Most airports and train stations will hold your luggage during a stopover/layover. There is typically either a desk with an attendant or unattended lockers. In some cases, there are multiple offerings throughout the airport. Here is everything you need to know for Istanbul iGA airport, who have multiple holding options: www.istairport.com/en/services/experience/airport-services/left-luggage-offices-and-storage-lockers/?locale=en You can also book a city tour and the guide team will often hold your bags while you sightsee. Just be sure to get one with transportation. Here are some options in Istanbul: - Generally: getyourguide.com/en-US/istanbul-l56/?psrc=widget&partner_id=JY8NDWB&widget=city&wid=deb73776-81b9-5b9f-b9e8-1971d5b0d8db&page_id=819f093e-cb8b-5810-842f-578d54edd672 - With transportation: gyg.me/tDbJH8ST If you are flying with Turkish Airlines, they also offer a free stopover tour of Istanbul that includes a free hotel stay: www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/stopover/
Hi World Cooking, thank you for such a lovely comment!! That means so much to us, we really do hope to help out our fellow travelers -- whether to inspire or make the details easier. Please stay tuned, we have many more vlogs coming. It's been a busy season of travel but we have a big queue of travel fun coming your way. ❤️
You are 💯 right there, my friend! Hoping to do that, plus roadtrip to Cappadocia and Kas (or another city along the coast) in the future. If you have ideas for any places in the country, we're open to suggestions! 🤠
Hi and thanks for watching! If you book through the Turkish Airlines website, it will clearly indicate which flights are eligible for stopover tours and also stopover lodging. On our latest transit through Istanbul, we selected an outbound leg that was eligible for a tour, and an inbound leg that was eligible for a hotel stay (in part so we could resample both of these offerings). Once you book your flight and have a ticket number, you will be able to search online for a hotel that meets your needs (see link at the bottom of the comment). When we did this most recently we had at least several options, even during peak season. Just make sure you book your hotel *at least* 72 hours before the stay. They cannot help you at the ticket counter in the airport as you arrive, which is the opposite of the tour and you schedule this *upon arrival.* More from their website: - Passengers with a connection period of at least 20 hours can stay free of charge and accumulate unforgettable memories in Istanbul. - Economy Class passengers may stay one night in a 4-star hotel and Business Class passengers may stay two nights in a 5-star hotel free of charge. - After your Turkish Airlines connecting international flight lands in İstanbul, you can sign up for Touristanbul at the Hotel Desk in the International Arrivals Terminal of İstanbul Airport or from our Touristanbul Desk Office in the Transfer desk area. Read more here: www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/stopover/
If you are flying with another airline, please note you typically need to book directly with the airline (not a third party, such as Expedia) to be entitled to the stopover perks. Here are some more airlines to consider: - Etihad Airways stopover in Abu Dhabi for up to 2 days: www.etihad.com/en-us/abu-dhabi/stopover - Qatar Airways stopover in Doha for up to 4 days: www.qatarairways.com/en-us/offers/qatar-stopover.html - Iberia Airlines stopover in Madrid for up to 7 days: www.iberia.com/us/en/stopover-in-madrid/ - Iceland Air stopover in Reykjavik for up to 7 days: www.icelandair.com/flights/stopover/ - Copa Airlines stopover in Panama City for up to 7 days: panama-stopover.com/en - Air Canada stopover in Toronto for up to 7 days: www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/special-offers/toronto-stopover.html#/ - TAP Air Portugal stopover in Lisbon or Porto up to 10 days: www.flytap.com/en-us/stopover
Hi @oodulaja - great question! We've found most airports and train stations can hold bags, including Istanbul airport. There is typically either a desk with an attendant or unattended lockers in one (or more if you're lucky) terminals. Here is everything you need to know for Istanbul iGA airport, including a picture of what the facilities look like: www.istairport.com/en/services/experience/airport-services/left-luggage-offices-and-storage-lockers/?locale=en You can always book a city tour and the guide team will often hold your bags while you sightsee. In a pinch, you could do a DIY version with a taxi driver who will hold your bags and wait for you. We have done this when it got too logistically complicated, or needed to run some errands during that stopover time. If you are flying with Turkish Airlines, they offer a free stopover tour of Istanbul *THAT COMES WITH A FREE HOTEL STAY* in some instances!! 😁More here: www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/stopover/ Please let us know if you have other questions. Until then, safe travels! ✈❤
Hi and thanks for watching! Great question. We only did public transportation here, but given your situation would consider renting a car only if you are planning to leave the city for a daytrip. It's very popular to do roadtrips around the country so lots of tourists do drive here. However depending on what time of day you arrive and later leave, your second/middle day might be your only full sightseeing day and so would recommend dedicating that to Istanbul with so much to do there. But Istanbul is over 10 million people so like any city it can be very congested to drive and using public transportation can avoid some of this. And also like any big city could prove tricky for parking, so would recommend sketching out your route and locating parking ramps or parking lots before you head out: www.google.com/maps/search/parking+ramps+in+istanbul+/@41.0244856,28.9439472,14z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu Let us know if you have any more questions.
