A mysterious fire broke out in the SkyTeam lounge at Istanbul Airport, causing extreme damage inside and outside the lounge. The lounge will be closed for an indefinite period. Fires Shutters SkyTeam Lounge In Istanbul Video shows flames pouring...
The Mysterious Woman At The Bank Hotel Bar In Istanbul
I had a couple of cocktails at The Bank, a Marriott Design hotel in Istanbul that my friend was staying at. The hotel has a beautiful rooftop bar (even in the cold of winter when the sides are closed)....
Classical Concert At Atatürk Cultural Centre In Istanbul
One of the highlights of my recent trip to Istanbul was attending a classical concert in the beautiful Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM). Music is a common language that unites us all. A Lovely Classical Concert At Ataturk Cultural Center...
Review: Park Hyatt Istanbul – Maçka Palas
The Park Hyatt Istanbul has been refreshed and is now my favorite Hyatt property in Istanbul, with luxurious accommodations, excellent service, and several nice amenities that make it worth the splurge. Park Hyatt Istanbul Review I spent two nights...
Great Coffee In Istanbul
The point of my series of coffee posts is always to go back and add to them as I find more great cafés in any given city. During my recent trip to Istanbul, I found another great coffee shop...
Review: Grand Hyatt Istanbul
The Grand Hyatt Istanbul is both an affordable and centrally-located hotel in the heart of Istanbul. Grand Hyatt Istanbul Review I spent my first night in Istanbul at the Grand Hyatt, located in the Taksim Square area. At $130/night...
Review: IGA Lounge Istanbul
The IGA Lounge in Istanbul remains an excellent Priority Pass lounge, with a wide selection of food and drinks as well as plenty of space to spread out. IGA Lounge Istanbul Review My comprehensive review from 2019 (below) is...
Turkish Airlines Cancels Over 1,000 Flights After Blizzard Closes Istanbul Airport
A blizzard in Istanbul forced the closure of Istanbul Airport as crews worked around the clock to clear up accumulated snow. An airport roof also collapsed under the weight of the snowfall. Turkish Airlines was forced to cancel over...
How To Obtain A Visa On Arrival In Istanbul
Despite its new e-visa regime, it is still possible to obtain a visa on arrival in Istanbul. Where To Obtain A Visa On Arrival In Istanbul (IST) When Turkey transitioned to an e-visa system in 2013, numerous reports suggested...
My First Impressions Of New Istanbul Airport
It’s too early to say how well Istanbul’s new international airport will age, but as of now it looks great. Behemoth yet strangely tranquil, I found both the arrival and departure areas quite painless…albeit a tad annoying. Arrival I...
Is New Istanbul Airport Already In Danger Of Failing?
Will Istanbul’s beautiful new airport fail on account of clouds and fog? Some experts fear the answer is yes. Last week, flights to Istanbul from the following cities were diverted to Çorlu, an airport 60 miles west of the...
Trapped in Istanbul Airport!
I had a very pleasant flight to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, but I’m not pleased with them now… My flight from Los Angeles to Istanbul was delayed by over two hours (mechanical), causing me to miss my connection to...
Yerevan to Istanbul in Armavia Economy Class
Armavia was Armenia’s flag carrier, but entered bankruptcy on March 29, 2013 and suspended all operations on April 1, 2013. I got in just in time, for I doubt there would have been a refund if my flight had...
Istanbul to Baku in Azerbaijan Airlines Economy Class
I arrived into Istanbul with about seven hours between flights and was informed at the transit desk that it was too early to check in for my Azerbaijan Airlines flight to Baku. I headed upstairs to the lounge where...
Turkish Airlines: Not All Star Alliance Golds Are Created Equal
I really do love Turkish Airlines. Their catering is tops, longhaul aircraft new, and their world-class lounge in Istanbul is quite likely the best Star Alliance Gold Lounge on the Earth. Yet getting to that lounge at Istanbul’s Attaturk...
Standing Up to Cab Drivers in Istanbul
For the few readers who have wondered about my absence the last several days, I just returned from a wonderful trip to Istanbul. Istanbul is a fascinating city–where east meets west like no other place in the world. This...
Photo Tour: Turkish Airlines Star Gold/Business Class Lounge in Istanbul
I’ll cut to the chase: the newly-renovated Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul is amazing and easily the best business class and best Star Alliance Gold lounge I have ever been in. The last two months I have connected in...
Trading a Free Hotel Room for Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul Lounge
While not a widely published benefit, Turkish Airlines offers extended transit passengers in Istanbul the choice of a free hotel room or free tour of Istanbul during their wait. In order to take advantage of this, you must be...
