Despite its new e-visa regime, it is still possible to obtain a visa on arrival in Istanbul. Where To Obtain A Visa On Arrival In Istanbul (IST) When Turkey transitioned to an e-visa system in 2013, numerous reports suggested...
Great Coffee In Istanbul
I was in Istanbul recently and as I always do now, sought out great coffee. I found two great places that I want to share with you. #1: Espresso Lab Şahkulu Mahallesi İstiklal Caddesi Tünel 233 34421 Beyoğlu, İstanbul...
737 Skids Off Runway, Dangles on Cliff
A scary moment for passengers onboard a Pegasus Airlines 737-800 that skidded off the runway, down a muddy embankment, and nearly into the sea. Check out this startling video–it honestly makes my palms sweat just watching it: The Boeing...
How I Tried (and Failed) to Enter Turkey
Despite a good rest on the flight over, I had no desire to spend last night sitting up in the Turkish CIP Lounge. Here’s how I tried (but ultimately failed) to obtain a visa on arrival and enter Turkey....
Trapped in Istanbul Airport!
I had a very pleasant flight to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, but I’m not pleased with them now… My flight from Los Angeles to Istanbul was delayed by over two hours (mechanical), causing me to miss my connection to...
Aeroplan Change Fee: Unethical or Fair?
Aeroplan charged me a change fee that I believe was unconscionable. I am heading to Germany for Christmas this year with my family. We booked tickets via Aeroplan on Turkish Airlines months before the diplomatic spat that has effectively...
Retaliation: Turkey Eliminates U.S. Tourist Visas, Barring Entry for Most U.S. Citizens
Apparently the old adage, “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face” is not taught in Turkey. Today, Turkey suspended the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens, effectively killing all U.S. tourism. I love Turkey, but the nation...
Amazing: Pilot Lands Plane “Blind” After Hail Destroys Windshield and Nose
A pilot is being heralded as a hero after landing a badly-damaged Airbus A320 in Istanbul. Imagine this. A plane takes off in Istanbul just as a hailstorm begins. The aircraft climbs to about 4,000 feet and then is...
Review: Hyatt Centric Levent Istanbul (Suite)
Located in the vibrant Levent neighborhood of Istanbul, Hyatt’s newest property in Turkey is worth a visit, though I iid encounter a couple issues during my stay. I arrived from Rome at around 2pm and took the Metro from Ataturk airport to...
Yes, ISIS Could Have Brought My Plane Down
Now I’m even more convinced electronics ban is worthless. Yesterday I flew from Istanbul to Los Angeles on Turkish Airlines. Turkey is one of the eight nations impacted by the in-flight electronics ban. First, I felt very safe flying...
Hotel Levent in Istanbul Now a Hyatt Centric Property
The mysterious Hotel Levent in Istanbul is now a Hyatt Centric Property. The property made headlines earlier this year when it debuted as a Category 7 property yet had room rates of under $100/night. It did not take long for...
Istanbul to Kiev on Ukraine International Airlines 737 Business Class
Ukraine International Airlines uses new Boeing 737-800 for many of its shorthaul routes in Europe. Unfortunately, it looks west rather than east for guidance on how to configure its business class on short-haul flights. While Aeroflot and Turkish have...
