Istanbul Was the Perfect Stopover
I work a lot, so when I do get a chance to travel I always try to maximize my time. When traveling long distances there will almost always be a stop somewhere. This usually means wasting a few hours in the airport waiting for your next plane to show up. You might find yourself in the middle of a city you’ve always wanted to visit, but you’re unable to leave the airport. Why not turn the inconvenience of a layover into a fun filled stopover?!
A stopover is basically an extended layover that allows you to leave the airport and explore. A few years ago, I tried this trick when traveling to Paris but my time in Moscow was spent in the airport due to pretty strict traveling restrictions in Russia. When I was planning my trip to Switzerland this past summer, I noticed that the majority of the flights stopped in Dublin, Frankfurt, and Istanbul. I’ve always wanted to visit Turkey, so Istanbul was the perfect choice! I’d read several articles on how to make a city on your bucket list a stopover location but I opted for the easier solution of choosing from what was right in front of me.
Make sure that you know the logistics of your stopover city. This can totally be a deal breaker! I swear that when I searched Visa requirements for Turkey I didn’t see anything. As soon as I got to the airport in Istanbul, I was asked for my Visa and couldn’t leave the airport without it. Luckily, there is an eVisa service that allows you to enter your information, pay, and receive your Visa immediately. So crisis averted! Also, chances are that if you’re traveling a long way you’ll have checked bags. Make sure that you have a carryon with essentials as well, so you can shop if you want to and not out of necessity.
The airport is kind of far from downtown, but it wasn’t difficult to get to and taxis are pretty cheap. I stayed at the W in the city. W’s are usually located in a pretty happening part of the city and are known for their high energy. This one was no exception. It was a good choice, in that it was reasonably priced and in close proximity to plenty of shopping, restaurants, and nightlife. I will say that I was surprised at how busy a lot of places were in the middle of the week and how much foot traffic there was late at night. The food was amazing, the views are breathtaking, and the people are extremely nice. This is a place where you want to be sure to have cash. The dollar is accepted, but there is a chance that your credit card won’t be. I didn’t run into that problem at the hotel or any sit down restaurants or bars, but in the airport quick service restaurants and in a couple of high end shops I did. Interestingly enough, once I googled it there were several forums written and commented on by Americans and Europeans concerning the issue.
All in all, Istanbul was a fun city to spend a day/night in. It’s not at the top of my list to revisit, but I had a blast and I’m glad that I chose it for my stopover!