Europe by scooter

[LadyC]

The hotel gymnasium is located in the basement and is quite small (not surprisingly as the hotel is also not very big).





Snacks and drinks on offer at the gym

 

[LadyC]

The courtyard garden inside the hotel is gorgeous. It is so beautiful at this time of year - the colours are so vibrant.

 

[RB]

Loving the super clear photos and looking forward to following your journey

 

[amaroo]

It's a great hotel.... especially the rooftop bar.

 

[craven morehead]

The courtyard garden inside the hotel is gorgeous. It is so beautiful at this time of year - the colours are so vibrant.

View attachment 168807

View attachment 168808

View attachment 168809

The hotel looks great !

 

[LadyC]

Some more photos from the hotel

The foyer


The Lounge


The Seasons Restaurant


View from A'ya rooftop terrace


Looking down into the courtyard

 

[LadyC]

Breakfast was included as part of our booking. The breakfast provisions are bountiful - a very large buffet as well as a menu off which you can order pancakes, waffles, egg specialties etc.

Cheeses and olives aplenty


Lots of bread options


Cereals and various nut and seed toppings


Yogurts and dried fruits

 

[LadyC]

Fruits for juicing


Fruits for eating


Delicious cold cuts including local dried meats and salamis


For those who like vegetables


A gozleme station - made to order - and an egg station - made to order as well as some other sides - mushrooms, vegetables, boiled egg, sausage, bacon. Interestingly, the bacon which was pork bacon is in a covered container without any glass, dissimilar to all the others so you needed to hunt it out.

 

[LadyC]

The food at breakfast has been delicious. Lots of options and very high quality. I have really enjoyed the local salamis and dried meats as well as the local dairy products. Plenty of cheeses on offer, both fresh like mozzarella as well as aged. The butter and organic yoghurt has been some of the best we have ever had.

Some of our breakfast table

 

[LadyC]

We spent two of our days catching the Big Bus - a double decker bus that operates two routes around Istanbul. One that travels north-westish and the other that travels north eastish - both commencing at Sultanahmet Square. The north-western route takes you up to the Dolphinarium and Miniaturk. The north-eastish route is the main route, taking you over Galata Bridge and past Galata Tower and along part of the Bosphorus until you cross over the bridge to the Asian side of Istanbul. Back via Taksim Square and Atatürk Bridge, passing the Spice Bazaar and around the shoreline next to the Topkapi Palace complex. We spent some of our other days just wandering about, visiting both the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar.

 

[LadyC]

Some more various shots

 

[LadyC]

The hotel runs a shuttle to its sister property along the Bosphorus. The FS Istanbul at the Bosphorus has a pool and the weather here in Istanbul has certainly been pool weather. I think the Sultanahmet hotel is the better location and also a nice hotel as it is more intimate but it is great to be able to head over to the other top use the pool!

I didn't explore the hotel much as we were busy swimming but I managed to get a few photos. It is much larger with lots of marble and felt a lot busier than the Sultanahmet property.



Flower displays in the foyer


Dining along the Bosphorus


Fountain action


Gardens along the Bosphorus


Swimming pool

 

[LadyC]

We have enjoyed our time in Istanbul. Travelling with MasterC means that we often only get to enjoy a lot of the cultural and tourist attractions at a very basic level but we are okay with that as the trade off. The locals have been very friendly and I would like to come back and explore not just Istanbul but more of Turkey when MasterC is older.

It has been very busy through out Istanbul. Lots of tourists and tour groups from all over, mainly European but also Asian and Middle Eastern. There is a very strong police presence albeit many seem quite relaxed and almost like they are just hanging out (with their Uzis of course). The weather has been good- too of 27 degrees most days and sunny although the last two days have been a bit overcast. Good for tourist activities.

 

[LadyC]

We ordered room service one night with the USD $100 credit we had. We ordered a steak and kebab platter, both of which were quite average.




Another day we had a late lunch at Nars Brasserie just around the corner from the Basilica Cistern. Very tasty and we enjoyed our meal.








We also got a recommendation from the concierge for the best local döner kebab. The absolute best required a car drive but the closer one he also recommended was pretty tasty nonetheless.

 

[LadyC]

Currently seated in the new TK Business Lounge awaiting our flight to Athens. This Lounge is enormous with all the bells and whistles. Plenty of varied seating, two cook to order stations as well as multiple drinks and buffet food stations. Two baristas operating at opposite ends of the lounge. Roving masseurs, kids play area, nursery, electric cars race track and even a virtual golf driving range.

Gozleme station










Cook to order omelette station

 

[LadyC]

Different seating areas




Racetrack


Map of the Lounge

 

[LadyC]

A few photos of the new Istanbul airport terminal. The furthest gates are apparently a 25 minute walk from the lounge which is fairly centrally located.

 

[LadyC]

A3 991 IST-ATH J

We caught the Aegean Airlines flight across to Athens from Istanbul. I would have liked to try Turkish Airlines but the price was double. Our plane was an A320 with typical Eurobusiness. The flight was supposed to be 1.30 hours. We arrived early and departed late so it is probably only about 1.15. Breakfast was provided. Substantial in quantity but quality was fairly average. We disembarked onto the tarmac onto a bus. A bus was provided for business class passengers only and another bus followed for those in economy. No queue in immigration and our bags arrived a few minutes after we got to the luggage carousel. Our driver was waiting when we exited customs and we were soon on our way to Athens.

Our ride to Athens


Looking down the plane


Obligatory foot shot (well knee shot in this instance)


Menu


Breakfast offering

 

[LadyC]

Hotel Grand Bretagne

We arrived at the hotel at about 12.45pm. Although we could check in, the hotel was full and they couldn't give us access to our room straight away. So we headed up to Level 7 where the pool and the pool bar and restaurant is located. I ordered a burger for lunch with an iced coffee. Nothing for the Gentleman who was holding off for dinner. The burger was nothing special but the fries were good quality.

The pool (which is freezing cold)


Sun loungers by the pool


The pool bar


Lunch

 

[LadyC]

Some photos from around the hotel

The hotel foyer


The concierge


The winter garden lounge/restaurant


Alexander's Bar


Spa area


Indoor pool (there are multiple steam rooms and saunas located next to the indoor pool)