Hi, so sorry to have missed this comment earlier. In case this still reaches you in time or another traveler -- we would not recommend booking a rental car in Istanbul. While Türkiye is great for roadtrips, Istanbul itself is very hectic (in the best way) with limited parking options and lots of other cars. When we have visited we use public transportation or taxis to get around.
Hi and thanks for watching! Great question. We only did public transportation here, but given your situation would consider renting a car only if you are planning to leave the city for a daytrip. It's very popular to do roadtrips around the country so lots of tourists do drive here. However depending on what time of day you arrive and later leave, your second/middle day might be your only full sightseeing day and so would recommend dedicating that to Istanbul with so much to do there. But Istanbul is over 10 million people so like any city it can be very congested to drive and using public transportation can avoid some of this. And also like any big city could prove tricky for parking, so would recommend sketching out your route and locating parking ramps or parking lots before you head out: www.google.com/maps/search/parking+ramps+in+istanbul+/@41.0244856,28.9439472,14z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu Let us know if you have any more questions.
Hi, thanks for watching and great question! Yes, we did get money from the ATM. Larger places like restaurants, hotels, etc. take credit cards, but we stopped for street food a handful of times and needed cash for all those exchanges. We had to use a metro card for public transport (Istanbul Kart/Istanbul Card), as they don't accept cash directly. You can pay for that using cash at various kiosks, possibly with a card through the app but it sounds like it's less possible with international cards. We didn't try. You can also use one metro card for more than one person (such as your kids or your whole family), which helps get around the minimum upload if you're only there for a short period of time like us. Please let us know if you have any other questions.
If you are interested in booking a formal stopover exceeding 24 hours, please note you typically need to book directly with the airline (not a third party, such as Expedia) to be entitled to the stopover perks. Here are programs to consider: - Etihad Airways stopover in Abu Dhabi for up to 2 days: www.etihad.com/en-us/abu-dhabi/stopover - Qatar Airways stopover in Doha for up to 4 days: www.qatarairways.com/en-us/offers/qatar-stopover.html - Turkish Airlines stopover in Istanbul for up to 4 days: www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/flights/stopover/ - Iberia Airlines stopover in Madrid for up to 7 days: www.iberia.com/us/en/stopover-in-madrid/ - Iceland Air stopover in Reykjavik for up to 7 days: www.icelandair.com/flights/stopover/ - Copa Airlines stopover in Panama City for up to 7 days: panama-stopover.com/en - Air Canada stopover in Toronto for up to 7 days: www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/special-offers/toronto-stopover.html#/ - TAP Air Portugal stopover in Lisbon or Porto up to 10 days: www.flytap.com/en-us/stopover
Most airports and train stations will hold your luggage during a stopover/layover. There is typically either a desk with an attendant or unattended lockers. In some cases, there are multiple offerings throughout the airport.
