Talking Turkiye - choosing a quality hotel in Istanbul: go modest and save

Visiting any of the world’s major cities can be quite a task, especially when making your own bookings and arrangements, roving correspondent Roderick Eime reports.

So, when travelling pal Bill and I planned a few days sightseeing in Istanbul, we wanted to cover as much territory as possible while still being frugal, as we still had a couple of cities to go on our little European odyssey.

Ortaköy Mosque and 15 July Martyrs Bridge seen from Üsküdar (RE)

Our first mistake: three days is too short a time for a city as vast and culturally rich as Istanbul.

Our best choice - and I’m happy to take credit for this - was staying at the Akgün Istanbul Hotel at Topkapi, although in honesty, it was a recommendation from an industry colleague with considerably more hotel experience than I have in this region.

From our base, just a couple of metro stops from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town with all its well-known sites, we were able to complete a satisfying coverage of the city using the comprehensive public transport system, supplemented by the occasional Uber/taxi.

Istiklal Caddesi - Independence Avenue (RE)

Our tick list of sights included a public ferry cruise on the Bosporus, an examination of the old Walls of Constantinople (literally around the corner from our hotel), the mandatory Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, as well as the signature shopping district at Taksim on the Asian side. 

We even sacrificed a day for a full-day excursion to Gallipoli.

Preserved section of The Theodosian Walls near Topkapi, Istanbul (RE)

While the Akgün Istanbul Hotel is billed as a 5-star hotel, it may not meet 5-star standards elsewhere in Europe, but that did not bother us at all. 

The rooms were more than adequate with quality bedding, and our most useful feature was the copious breakfast that sustained us throughout the day. We were most appreciative of the attentive staff at all levels. 

While we were exhausted after our 20,000-step days, we still had time for a crisp lager on the excellent rooftop bar with views all the way to the Blue Mosque. And, apart from all that, room rates were less than $200 per night, leaving us lots of change to blow in the Grand Bazaar.

Akgün Istanbul Hotel (supplied)

Sometimes it pays to set aside your precious poseur persona and embrace your practical, pragmatic self.

Akgün Istanbul Hotel provides services including restaurants, bars, Starbucks café, sauna, Turkish bath, Finnish bath (steam bath), gym, spa, massage, 24/7 room service, business centre, indoor-outdoor parking, valet service, baby care, laundry services, outdoor pool, male/female hairdresser, photo lab and pharmacy.

The Akgün Istanbul Hotel is a member of WorldHotels™ Elite collection, a part of the global Best Western Hotels. You can book directly or through any major online booking service, such as Luxury Escapes.

Still the same: world’s busiest airport keeps its crown

The world's busiest airport isn't JFK in New York, London's Heathrow, or Dubai International.

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (above) in the US has retained its spot as the world’s busiest airport in 2025 with 63.1 million passengers last year.

Dubai International stayed second globally and continued rapid long-term growth, figures release this week by OAG, the leading data platform for the global travel industry.

Dubai International has 62.4 million flyers while Tokyo's Haneda Airport remained third. Heathrow was fourth and Istanbul Airport fifth. 

Chicago O’Hare and Istanbul Airport recorded the strongest year-on-year growth among the global top 10, increasing capacity by 8% and 6% respectively.

Istanbul stands out as one of the fastest-growing major hubs globally, with capacity now 22% higher than in 2019.

“The 2025 rankings show that global aviation has moved into a new phase of growth," said OAG chief analyst John Grant.

"Dubai’s continued expansion and Istanbul’s rise as a global hub demonstrate how airline networks are evolving, while the resilience of large domestic markets continues to underpin global capacity.”

The busiest airports are concentrated largely in North America and Asia due to the very large domestic markets with four airports in North America and three in Asia alongside two in Europe and one in the middle east.

 

You can find the full rankings and methodology on OAG’s website.

Discover an eight-day rail journey created for gourmets

If you enjoy long-distance rail travel then this one might be for you.

Golden Eagle Luxury Trains will soon welcome guests on their inaugural Paris to Istanbul voyage with four departure dates for 2025 in each direction.

The eight-day odyssey traverses seven countries on the Danube Express train.

With a focus on food and wine, the tour will be hosted by James Masterson, the product development manager and the grandson of Golden Eagle founder, Tim Littler.

Off-train excursions for this new voyage include:

# In the Champagne region, visiting the renowned J.Lassalle Champagne house for a private tour and tasting
# An exclusive private concert of classical masterpieces by the Vienna Supreme Orchestra (whoever they are).
# A private visit to Slovenia's Postojna Caves and an underground train featuring a unique musical performance inside the hallowed Crypt of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia
# A dessert masterclass
# An eight-course gala dinner onboard the train.

"I grew up in the world of luxury private trains, travelling on our flagship train since I was 13 and working as a waiter onboard from the age of 16.," says Masterson.

"I have always harboured a vision to elevate the rail travel experience to even greater heights. This vision now becomes reality with the launch of the Paris to Istanbul/Istanbul to Paris route from May.

"This meticulously curated journey represents the culmination of years of dedication to exceeding guest expectations. I invite guests to join us for a truly memorable experience, seeing Europe in a different way from our hotel-on-wheels."

Golden Eagle packages are fully inclusive with private en suite rail accommodation, all meals and drinks, personal cabin attendant service, fully guided off-train excursions, all gratuities and transfers, plus premium hotels pre and post rail tour and a UK medical doctor on board.

Visit https://www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com/

New horizons for global giant Turkish Airlines

Australians will have a new option for flying to the Middle East and Europe with Turkish Airlines boosting its long-haul route network by adding Melbourne to its schedule. 

The Turkiye flag carrier has scheduled three flights a week from Istanbul to Melbourne from March 15, initially flying via Singapore.

Australia becomes the airline’s 130th country served and its 346th global destination, Travel Mole reports.

Turkish Airlines will, surprisingly, be the only European airline to currently operate flights to and from Melbourne Airport.

“As we bring the Turkish and Australian people closer, we aim to increase bilateral tourism, trade, and business opportunities,” said Prof. Ahmet Bolat, the chairman of Turkish Airlines. 

Melbourne was chosen over Sydney as it is home to Australia’s largest Turkish community.

Turkish Airlines aims to eventually operate non-stop direct flights to Melbourne and other Australian cities with the acquisition of new long-haul aircraft. It has connections to cities across Europe through Istanbul.