Travelling to Turkey |
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Princes' Islands
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| 1. |
28 May 2007 Mon 03:19 pm |
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I like to add a day to the Princes' Islands after coming from Bursa by ferry (and before I go to the city itself). I'll probably be there on Tuesday - as I heard that weekends are crowded - and maybe want to stay overnight.
I have several questions.
Which island is more beautiful, interesting, easy to reach: Heybeliada or Büyükada? Or even another one?
Anyone been there who can give me advice about a hotel/pension - I think I have to make a reservation?
If I arrive from Bursa, is it far from that ferrydock to the place where the ferry to the islands leave (Sirkeci Adalar Iskeleci, my travelbook says)?
What should I absolutely do, see and what not?
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| 2. |
28 May 2007 Mon 03:59 pm |
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Quoting Trudy:
Which island is more beautiful, interesting, easy to reach: Heybeliada or Büyükada? Or even another one? |
If you're only gonna visit one island, take Büyükada. The thing you can't afford to miss there is taking the very steep walk up the hill, and get rewarded by the magnificent view.
Quoting Trudy: Anyone been there who can give me advice about a hotel/pension - I think I have to make a reservation? |
You definitely have to make reservations, preferably well in advance. Can't advise you on pensions, as I've never stayed there overnight.
Quoting Trudy: If I arrive from Bursa, is it far from that ferrydock to the place where the ferry to the islands leave (Sirkeci Adalar Iskeleci, my travelbook says)? |
There's a banliyö (suburb) train from Yenikapı (the ferry terminal when you come from Bursa) to Sirkeci train station. It's 3-4 stops, it should take about 20 minutes I think. When you arrive in Sirkeci station, the Adalar iskelesi is nearby.
Here's some more info on the Princes Islands.
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| 3. |
28 May 2007 Mon 04:04 pm |
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Thanks Elisa, I bookmarked the site you gave.
Meanwhile I found some information about the islands but any advice / comment about a hotel is still very welcome!
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| 4. |
28 May 2007 Mon 04:16 pm |
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About the accommodation it is important to decide what kind of places you prefer. i mean if your budget is ok, it is easy to find 4 or 5 starts hotel(example:hotel princesses). You dont need to make any reservation for week days, you can find free places easily.
If you would like to stay in pensions for small budget, it is enough to walk on the streets. A lot families rent their own houses and flats as pensions with breakfast. Most of them are clean, safe with reasonable prices. So just walk and follow the "pansiyon" signs. 
Enjoy your trip.
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| 5. |
28 May 2007 Mon 05:13 pm |
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Quoting fcs: You dont need to make any reservation for week days, you can find free places easily.
If you would like to stay in pensions for small budget, it is enough to walk on the streets. A lot families rent their own houses and flats as pensions with breakfast. Most of them are clean, safe with reasonable prices. So just walk and follow the "pansiyon" signs.
Enjoy your trip. |
Thanks fcs, but even no reservation half July? Then it is high season!
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| 6. |
28 May 2007 Mon 05:35 pm |
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Quoting Trudy: Quoting fcs: You dont need to make any reservation for week days, you can find free places easily.
If you would like to stay in pensions for small budget, it is enough to walk on the streets. A lot families rent their own houses and flats as pensions with breakfast. Most of them are clean, safe with reasonable prices. So just walk and follow the "pansiyon" signs. |
Thanks fcs, but even no reservation half July? Then it is high season! |
I'd like to believe fcs, but personally I wouldn't risk it really 
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| 7. |
28 May 2007 Mon 06:10 pm |
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Quoting Elisa: Quoting Trudy: Quoting fcs: You dont need to make any reservation for week days, you can find free places easily.
If you would like to stay in pensions for small budget, it is enough to walk on the streets. A lot families rent their own houses and flats as pensions with breakfast. Most of them are clean, safe with reasonable prices. So just walk and follow the "pansiyon" signs. |
Thanks fcs, but even no reservation half July? Then it is high season! |
I'd like to believe fcs, but personally I wouldn't risk it really |
In my trip which had been happened 5 years ago, i had been in Buyukada, Kinaliada and Heybeliada. It was at the end of June and i had been able to find places very easily at the pensions in these 3 islands without reservation. (btw, i am not still sure if they accept reservations ) I could find the places very easily, even i am Turkish, because the public of these islands prefers foreigners, because they think that they are rich Sad but true
To be a honest, i don't like the trips with reservations and somehow planned. It doesn't matter where you go, when you go somewhere without reservation and when you really look for somewhere to stay by yourself, at the end of you find yourself in the middle of the real people of this town, city, island etc...
Otherwise, if you have reservation and you just directly to go the place where you accommodate you miss a lot of things which can be really fully cultural, interesting and funny...
And of course this advice is only for the islands. Don't try it in Istanbul, especially in Beyoglu, Aksaray, Sultanahmet. lol.
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| 8. |
28 May 2007 Mon 06:17 pm |
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Quoting fcs: To be a honest, i don't like the trips with reservations and somehow planned. It doesn't matter where you go, when you go somewhere without reservation and when you really look for somewhere to stay by yourself, at the end of you find yourself in the middle of the real people of this town, city, island etc...
Otherwise, if you have reservation and you just directly to go the place where you accommodate you miss a lot of things which can be really fully cultural, interesting and funny...
And of course this advice is only for the islands. Don't try it in Istanbul, especially in Beyoglu, Aksaray, Sultanahmet. lol. |
I make as less reservations as possible, I agree with you. In Taksim I made one because of prices there. And well, I'll see, maybe I just do it. If there is nothing available at my budget my only problem will be where to leave my luggage during the day when I'm walking on the island. In that case I'll return to Istanbul in the afternoon hoping there will be somewhere a bed for me.
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| 9. |
28 May 2007 Mon 06:29 pm |
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Quoting Trudy: Quoting fcs: To be a honest, i don't like the trips with reservations and somehow planned. It doesn't matter where you go, when you go somewhere without reservation and when you really look for somewhere to stay by yourself, at the end of you find yourself in the middle of the real people of this town, city, island etc...
Otherwise, if you have reservation and you just directly to go the place where you accommodate you miss a lot of things which can be really fully cultural, interesting and funny...
And of course this advice is only for the islands. Don't try it in Istanbul, especially in Beyoglu, Aksaray, Sultanahmet. lol. |
I make as less reservations as possible, I agree with you. In Taksim I made one because of prices there. And well, I'll see, maybe I just do it. If there is nothing available at my budget my only problem will be where to leave my luggage during the day when I'm walking on the island. In that case I'll return to Istanbul in the afternoon hoping there will be somewhere a bed for me. |
i am afraid, i didnt get it well, about the leaving your luggages during the day You mean, leaving them in Istanbul or in the island? If you mean in Istanbul, there is no problem you can just give them to the lockers in Sirkeci train station. %100 safe...
If you meant islands, so you can just leave them in some restaurants or cafes after you eat or drink something. And just say them if they can take care about them. I am sure they will. But anyway, dont leave them something expensive like electronics, jewellery etc...
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| 10. |
28 May 2007 Mon 06:50 pm |
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Quoting fcs: i am afraid, i didnt get it well, about the leaving your luggages during the day You mean, leaving them in Istanbul or in the island? If you mean in Istanbul, there is no problem you can just give them to the lockers in Sirkeci train station. %100 safe...
If you meant islands, so you can just leave them in some restaurants or cafes after you eat or drink something. And just say them if they can take care about them. I am sure they will. But anyway, dont leave them something expensive like electronics, jewellery etc... |
I mean at the island. Arriving and leaving my stuff at a pension would be great, if that's not possible I'll think about your advice. Thanks.
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