Istanbul trip, Jan 2013 - Tour Guide & Dinner Venue suggestions needed.

[Coolnite]

Happy new year to one and all.

Have a 6 day holiday in Istanbul coming up later this month with the wife and will be staying at the Crowne Plaza Sultanhamet/Old City. Have read most of the TRs and suggestions by CarbonMan, jhm, phaleesy, SQflyergirl, KYO, calvinoeh, etc via http://www.sqtalk.com/forum/showthre...light=Istanbul

Would appreciate any suggestions members on this fora may have with regards to a tour guide like Kamel - a driver featured on SQflyergirl's TR - http://www.sqtalk.com/forum/showthre...stanbul&page=5, or would you recommend a tour group that offers half day walking tours from the website that jhm suggested. It covers most unique sites, such as the Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque and Roman Hippodrome, etc - http://www.backpackerstravel.net/Ist...d5-tid2-turid8

I am also looking for a venue for dinner, with a wonderful view of the Blue Mosque or the Bosphorus. Finally, the wife would like to catch a good belly dancing show, anyone been to one?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and best regards.

Coolnite

[SQflyergirl]

Sultanahmet is probably a better bet for one who wants to visit the blue mosque and the historical sites of Istanbul. where you're staying is also a delightful property on Ordu street (caddesi) - so you're not far from the grand bazaar either. A tour guide is a good idea I think, and there are quite a few tour agencies just the right in the arrivals hall near the Starbucks. Haggle and I think they'll be able to put something together for you.

Like you , I'm in Istanbul on the 27th of this month - but decided to stay a little further east in Taksim at the IC Ceylan to be nearer istiklal. It shows I love IST (7 times in the last 18 months)

[Kyo]

Get SQflyergirl to be your guide


(Not cheap)

[CarbonMan]

Between having a private guide and a group tour is very much up to one's budget. I have found both to be good. The former allows for a more flexible itinerary while the latter allows you to meet with fellow travelers and share experiences. Personally, the experience with Backbackers' was pretty good, so I have nothing negative about them. I did the whole day walking tour with them on the first day to get my bearings on the city; after that I felt comfortable enough to visit the rest of the city on our own - wake up when we want, eat what we liked, and let mistakes turn into pleasant surprises!

Crown Plaza is about 4-5 stops from the Sultan Ahmet Mosque by tram, so it's all very convenient. I didn't stay in that area but 10 mins walk south of the Mosque on Akbiyik Cd, so I can't recommend anything near there. But I recommend any good fish restaurant, found one in a small street off Istikalal Ave - sorry can't remember the name.

It's really nice to be in IST this time of the year - pray for less rain. Enjoy!

[B727]

How wonderful, it looks like quite a few SQTalkers will be in IST and Turkey this month

We will also be there right after the new moon mid-month thru the full moon for a couple of weeks. Hoping for clear skies

[SQflyergirl]

How wonderful, it looks like quite a few SQTalkers will be in IST and Turkey this month

We will also be there right after the new moon mid-month thru the full moon for a couple of weeks. Hoping for clear skies

Where is our intrepid b727 this month?

[B727]

Where is our intrepid b727 this month?

We are currently in Singapore working on our Turkish dates! SQfg, I think I caught the Istanbug from you the last time we met in Rio

Y'all we should have a mini DO in Istanbul!

[Coolnite]

Sultanahmet is probably a better bet for one who wants to visit the blue mosque and the historical sites of Istanbul. where you're staying is also a delightful property on Ordu street (caddesi) - so you're not far from the grand bazaar either. A tour guide is a good idea I think, and there are quite a few tour agencies just the right in the arrivals hall near the Starbucks. Haggle and I think they'll be able to put something together for you.

Like you , I'm in Istanbul on the 27th of this month - but decided to stay a little further east in Taksim at the IC Ceylan to be nearer istiklal. It shows I love IST (7 times in the last 18 months)

Thank you for the tip SQflyergirl, we will be in IST from the 23rd till 28th January, flying in & out via ZRH & FRA. We really wanted to stay at the IC Ceylan - though it's still within a taxi or bus ride to most locations, we wanted to find a more centered located hotel with prominent landmarks within walking or tram distance, being our first time and all. Hence the Crowne Plaza Old City was our final choice. Plus, a suite for S$200 after upgrade was too hard to resist, must be the Singaporean in me.

Get SQflyergirl to be your guide

(Not cheap)

No doubt KYO, she's got class and expensive taste.

Between having a private guide and a group tour is very much up to one's budget. I have found both to be good. The former allows for a more flexible itinerary while the latter allows you to meet with fellow travelers and share experiences. Personally, the experience with Backbackers' was pretty good, so I have nothing negative about them. I did the whole day walking tour with them on the first day to get my bearings on the city; after that I felt comfortable enough to visit the rest of the city on our own - wake up when we want, eat what we liked, and let mistakes turn into pleasant surprises!

