Location of Aria Las Vegas
Aria is located in the brand new CityCenter between the Bellagio and the Monte Carlo, it occupies a ¼ mile of space along the Las Vegas strip.  I want to give a brief introduction on CityCenter because it is a unique concept that is fairly new to the Las Vegas experience. Aria has also received the LEED Certification making it a U.S. Green Building.

CityCenter is the most expensive, privately funded construction project in United States history. The concept behind CityCenter is self-explanatory; it is a city within a city.  Contemporary, tall buildings situated in a seemingly private, cul-de-sac pushed back from the strip. CityCenter strives to emulate a modern-day, mini-metropolis. Looking at CityCenter, you may think “This is the future” but once you step inside, you will realize you’re just in Vegas. Like everything else in Las Vegas, the look is quite contrived… but Las Vegas is the only place in the world where being artificial is not necessarily a bad thing.

Aria Las Vegas Entrance

The properties that make up to CityCenter are: Aria, Mandarin Oriental, Vdara, The Harmon Hotel and Condominiums and The Crystals Mall.  Of these properties, the only casino resides inside of Aria. Vdara is a condo-hotel with a spa.  The Mandarin Oriental is a high end, five star property with an upscale lounge, where allegedly there is a “No Jeans” policy – but not from what I saw.  In addition to the hotels, there is a luxury shopping center called The Crystals (only 30% occupied when I visited) with plenty of restaurants.  The best advantage of CityCenter is that it is fully self-contained.  No need to go trekking down the strip unless you would like. CityCenter is destined to become the go-to place for the discerning traveler looking for a more elevated experience; someone who is looking to leave the gauche behind.

The Back Entrance Issue at Aria Las Vegas
When I arrived at Aria Las Vegas, unbeknownst to me, the taxi driver dropped me off at the rear entrance with my bags. I stood and waited expecting that a bellman would come outside to take my bags. After several minutes, I saw one person wearing a suit but not a bellman’s uniform. I approached this employee, he made NO attempt to greet me or assist me with my bags. I asked him where the bellman was and he informed me that I was at the wrong entrance and that I would have to walk through the entire casino to get to the front.

Anywhere other than Las Vegas, walking through a hotel lobby to get to the front entrance is generally not a problem. However, when you have 16,000 square foot casino, you cannot expect your guests to walk through with their bags to get to the check-in desk.  Over the course of my stay at Aria, I watched multiple guests traipsing through the casino with their bags searching for the check-in desk.  In my opinion, this is a terrible mishap.  It is obvious that taxi drivers favor that back entrance for some reason, Aria should have bellman at both entrances to alleviate this issue.  Even if these bellman simply assist guests with baggage to the front.

Aesthetics of Aria Las Vegas
The main entrance to Aria is a large circular drive, as the photo above indicates.  There is a decorative waterfall along the wall between Aria and Mandarin Oriental that compels tourists to photograph it as if they had never before seen water. There is also a fountain in the center of the circular drive.  The decorative fountains outside the property work exceptionally well with the transparent materials used on the exterior of the buildings and the steal beams throughout the front of CityCenter.  The entrance of Aria gives one a sense of purity, cleanliness, freshness and openness.

Aria Las Vegas Waterfall

Contrary to the light and airy feel of the exterior, the interior of the casino and hotel is very brown.  Exceptionally brown, dark – almost lifeless.  The ceilings at Aria are high compared to other properties in Las Vegas.  You immediately notice the soaring ceilings once you’ve been out and about walking through the other hotels along the strip.  One might think that tall ceilings would be a plus, but for some psychological reason that I cannot explain, the tall ceilings leave one feeling a bit empty.  The hotel feels hallow and dim.

Aria Casino

My first impression of Aria was that it was unfriendly.  I felt like I was in a major city airport or a large convention center, an empty feeling, not at all welcoming.  The tall ceilings contributed to this feeling and I felt as though the dim lighting was a feeble attempt at masking the emptiness. As the days went on, I grew more and more accustomed to the layout, the interior architecture and design of Aria. By day three of my stay, I felt claustrophobic when I entered the other casinos on the strip.  I would 100% retun to Aria, and although I would recommend the hotel, I would not recommend it without fully explaining what one will encounter.

Aria Hallways to Sleeping Rooms

The Sleeping Rooms at Aria Las Vegas
I loved my room at Aria, absolutely loved it.  You enter the room into a small foyer with a dresser and two closets.  The bathroom is just to your left (or right) and has a large pocket door that slides open.  The room is also very brown (these photos were not taken in sepia) but for a sleeping room, the brown is serene and cozy. I had a wall-to-wall picture window that overlooked the Las Vegas strip.

The rooms are contemporary and give the impression that you’re in a posh, city, studio apartment (in fact, my hotel room was bigger than my apartment in Chicago). All of the furnishings are custom, all of the cabinetry throughout the room & bathroom match. Each room has a 42” LCD television and a nice desk area for working.

