I picked the Doubletree Istanbul Old Town because of its location near Sultanahmed and all of the Old Town sights. The hotel can be booked for 44,000 points or around $160 per night. This is a good choice for families, since the property offers 50% off second room rates (Best Available Rate […]
Review: Doubletree Istanbul Old Town
Ich bin nicht ein Berliner: Why I hated Berlin
Last month Pointsandtravel wrote a post about her visit to the Berlin Wall. I found it very thought-provoking and we ended up messaging back and forth about our experiences in Berlin. It’s becoming one of those cool, hip places that everyone wants to visit. There’s the art scene, perhaps a teardrop moment […]
Trip report: Eminonu New Mosque & The Egyptian Spice Market
If you want to avoid aggressive salesman but still hit up a traditional market, head to Misir Bazaar (Egyptian Spice Market) in Eminonu. The market has been around since 1597 and sells everything you can think of: Spices (hence the name), sweets, shawls, trinkets, kitchen appliances – literally everything but […]
Old Town Istanbul (at night)
Old Town Istanbul is home to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (i.e. Blue Mosque), Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, and more historical sights than you could imagine fitting into a single neighborhood. Grand Hyatt Istanbul Istiklal Avenue Istanbul Blue Mosque Istanbul Hagia Sophia Istanbul Topkapi Palace Istanbul Eminonu […]
Best Category 2 Hyatt hotels
Updated on 2/9/14 Best Category 1 Hyatt Hotels Best Category 3 Hyatt Hotels Category 4 Hyatt Hotels Best Category 5 Hyatt Hotels Best Category 6 Hyatt Hotels Category 7 Hyatt Hotels AMERICAS North America Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch (St. Louis, MO) Distinctions: Tripadvisor #17 Hotel in St. Louis […]
Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
Topkapi is a former Ottoman Palace that has been converted into a museum. It is located right by Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Grand Hyatt Istanbul Istiklal Avenue Istanbul Blue Mosque Istanbul Hagia Sophia Istanbul Eminonu New Mosque & The Egyptian Spice Market Old Town Istanbul (at night) Doubletree […]
Best Category 1 Hyatt hotels
Updated on 2/9/14 The Best Club Carlson Hotel series was so well received, I decided to do one on my favorite hotel program, Hyatt Gold Passport. Hyatt properties are drastically different from Club Carlson. While Club Carlson’s US-based Category 1 hotels are mainly near airports, Hyatt’s tend to be in […]
Print your vacation photos free (plus the cost of shipping)
Recently, points, miles and martinis wrote a post about getting 101 free prints at Shutterfly, with promo code 101PRINTS. This reminded me of the 5,000+ photos sitting on my hard drive, which I have yet to print. If you’re like me and come home with hundreds of photos after every […]
500 bonus miles with the Hawaiian Airlines toolbar
Update: As of November 17, 2015 the Hawaiin Airlines MileFinder’s search function has been discontinued. Hawaiian Airlines is offering bonus miles this month for using the Hawaiian Miles toolbar. The toolbar underwent a major devaluation recently, with earnings from searches being capped at 1,000 miles per month. That is still […]
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Hagia Sophia was originally a church, converted to a mosque during the Islamic conquest, and now serves as a museum. Its heritage is well reflected inside, where you’ll find ceiling paintings of Jesus and Mary, along with Islamic elements hanging on the walls. Grand Hyatt Istanbul Istiklal Avenue Istanbul Blue […]