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Istanbul #102223 01/16/11 09:29 AM
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cruisinfanatic Offline OP
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We will be disembarking CLEO in Istanbul. We plan to spend two nights, staying at the Ciragan Palace. My question for those who have been there is, how far from the port to hotel, and how far from hotel to airport.

Best to just get a cab for these transfers, or set up private ones? Any idea of cost for cabs?

Thanks for any advice.


JoAnn
Re: Istanbul #102224 01/16/11 03:25 PM
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sedona Offline
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It usually costs about 50-60 Turkish Lira (around $30) from the airport. We had mixed experiences with taxis in Istanbul. Some were wonderful and some were awful.

If you get a taxi to/from the airport, there is a fixed rate day or night. There is no tipping unless your driver has assisted with a lot of luggage. It is about 15 miles. I'm sure your hotel will be able to get you a taxi that is reputable to the airport. The Palace is one of the nicest hotels in the city.

We hired a private car to pick us up from the airport. We had a private guide and we arranged it as part of our package.

Love Istanbul. Wish we were going again.

It was easy and not expensive to get to and from the port and we used a taxi. You dock right in the heart of the modern area of the city near Taksim. We've been twice. Once we stayed post cruise and once, pre-cruise.

Re: Istanbul #102225 01/16/11 05:32 PM
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cruisinfanatic Offline OP
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Thanks Andi. So it sounds like we could just do cabs from the port, as well as to the airport. We need Turkish Lira, they don't use the Euro? Guess we need to plan for that.


JoAnn
Re: Istanbul #102226 01/16/11 06:50 PM
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sedona Offline
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We needed Lira and stopped at an ATM.

Re: Istanbul #102227 01/16/11 08:08 PM
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ChatKat... Offline
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There is an ATM/exchange in the airport. Istanbul has been one of our favorite ports. We had an incredible guide - I think I posted it here under guides. A friend of ours found him. We were off put on initially meeting him wondering why he hailed taxis for us but it worked perfectly and he paid for them. Make sure you ask ahead of getting in them what the fare will be. It was cheaper for the guide to take us in a taxi than for him to park and drive. And parking is a huge issue.

The guide we used was via Levant - but it was not Levant. http://leventsolmaz.com/meet-levent-solmaz/


VOYAGER:
MC to FLL 11/07
MC/Dover 6/06
MARINER:
BCN / Ven 10/11
Alaska 2001|2006
Panama Canal 2003
NAV
Caribbean 11/06
Bermuda|New Eng/Canada 6/04
PG 5/05
OCEANIA
Nautica |Ist/Athens 6/07
Regatta|Baltics 6/08
Riviera 2013 Crossing -Istanbul to Miami
Re: Istanbul #102228 01/17/11 04:24 AM
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cruisinfanatic Offline OP
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Thanks for the info Kathy, will check it out, thats an interesting point about it being easier for him to hail cabs than use his own car, and how well it worked for you.


JoAnn
Re: Istanbul #102229 01/17/11 06:22 AM
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bebop bonnie Offline
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We had the same experience with our guide leaving his car and hailing taxis to get around the very congested areas. Worked fine. It was about five years ago that we were in Istanbul, but I seem to remember that almost everyone was happy to take our dollars. We converted very little into Turkish Lira. Don't forget to look for Caviar in the spice market! :yummy1:

Re: Istanbul #102230 07/21/11 06:13 AM
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vireya Offline
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Have been to Turkey quite a few times. as I speak Turkish. My best guide, ever, is Gulum (my Rose) Obruk, gulumobruk@yahoo.com

The Çırağan is the very very best hotel there. Be sure to eat at the restaurant under the bridge, a short walk from the hotel. AND the restaurant IN the hotel is fabulous as well. By the way, it is pronounced Shiran Palace.

Re: Istanbul #102231 07/21/11 08:05 AM
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Beth Offline
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I stayed at the Ciragan Palace in '97 prior to a Greek Isles cruise on the Song. The hotel and service was great. We also had a private female guide, though I can't remember her name.

Re: Istanbul [Re: cruisinfanatic] #238597 08/18/13 03:53 AM
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Solent Richard Offline
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Good afternoon Members and viewing guests.

I'm still relatively new on this forum and am still navigating my way around. I did however come across this Istanbul thread and thought maybe an update and overview of Istanbul may be appreciated.

I did two overnight stops there last year, in October and December. The latter being on Oceania's Nautica.

[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]

My first day visit is covered in full on my blog...

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/one-way-to-do-istanbul/

I am still in the process of writing a second day version as well as what to do in Istanbul at night, which will include a Dinner Show that had the amazing Didem as its star attraction...

[Linked Image]

I hope the Istanbul blog page is of interest.

Re: Istanbul [Re: cruisinfanatic] #238601 08/18/13 05:45 AM
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petlover Offline
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Thanks for sharing Richard. Istanbul is such a vibrant city and your photos brought back all the memories.


Marcie


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