Aria Sleeping Room

The best part of the in-room experience at Aria is your master control panel.  From this universal remote, you can control just about everything in your room.  Turn on the television, music, curtains, lights, temperature control, etc.  I utilized this control a lot.  I like to sleep in a very cool room but like the room to get hot when I wake up.  At home, I have to manage the temperature manually, but at Aria, I was able to set everything on my remote.  On my first night, I programmed my remote to have two temperature settings.  When I was ready for bed, I would hit my night time setting and the temperature would drop to 68 degrees.  At 7a, the TV would automatically turn on to the Today Show and the heat would go on until the room hit 72 degrees.  When the room warmed up, I would get out of bed and hit the shower.

The Bars and Restaurants at Aria Las Vegas
My favorite reason for going to Las Vegas is always for the dining, dining in Las Vegas is incomparable to nearly any other city in the world! Aria has plenty of delicious restaurants within their confines, and more generally, CityCenter has enough dining to keep the most discerning foodie more than satisfied.

The hotel bars resemble a lounge you might see in an airport – again we go back to that “airport” theme. The lounges are wide open to the casino.  I actually preferred the layout of the bars, great for people watching. I am not a big gambler but I love the thrill of being in a casino, therefore, the bars at Aria were perfect.  I could sit and enjoy a beverage while watching others gamble.

My first evening, I had dinner at the Wolfgang Puck restaurant, Brasserie PUCK, inside CityCenter.  I sat at the bar and let the bartender do all the work.  He suggested their wood-fired pizzas and I heeded his suggestion; it worked out perfectly for both of us.

I took my breakfast most mornings at the unique looking snack bar just outside the elevator banks at Aria, Jean Philippe Patisserie.  A couple of notes on this place: 1) Expect long lines  2) Don’t expect a lot of variety  3) Don’t expect anyone to be kind to you  4) Expect to pay nearly $5 for two shots of espresso and dollop of milk.  Aesthetically, this breakfast bar is lovely but from a functionality standpoint, they have a ways to go and they need to start with training their staff to be a bit more friendly.

My best dining experience was at the Chinese restaurant Blossom inside of Aria. The sommelier was exceptional and the cuisine was classic Chinese.  The food was divine, our wines were paired perfectly and the décor was top notch.  I honestly could not speak more highly of Blossom. On the Aria website, Blossom is listed as “Fine Dining” but from a price point, it was about the same as Lemongrass, which listed as “Casual Dining”.

The Shopping at Aria Las Vegas
There is not a tremendous variety inside Aria in terms of shopping.  There are a few stores that resemble department stores that carry well-known brands.  The one store that stood out was the fine jewelry store Radiance.  I visited the shop twice and could not get enough of the jewelry.  The most unique designs I had ever seen in a luxury boutique.  Many risks taken with precious and semi-precious stones, I was thoroughly impressed with their collection.

The shopping at Crystals is also quite nice.  Expect to see the usual, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Cartier…but also expect to see stores like Kiton, Kiki Montparnasse, Carolina Herrera, Roberto Cavali and de Griosogono.

The Pool at Aria Las Vegas
I was in Vegas on business for this particular trip, I was unable to sit poolside during the day, however, we did have an event one evening at the pool at Aria. The property has a total of three pools and three hot tubs. The pool area is spacious and has oversized potted greenery along the perimeter.

The Staff at Aria Las Vegas
For the most part, the staff needed work.  The casino opened in December, my visit was in early April. I experienced poor customer service on multiple occasions but most of this I will attribute to the hotel being new.

The worst of my experiences include the back door being unmanned by a bellman. Additionally, I received bad information from the concierge, after making two phone calls to fix my problem, a manager did very well to remedy the issue.  Many staff members were clueless when asked basic questions regarding the property.  Other staff members were simply rude.  For example, the day I tried to view the pool area, it was closed by 5 or 6pm.  I asked the guard if I could just view it (not walk down by the pool, but to take a peek around the corner, less than 10 feet from where we were standing), he refused.  Then, much like a nightclub bouncer, he physically blocked me with his body and used his size to intimidate back inside.  It was extremely odd and highly unprofessional.

I visited Aria Las Vegas for a travel convention and although I did reach out to the Aria Public Relations office, I did not receive any assistance for writing this post.  I was not offered a tour of the property, this post was written based on my personal visit and what was available on the Aria website.  Stay tuned for my post on The Mandarin Oriental at CityCenter – their sales & marketing/PR team was much more accommodating.

