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.

Talking Turkiye from a woman’s point of view

If you want to delve into a culture then it pays to take advice from an expert.

World Expeditions will be taking a deep dive into Turkish culture with ‘Wellness, Wine & Wisdom - A Women’s Tour in Turkey with Dilvin Yasa.’

The tour will run from April 22 to May 7, 2025.

The 16-day adventure will combine indulgence in local food and wine, detoxification in traditional Turkish baths (hammams), as will as exploring diverse landscapes on foot and by boat.

Should you wish, you can even learn the art of belly dancing.

The tour will be under the guidance of Dilvin Yasa, a Turkish-Australian journalist, author, and food enthusiast.

Yas travels to Turkiye at least once a year, primarily for culinary exploration.

“If there's one thing I love more than my ancestral homeland of Turkey, it's sharing my top tips on places to go, attractions to see, and dishes to eat with those who have yet to experience the rich tapestry of the country's customs and culture,” she says.

To be able to introduce 'My Turkey' - all those quirky spots I've (literally) spent a lifetime researching - is a dream come true.”

In addition to walking and exploring the region on foot, the group will enjoy spas, and thermal pools, shop for textiles, and enjoy local food and wine.

Highlights of the tour include hot air ballooning in Goreme, private cruises around Kekova Bay and through the gin-clear waters of Kas, as well as quintessential Istanbul experiences including a scenic Bosphorus boat tour and Turkish coffee fortune telling in the winding back streets of old Pera.

Accommodation includes a range of small boutique and traditional hotels.

For bookings or info visit World Expeditions

Meet the airline that has just been banned from European skies

The European Union has officially banned Turkish airline Southwind from its airspace, alleging the carrier is controlled from Russia.

The decision follows a recent move to ban the airline by Finnish authorities.

The EU accused the airline of being effectively controlled from Russia and using Turkey as a flag of convenience, travel website Travel Mole reported.

“Our overall assessment indicates that a significant portion of ownership and effective control  does not belong to Turkish individuals or companies,” the EU said in a statement.

Southwind Airlines was established with backing from Russian-based tour operator Pegas Touristik to operate flights to and from Russia.

Southwind has also been operating flights to Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Northern Macedonia, and Italy.

The EU and other Western countries have sanctioned Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, resulting in a full-scale war from February, 2022.

Southwind has a fleet of 12 aircraft.

The EU’s ban is effective immediately.

Country changes its name to avoid confusion

Tired of being confused with a bird that people eat at times times of celebration, the nation of Turkey has changed its official name to Turkiye. 

Seriously. 

Political leaders says the new spelling "represents and expresses the culture, civilization and values of the Turkish nation in the best way". 

"Made in Turkiye" will now appear on all of the country's exports and the country's tourism website, GoTurkiye.com, has undergone the rebranding. 

“Type ‘turkey’ into Google, and you will get a muddled collection of images, articles, and dictionary definitions that muddle the nation of Turkey with the large bird famous for being served on Christmas menus or Thanksgiving dinners.

And dictionary definitions of turkey include "something that fails badly" or "a stupid or silly person"

What difference will the change make? In all practical terms, zero. 

Remember Germany is officially called Deutschland, but no one outside German-speaking countries uses that name. Sweden is officially Sverige, but is seldom called that. 

Switzerland is called Suisse, Schweiz, Svizzera or Svizra, depening on which of the national languages you are speaking and Swaziland is now called Eswatini, which makes is even more obscure than before. 

As you were.