Travel
Turkish Airlines flies direct from Toronto once a day. If you are an Aeroplane member and prefer to collect miles, we recommend flying with Air Canada. There is a direct flight six days a week, excluding Saturdays. There are many other airlines which fly with a short stopover elsewhere in Europe.
Canadian citizens do not need a Turkish visa for stays of up to 90 days.
We understand how valuable your time is and what a commitment travelling to Turkey entails. We would like to encourage you to use this as either a first or last stop for a vacation around the region. If you need some recommendations, feel free to ask either Sam or Jasmin.
Accommodation
The Peninsula
We would love for you to join us at The Peninsula and have arranged a preferred rate for our guests. Room rates from €625 per night, exclusive of taxes.
For more information on room categories and to book, please email your dates to canmeynioglu@peninsula.com by 11th May for best availability.
JW Marriott
Alternatively, we can recommend the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus, which is directly adjacent to The Peninsula.
Please book ASAP to ensure best availability.
Transfers
The Peninsula is an hour drive from Istanbul airport. The most cost effective option to and from the airport is the Havaist (IST) or Havabus (SAW).
HAVABUS (SAW): (https://www.havabus.com/)
HAVAIST (IST): (https://www.hava.ist/en)
You can use credit cards and debit cards in many places but it's good to have a few hundred TL cash with you just in case.
If you prefer to use a local taxi, there is an official taxi rank at the airport. Please don’t get a taxi with drivers offering rides in arrivals non-officially. there are three types: orange ('C' type, the standard and cheapest), turquoise ('D' type, slightly more expensive), and black ('E' type, the most expensive luxury option). Istanbul taxis accept both cash and card, but it's best to have cash (Turkish Lira) on hand, as some drivers may prefer it or not have a working card machine. While card payment is possible, there might be an extra fee, and some drivers may not accept American cards.
Uber is also available in Istanbul and typically will connect you to a licensed taxi driver.
If you would like a car service, we recommend pre-booking through the hotel’s concierge service , our local transfers and tours contact Serkan (+90 530 767 50 30).