Days Istanbul museums and sights are closed:
Topkapi Palace — closed on Tuesday
St. Sophia — closed on Monday
Dolmabahce Palace — closed on Monday & Thursday
Grand Bazaar — closed on Sunday
The Spice Market — closed on Sunday

Official Site for Tourism Office
Wiki on Istanbul

Istanbul Neighborhoods or Districts

Nisantasi (nish-ahn-tash-yi)
• During the Ottoman Empire, sultans used Nisantasi as a hunting district. If you dissect the name Nisantasi it means this: Nisan means “shooting” by rifle or gun. Tas means “stone”. Sultan Selim III. built the first shooting stone in the district on 1791. Nisantasi became a residential district in the period of sultan Abdulmecit. The second half of 19th century Nisantasi became popular, as the sultans moved to Yildiz Palace from Dolmabahce Palace, and as it was near to Pera(Beyoglu).
• Nişantaşı is doubtlessly the most high end shopping and fashion center of Istanbul. Its name originates from the target stones which were built during the Ottoman period.
  - In Nisantasi, you can you can see the most luxurious cars and the most elegant people of Istanbul.
  - Western designer boutiques line the streets of Nisantasi. One can see luxury boutiques like: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Alexander McQueen & Armani along with high end Turkish boutiques.

Taksim (tAk-sim)
• Heart of modern Istanbul
• The Independence Monumment (Istiklal Aniti) in the circle at the southern end of the square commemorates the Turkish Republic founder Kemal Ataturk.
• Some of the best luxury hotels in Istanbul are located in Taksim: Divan Oteli (has a wonderful pastry shop), Ceylan Intercontinental & The Marmara Hotel (great for a drink in the lounge).

Besiktas (be-shik-tash)
The metropolitan district of Istanbul located on the European side of the city, by the coast of the Bosphorus.
• Beşiktaş district council administers a number of key neighborhoods running up the Bosphorus on the European side. The district includes some of Istanbul’s best-known neighbourhoods, such as Arnavutkoy, Bebek, Etiler, Levent and parts of Ortakoy, Ulus & Yildiz
• Beşiktaş has a population of 190,813 according to 2000 census, and the district covers an area of 21 km2 (8 sq mi), making it one of the smallest districts of Istanbul

Taxis or “Taksi”
Yellow taxis are relatively inexpensive but have the infuriating tendency to refuse to take you somewhere if they can’t face the traffic. Traffic can be horrendous in Istanbul. During the day, the meter displays gündüz (day rate). From midnight to 6am, the gece (night rate) is in effect, adding 50 per cent to the cost (if the meter is not on, get out and take another taxi). Don’t expect your driver to know where he’s going; ask your hotel to write down the address.

Dolmus
Dolmus rides are extremely easy and one of the best ways to get around Istanbul. Dolmus, literally translated means “full” or “stuffed”. Dolmus are usually yellow in color but they are mini vans or mini-busses. Dolmus have pre-determined routes that they do not stray from. You can board a Dolmus from many points on their specified route. Once you board, you tell the Dolmus driver where you are traveling to and he will give you a price (normally not more than a few dollars). It is up to you to tell the driver when you would like to exit the Dolmus. It can be intimidating at first but certainly worth the Turkish experience.

Tipping culture
A tip is expected in restaurants, and 10 per cent is standard. If a service charge is included, an additional sum is still expected.

Boutique Hotels in Sultanahmet area, also known as, “The Old City”
*Contact Artun Travel for assistance with reserving any of these properties…
• Yesil Ev (Ye-shil) prices range from 80-500 Euro. A restored mansion decorated in 19th century style. 19 rooms total.
• Sultanhan Hotel prices range from 185 – 280 Euro. Sultanhan hotel has the largest lobby of all the boutique hotels in the Sultanahmet district 400 sq meters and 40 sleeping rooms.
• Turing Ayasofya Konakları prices range from 100- 280 Euro sandwiched between Hagia Sofia and Topkapi Palace, a row of nine hotel buildings in a rowhouse setting. Each hotel has seven rooms with private bathrooms. *Some rooms are not air-conditioned.
• Crowne Plaza prices range from 90 to 280 Euro.

Some Luxury Hotels in Istanbul
• Les Ottomans
• The Marmara Hotel
• Intercontinental Istanbul
• W Hotel Istanbul (close to Nisantasi & Dolmabahce)

My favorite travel books are the Eyewitness Guides, great info, descriptive, amazing photo detail:
Turkey (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE)
Istanbul (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Top 10 Istanbul (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE)

Recently, I spent some time in Thailand. I flew to Bangkok on Turkish Airlines connecting through Istanbul. It was a 23 hour trip (including and 8 hour layover) but it was very relaxing.  Each leg of my trip, occurred at night, therefore, I was able to sleep nearly the whole way.  Though it seems like an odd choice, I would recommend Turkish Airlines for the flight from Chicago to Bangkok.

There is so much to do and see in Thailand that I could write multiple blog posts on the subject of Thailand.  This post will be a quick, top ten list of things to do while visiting Bangkok.  If you have just a few days, these are some “do not miss” things to do and see.

