Turkey Travel Guide

/ / / / /

Students Can Compete for a Travel-Writing Guidebook Gig in Istanbul

February 2, 2011 at 9:46 AM | by | Comment (1)

If you're a student journalists or happen to know one aspiring to become travel writers, there's no reason to wait to do slave work at an internship where you won't see the outside of a cubicle. Rough Guides and BikeHike Adventures are offering a contest that will send one one travel-hungry student to Istanbul on assignment.

You'll get to be a travel-writing assistant for Terry Richardson, author of The Rough Guide to Istanbul, who's researching a new edition of the book. But as is the case with any assistant gig, you'll be the one doing the grunt work researching and updating the guidebook. Be prepared to do some solo traveling.

more ›

/ / / / / / /

The Ultimate Travel Extra: Free City Tours During Layovers for Turkish Airlines Passengers

November 17, 2010 at 11:45 AM | by | Comments (0)

Here at Jaunted, we are seemingly always discussing the newest (and awesomest) in-flight amenities, airline meals and airport lounges that come part and parcel with the price of your ticket. Alas, there are even more extras to discover during international travel, like the fact that Turkish Airlines takes passengers with long layovers on FREE tours around Istanbul.

It works like this: if you're flying on Turkish and switching flights at Istanbul's Atatürk Airport and you've got a layover of six hours or more, then you can head to the airport's Hotel Information Desk to partake in a free tour with a private guide. Stops on the tours usually include time at the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. The itineraries do vary, but you can check ahead of time here to see exactly where the tours go and when.

[Image: TurkishAirlines.com]

/ / / / / /

Manchester United Kicks Around a Soccer Ball onboard Turkish Airlines

Where: Turkey
October 26, 2010 at 3:06 PM | by | Comments (0)

They've called on Kevin Costner and the FC Barcelona soccer team in the past for their TV commercials, but this season Turkish Airlines has upgraded to Manchester United for a hot new spot.

Here at Jaunted, we love us some airline commercials and Turkish doesn't release nearly as many as, say, Southwest. So a new Turkish ad is a rare occasion, and this time they're showing off the spaciousness of their planes (note: in business class) by using the soccer players' best moves. We approve, although we could have done without the strained singing at the end.

Check it out above, and don't forget the Top 5 new airline ads for fall.

/ / /

Try Out Travel Writing to Win a Free Trip to Istanbul

August 2, 2010 at 3:31 PM | by | Comment (1)

If you think you have the chops to be a travel writer—or are willing to do whatever's necessary for a free trip—here's your big break. Great Hotels of the World is holding a travel-writing contest whose winner will go to Istanbul on assignment.

The prize includes all of your flights, a five-night stay at Istanbul's Midtown Hotel, breakfast, dinner and "VIP travel writer treatment"—though most credible travel scribes do it anonymously to get the everyday person treatment.

more ›

/ / / /

Foreign Grocery Friday: Save Your Tastebuds from Spicy with Ayran in Turkey

Where: Turkey
July 30, 2010 at 4:06 PM | by | Comments (0)

When we travel, one of our favorite things to do is to pop into a local grocery store and check out the food products and candies we'd never find anywhere else. So we're trying out this new feature, Foreign Grocery Friday, where each week we'll feature some of our (and your) favorite overseas treats. Got a recommendation? Let us know!

Every culture with spicy foods seems to have that one milky drink that perfectly cools down your mouth. For instance, you order a lassi in India and a horchata in Mexico, and an Ayran in Turkey. It's a cold, yogurt-based beverage which we've found in not only Turkey, but also in the small grocery stores of the Astoria section of Queens, New York and also the Döner Kebap shops around Europe. Berlin especially loves a cold Ayran with their kebap.

The taste: Ayran is a simple drink, so easy to make that you could whip it up no problem at home. The major three ingredients (or only three, if you're making it plain) are water, yogurt and salt. Thus, it tastes exactly like natural yogurt watered down with salt water. Although this isn't the most appetizing description, trust that Ayran is quite tasty. The first sip just hits those places on your tongue that need to be caressed during a spicy meal.

more ›

/ / / / /

Turkey Launches Campaign To Capture Hearts, Tourism Dollars

Where: Turkey
August 20, 2009 at 8:59 AM | by | Comments (0)

Turkish tourism has taken a sustained hit this year, both because of the recession and because of some geopolitical dustups that we aren't about to get into. Regardless of the cause, the country's tourism board realizes they need to make up some ground. As a result, they're launching a new campaign to emphasize the wide array of travelers who will find something in Turkey, from history buffs to pilgrims to sports tourists.

The ad push includes a commercial they planted in the center of Times Square, a revamped new web presence with information about events, to a YouTube channel with a bunch of videos. The channel can be a little over-exuberant in places—the description of Turkey as the "cradle of civilization" and the "center of world history" will be news to Baghdad and Rome—but it does a good job highlighting the different kinds of options travelers can avail themselves of.

more ›

/ / / /

Kevin Costner Shills For Turkish Airlines

June 23, 2009 at 3:23 PM | by | Comments (2)

Turkish Airlines wants you to feel like a flight attendant is always hovering over your shoulder on your next flight. The Star Alliance member tapped Kevin Costner for its latest commercial, which features the "Field of Dreams" actor making significant eye contact with an attendant who then serves him dinner and puts in his bookmark (not a euphemism) as a bouncy tune suggests he "feel[s] like a star." Let's just hope he didn't show her the business in gratitude.

We saw this spot over and over on CNN International last month and never once registered that it was Costner. (In fact, we didn't even remember the airline name, just the tune as heard through a haze of jet lag.)

