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
Jul 29, 2013, 11:57 am
#106
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ARN
Programs: AC UA TK FI DL
Posts: 800
We are arriving in IST at 6pm and departing 5pm the next day (both TK flights, both int'l, both the only flights as per schedule - so we meet all the requirements). Is there any chance to get both a hotel (it would need to be at/nearby airport, as the tour departs from the airport @ 9am) and the 9am-3pm tour, or are they firm on one or the other and not both?
All international transit passengers who have flight trough İstanbul can attend touristanbul.
Both flights should be with Turkish Airlines' flight numbers (codeshared or operated) Connection times between flights should not be longer than 24 hours and shorter than 6 hours. As an exception connections between continents have 48hours max between 2 flights.
Passengers may not get both accomodation service and Touristanbul on the same journey.
If you prefer accomodation, you may contact with our hoteldesk for terms and conditions ([email protected]). They will inform you that your booking is eligible or not.
Jul 29, 2013, 2:10 pm
#107
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
http://www.istanbulinhours.com/faq
All international transit passengers who have flight trough İstanbul can attend touristanbul.
Both flights should be with Turkish Airlines' flight numbers (codeshared or operated) Connection times between flights should not be longer than 24 hours and shorter than 6 hours. As an exception connections between continents have 48hours max between 2 flights.
Passengers may not get both accomodation service and Touristanbul on the same journey.
If you prefer accomodation, you may contact with our hoteldesk for terms and conditions ([email protected]). They will inform you that your booking is eligible or not.
All international transit passengers who have flight trough İstanbul can attend touristanbul.
Both flights should be with Turkish Airlines' flight numbers (codeshared or operated) Connection times between flights should not be longer than 24 hours and shorter than 6 hours. As an exception connections between continents have 48hours max between 2 flights.
Passengers may not get both accomodation service and Touristanbul on the same journey.
If you prefer accomodation, you may contact with our hoteldesk for terms and conditions ([email protected]). They will inform you that your booking is eligible or not.
What about if instead of taking two hotel rooms (one each pax), two pax take 1 hotel room (2 twin beds) - under one passenger (two still stay there), and 1 tour - but with 2 particpants - under the other passenger?
So, each pax takes only 1.
Passenger 1: 1 hotel romm (twin)
Passenger 2: 1 tour (for two)
Then each is only 1, not both... would that work?
Aug 1, 2013, 3:26 pm
#108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
Yes, I read the FAQ, but I was asking is that really so strictly enforced? And it being a business class ticket makes no difference (e.g. coach may get 1 or the other, but business class if >18 hours stay may get both?)?
What about if instead of taking two hotel rooms (one each pax), two pax take 1 hotel room (2 twin beds) - under one passenger (two still stay there), and 1 tour - but with 2 particpants - under the other passenger?
So, each pax takes only 1.
Passenger 1: 1 hotel romm (twin)
Passenger 2: 1 tour (for two)
Then each is only 1, not both... would that work?
What about if instead of taking two hotel rooms (one each pax), two pax take 1 hotel room (2 twin beds) - under one passenger (two still stay there), and 1 tour - but with 2 particpants - under the other passenger?
So, each pax takes only 1.
Passenger 1: 1 hotel romm (twin)
Passenger 2: 1 tour (for two)
Then each is only 1, not both... would that work?
You will be driven to the hotel by TK hotel shuttle, unless you can get your friend to go to the hotel and get to your room.
Of course you can try your luck to see if you can join the IST tour at 9am if you can be at hotel desk at 8am.
Also why do you want to try so hard to grab everything? You can easily do the sightseeing tour yourself. It costs like TL 3 to take the metro into the city. The only thing you really miss is the food provided for the tour.
You can see a lot more by yourself because there are a lot of waiting time during the tour.
Aug 1, 2013, 3:37 pm
#109
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
You will be driven to the hotel by TK hotel shuttle, unless you can get your friend to go to the hotel and get to your room.
Of course you can try your luck to see if you can join the IST tour at 9am if you can be at hotel desk at 8am.
Also why do you want to try so hard to grab everything? You can easily do the sightseeing tour yourself. It costs like TL 3 to take the metro into the city. The only thing you really miss is the food provided for the tour.
You can see a lot more by yourself because there are a lot of waiting time during the tour.
Of course you can try your luck to see if you can join the IST tour at 9am if you can be at hotel desk at 8am.
Also why do you want to try so hard to grab everything? You can easily do the sightseeing tour yourself. It costs like TL 3 to take the metro into the city. The only thing you really miss is the food provided for the tour.
