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1. Why make a reservation with Istanbul30.com?
Istanbul30.com offers a range of carefully selected range of basic, clean and affordable accommodation in accessible central locations for the nights you want, within easy reach of key places of interest. We aim to provide good value, central stays in hotels, hostels, bed & breakfasts and apartments for the cost-conscious traveller at a target price of €30 per person per night*. We understand there is a high demand for low price accommodation in a central location.We aim to satisfy this demand using strict price-quality criteria in order to offer you the best possible stays at rates you can afford in the place you want to be. Istanbul30.com is a clear, easy-to-use reservations website. You get an instant confirmation online for the dates you require. No fuss, no delays.
*During peak times prices may be higher
2. Could I get a better price if I just contacted the establishment directly?
Accommodation prices can vary according to occupancy, season and expected demand.
We agree price parity. This means we show the same prices as other reservations websites and the establishment itself and in many cases negotiate lower on-line rates directly with the establishment, sometimes as much as 25% below the standard price you would pay contacting them directly or on the door*
*This depends on the season and availability. Prices may be higher at peak times.
3. What are the rooms like? How do I know I will like my accommodation?
We have visited all the establishments we work with to ensure they are well-run, clean, safe, centrally located or close to places of special interest. We only work with hotels, hostels, apartments and B&Bs that appear on our Istanbul map, and we show up to 9 photographs of every place. We do our absolute best to genuinely represent all of our accommodation using clear photos and detailed descriptions. You can also check other guests’ comments at the bottom of every offer. This should give you an overall idea about the accommodation quality / experience. We only offer private hotel rooms, hostels, bed & breakfasts and apartments where no rooms are shared with other guests at the most competitive prices. The type of room is clearly described in each offer we propose.
4. How do I make a reservation?
Enter your arrival date, departure date and number of people in the boxes in the centre of the home page,(or in the left hand column of subsequent pages) then click our 'SEARCH OFFERS' button, the results you see are genuine accommodation offers showing real-time availability and prices. Select the “MORE DETAILS” button next to the establishment you would like to reserve. You will see a full break-down of the price: Total price, amount payable as deposit to secure the booking, amount payable on arrival + booking fee + VAT. Follow the on-screen instructions to make a reservation. You can also select the hotel, hostel, bed & breakfast or apartment that suits you best from the “Our Accommodation” section, or using the “Search by Map” facility, which shows the location of our establishments plus places of interest in Istanbul. These offers are created specifically for you. Unlike other accommodation booking websites you do not have to send us an e-mail and wait sometimes days for an answer to check availability or to ask for a price estimate - we show you availability and a final price instantly online.
5. How do I get to Istanbul city centre from Istanbul's Atatürk International airport?
Atatürk International Airport is 23km west of Istanbul city centre. This is one of the busiest airports in Turkey.
There are three options to get to Istanbul city centre from Istanbul airport.
(i)Metro: The Hafif Istanbul metro (light rail network) is directly opposite the airport, and it will take you to anywhere in the city. The first train leaves around 06:00 am, the last train leaves shortly after midnight. The journey takes about one hour to Sultanahmet and an hour and a half to Taksim. A single train ticket costs about 3 New Turkish Lira (€1.70).
(ii)Bus: Havas Shuttle buses operate from the airport every 30 minutes and they go to different areas of Istanbul. The bus to Taksim Square costs 6 New Turkish Lira (€3.45), the journey takes about 40 minutes and the one to Akmerkez (Etiler) costs 6,15 New Turkish Lira (€ 3.50) and it takes around 45 minutes.
(iii)Taxis are available at the airport. Negotiate the fare before going on the journey. The price to the city centre i.e. Taksim Square should not cost more than 28 -32 New Turkish Lira (€16 to €18). Night fares are 50% higher.
6. How do I get to Istanbul city centre from Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport?
Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, about 30 km south east of Haydarpasa Station (Istanbul main railway station).
There are two options to get to Istanbul city centre from SAW:
(i)Bus: The cheapest way to get to the city is by E10 city bus, which leaves every 20 to 40 minutes. It costs less than 3 New Turkish Lira (€ 1.70) and takes about one hour.
Havas airport buses go from Sabiha Gökçen Airport all the way to Taksim Square. The 19 daily buses are timed to the arrival of all flights, departing the airport 25 minutes after flight arrival time. The ride takes 45 minutes and costs 7 New Turkish Lira (€ 4).
(ii)Taxi may be the fastest way to go from the airport to the city if there is not much traffic. The daytime fare is about 65 New Turkish Lira (€37) to Taksim Square. Night fares are 50% higher.