• Grand Palace.  In my personal opinion, the city of Bangkok ITSELF is worth seeing more than many of the tourist sites with few exceptions.  The Grand Palace is one of those exceptions. The palace is designed in traditional Thai style with the colorful mosaic tiles on the tops of the buildings.  The large golden bells and the ornamentation throughout is striking.  Be prepared for the crowds inside but even more prepared for the hustling, pushy vendors outside the palace.  My recommendation would be to get there as early as possible.  Also, please remember that in all Thai palaces and temples women must have their shoulders covered, women must have their knees covered (long skirt or pants) and absolutely no shorts for anyone.

• Visit the Reclining Buddha at the Wat Pho or Wat Po temple followed by a massage the Massage School at Wat Pho.  The Reclining Buddha is impressively large and gold,  the bottoms of his feet are adorned in mother of pearl.  The massage school at Wat Pho is not inside the temple but very close. The price is about 150 Baht for 30 a minute Thai massage.  There is information and rates inside the temple on how to get to the massage school.


Reclining Buddha at Wat Po

• Take a cruise on the Chao Phraya River.  You can arrange a dinner cruise or a cruise with just drinks on the Chao Phraya River through one of the various luxury hotels on the river.  The Peninsula has a river cruise that lasts about one hour and the cost is about 1200 Baht ($37.50 when this was written).  If you just want to take a ride on the river, feel free to hop onto one of the many river ferries for about 30 Baht or $1 USD.

• Rooftop Drink at one of the upscale, modern venues.  Close to the Siam Square area of Bangkok (which is the younger, more hip area) there is the Siam @ Siam Hotel that has a gorgeous rooftop restaurant and lounge but expect to pay Western prices at this location.  Though they do have a happy hour from 7p to 8p on most days, one drink can range between $8 and $12 USD.  There is also the award winning Sirocco restaurant and Sky Bar located in the same area that the luxury hotels are on the Chao Phraya river.

View from Siam @ Siam Rooftop Restaurant

• Take a ride in a tuk tuk.  The tuk tuk drivers are notorious for taking advantage of tourists but they can be negotiated with and they are not all bad.  My experience with tuk tuk drivers was quite the opposite of many of the blogs I have read since my trip.  My recommendation would be to find out what the cost of a taxi would be to your destination (most hotels will give you that information) and then negotiate in advance what you are willing to pay for the tuk tuk.  I usually offered ½ of what the taxi ride would cost. I also did not take a tuk tuk until I was in Bangkok for a day or two.  Once I had a feel for the city, I felt comfortable taking tuk tuks.


Tuk Tuk

• Patpong district. This is the entertainment district for Western tourists.  The area is worth a few hours of your attention if you are girly bars where you can witness things that you did not think were humanly possible.  Or, you may want to take in some Muay Thai boxing where they have women fighting men.  In Patpong, the streets are lined with cheap vendors selling every trinket possibly imaginable.  If you do enter one of the girly bars, be prepared to pay more than what you originally expected.  Otherwise, if you just want to enjoy the people watching, there are some pretty good bars where you can sit and watch the tourists go by.


Patpong

• Floating Market just outside Bangkok.  This “floating market” is entirely for tourists, it is only used to shuffle tourists with a “long tail boat” through the various canals in an effort to sell cheap trinkets and or spices.  You must take a drive about 1.5 hours outside the city and then take a 45 minute boat ride through the canals.  The canals are lined with make-shift store fronts and additionally, older women will paddle their boats up to your boat in an effort to sell pork satay, fruit, or anything else one can imagine.  Most of the vendors in the make-shift store fronts sell souvenirs and spices. We arrived in the afternoon therefore missing many of the vendors who had already closed up shop. Instead, our long tail boat driver took us up and down the canals to view the Thai homes along the canals.

• Eat as much as humanly possible.  Especially MANGO AND STICKY RICE!  The streets of Bangkok are lined with street vendors and the food is good.  Try as many dishes as you possibly can and be ready because Thai food is spicy.  If you have the opportunity, head for The Peninsula hotel and have lunch in their River Café but be certain to order the Mango and Sticky Rice!  It is out of this world.


River Cafe at The Peninsula Bangkok

• The Weekend Market is the biggest market in Bangkok and it is only open on Saturdays and Sunday.  If you are in Bangkok on a weekend, most certainly make the trip.  You will find many locals shopping at the weekend market with tourists alike.

• Escape the excessive traffic of Bangkok and ride the Skytrain. The Skytrain is an elevated public train (or metro) system that transports you from one end of Bangkok to another in a matter of minutes. Riding the Skytrain is a cinch, you fly above the streets of Bangkok leaving all the traffic behind.  In Bangkok where it can sometimes take 45 minutes to travel four city blocks, the Skytrain is a god send.

