
#589
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,660
Landed at 557am this morning from Johannesburg and finally got to the hotel (Grand Yavuz in Sultanahmet) at 845am. Almost 1.5 hours sitting at Starbucks waiting for enough passengers to fill up the bus before we left.
Jan 24, 2017, 3:39 am
#590
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,660
Never seen them be anything remotely approaching flexible on anything. They usually won't even tell you the name of the hotel until you actually get there ("follow this man, he will take you"). That said, I've always gotten Courtyard when flying in J class, but it's not a large sample size. Personally, I prefer the Renaissance Polat or even the Ramada Atakoy to the Courtyard for an overnight stay though, but the Courtyard is fine for a daytime layover.
Jan 24, 2017, 9:33 pm
#591
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Accra
Programs: Skywards Gold, TK Elite +, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 222
Never seen them be anything remotely approaching flexible on anything. They usually won't even tell you the name of the hotel until you actually get there ("follow this man, he will take you"). That said, I've always gotten Courtyard when flying in J class, but it's not a large sample size. Personally, I prefer the Renaissance Polat or even the Ramada Atakoy to the Courtyard for an overnight stay though, but the Courtyard is fine for a daytime layover.
Jan 29, 2017, 6:28 am
#592
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 1
Hi, has anyone tried to claim a hotel with a booking class L? Which ones would go for this class?
Has anyone flown with a child? Do they count a separate bed for a child at a hotel? Many hotels on their sites list that a child up to 12 y.o. can stay in existing beds. Just thinking if we'll end up three of us in one king bed (my husband, 11 y.o. child and me)?
My itinerary is
06.Jul.2017 / 11:40 VNO to IST
07.Jul.2017 / 13:05 IST to SFO
and similarly back
Thanks!
Has anyone flown with a child? Do they count a separate bed for a child at a hotel? Many hotels on their sites list that a child up to 12 y.o. can stay in existing beds. Just thinking if we'll end up three of us in one king bed (my husband, 11 y.o. child and me)?
My itinerary is
06.Jul.2017 / 11:40 VNO to IST
07.Jul.2017 / 13:05 IST to SFO
and similarly back
Thanks!
Feb 15, 2017, 1:06 am
#593
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1k aa exec plat
Posts: 1,842
Thanks everyone for a very helpful thread. Two additional datapoints for hotels flying in J:
- flying SFO->IST, asked for Polat Renaissance but was told that J passengers are now assigned the Pullman Istanbul Airport Hotel & Convention Center. New hotel with a terrific gym but taxi drivers generally unfamiliar with the location.
- flying IST->SFO, assigned Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel. Not as good as Pullman.
Waited about 20 minutes at the hotel desk to get the assignment the first time (~7 pm), waited about 5 minutes to get the assignment the second time (~10 pm).
- flying SFO->IST, asked for Polat Renaissance but was told that J passengers are now assigned the Pullman Istanbul Airport Hotel & Convention Center. New hotel with a terrific gym but taxi drivers generally unfamiliar with the location.
- flying IST->SFO, assigned Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel. Not as good as Pullman.
Waited about 20 minutes at the hotel desk to get the assignment the first time (~7 pm), waited about 5 minutes to get the assignment the second time (~10 pm).
Feb 15, 2017, 2:58 am
#594
Join Date: May 2016
Location: IST, LHR
Programs: TK E+, AA PLAT
Posts: 481
Feb 15, 2017, 8:09 pm
#595
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1k aa exec plat
Posts: 1,842
thanks!!
another question -they do have to both on turkish dont they...
another question -they do have to both on turkish dont they...
Feb 15, 2017, 9:48 pm
#596
Join Date: May 2016
Location: IST, LHR
Programs: TK E+, AA PLAT
Posts: 481
Yes they do
Feb 18, 2017, 4:49 am
#597
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1k aa exec plat
Posts: 1,842
there are 3tours listed in the header for this thread but seems there are actually 4..
a walking tour from 4pm to 9pm
has anyone tried this and can report-as i would like to try
Feb 21, 2017, 3:07 pm
#598
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1k aa exec plat
Posts: 1,842
and one more if you just do the tournot the hotel-is it correct that you dont need a visa or do you need to get one?
Feb 22, 2017, 2:05 am
#599
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: ZAG
Programs: TK *G, SkyTeam Elite Plus
Posts: 45
"You still need e-VISA to enter Turkish for a Tour or Hotel. The prices vary by countries ($60 USD for Canadian, $20 for USA, etc...)
You can apply here at https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/"
Feb 23, 2017, 1:13 pm
#600
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
Two data points: I purchased my ticket a few hours before the first flight which did not give me time to get an e-Visa. I was able to get a Visa in the airport for $30 which allowed for multiple entries. The airline put me up at the Holiday Inn Express which is next to the Courtyard.