Our plane is scheduled to land at 7 pm on a Wednesday. The Adamar is in the Old Town, near the Basilica Cistern. Our preference would be transport arranged by the hotel, but they haven't responded. Preferred, convenient, safe alternative for two people? Shuttle bus, after purchasing tickets at the airport?
Posted by
near San Francisco
4593 posts
I've found that some of my US email addresses get caught in hotel spam filters. My Gmail address usually works.
Posted by
OP
Alberta
27 posts
Great tip. Unfortunately I don't see a response in my junk mail.
Is the metro running to Gayrettepe Station yet? I suspect not.
Posted by
near San Francisco
4593 posts
Your email to them may be stuck in their spam filter....
Posted by
near San Francisco
4593 posts
This thread says end of April.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/turkey/ist-to-sultanahmet-transfer
Maybe. Hopefully.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17872 posts
Ive stayed there a couple of times. Nice hotel. And the hotel took care of the transfer both times.
But finding the guy that will drive you is "fun" let me know how it works out.
Posted by
31 posts
My wife and I traveled to Turkey last May and stayed in the Adamar Hotel. The best thing we did was to have the hotel arrange the transportation from the airport. It is an hours drive in rush hour to the hotel from the airport. The hotel had a service pick us up outside the baggage claim area and took us directly to the hotel and dropped us right outside the front door of the hotel. Recommend you try again to email the hotel. They should be able to respond. If they don't you should try calling them.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
1403 posts
The government announced the M11 Metro line would be completely running to Gayrettepe Station by mid-April. This apparently has not occurred. So, your best alternative on public transit is to take the Havaist Airport bus # 12 to Beyazit Square. The Adamar Hotel is 3,700 feet from Beyazit Square and the area is very safe to walk—even at night—as this is the tourist route to most of Istanbul’s top attractions. But you can also take one of the trams going toward Sultanahmet Square or flag a taxi.
All Havaist Buses depart from the bus bays underneath the IST Airport terminal. There are escalators near the terminal exit doors descending to the Havaist buses. You can use a credit card to buy the bus tickets (about $4 each) at a staffed kiosk, which means you will not need Turkish lira for the bus.
Posted by
OP
Alberta
27 posts
The Adamar has not responded to emails as they have in the past. Still open? I will call them if my cell phone service permits.
Booking.com offers a pickup which is much cheaper than the hotel. We may go with them.
Thank you for the input.
Posted by
OP
Alberta
27 posts
I called the Adamar, 55 Euros for the airport shuttle.
Booking.com for 33 Euros for a van including flight tracking.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
1403 posts
Glad you got that sorted out. If a driver is picking you up, be sure to communicate exactly where they will be and how you will be able to know who they are among the many individuals or vehicles doing the same at IST. I often have wished either the driver or I was wearing a fluorescent orange shirt instead of the usual practice of looking for my name among the sea of signs with names written on them at curbside. IST is enormous and is now the #2 Airport worldwide in the number of international passengers passing through it.
Have a great trip!