Would you like to go to Thailand?  We can help you get there, please phone us at 800.677.8875  OR send us an email at info@artuntravel.com

For more pictures on this Thailand trip please visit our Flickr Page or our Facebook Fan Page

In mid-October I visited Las Vegas for a convention and extended my trip by a day in order to enjoy one of my favorite U.S. destinations… Las Vegas of course! I try to get to Vegas a couple times a year, I’ve stayed at just about every hotel in Vegas (some more than once or twice) but I do try to get back to the Four Seasons as often as I can.

This last visit, I stayed at the Four Seasons, located inside Mandalay Bay but completely separate. The Four Seasons has a private entry and a private drive way, no long lines to check in and absolutely no cab lines. Although the service at most Vegas hotels is top notch, I always feel extra special at The Four Seasons.

Private Entrance for Four Seasons

The entry way to the Four Seasons Las Vegas is what one can expect – an orderly and calming space with beautiful floral arrangements, tastefully decorated hallways adorned with Asian themed statuettes and figurines.  A clutter-free hotel void of bright lights, advertisements for entertainers and the ching ching and clang clang of slot machines.  The entire hotel is casino-free, however, you can simply walk out one door from the main lobby and enter into Mandalay Bay for gambling and restaurants.

Floral Arrangement at The Entry

Lobby at The Four Seasons Las Vegas

One might ask, “Why would I want to stay at the Four Seasons if I am going to Vegas?”  It is really quite simple, if you are anything like me, you LOVE  Las Vegas but you also like some tranquility, you like a good spa treatment, you like having the hotel car and driver at your disposal (for free) and you respect the capabilities of a good concierge.  You love hospitality and that is why you stay at The Four Seasons.  Sure, there are other hotels in Vegas that offer excellent hospitality but The Four Seasons is more intimate and just a lovely oasis from all the Vegas-ness of Vegas.

When you stay at The Four Seasons, you can opt for the private pool reserved for Four Seasons guests only OR you can head over to the Mandalay Bay pool(s), you have that option.  You are able to enjoy all of the pleasures of Mandalay Bay as a guest of The Four Seasons.  The Four Seasons pool is pretty small but gets a lot of sun from the reflective windows of Mandalay Bay. You can take advantage of a free Evian spritz, a foot message and melon popsicles.

Four Seasons Pool

Foot Massage at Four Seasons Pool

This is guest post by: Michael Willits, a self-described travel addict. He and his wife run a travel blog, 1000 Places to Fight Before You Die. They live in Boise, Idaho.

You are going where? This was a common question that we heard from our friends when we shared with them that we were going to Turkey.

Why Turkey? Turkey truly has it all: rich history, unique cuisine, majestic beauty and something really special…Turkish hospitality. Having traveled extensively, I can tell you that Turks actually make the travel brochures look understated!! I have never see people so willing to help, so willing to make sure you feel the magic of Turkey.

The second you step foot in Turkey, you really get an impression that you are a part of living history. Our visit began with Ephesus. I lucked out and was able to spend a few minutes alone in quiet reflection in the Celsius Library. For me this was truly a life changing experience.

One of most pristine and under-explored locations in Turkey is Aphrodisias. This is one of the most pristinely preserved sites of Greek antiquity. We spent an entire morning climbing and exploring over a 1000 years of history. We continued our drive and visited a number of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Regardless of the depth of your religious convictions, seeing the ruins of these great cities will lead you to a greater understanding of the early Christian Church and references in the Bible.

We spent the second week of our visit in the great city Istanbul. Highlights for us included a cruise up Bosphorus where we saw the Black Sea and Dolmbahce Palace. No visit would be compete without a visit to the Harem at the Topkapi Palace. One of our favorite sites is a bit off the beaten path, Chora Church. The mosaics and art in this ancient cathedral are well preserved and in some cases better than anything we saw in Italy. Incredibility, the blues and golds almost appear to have been painted recently. Don’t miss the Basilica Cistern, where you can explore an underground city with beautiful columns, and operatic acoustics.

The Grand Bazaar is understated. Sensory overload! The sights, smells, sounds and tastes of the massive complex are so difficult to describe. The immense size of Bazaar is impressive. Prepare yourself; you are greeted by salesmen, whose sales skills have been honed for hundreds of years. You can buy just about anything in the confines of this covered marketplace. We just dove in and had a great experience. We paid way too much for a beautiful handmade rug, but I guess we are in good company, as this is also a time honored tradition.

Another must is to experience the Turkish Bath! Visit our blog for the full story.

One of the highlights of my trip to Turkey was a pure exposure to Islam. It is one of the great religions of the world. So much of what we understand about Islam comes from CNN and MSNBC. We are really getting short changed. Our first morning, we woke up to the call to prayer. The call to prayer is an amazing experience in Turkey. I expected it to be a brash, commanding recording blared over a loud horn. In actuality, it is a distant pleading for fellowman to improve him/herself.

