Airport transfer companies - Istanbul (or anywhere really)

zagmund

I'm looking to book a transfer from Ataturk airport to Istanbul in a few weeks. We're arriving late, will have children with us, and I've never been there before - otherwise I would jump on the metro and make my way in by public transport.

Reports of taxi service in Istanbul vary, but tend towards "expect to be ripped off" so I'm not too pushed about getting a taxi. Plus there *might* be a queue when we get there and I don't like queues.

I've searched around and there are a good few companies which will do a prebooked transfer for ~€20, and I've no problem paying that. My hotel want to charge €35, which I will pay if required.

In this particular case I would be happier booking through one of the global consolidators - companies who have a web frontend but no local presence and who just use local contractors - than directly with a local company. These companies have a reputation to maintain.

So, finally, the query - can anyone recommend any consolidator type airport transfer company they have used in Europe ? Or even better, one they ahve used in Istanbul ?

Thanks,

z

Peanut

Turkeytravelplanner recommend a specific company,
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Transport/bakpak_xfr.html

I usually take the metro + tramline, if you needed to do this for some reason, you pay for a token for each person (there are machines or there might be a manned booth) then use them in the turnstiles. Change at Zeytinburnu for the tram to Sultanahmet (direction Kabatas or Eminonu, another turnstile & set of tokens needed). Trams + metro run until about midnight.

zagmund

Thanks. I tried contacting the people listed in the turkeytravelplanner article a few weeks back but they didn't reply. I might still go the public transport route. How long does it normally take from the airport to Sultanahmet ?

z

Peanut

About an hour, however you might also need up to an hour just to clear the airport, depending on how busy it is. There's often a big queue for passport control (you also have to join a (smaller) queue first to buy your visa before joining the passport control queue).