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3 Stars - 13 Opinions
One of the many Alleys in the Grand Bazaar
Still busy at 9pm......
The Ottoman portico - Jan 2010
Istanbul - Turkey
I'm planning ahead for a winter trip, flying from Dalaman in southern Turkey into the domestic terminal at Ataturk airport, and then have a good 8 hour wait before my flight to Dubai, and on to Colombo, departs from the international terminal. Is there any type of airport accommodation I could use for a few hours to recharge for the journey ahead? If so I would guess it would be the international terminal only, but the one airport hotel I found reference to on the internet said you needed to show a boarding pass. Could I get the boarding pass for the international flight 8 hours in advance, if necessary. The website actually seemed to be saying that its airport rooms were NOT available to those changing from domestic to international terminal or v v ....but that doesnt seem logical to me? Any advice v much appreciated.
as i recall, there are two entrances - one for those who are still in the international area and have not cleared customs. if you are inside the secure area you will presumably not need a boarding pass. if you go outside customs to what they call the land entrance, it is just like any other hotel. of course if you take the latter course you will have to clear security etc before your next flight.
The hotel has both airside and landside rooms. Its reservation pages tell you how to access it:
https://www.airporthotelistanbul.com/reservation/?l=en-US
For the former you will need a boarding pass (hourly accommodation), for the latter not.
http://www.airporthotelistanbul.com/konaklama_eng.asp
I doubt you will be able to get a boarding pass 8 hours in advance unless you can check-in online and print your own. It's unlikely that your Dubai check-in desk will be open so far in advance..but it is worth checking directly with the airline.
One should go the the Asian part after thoroughly exploring whatever you can see in Europe: the mosques, the museums, the gardens. Only then you go to Asia and have a carpaccio at Kalamis Marina Divan
Nisantasi....
....Nisantasi....
Nisantasi
Turkish Chelsea, that I adore.... a beautiful district in Istanbul, not big but extremly charming, with distinctive European influence however with some Oriental fler....
I can wonder there all days long and see a piece of beauty at every corner...
Every tourist is warned against high pricing and suggested bargaining. I guess this may be true in touristic shopping areas like grand bazaar or open markets you see all around the city, but it doesn't apply to everywhere. Istanbul is not avery cheap city so don't expect big discounts on small items. However, if you are big spender and you plan to do big shopping, you may get really good discounts as every shop owner prefers hot cash. You may use paying in cash as a bargaining power against credit card, you may get better discounts.
There is sort of a modern zoo 35km away from Istanbul....They call it bird paradise and botanic garden. But it is not easy to get there.
First go to bus terminal 'ESENLER' (take a cab) , The bus name is GEBZE KOOP number 3. Ask the driver to put you out. WRITE THE NAME DOWN WHERE U ARE GOING. The bus will stop under a bridge along the route. Walk for a while and go under the railway tracks. There take a DOLMUS (thats a taxi that drives up and down from one point to another.) Again show the driver where u are going. Here almost no-one speaks English or whatever... so. They'll put you out in a field... Now u are close. Haha This is no joke. Why should u go there. Well to experience the vision of the turkisch people on a zoo. U will find here a group of young chimps that where confiscated. In every birdcage there is a fountain... u can also see buxus in some cages cut in different figures.. Or what about a japanese garden with garden gnomes.Or the alligators with a dinosaur in the middle of their enclosure.... I loved the goliath-crane. And the arapaimas where impressive... The staf is friendly. A nice day out. How to get back. We went back to the railstation , took the train , than took another dolmus , found a boat and finally got back in the ancient city of istanbul. Quit an adventure...
Don't miss a visit to Ortaköy. Used to be a separate village, now it's part of the city of Istanbul. Here you'll find picturesque, colourful, houses and a busy night life with cafés, restaurants and clubs.
Shown here is the local mosque, just next to the Ortaköy Bridge.
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