Go to Turkey. Plain and simple. Turkey has a power of place; you will leave a changed person. As our plane was lifting off out of Turkey and circling across the Aegean, I couldn’t help but wonder if what I had just experienced was a dream. I had seen, and more importantly felt like I connected with something both spiritual and powerful.

Istanbul is a city of approximately 15 million, the largest city in Europe and one of the largest cities in the world.  We could likely dedicate a whole blog to the hotels of Istanbul, but instead, we’ve compiled a short list of a few of our favorite hotels in Istanbul and organized them by neighborhood.

In the Sultanahmet area – or the Old City

Yesil Ev

A restored mansion in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul.  Furnished in the 19^th Century style of a winter mansion, Yesil Ev offers the warm and friendly atmosphere of an old Istanbul home. A favorite of many Western tourists, Yesil Ev has also played host to various distinguished guests including: President Mitterand, Jean Paul Gaultier, Larry King, Rachel Weisz and the Prince of Belgium.  Rooms start from 180 euro.

Yesil Ev

Four Seasons Istanbul at Sultanahmet

This hotel consistently wins international travel awards and is rated among the top hotels in the world. Having stayed at this particular property, I can say from first-hand experience that it is worth most of the hype.  If you want to stay in the Sultanahmet district, and you can afford this hotel, it is certainly the best property in this area.

With only 65 guest rooms and an open courtyard, the hotel is extremely intimate and feels almost like you are staying in a fine home versus a hotel.  The staff is impeccably professional and accommodating. Many Westerns are excited about the fact that the property is a former Turkish prison, however, don’t expect to see any traces of what the prison may have looked like.  The property is completely transformed and modern.

Four Seasons Sultanahmet - Old City

On the Bosphorus – Besiktas

Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel Istanbul

One of the most glorious hotels in Istanbul, Ciragan Palace, a water side palace (or Yali), the hotel sits right on the Bosphorus in the luxurious Besiktas neighborhood.  In 1987, a Japanese company Kumagai Gumi restored the palace and the doors opened in 1990 and again in 1992 after a second restoration.  Ciragan Palace underwent yet another renovation in 2007.

280 rooms with 33 suites, the hotel has many amenities including Maybach transfer and helicopter transfer from Ataturk Airport. Ciragan Palace is the only hotel in Istanbul with a helipad on their grounds. If you cannot afford the rates (which start at 500 Euro + VAT per night for a Park View room and can range up to 1500 Euro per night), we strongly recommend that you visit the hotel for high tea or a cocktail in the lounge.  If you are interested in Turkish cuisine, a visit to the award winning Tugra restaurant in Ciragan Palace is a must.

Ciragan Palace - Kempinski - Istanbul

Four Seasons Bosphorus

Another coveted, luxury hotel, The Four Seasons Bosphorus, gives a fresh, eclectic spin on a 19^th century palace. There is a private dock for guests who would like to be taken to coastal nightclubs. The hotel has many amenities, including a swimming pool beside the Bosphorus, state of the art fitness center and a 22,000 square foot spa with 10 luxurious treatment rooms (wow!).  Room start at 500 euro and up (way up) per night.

Four Seasons Bosphorus

Poolside in Istanbul at the Four Seasons

Les Ottomans

Located at the most magnificent section of the Bosphorus, the “Muhsinzade Mehmet Pasha Mansion” has been brought back to life, under the hostship of Ahu Aysal, as “Hôtel Les Ottomans”.  Aysal purchased the mansion in the 80′s and spent seven years and nearly $65 million to restore the property.  Room rates range between 1800 Euro and 5400 Euro per night.  The concierge can also arrange for a private yacht to take you and your guests to the south of Turkey.

The hotel consists of ten, original and unique suites, restaurants, meeting rooms, a luxurious spa and wine cellar.  The hotel incorporates the philosophies of Feng Shui into its design elements and boasts a certificate of Feng Shui authenticity from the Yap Cheng Hai Academy.   Les Ottomans is also a member of the Small Luxury Hotels.

Les Ottomans

W Hotel Istanbul

Located in Beskitas, the W is a modern centerpiece along the historic Akaretler Row Houses.  A true depiction of East meets West, the W has managed to restore the property into a trendy, chic hotel with unique sleeping rooms, the W Lounge and Jean Georges’ Spice Market restaurant.  The hotel also has a 24 hour fitness center and pets are welcome.  Best of all, the W is in the one of the best neighborhoods of Istanbul if you’re looking for modern shopping, restaurants and night life.

W Hotel Istanbul

Taksim

Lush Hotel

We first came across this small hotel located in the young, hip Taksim/Beyoglu neighborhood, in the NY Times “36 Hours in Istanbul”.  The hotel is best suited for the younger, cosmopolitan traveler who is interested in style and art in a fun location.  The hotel is located in a 19^th century building and decorated in an Ottoman-Pop Art style.  22 rooms, 300 to 400 sq ft each with daily art performances, a restaurant and a booming location.  The hotel offers hotel transfers for about 35 euro and room from 240 euro.