Here is everything you need to know for Istanbul iGA airport, who have multiple holding options: www.istairport.com/en/services/experience/airport-services/left-luggage-offices-and-storage-lockers/?locale=en
You can also book a city tour and the guide team will often hold your bags while you sightsee. Just be sure to get one with transportation. Here are some options in Istanbul:
- Generally: getyourguide.com/en-US/istanbul-l56/?psrc=widget&partner_id=JY8NDWB&widget=city&wid=deb73776-81b9-5b9f-b9e8-1971d5b0d8db&page_id=819f093e-cb8b-5810-842f-578d54edd672
- With transportation: gyg.me/tDbJH8ST
If you are flying with Turkish Airlines, they also offer a free stopover tour of Istanbul that includes a free hotel stay: www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/stopover/
Your vlogs are not only entertaining but also informative 👌 The little one is so cute ☺️ Just lovely 😊 💖
Hi World Cooking, thank you for such a lovely comment!! That means so much to us, we really do hope to help out our fellow travelers -- whether to inspire or make the details easier.
Please stay tuned, we have many more vlogs coming. It's been a busy season of travel but we have a big queue of travel fun coming your way. ❤️
Istanbul is a very beautiful city, you should revisit again for at least one week
You are 💯 right there, my friend! Hoping to do that, plus roadtrip to Cappadocia and Kas (or another city along the coast) in the future. If you have ideas for any places in the country, we're open to suggestions! 🤠
@@FindingSalas the whole country is very beautiful and cheap. You can go to bursa izmir, Antalya ,euphesus, trabzon and uzungol, you would love it.
@@simohamed2981 wow great list, thank you! Taking notes on all this!! 😁❤️😎
Did you’ll book the flight with a stopovers icon to entitle the free stays?
Hi and thanks for watching!
If you book through the Turkish Airlines website, it will clearly indicate which flights are eligible for stopover tours and also stopover lodging. On our latest transit through Istanbul, we selected an outbound leg that was eligible for a tour, and an inbound leg that was eligible for a hotel stay (in part so we could resample both of these offerings).
Once you book your flight and have a ticket number, you will be able to search online for a hotel that meets your needs (see link at the bottom of the comment). When we did this most recently we had at least several options, even during peak season. Just make sure you book your hotel *at least* 72 hours before the stay. They cannot help you at the ticket counter in the airport as you arrive, which is the opposite of the tour and you schedule this *upon arrival.*
More from their website:
- Passengers with a connection period of at least 20 hours can stay free of charge and accumulate unforgettable memories in Istanbul.
- Economy Class passengers may stay one night in a 4-star hotel and Business Class passengers may stay two nights in a 5-star hotel free of charge.
- After your Turkish Airlines connecting international flight lands in İstanbul, you can sign up for Touristanbul at the Hotel Desk in the International Arrivals Terminal of İstanbul Airport or from our Touristanbul Desk Office in the Transfer desk area.
Read more here: www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/stopover/
If you are flying with another airline, please note you typically need to book directly with the airline (not a third party, such as Expedia) to be entitled to the stopover perks. Here are some more airlines to consider:
- Etihad Airways stopover in Abu Dhabi for up to 2 days: www.etihad.com/en-us/abu-dhabi/stopover
- Qatar Airways stopover in Doha for up to 4 days: www.qatarairways.com/en-us/offers/qatar-stopover.html
- Iberia Airlines stopover in Madrid for up to 7 days: www.iberia.com/us/en/stopover-in-madrid/
- Iceland Air stopover in Reykjavik for up to 7 days: www.icelandair.com/flights/stopover/
- Copa Airlines stopover in Panama City for up to 7 days: panama-stopover.com/en
- Air Canada stopover in Toronto for up to 7 days: www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/special-offers/toronto-stopover.html#/
- TAP Air Portugal stopover in Lisbon or Porto up to 10 days: www.flytap.com/en-us/stopover
Hello! Where did you guys store your luggages during the stopover while exploring the city?
Hi @oodulaja - great question! We've found most airports and train stations can hold bags, including Istanbul airport. There is typically either a desk with an attendant or unattended lockers in one (or more if you're lucky) terminals.
Here is everything you need to know for Istanbul iGA airport, including a picture of what the facilities look like: www.istairport.com/en/services/experience/airport-services/left-luggage-offices-and-storage-lockers/?locale=en
You can always book a city tour and the guide team will often hold your bags while you sightsee. In a pinch, you could do a DIY version with a taxi driver who will hold your bags and wait for you. We have done this when it got too logistically complicated, or needed to run some errands during that stopover time.