Crown Plaza is about 4-5 stops from the Sultan Ahmet Mosque by tram, so it's all very convenient. I didn't stay in that area but 10 mins walk south of the Mosque on Akbiyik Cd, so I can't recommend anything near there. But I recommend any good fish restaurant, found one in a small street off Istikalal Ave - sorry can't remember the name.

It's really nice to be in IST this time of the year - pray for less rain. Enjoy!

Ditto CarbonMan, that was my sentiments exactly. Don't mind being in a group, i for one would enjoy the company and meeting new friends. We plan to do the tours on the second day as we arrive in the afternoon on our first. Have a few recommendations for lunch and dinner venues which will be featured hopefully in my TR when i return. It was really hard not choosing the IC Ceylan or the The Marmara Taksim. Perhaps next time eh?

How wonderful, it looks like quite a few SQTalkers will be in IST and Turkey this month
We will also be there right after the new moon mid-month thru the full moon for a couple of weeks. Hoping for clear skies

B727, i can only wish if a few of us SQTalkers were in IST at the same time collectively. We wouldn't need the tour guides.

[B727]

B727, i can only wish if a few of us SQTalkers were in IST at the same time collectively. We wouldn't need the tour guides.

Or book a private tour guide and split the cost amongst a few heads

[Handiman]

Was in IST for the very first time last year in April and fell in love at first sight , wonderful and peaceful , I recommend one resto ULUS 29 , superb food, affording a magnificent Bosphorus view. Located up hill , really romantic
PS : Please book in advance

[phaleesy]

We really wanted to stay at the IC Ceylan - though it's still within a taxi or bus ride to most locations, we wanted to find a more centered located hotel with prominent landmarks within walking or tram distance, being our first time and all. Hence the Crowne Plaza Old City was our final choice. Plus, a suite for S$200 after upgrade was too hard to resist, must be the Singaporean in me.

I've stayed at the CP Old City. It's a very convenient hotel. The tram station is less than 5 mins walk away. You could also walk all the way to the ferry terminal if you're inclined. Easy walk past the Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque and Sofia and the main street. At least you won't have to deal with the taxi drivers too often then.

I like doing my own thing so I don't like guided tours. I would not mind doing a roof top tour of Istanbul though, just like in Skyfall!

[CarbonMan]

I would not mind doing a roof top tour of Istanbul though, just like in Skyfall!

And in Taken 2!

[phaleesy]

And in Taken 2!

Oh! Did not know about the movie. I like Liam Neeson. Must rent the dvd.

Istanbul is just such an exotic, romantic and exciting location!

[jhm]

I haven't tried them (only looked at the splendid Istanbul Eats website for interesting food recommendations and bought their iPhone app) but the following may be of interest:

http://www.culinarybackstreets.com/c...ulinary-walks/

e.g.

Our culinary walks in Istanbul, done in partnership with the award-winning IstanbulEats.com, are designed to lead visitors on an eating binge through the city’s lesser-seen historic side streets and authentic markets, taking in countless hard-to-find culinary gems and, in between bites, a select number of untouristed monuments.

We are currently happy to offer three walks:

[...]

Two Markets, Two Continents
Our favorite Istanbul experiences include exploring the eateries of local markets and crossing the Bosphorus on the public ferry. The “Two Markets, Two Continents” route draws from our best-of list in the European side’s Karakoy neighborhood and the Asian side’s Kadikoy, tied together by a Bosphorus crossing. The historic Persembe Pazari of Karakoy, where this walks begins, might look like a place to buy springs, ship anchors, hardware and paint supplies, but we go there for breakfast at a lovely little esnaf lokantasi run by husband and wife followed by a stroll through the atmospheric mariner market streets stopping into an Ottoman-era caravansaray for tea. Then we hop the boat to Kadikoy on the Asian side and eat our way through that market sampling regional specialties such as Mersin’s tantuni, Gaziantep’s lahmacun the islama kofte of Adapazari and continue on toward the lesser-explored culinary hotspot of Moda, where we will have a life-changing traditional desserts from Turkey’s southeast and Black Sea regions, and, to round things out, visit a neighborhood institution for authentic Turkish ice-cream.

[...]

All four walks are designed for small groups and usually last half a day

PS The ferry crossing is recommended! Very atmospheric and nice to explore the Asian side.

[SQGamespeed]

I would not mind doing a roof top tour of Istanbul though, just like in Skyfall!

And in Taken 2!

I must try it the next time I go to Istanbul!

Istanbul is just such an exotic, romantic and exciting location!

PS The ferry crossing is recommended! Very atmospheric and nice to explore the Asian side.

Especially at night! It was unforgettable when I did it.