Lush Hotel Room

Asian Side of Istanbul

Ajia Hotel

A beautiful, boutique hotel on the Anatolian, or Asian side, of Istanbul.  Though the building is historic, the hotel is decorated in a “zen” or contemporary style.  The Yali (waterfront mansion) once belonged to a Pasha and has only 15 sleeping rooms – 10 deluxe rooms and 5 suites. If you can splurge, enjoy the split-level suites that overlook the Bosphorus with private balconies.  The benefit of being on the Asian side of Istanbul is that it is far less crowded, and although it is the Asian side, it feels more Western.  The beautiful Badat Cadesi is a wide street filled with shopping and restaurants.  The room rates start from 250 euro.

Ajia Hotel in Istanbul

Ajia Hotel Suite

Where in the world is Matt Lauer? He is in Istanbul…of course!

Here are some clips from his trip. I hope they give you some insight as to why YOU should travel to Istanbul. When you decide you must travel to Istanbul, let Artun Travel help you get there! As a full service travel consultancy, we can create a full itinerary for you and your travel companions.

Not convinced yet if you should visit Istanbul? Phone us! 800.677.8875 or shoot us an email

Though I’ve lived in Chicago most of my life, I had never been to the Skydeck at the former Sears Tower, currently Willis Tower. I thought it would be a fun idea to take a trip up to the Skydeck of Willis Tower and walk out onto that much talked about LEDGE. “The Ledge” is on the 103rd floor, or 1353 feet in the air, and it is a glass box that extends 4 feet OUT of the building. You feel as though you are suspended in mid air!

When I arrived, the line to the entrance was excruciatingly long, many tourists visiting from around the U.S. and abroad. The elevator ride is impressive, only 60 seconds to climb 103 stories, pretty cool. The film everyone was required to watch gives one a perspective on the history of the building, formerly known as Sears Tower, as well as a brief history of Chicago architecture. The film left me beaming with civic pride. However, the wait time to get upstairs is quite long. I walked in the door at 3:30 P.M. and did not find myself outside again until 5:00 P.M. I strongly suggest paying the extra $15 for the “fast pass” if you can afford it. The fast pass will help you avoid the line to get upstairs and you will bypass the movie. If you do not purchase the “fast pass”, go to the Skydeck website and purchase your tickets online beforehand. Purchasing your tickets online will save you about a half an hour.

When I first arrived upstairs on the Skydeck, I walked around and snapped some photos with my Blackberry camera. I had not planned on visiting the Skydeck so I didn’t bring my actual camera. (I USUALLY carry my digital camera in my purse, unfortunately, not today).

My goal was to head STRAIGHT to The Ledge so I could stand out there and face my fear of heights! I walked all the way around the Skydeck until I finally arrived at The LEDGE. I waited in line to get out there for about five minutes. When I first stepped out onto The Ledge, I felt as though I was going to throw up. I quickly stepped off the ledge and let others get out there. Finally, I gathered the courage to DO IT and took another step out onto The Ledge. The funny part was, I found myself grasping tightly onto the wall, as if that would help me should The Ledge break free and fall to earth. I never could make it all the way out the four feet to the glass wall, it was far too scary for me.

MY FEET IN MID AIR!

THAT LOOK ON MY FACE…ITS FEAR!

I took this last photo while I as standing on my ledge. There are three or four ledges total. Each ledge can see the one next to it. From here you get a good view of this scary experience.

Mardan Palace recently opened its doors in Antalya, Turkey – creating one of the finest destinations in the world on The Turkish Riviera. This five star resort is one of the most awe inspiring projects in Turkey. The development of this luxury resort has garnered international attention, firmly placing Antalya on the luxury travel map.

The development is the vision of Telman Ismailov, Chairman of Russia’s biggest property developers. The grandiose property houses 17 bars and 10 restaurants, a 20,000 square foot spa and fitness center and an 18 hole, signature golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus (golf course due in 2010).

The hotel is located on the Lara region of the Mediterranean Sea comprised of 560 sleeping rooms (from €360 a night) with two Royal Suites – each with private pools for a mere €14,000 a night. Mardan Palace captures the essence of ancient Ottoman architecture, with the main hotel resembling Dolmabahce Palace. The hotel successfully incorporates Turkish hospitality and modern details to deliver a world class travel experience.

The Grand Opening Party

The Grand Opening for the $1.4 billion hotel included a star studded, international guest list including Sharon Stone, Richard Gere, Paris Hilton, Seal and Monica Bellucci.

