When planning your trip to Istanbul, you’ll undoubtedly spend a good chunk of your time visiting the sites in Sultanahmet. For those looking to explore Istanbul a little deeper, crossing the Golden Horn into the Beyoğlu district is an excellent choice, with Galata Tower and Taksim Square as key attractions and Istiklal offering an assortment of dining and nightlight options. … Read More
Eating Your Way Through Istanbul
I’ll be honest, our first two trips to Istanbul, we weren’t all that impressed with the cuisine we were eating. That probably has to do with the fact that we kept ordering the same dish, kebap, hoping it would be similar to the incredible Persian kebap Shane grew up with. But once I got ahold of Biber Dolması, I feel … Read More
Hotel Review: Conrad Istanbul
To start off our three week trip to the Holy Land, we spent a few days in one of our favorite cities in the world, Istanbul. Since we were booking this trip on credit card reward points, we got to splurge on a fantastic hotel with a stunning room, great views of the Bosphorus, and a breakfast buffet to write home … Read More
How We Took a Three-Week Trip to the Holy Land for Less Than $300 Per Person
We’ve just returned from three weeks in Turkey, Israel, and Jordan, and we will have lots of posts and pictures to share. But first we wanted to discuss our itinerary, and how we were able to go on a nearly $6,000 trip for less than $600. The short answer is, of course, credit card reward points. You are probably familiar … Read More
Books and Mementos: Turkey
Before visiting Turkey, I knew very little about the Ottoman empire. The Sultan’s Seal is a historical novel that served as a great introduction for my first trip to Turkey. This short and enjoyable read follows Kamil Pasha and his British sidekick Sybil as they investigate the death of the palace governess. It’s a murder mystery with a little romance and politics that will teach … Read More
Packing List: Turkey in Summer
Turkey has varied climates and seasons, from hot coastal summers to snowy winters. Even in the summer when temperatures soar, it may be quite cool at night in some parts. So the key is to dress in layers! Below you’ll find our packing list for two weeks spent in Istanbul, Kusadasi, and Cappadocia during August/September. Iylana’s list for the ladies is first, … Read More
See Cappadocia’s Treasures in Just a Day on the Green Tour
Turkey’s Cappadocia region is a treasure trove of sites and activities. With so much to explore it can be hard to squeeze it all in if your itinerary only allows for a few days in the area. Enter the Green Tour, Red Tour, and Blue Tour, which take groups to key highlights in the area in just a day. These … Read More
Hotel Review: Kelebek Hotel in Goreme, Turkey
One of the things that draws thousands of visitors every year to Cappadocia in central Turkey is the prospect of staying a “cave hotel.” These wind-carved structures have been hollowed out and lived in for centuries, and with the uptick in tourism, many are being converted into hotels. On our second trip to Cappadocia we stayed at Kelebek Hotel in … Read More
12 Amazing Experiences in Cappadocia
We can’t say enough good about the Anatolian region of Cappadocia in Turkey, so we thought we’d share some of our favorite moments and must-dos from our two visits to the town of Göreme: 1. Take an epic hot air balloon ride. There’s no better way to see this volcanic and wind-eroded landscape than from the air! Enjoy the sunrise … Read More
Goreme’s Dark Church and Open Air Museum
Göreme’s Open Air Museum should be your first stop in Cappadocia (after a sunrise hot air balloon ride, of course). This monastic community complex is the best preserved example of the many Byzantine rock-cut churches that cover the region, and is a Unesco World Heritage site. The site encompasses 11 chapels and refectories all from the 10th–12th centuries. Expect to spend … Read More