Istanbul: modern and ancient; traditional and fashion-forward; luxurious and earthy - the seeming contradictions of this vibrant city go on and on....
Contemporary boutiques coexist with historic bazaars, and fashionable hipsters walk alongside head-scarf wearing beauties. World-class sushi restaurants vie for your attention, competing with hole-in-the wall nooks serving up Middle Eastern fare that will blow away anything you've had on Atlantic Avenue. Mosques and other sights tempt you to visit during the day, while some balmy evenings seem to be made for simply grabbing a six pack to enjoy seaside. Europe lies to Istanbul's left, and Asia to its right. And yet, for all its paradoxes, there's a beautiful harmony that saturates this bustling destination, one that leaves every visitor in awe.
Whatever you choose to do in Istanbul, your days will never bore you; it seems hard not to feel some sense of adventure here, even if you stay on the beaten path. "It's a wonderful city," says recent visitor and
formerly featured jauntsetter, Nadia. "I was only there for two days, and mostly stuck to the major tourist attractions, of which there are many - and they didn't disappoint." ...
Engineer, MTA-ESA
Dream getaway: Zanzibar, and a couple of days or weeks in Tanzania. The idea of an African seaside and warm Indian Ocean currents is irresistible, as is the idea of seeing Mount Kilimanjaro! I could do this trip with anyone, though it’s something I would especially like to share with my siblings.
What do you collect when you travel? Books by local authors and maps, especially hand-drawn ones - they're like a work of art.
Big overall travel tip: Choose small hotels over big ones. Personalized service is always better, even if it's not fancy.
Last vacation you really loved: My trip to Istanbul in Turkey about a year and a half ago. I originally wanted to take the trip because James Baldwin, my favorite author, wrote
Another Country while in Istanbul. Though there’s nothing in the book about Turkey (it's actually set in Paris and New York), I was curious about what inspired him to write in Istanbul, so I went because of that. When I was there, I stayed in the old part of of town, Sultanahmet, at
The Hanedan Hotel. The Hanedan was perfect: a family-run hotel, and I had a room facing the Sea of Marmara. My stay included breakfast that was served on the roof top with a view of the sea, and a little view of the Aya Sofya and the Blue Mosque...
We use tons of online tools to find the most competitive travel deals on the Internet. Then we hand pick the very best specials for our favorite people: New Yorkers.
Our favorite finds this week? A kitschy spot in Miami at up to 46% off, and the number one spa in Latin America, according to
Travel + Leisure.
Note: As always, all our quoted airfare is for roundtrip, nonstop flights with all taxes and fees included, unless otherwise noted.
___________________________
- Hot Deal on A Hip Hotel in San Fran: Save almost 50% this summer at this Kimpton hotel in San Francisco, boasting one of the best restaurants in the city.
- Italy's Amalfi Coast Made Affordable: From now through September, fly roundtrip to the quiet town of Minori on the Amalfi coast and stay five nights in a four star hotel, with meals and private beach access included in this value-oriented package.
- Nice Deal in New Orleans: A historical hotel in the French Quarter offers rooms for just $69/night through December, a savings of 43%.
- Very Cheap Vancouver: One of our favorite hotel sites tipped us off to this excellent deal at a well-respected Canadian hotel with impeccable service and impressive green practices.
- Last Minute Miami: We highly suggest jumping on this deal ASAP - stay for super cheap for the next two weekends at one of Miami's funkiest - and most luxurious - hotels.
- Summer Retreat in Mexico for 67% Off: Book a room at this beautiful resort in Cabo San Lucas and enjoy what Travel + Leisure promises is the best spa in Latin America.
- 50% Off Tons of Hotels This Summer: Take advantage of this fantastic deal offered by one of the largest hotel chain owners in the country.
- Greek Islands Tour: A 6 day tour of Athens and the surrounding Greek islands, with all airfare and meals included, plus the option of declining the guided tours and exploring on your own, is just $1227.
- Last Minute Fourth on Fire Island for 50% Off: Get your own amazing 1-Bedroom bungalow in The Pines (Fire Island's gay friendly beach town) from tomorrow till July 9th - a whole holiday week - for $1,000, including lots of perks. This house has it all: pool, hot tub, grill and deck, replete with outdoor shower. We love Fire Island!
- Get Married in a Tuscan Villa: Planning a wedding stateside and overwhelmed? Why not screw it all and head to Italy with 18 of your dearest friends. We found a beautiful villa with tons of availability in September, and 20% off its regular prices all year round. It's also got 11 bedrooms and amazing grounds, perfect for a low-key, intimate wedding that's all about family, friends, fun - and of course - food.