Other Details
ACCOMMODATION

SPA

Hammam

Sauna at Mardan Palace

Snow Paradise

FOOD AND BEVERAGE FACILITIES

BARS

Jazz Bar

Las Vegas is one of my all time favorite U.S. destinations. Vegas is special for a variety of reasons, in my personal opinion, the decadence and gluttonous attitude is what makes Vegas sinfully unique and totally enjoyable. Since 1995, I have averaged about three trips a year to Las Vegas. I have stayed in just about every hotel, from The Flamingo, The Aladdin (right before they changed to a Starwood Property), The Four Seasons, Bellagio and Caesar’s Palace in the “Rainman Suite”. Aside from luxury properties, Las Vegas has world class shopping, top notch entertainment, dining, art galleries, an aquarium and various other attractions within a close distance.

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On a recent “girls trip” to Las Vegas, we stayed at The Bellagio. Girls trips to Vegas can be filled with debauchery, adultery and mayhem OR, as in my case, they can be very relaxing. My friends and I like to share one room. We wake up early (by Vegas standards) and go down by the pool where we will take our breakfast. I never have a cocktail before a swim, once my laps are in, cocktail time may begin. A few hours in the sun and we head upstairs, get cleaned up a bit and go back down to the Spa. Perhaps a short nap after the spa and we are up and ready to head out to dinner.

Dinner is always an event for my friends and me. One of my most memorable dinners took place at Craftsteak where I was lucky enough to indulge in the Waygu Beef filet that was flown in from Australia. TO THIS DAY, I recall this steak, in fact, I can almost taste the tender cut of meat it as I type these words. At $15 an ounce, with a 6 oz. minimum, it was worth every penny. Another notable dining experience took place at Joel Robuchon in the MGM Grand, a true culinary event. I willingly separated from the group to have dinner alone at the bar where I was treated like a princess. I opted for a few courses that I cherry picked from the menu, versus doing the whole tasting menu. I strongly recommend that you make an evening of the dining experience at Joel Robuchon and savor the full tasting menu.

After dinner, the girls and I will indulge in a little gambling, I prefer a game of craps, followed by a cocktail in one of those obscure, hotel lounges or perhaps the Foundation Room in the House of Blues – located in Mandalay Bay. Though nightclubs can be great fun, they are not for me. Usually, I am in bed by 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. at the latest so I can hit the pool in the a.m.

The shopping, one cannot overlook the shopping in Vegas. The Forum Shops at Caesar’s plays host to some of the most luxurious shops as well as unique brands. On the high end side of things, you can find the usual suspects: Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Versace. The Forum Shops are also home to more obscure shops and brands such as: Agent Provocateur, Chrome Hearts, Taryn Rose, Nanette Lepore – just to name a few! In addition to The Forum Shops, the higher end hotels like The Belagio & The Wynn have boutiques such as Channel, fine jewelry like Cartier, Prada, Moschino, Dior, etc. And of course, don’t forget the Bebes and the BCBGs of the world, they are there too – plentiful in fact!

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One cannot write a review on Las Vegas without mentioning the obvious…The gambling, shows and pools! Gambling really depends on who you are and the type of gambler you are. I love the Sports Book at Caesar’s, followed by my second favorite, the MGM Grand sportsbook. When I am not in the mood to play with a minimum $10 (or much more) bet, I head to Harrah’s on the strip where my luck rarely seems to run out.

It is common knowledge that the shows in Vegas are first class, the best in the world one might argue. Cher, Elton John, Celine Dion are a few of the big name performers who have shows in Vegas. However, everyone associates Cirque du Soleil with Las Vegas and “O” being on the top of every list. It is hard to imagine a trip to Vegas without seeing at least one Cirque du Soleil show. The old school favorites are not to be neglected, I like to see a true Vegas-style, topless revue when I am in town. Additionally, the magician’s magician, Lance Burton, still puts on a great act with showgirls and all. Lance Burton is a thorough entertainer, if you get the chance, check out Lance Burton’s later show which is a little less kid-friendly than the earlier set.

The pools! Did somebody say wave pool? Well if you did, you were talking about Mandalay Bay! There is a sandy beach, a lazy river and a wave pool that has 6 foot waves. Don’t forget scantily clad waitresses bringing you tropical cocktails. The Bellagio has a fantastic pool from a landscape architecture standpoint. The best part about The Bellagio pool is that you don’t have to deal with a vast number of children, this hotel tends to have fewer families staying, therefore fewer children. The Four Season’s pool is worth a mention because it is the most UN-Las Vegas-esque pool. It is a smaller pool, with nearly no hubbub. Overall, The Four Season’s is the best Vegas hotel one can visit when trying to escape the overwhelming Las Vegas experience. Finally, we have to mention The Hard Rock pool, the most Las Vegas-esque pool in terms of augmented breasts, bleached hair and teeny-tiny bikinis. Sundays at The Hard Rock pool is the famous “Rehab” party and if you’re looking for one last hoorah before you head out of town, you’ll find it at Rehab.

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