7. What exactly am I paying online?
The amount paid online is not the first night of your stay. This sum represents the Istanbul30.com fee on the total booking, paid to secure the reservation, the €2 booking fee, local VAT and agreements between the establishments and Istanbul30. The balance for your stay is payable at the hotel upon arrival, as stated in your confirmation e-mail. This amount is calculated in relation to the original total number of nights you reserved. EnGrande blocks the hotel's online calendar for the room or apartment reserved from the moment the reservation is made until the arrival date.
8. Is the payment system secure?
Yes. The information you provide in the payment screen is VeriSign encrypted and is not made available to any outside sources, ever. SECURITY OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS IMPORTANT TO US. All transactions occur in a secure site area using 'Secure Sockets Layer' (SSL) software from VeriSign to process orders. SSL encrypts the information you input on the site ensuring no third parties can intercept, read, or use the data. When making a reservation, we ask you to make a prepayment via our VeriSign 128-bit encrypted, secure webpage. You will then immediately receive the confirmation by e-mail containing details of the amount of your prepayment, address, telephone number and e-mail of the establishment you have booked, as well as the reservation dates. Upon the arrival at the establishment you must pay the remaining amount.
9. Can you send me a confirmation with the hotel address? I haven't received my confirmation e-mail yet.
When you have made payment via the secure VeriSign payment system, you receive a confirmation automatically of your reservation including the hotel address, e-mail and telephone number to your e-mail address. You can also access your confirmation and the hotel's contact details that you have reserved in the "Find my Confirmation" section of our web page. All you need to do is enter your e-mail address and arrival date. If you can't access your details please contact us.
10. Is the neighbourhood safe?
The majority of crime in Istanbul is non-violent, with a low number of incidences involving guns or knives compared to Western Europe or the United States. The highest risk to visitors is posed by bag snatchers and pickpockets. Be warned, in popular tourist areas this is a significant risk, particulary around Taksim Square and Istiklal Street, which are usually very crowded. Be aware of your surroundings,don't show off expensive items such as mobile phones and cameras, and make sure your wallet or purse is out of sight. It is also advised to behave in a discreet, respectful manner so as to avoid attracting attention at night, especially if out in a group. In general, Istanbul residents are welcoming, friendly and hospitable to those who come to enjoy their city. The biggest risk to both tourists and locals alike is the traffic and erratic drivers.
11. What do I do if I need to change my reservation?
(i) It is possible to make changes to a reservation if you send written notification by e-mail to bookings@istanbul30.com within the time limit specified by the establishment's cancellation policy, as stated on your confirmation e-mail. Please note all booking changes are made according to availability. There is a handling fee of €15 for all booking changes
(ii) In the case that you need to cancel your reservation, please note that the individual cancellation policy of our collaborating establishments applies, details of which can be seen on the web page and on your reservation confirmation e-mail.
* Groups of more than 20 people must provide a minimum of 15 days’ notice to amend their reservations.
12. If I cancel my reservation, will the amount paid online be refunded?
Please be aware that certain establishments apply their own specific cancellation policies, details of which are shown during the reservation process on the Web page and on your confirmation e-mail.
(i) To cancel a reservation you must send written notification by e-mail to bookings@istanbul30.com within the time limit specified by the establishment's cancellation policy as stated on your confirmation e-mail. Please check your confirmation e-mail, which lists the applicable cancellation policy for further information.
If you cancel your reservation by notifying us before 1200 hours (local time) within the specified cancellation period, you will receive a full refund of the deposit amount prepaid online, less a €15 handling fee. (Standard cancellation period for apartments is 7 days before arrival date).
(ii) You may also cancel a reservation using the Auto Cancellation facility. Simply click on the following link: My Reservation: and enter your e-mail address. You will automatically receive an e-mail containing a URL link. Open the e-mail and click on the link to access your reservation details (note: all reservations you may have made via Istanbul30.com will be listed, please ensure you select the correct reservation). Click the CANCEL button. You will subsequently receive an automatically generated e-mail with the details of the reservation confirming the cancellation. Please note, the cancellation policy of the establishment / Istanbul30.com is also applicable to this facility.
Groups of more than 20 people must provide a minimum of 15 days’ notice to cancel their reservations.
13. What happens if I do not show up at the establishment for my reservation?
If you simply do not show up at the establishment (no-show), you will be charged a full 1 night & VAT for each room you have reserved, by the establishment, plus a €15 processing fee by Istanbul30.com. There will be no refund of the amount prepaid online.
Istanbul30.com blocks the online calendar for the room or apartment reserved from the moment the reservation is made until the arrival date. If you make a late cancellation, or simply fail to show up, these room nights will go wasted, unsold. The room nights have been held for you, at your request. Now they will go unsold due to this no-show or late cancellation. The ¨amount already paid¨ (the amount pre-paid online) will not be refunded, and will be used to partially offset the loss incurred by Istanbul30.com and the establishment.
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