Long term planning: Turkey?

[ThisJustIn]

So - I've got a slight head cold, there's no basketball until tomorrow, and I'm going a little stir crazy.

My intention is to attend the World Championships in Istanbul. Dates are Sept 27-Oct. 5th, and I'm thinking I land the Tuesday, return Monday the 6th.

Anyone have any hotel wisdom?

Anyone wanna come with?

 

[Phil]

I stayed in Istanbul a few years ago, but I'm not recalling the name of the hotel. I generally try to stay in local, as opposed to American Chain hotels in much of Europe, but I'm sure I was in one of the American chain owned hotels.

Unfortunately, I just read this article, which leaves me worried about the place.

I won't be going. You may recall that Lindsay is getting married in September. That date doesn't completely wipe out the possibility, but recovery time, both financial and physical, mean I will be at home. My hints that Turkey might be a good honeymoon destination met with dual problems - no, and you wouldn't be invited anyway.

 

[pap49cba]

So - I've got a slight head cold, there's no basketball until tomorrow, and I'm going a little stir crazy.

My intention is to attend the World Championships in Istanbul. Dates are Sept 27-Oct. 5th, and I'm thinking I land the Tuesday, return Monday the 6th.

Anyone have any hotel wisdom?

Anyone wanna come with?

I was in Istanbul many years ago on business. The business end s*cked but as I recall there were a number of very good hotels. I do remember that mine had a casino.

I imagine things have changed quite a bit. I would do a lot of research on the net and check visitor reviews closely. It was very safe back when I was there but that might have changed as well. (Most large cities have...)

 

[ThisJustIn]

My hints that Turkey might be a good honeymoon destination met with dual problems - no, and you wouldn't be invited anyway.

Kids these days are SO ungrateful!!!! sigh.

 

[UcMiami]

Great plan, and one that I might try to copy. Friends who have traveled for vacation in Turkey over the years loved their time there. So ... we will see if I can swing it.

 

[ThisJustIn]

I don't imagine we'll get the 140 we had at the Garden, but it would be a hoot to (possibly) send off Diana and Sue in person.

 

[Phil]

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip. I tried to eat local food as much as possible, and with one notable exception—a soup whose main ingredient was warm yogurt—I loved the food. One day we had lunch in Europe, then took a boat ride across the Bosporus and had dinner in Asia.

The place has some history. One moment that highlighted the age was a visit to the New Mosque. This mosque had its ground breaking in 1597. The Blue Mosque is also quite impressive.

 

[HuskyNan]

Turkey? No, but I'll meet you in the USVI the next time the team goes.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Turkey? No, but I'll meet you in the USVI the next time the team goes.

You're ON!

 

[Wbbfan1]

This site might be some help. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g293974-Istanbul-Hotels.html If I was going, I would be trying to stay reasonably close to the Arena where the games were going to be held at. Traffic can be miserable in Instabul, along the lines of NY and LA.

 

[semper]

Spent a week there a couple of years ago. I know you are going for bball, but here are some tips and gift ideas: the scarves are the BEST you will find anywhere. Some of my friends spent hundreds on 1 or 2, but I got mine from a street stall, at 10 euros a pop. I wish I had filled the suitcase. They are gorgeous and deeply appreciated by friends in the USA. Also be sure to get a box of Turkish delight, fresh, fabulous, and multi-flavored. Also makes a great gift. We shopped for rugs, but couldn't get any deals.

The most beautiful building in the world is Hagia Sophia, now a museum...let's hope they keep it that way. You should go.

I got caught unwittingly in a political rally...loud, noisy, but ultimately safe. But you do have to mind your p's and q's. One of our students was wearing a scarf and got thrown out of a shop and castigated because she was thought to be a Yankee parading as a muslim woman, which she was not, of course.

You will be amazed at the economic muscle apparent everywhere in the city....at least this was the case two years ago.

 

[CTyankee]

Hey TJI... Check your messages...

 

[MilfordHusky]

Eric and I are hoping to be there. I think hotels are fairly affordable. I've not been there, yet.

 

[EricLA]

Eric and I are hoping to be there. I think hotels are fairly affordable. I've not been there, yet.

Yep. will probably start looking at air fare, etc, in Feb or March. When would it be most likely to be the cheapest?

 

[ThisJustIn]

Flights aren't bad now -- $700 or so. Issue is the ruckus that is Turkey at the moment.

 

[MilfordHusky]

From DC, I'm seeing about $770-820 for airfare. Not bad.

I misremembered re the hotels. Prices are higher than I thought. I may opt to use points. I need to look up the venues and learn a little about the areas of the city. Thankfully, by Christmas gifts will help with that.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip. I tried to eat local food as much as possible, and with one notable exception—a soup whose main ingredient was warm yogurt—I loved the food. One day we had lunch in Europe, then took a boat ride across the Bosporus and had dinner in Asia.

The place has some history. One moment that highlighted the age was a visit to the New Mosque. This mosque had its ground breaking in 1597. The Blue Mosque is also quite impressive.

I love that intercontinental travel!

The NEW mosque dates from 1597. Hmmm. I don't feel so old right now.

 

[easttexastrash]

I saw the title of this thread and thought you were already thinking about Thanksgiving 2014.

 

[Icebear]

I love that intercontinental travel!

The NEW mosque dates from 1597. Hmmm. I don't feel so old right now.

In Erfurt, Germany there are two churches on the crown of the hill over the city. The new one was built in the 13th century. The old one has only 3 digits on the cornerstone.

 

[MilfordHusky]

In Erfurt, Germany there are two churches on the crown of the hill over the city. The new one was built in the 13th century. The old one has only 3 digits on the cornerstone.

Amazing! I'm glad they weren't destroyed in war.

 

[Icebear]

Amazing! I'm glad they weren't destroyed in war.

Yes, quite remarkable as is the staircase down to the city between them which includes an outdoor pulpit built into the wall for preaching to the masses. Erfurt is where Luther was in the Augustian monastery when he was ordained.

http://jollygreenmonkey.blogspot.com/2010/05/lucas-cranach-and-erfurt-cathedral.html

 

[hoopingcrane]

So - I've got a slight head cold, there's no basketball until tomorrow, and I'm going a little stir crazy.

My intention is to attend the World Championships in Istanbul. Dates are Sept 27-Oct. 5th, and I'm thinking I land the Tuesday, return Monday the 6th.

Anyone have any hotel wisdom?

Anyone wanna come with?

I stayed at the Marmara hotel in Taskim, the more modern section of Istanbul, almost ten years ago. Good location- right across from Taskim Square, good access to different modes of transportation (take a dolmus- shared taxi), nice rooms, a tiny bit not Western. Go down to the Bosphorus, get some fried fish, with onion, plucked right out of the water , go to the Grand Bazaar for rugs, leather- bargain, bargain, bargain. Don't miss the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Follow the local custom when entering a mosque. Don't miss a trip to a hamam- Turkish bath- get a massage and remember, no pain, no gain. Take a boat ride for lunch in Asia!

 

[bkmgr]

A former colleague of mine just completed a round-the-world trip, including a visit to Turkey and Istanbul. Her photography is amazing and her post on Turkey includes several of the suggestions from hoopingcrane, if you'd like some visuals:

http://www.asherworldturns.com/turkey-at-a-glance/

I'm going to let Erica know I posted this link and ask her if she has any suggestions.