If you are flying with Turkish Airlines, they offer a free stopover tour of Istanbul *THAT COMES WITH A FREE HOTEL STAY* in some instances!! 😁More here: www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/stopover/
Please let us know if you have other questions. Until then, safe travels!
✈❤
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and share all this information!!
@@oodulaja of course, our pleasure! There's so much unknown and uncertainty in traveling so anything we can do to reduce that. ❤️
If I stay for 2 nights should I book a rental car? How is driving in Istanbul?
Hi and thanks for watching! Great question. We only did public transportation here, but given your situation would consider renting a car only if you are planning to leave the city for a daytrip. It's very popular to do roadtrips around the country so lots of tourists do drive here. However depending on what time of day you arrive and later leave, your second/middle day might be your only full sightseeing day and so would recommend dedicating that to Istanbul with so much to do there.
But Istanbul is over 10 million people so like any city it can be very congested to drive and using public transportation can avoid some of this. And also like any big city could prove tricky for parking, so would recommend sketching out your route and locating parking ramps or parking lots before you head out: www.google.com/maps/search/parking+ramps+in+istanbul+/@41.0244856,28.9439472,14z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu
Let us know if you have any more questions.
Hi, so sorry to have missed this comment earlier. In case this still reaches you in time or another traveler -- we would not recommend booking a rental car in Istanbul. While Türkiye is great for roadtrips, Istanbul itself is very hectic (in the best way) with limited parking options and lots of other cars. When we have visited we use public transportation or taxis to get around.
Hi and thanks for watching! Great question. We only did public transportation here, but given your situation would consider renting a car only if you are planning to leave the city for a daytrip. It's very popular to do roadtrips around the country so lots of tourists do drive here. However depending on what time of day you arrive and later leave, your second/middle day might be your only full sightseeing day and so would recommend dedicating that to Istanbul with so much to do there.
But Istanbul is over 10 million people so like any city it can be very congested to drive and using public transportation can avoid some of this. And also like any big city could prove tricky for parking, so would recommend sketching out your route and locating parking ramps or parking lots before you head out: www.google.com/maps/search/parking+ramps+in+istanbul+/@41.0244856,28.9439472,14z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu
Let us know if you have any more questions.
Did you get money from an ATM for the metro or was there another place to get cash? I remember they only take cash for Istanbul
Hi, thanks for watching and great question! Yes, we did get money from the ATM. Larger places like restaurants, hotels, etc. take credit cards, but we stopped for street food a handful of times and needed cash for all those exchanges.
We had to use a metro card for public transport (Istanbul Kart/Istanbul Card), as they don't accept cash directly. You can pay for that using cash at various kiosks, possibly with a card through the app but it sounds like it's less possible with international cards. We didn't try. You can also use one metro card for more than one person (such as your kids or your whole family), which helps get around the minimum upload if you're only there for a short period of time like us.
Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Hi fellow (or future) travelers! Please let us know if you have questions about long layovers -- or travel in general. We are happy to answer them! 😁
If you are interested in booking a formal stopover exceeding 24 hours, please note you typically need to book directly with the airline (not a third party, such as Expedia) to be entitled to the stopover perks. Here are programs to consider:
- Etihad Airways stopover in Abu Dhabi for up to 2 days: www.etihad.com/en-us/abu-dhabi/stopover
- Qatar Airways stopover in Doha for up to 4 days: www.qatarairways.com/en-us/offers/qatar-stopover.html
- Turkish Airlines stopover in Istanbul for up to 4 days: www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/flights/stopover/
- Iberia Airlines stopover in Madrid for up to 7 days: www.iberia.com/us/en/stopover-in-madrid/
- Iceland Air stopover in Reykjavik for up to 7 days: www.icelandair.com/flights/stopover/
- Copa Airlines stopover in Panama City for up to 7 days: panama-stopover.com/en
- Air Canada stopover in Toronto for up to 7 days: www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/special-offers/toronto-stopover.html#/
- TAP Air Portugal stopover in Lisbon or Porto up to 10 days: www.flytap.com/en-us/stopover
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