Istanbul Airport
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
It has been a few years since I last visited Istanbul. In a time where the world locked it's doors, it was one of the few places I could spread my wings and I'm as thankful for it today as I was back then. The airport has a special draw as of late. Turkish Airways is proving to be the most connected airline currently.
Turkish Airways might be one of the most connected airlines in the world flying to 131 countries and more than 300 cities. Domestically, it has 52 destinations which allows you to see much of Turkey which is something I plan to do in the future. For now, I'd be relegated to the international terminal at IST.
I recently did a transfer here where I had a few hours in the airport and found it extremely tedius. The layout is efficient, it's just big. I'm sure I walked a few miles but not complaining about the exercise. I did some shopping, Turkish tea sets, scarfs and little knick nacks. I was surprised to see the IGA sleeping pods were removed from Priority pass but I was still able to get a few drinks in the lounge.
The reason I stayed at the airport was not applying for a visa ahead of time and quite honestly it wasn't all that bad. The hotel called Yotel in the airport is great and airside so your gate is never more than 20 minutes away.
Booking through Stopover Istanbul, Turkish Airways stopover program is a great way to experience this hotel at no cost to you. The layover just has to be 20 hours or more. They also offer ancilliary services to add other items to your trip. While the airport is a spectacle of itself, it's always nice to head out and visit the city.
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any parties mentioned. None of the entities mentioned has reviewed, approved or endorsed the content listed in this post.
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