You can see a lot more by yourself because there are a lot of waiting time during the tour.
Does TK only give the "free" hotel rooms nearby the airport, or do they also work with some hotels more in the city (e.g., in Islamahmet that would be super convenient)? If the "free" hotel room would be provided more in the city (vs. next to the airport), that would be ideal and make it really easy and make the tour redundant then practically.
Aug 1, 2013, 5:32 pm
#110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
You won't know until you are there. You can ask if you could be put in hotels that are closer to the city. The drawback is that you might be stuck in traffic and miss your connecting flight. Traffic in IST is real bad - we were told by the guide and she stressed that we had to leave in a good time before the traffic get worse.
Getting around IST is easy. The metro is fast and convenient. Get a Istanbulkart (transportation card) that will give you discount on Metro and Trams. 2 people can share a card and you can buy it at IST Metro station.
Last time I did the layover I decided not to take the free night because I was travelling with Mr. Nacho and 3 small Nachos. We were worried that we'll be separated (in theory they could put us into 2 rooms in 2 hotels, or stuff all 5 of us into a room with 1 bed), so we paid to stay at the Courtyard close to the Airport (although there are people sent there that evening, again we didn't want to risk anything).
Getting around IST is easy. The metro is fast and convenient. Get a Istanbulkart (transportation card) that will give you discount on Metro and Trams. 2 people can share a card and you can buy it at IST Metro station.
Last time I did the layover I decided not to take the free night because I was travelling with Mr. Nacho and 3 small Nachos. We were worried that we'll be separated (in theory they could put us into 2 rooms in 2 hotels, or stuff all 5 of us into a room with 1 bed), so we paid to stay at the Courtyard close to the Airport (although there are people sent there that evening, again we didn't want to risk anything).
Aug 14, 2013, 8:22 am
#111
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E75K, Amex Plat, NEXUS, Aman-user (not really a -junkie)
Posts: 1,721
I am booked on the same trip WAW-IST-KUL business class (first leg LOT, second leg MH - code share flights). As I was paying for my ticket over the phone, TK confirmed I was eligible for complimentary hotel and gave me the following phone number to book the room : 0090 212 463 7777 ext: 2426 or 2503.
(Crystal Hotel, near Taksim ---> not a wonderful hotel though !)So were you able to book a room in advance or did you just follow the 'go to hotel desk' procedure ?
Aug 14, 2013, 9:45 am
#112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
You can't - TK hotel desk does the allocation when someone is physically present at the office. That's why we paid for our transfer at IST even though we are 100% legit for the free hotel.
Aug 14, 2013, 9:58 am
#113
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E75K, Amex Plat, NEXUS, Aman-user (not really a -junkie)
Posts: 1,721
Aug 14, 2013, 12:06 pm
#114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
You should be ok because they usually get you Holiday Inn equivalent or better hotel at IST. We are 5 altogether last time and we were worried about not being able to stay at the same hotel - since you won't know anything until you are actually there.
Aug 14, 2013, 12:19 pm
#115
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posts: 175
forgoing the freebie
but it is a great program and a wonderful thing for TK to offer
Aug 14, 2013, 6:55 pm
#116
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,871
Approx what is the value of the hotel?
I have a 17hr layover, but its not the immediate-next flight.
Pondering whether to get my own accomodation, or eat the change fee (J fare) to get the hotel.
I have a 17hr layover, but its not the immediate-next flight.
Pondering whether to get my own accomodation, or eat the change fee (J fare) to get the hotel.
Aug 16, 2013, 3:14 pm
#117
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
If you do get one, then it depends on the price they charge on that day. You won't get something worth EUR 200/night. I would say between EUR 50-100 depending on your luck.
Aug 22, 2013, 4:48 pm
#118
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 704
Please,-could you tell me where you find those habitable 50-100 euro hotel rooms in Istanbul today? Have TK started sending people to Aksaray quasi brothels?
Aug 24, 2013, 1:44 pm
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
Courtyard Istanbul Airport, Carlson hotels Friends and Family rate gets you Radisson for EUR 80.
Last edited by nacho; Aug 24, 2013 at 3:56 pm
Sep 4, 2013, 6:58 am
#120
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Europe
Posts: 216
Hello everyone,
If I send them an email with my itinerary (which shows that there are no earlier fligh options both ways) is there any chance they can confirm we (4pax) will be given a hotel room? It would take a lot of the stress off.
Thanks!
If I send them an email with my itinerary (which shows that there are no earlier fligh options both ways) is there any chance they can confirm we (4pax) will be given a hotel room? It would take a lot of the stress off.
Thanks!