airport transfers

We are now finalizing the loose ends of our trip to Turkey, Greece, and Italy; the transfers from the airport or port to our flat and back. We will be making transfers from and to Flumicino Airport, Rome, and from Gokcen Airport Istanbul to Beyoglu. A train runs from the airport to Rome which makes that easy, but what to do in Istanbul. We are comfortable getting around Italy though we speak practically no Italian. Istanbul is more daunting.

We considered takin a bus to central Istanbul and finding a taxi to get to our flat. Busses can be as low as 14 TL each ( $7 ). We found suntransfers.com, which will provide a private taxi pickup and dropoff for up to four people for 52 Euros. Considering the time spent waiting for a bus, getting luggage on and off, then getting from the bus terminus “home”, the extra $44 is worth it to have worry free door to door service.

Booking through suntransfers.com was a breeze. Enter your departure and arrival airport/flights, your destination, and date of travel and you’re done. Confirmation arrives via email quickly, vouchers will be emailed in the next few days.

We have made a number of purchases on faith. Pegasus Air from Rome to Istanbul, suntransfers, and the four flats booked through homeaway.com. All went smoothly. The homeaway property owners were very gracious in their emails describing the properties, surroundings, and other matters.

I’ll provide links to the flats we’ve booked in a latter blog entry. I hope our connections come thrugh and that the properties meet our expectations. We’ll be spending most of our time out, though a few hours on a veranda in the morning is a great way to start the day, or in the evening to unwind after a day exploring the city on foot.

 

We have one open leg of the trip left: the high speed train from Venice to Florence. Booking availability does not extend to our travel dates at this time. In a month or two we can book that too. On quora one fellow had asked why anyone would use a travel agent when everything can be booked online. He is absolutely correct that practically everything can be booked online. However, after doing the legwork for this trip, I appreciate the value a travel agent provides. I actually enjoy customizing our trips by finding just the right apartment in perfect location with good access to transportation, close to downtown but far enough from the tourist traps and student hangouts to be quiet. It is fun, but it takes a long time and meticulous attention to detail to make it all come together. It is definitely easier to call a travel agent, tell them where you want to go, and let them handle the details. A great travel agent can really surprise you. As for me, planning is fun; I”ll let each day’s events be the reward.

Something to consider: don’t plan each day’s activities maybe don’t plan any day’s activities. Make a list ahead of time of the places you would like to see and things you would like to do. Prioritize the list and do one or two of those things the first day. Let that day inform your choice of what to do the next day. It could be you’ve walked yourself to death the first day and want nothing to do with walking. Or you discover that you really enjoyed one part of the city. Be flexible and unhurried and do not let your list dictate your vacation.

In France for instance, the Louvre is a wonderful museum but you cannot see it in a day. What does that mean, really? The Louvre should be taken in small bites over a few days time. I find after a few hours, my head is spinning and I’m not actually “seeing” anymore. Then it is time to exit, find a quaint patisserie. have a cappuccino, and relax. Then off to some other thing on the list. The Louvre will be there tomorrow or the next day (well hopefully).

Looking back on trips, I find the most treasured memories, the strongest sense of being “there”, are the moments between or just after an activity when I’ve taken a moment to slow down, consider what I’ve just absorbed over a remarkable bite to eat and in unhurried conversation. No photograph can capture the tranquility of those moments, in fact taking a photograph, which requires self awareness and thought of the present, would of necessity destroy the reverie.

Because it is the quiet times that fasten themseves to your psyche, please do not crowd your trip with a sea of things to do with constant goings and doings. Take the time to absorb your surroundings and to enjoy your life.

 

Wow, where did that come from? Start with open legs of a trip and end up with a eulogy to travel.

Oh well… play on.

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