Going on RS Tour in Sept. Returning to Istanbul from Izmir about noon and have a 5:45am flight for home the next morning, so think we need to stay near airport. Would like to be close to public transportation so we can spend the afternoon and evening in Istanbul. What is practical? Would appreciate any advice and suggestions
Posted by
Cary, NC
687 posts
I think there may be a transit hotel in the airport, but I stayed a short shuttle ride away at http://www.wowhotelsistanbul.com/ - which is also a short walk from transport into town - Yenibosna stop on the LRT, I think
Posted by
Corsicana, Texas, USA
354 posts
One option is to stay in Istanbul and enjoy your last afternoon/night actually in the city, sleep in a hotel on Taksim Square, then take the Havas airport bus to the airport next morning. A bus departs Taksim every half hour (even that early), and at that time of morning would probably take around 30 minutes. Bus fare is Tl10. I don't think the Metro would be running at the time you need to use it, and a hotel on airport grounds can be very expensive. Same bus would take you from airport to Taksim Square the day before.
Posted by
Bellevue, WA, USA
811 posts
i was on similar time flight 2 yrs ago. there is an airport hotel very expensive by the airport if you can afford. if not, then agree taksim sqr can do, but you must secure the bus transportation with the hotel. the metro doesn't run at this early. if you arrive in IST around noon there should be plenty time to take care of it. another alternative is to head over to the airport and have the hotel desk book you a place. usually cheaper but nothing going on for that evening (you'll be in a residential area near the airport).
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
I stayed at the airport hotel last year at the end of my RS Best of Turkey tour. I found a very good internet rate on the hotel's website. While not exactly cheap, I thought it was an excellent value for the convenience it offered. The walk from the hotel to the security gate for my 6:30am flight was only 10 minutes, and the hotel also offers a 24 hour shuttle (arrange evening before). You can catch the metro at the airport, switching to the tram near the Grand Bazaar. It's an easy and cheap trip from the airport to Sultanhamet in about an hour. Just follow the directions for using public transit to get to your first tour hotel that will come with your RS tour package.