Med Section Istanbul Trip 11-15th April 2011

                                    

****** Sorry....now fully booked! ***********

The trip will take place from the 11th to 15^th April 2011. We have arranged a four night stay in the four star Larespark Hotel Taksim http://www.laresparktaksim.com/, and a comprehensive tour of Istanbul.  Taksim is the old "European" district across the Golden Horn from the city, where embassies, posh palaces and, now, good hotels are. The tour will include many of the magnificent sites and secret places of this ancient city, as well as a trip up the Bosphorous and a celebratory final dinner on a small island on the Asiatic shore of the city. 

Here is the provisional sightseeing itinerary, and there will also be two free half days for you to visit other sites and/or go shopping

Visits to:

• Suleymaniye Mosque in Beyazit
• The old town and Blue Mosque
• St Sophia (approximate entrance fee  £9 per person)
• The Basilica Cistern  (approximate entrance fee £5 per person)
• Topkapi Palace (approximate entrance fee £9 per person). Here are the mind-blowing treasures of the Ottoman Empire and the blue-tiled secrets of the harem.
• Bosphorous boat trip up to the Black Sea, passing the old palaces and stopping at different points (approximately 2 ½  hours journey)
• Lunch at a shore side restaurant (approximate cost £25 per person)
• Sight-seeing tour on the coach back, heading to the Grand Bazaar for window shopping and maybe more.
• Gala Dinner at Kizkulesi Restaurant (price to be advised).  From Kabatas harbour taking the shuttle boat for the restaurant   htttp://www.kizkulesi.com.tr/en/Default2.asp

An English speaking professional guide will accompany the group during the visit to the historical sites, and an English speaking Turkish guide will be with us at all other times.  Venues for lunch and evening meals will be arranged by the tour operator who has indicated that prices will be in the range of £10 for lunch and £15-20 for evening meals.

Costs per person sharing a double room.

Four nights bed and breakfast in a four star hotel, tour guides and tour bus £320 per person (extra nights stay in the hotel costs £120 per room). If required, please ask about single room occupancy when making your reservation.

To reserve a place:

£50 non returnable deposit per person to cover reservations payable before 1^st August 2010 will secure a place, the remaining balance to be paid by 1st March 2011. Due to high demand, this trip will be limited to members and their partners.

You can pay by debit/credit/Amex cards over the phone on telephone number: 020 7392 8990 quoting reference Peggie Manton Group.

Please note the following: Credit cards 2% is added to the total, Amex is 4% and there is no extra charge for debit cards

Flights:

This cost does not include flights, transfers, visa or travel insurance. BA, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and Easyjet all have scheduled flights to Istanbul from the UK.  BA and Turkish Airlines fly to Ataturk (Yesilkoy) Airport on the European side, Easyjet and Pegasus to Sabiha Gokcen on the Asiatic side of the city. Sabiha Gokcen is further from the city centre than Ataturk.  Taxis and buses are available.

Full Itinerary:

A more detailed Itinerary will be published later in the year but we anticipate that the trip will commence with a ‘get together' in the hotel in the early evening of Monday 11th followed by a group dinner and finish after breakfast on Friday 15th 

Please contact Peggie Manton if you need any further information