Istanbul is very fashionable right now. Thinking much of the fanfare was mainly hype, I really didn’t expect to love the city as much as I did. I’d been told I could spend two weeks in Istanbul and still not see everything there is to see. This seemed like an exaggeration, but I definitely found … Read more
I’m a huge fan of KLM, so being able to fly KLM Business class from Istanbul to San Francisco was exciting. I got to the airport roughly an hour before departure, so after checking my bags and saying goodbye to my family, I immediately headed to the gate. My mom and sister were flying on … Read more
I picked the Doubletree Istanbul Old Town because of its location near Sultanahmed and all of the Old Town sights. The hotel can be booked for 44,000 points or around $160 per night. This is a good choice for families, since the property offers 50% off second room rates (Best Available Rate only) if a child is … Read more
Last month Pointsandtravel wrote a post about her visit to the Berlin Wall. I found it very thought-provoking and we ended up messaging back and forth about our experiences in Berlin. It’s becoming one of those cool, hip places that everyone wants to visit. There’s the art scene, perhaps a teardrop moment by The Wall, and God … Read more
If you want to avoid aggressive salesman but still hit up a traditional market, head to Misir Bazaar (Egyptian Spice Market) in Eminonu. The market has been around since 1597 and sells everything you can think of: Spices (hence the name), sweets, shawls, trinkets, kitchen appliances – literally everything but the kitchen sink. I found … Read more
Old Town Istanbul is home to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (i.e. Blue Mosque), Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, and more historical sights than you could imagine fitting into a single neighborhood. Grand Hyatt Istanbul Istiklal Avenue Istanbul Blue Mosque Istanbul Hagia Sophia Istanbul Topkapi Palace Istanbul Eminonu New Mosque & The Egyptian … Read more
Updated on 2/9/14 Best Category 1 Hyatt Hotels Best Category 3 Hyatt Hotels Category 4 Hyatt Hotels Best Category 5 Hyatt Hotels Best Category 6 Hyatt Hotels Category 7 Hyatt Hotels AMERICAS North America Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch (St. Louis, MO) Distinctions: Tripadvisor #17 Hotel in St. Louis Accommodations: For 8,000 points per … Read more
Topkapi is a former Ottoman Palace that has been converted into a museum. It is located right by Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Grand Hyatt Istanbul Istiklal Avenue Istanbul Blue Mosque Istanbul Hagia Sophia Istanbul Eminonu New Mosque & The Egyptian Spice Market Old Town Istanbul (at night) Doubletree Istanbul Old Town KLM Business … Read more
Updated on 2/9/14 The Best Club Carlson Hotel series was so well received, I decided to do one on my favorite hotel program, Hyatt Gold Passport. Hyatt properties are drastically different from Club Carlson. While Club Carlson’s US-based Category 1 hotels are mainly near airports, Hyatt’s tend to be in the suburbs outside major cities. … Read more
Recently, points, miles and martinis wrote a post about getting 101 free prints at Shutterfly, with promo code 101PRINTS. This reminded me of the 5,000+ photos sitting on my hard drive, which I have yet to print. If you’re like me and come home with hundreds of photos after every trip, you’re going to need … Read more