That said, doesn't his presence actually undermine the claim that anyone flying Turkish Airlines will feel like a star, considering Costner was an A-lister at one point and is still pretty famous. Maybe they teamed up with him because of his long and happy history with turkeys from "Waterworld" to "Swing Vote." Costner has actually been to Turkey before, though, on a world tour with his country band, Kevin Costner and Modern West.

Turkish Airlines recently suffered a nasty crash outside Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport in February in which nine died as the plane broke into three places in a botched landing.

Related Stories:
· Kevin Costner Rounds Out The Wacky Crowd At Tribeca Grand [HC]
· Turkish Arlines Jet Crashes Outside Schiphol Airport [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

/ / / / /

How To Survive The Grand Bazaar and Spice Markets in Istanbul

May 28, 2009 at 2:32 PM | by | Comment (1)

Last week Shira Levine spent a few days getting her Turkish Delight on in Istanbul, Turkiye ("Turkey is a bird; Turkiye is the country"). Any questions about what to do in Turkiye? Send 'em to us and we'll have Shira answer them for you.

We've been through plenty of shuks, souks, ferias, and open-air markets in both developing and developed nations. The Turkish Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market take the pistachio or saffron-flavored cake in offering interpersonal adventures, thanks to the unbelievably high levels of persistence shop owners have in hopes of making a sale.

Even if you don't buy, these sweet and sensitive guys get very offended if you don't engage them in conversation and step into their shops. Resist! No one has that much time or patience.

Here's our list of tips on how to make the most of your trek through the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar.

more ›

/ / /

What a Foamy Scrub and a Rub Inside a Turkish Hammam is Really Like

Where: Vezirhan Cad. No: 8, Cemberlitas, Istanbul, Turkey, 34440
May 27, 2009 at 4:06 PM | by | Comments (2)

Last week Shira Levine spent a few days getting her Turkish Delight on in Istanbul, Turkiye ("Turkey is a bird; Turkiye is the country"). Any questions about what to do in Turkiye? Send 'em to us and we'll have Shira answer them for you.

Going for a hammam experience is something not to pass up when in Turkiye. While a Turkish bathhouse is not for the body conscious, we recommend the body conscious suck it up and go for it. And, to go for the real deal.

While most hotels offer a hammam treatment, they typically are glossy spa treatments and private. In an authentic Turkish hammam, guests essentially lounge together buck-naked on a hot plate in a steam room. Together everyone waits their turn with mostly non-English speaking scrubbers who then randomly beckon for patrons to come to them for their individualized soapy body scrub. Remember: people have been bathing like this for over 500 years. Oh, and men and women are separate of course.

more ›

/ / / /

Get Some Exercise In-Flight With 'Airobics' on Turkish Air

Where: Turkey
May 26, 2009 at 4:07 PM | by | Comment (1)

Last week Shira Levine spent a few days getting her Turkish Delight on in Istanbul, Turkiye ("Turkey is a bird; Turkiye is the country".) But first, she had to fly there. Fortunately, Turkish Air cares about her in-flight health.

About an hour into the New York to Istanbul flight in our turquoise, upholstered 1980s vintage seats on Turkish Air, our private screening of "Confessions of a Shopaholic" was interrupted with an in-flight video exercise session dubbed "airobics." Seriously.

Featuring a similar vibe to the randomly quirky Dutch Mentos commercials, a man and woman demonstrated for passengers how to keep blood flowing and the body active for a long flight. The cheery duo shared tips by doing a series of small foot, leg, neck, head, arm and hand exercises all while sitting down in their seats. (Nearly the entire flight participated in the activities too -- including the enormous Turkish man wearing a swine flu mask who ultimately snored the remainder of the flight.)

more ›

/ / /

Turkey Launches High-Speed Train In Hopes Of Impressing Europe

Where: Turkey
March 19, 2009 at 9:56 AM | by | Comments (0)

For a long time now, Turkey has been trying to play with the big boys in Europe. Joining the European Union couldn’t be going slower, and it wouldn’t surprise us if they never got into the club. However, one thing that may help its chances, albeit ever so slightly, is a high-speed train. If Europe has one thing going for it—it’s awesome trains—so what better way to get on their good side than to build your own?

Last week, Turkey launched the first trip of their new speedy rail transportation system, the Yuksek Hizli Tren, or YHT. Not only did the new train depart Ankara with speeds over 150 mph, but it also featured some pretty nice on-board amenities that would make even the shower-equipped A380 jealous—or not. Anyway, business class seats have access to personal televisions as well as power ports to keep your iThis and iThat all charged and ready to go.

more ›

/ / / /

The First Class Lounge at Turkish Air is Rather Palatial

February 11, 2009 at 9:21 AM | by | Comment (1)

We don't want to wish any serious airport stranding on ourselves, but if and when, then couldn't it be somewhere as bizarre as this, the executive lounge of Turkish Air at Istanbul's Ataturk airport?

We're pretty impressed that some people felt relaxed enough here in this über-decadent airline lounge to not just put their feet on the seats, but actually stretch out--we would be hearing our mother's voice in our ear telling us to behave.

We can't put it better than the photographer who described this place as having a "your flight has been delayed so now you're stranded at Dolmabache Palace" feel to it.

What we can't figure out is why our delays are always at airports where we can't access any decent lounge and end up sleeping on plastic benches at fast food franchises instead. Can anyone tell us which god we have to pray to?

Related Stories:
· Security Guards in Qatar's First Class Lounge Won't Allow Any Pictures [Jaunted]
· Turkey Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong?]

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy (Revised 08/01/2011). © Condé Nast Digital. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast Digital.
Ad Choices