Information Pack

Our objective is to help make your trip to Istanbul simple to plan and your time in this amazing city exciting, memorable and problem free.

We will outline below the simple steps required to book.

1. Choose which itinerary option below is relevant to you.

If you are visiting Thassos with a ‘Package Holiday’ company, select the ‘Package Holiday’ itinerary.

If you are visiting Thassos independently, we have designed an option to save you time and money by either flying in or flying home from Istanbul airport (i.e. the trip will be at the beginning or end of your total holiday). If this suits your holiday plans, select the ‘Independent’ itinerary.

However, if you are an independent traveller who would prefer to both start and end your trip to Istanbul on Thassos, please also select the ‘Package Holiday’ itinerary option.

2. Then go back to our offer webpage, click on your selected itinerary option and decide whether you want a 4 or 5 day trip to Istanbul.

3. Next, visit the Senatus Hotel website at www.senatushotel.com (you will find a direct link on the offer page). Decide which class of room you desire, i.e. Consul, Senator, Dominus, or Imperator. We have negotiated a 20% discount on all the hotel’s room rates.

4. At this stage please contact us by email at info@a-to-z-guide.co.uk confirming:- your name(s), the itinerary chosen, your desired arrival and departure dates in Istanbul and finally your chosen Senatus room class. We will then email you to confirm the details of your trip and the total cost of the package.

5. If this is acceptable, book the dates you require directly with the hotel on their website entering the Promotional code ATOZ1112 in the Corporate number ‘drop down’ box which will appear if you click the ‘special rates’ button. This will automatically confirm the ‘A to Z Special Rate’. As this is an exclusive offer to our readers, you are also required to present a copy of the 2014 ‘A to Z Guide to Thassos’ on your arrival at the Senatus Hotel.

6. Once you have booked the hotel, contact us by email confirming your hotel booking reference and we will send you a full schedule for your trip to Istanbul.

Please print off a copy of this pack and read all the information carefully ,

If you have any questions not covered in this pack please email us.

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Information Pack Hints and tips

1. All our prices are in euro. The Turkish currency is the Turkish Lira, a simple rule for converting from TRY to euro is that 2.45 TRY equals roughly 1€. So when in Istanbul, divide any prices by 2.5 and you will roughly have the euro equivalent. You will not need any Lira until after you reach the hotel. Ask at the reception and they will advise you where you can exchange locally at a good rate. We have added a simple conversion table below.

2. Sadly, Turkish taxi drivers are not as honest as their counterparts in Greece (that is why we build in the cost of the hotel organising your transfers). However, if you use a taxi during your stay, we advise that you confirm the cost prior to agreeing. Better still, ask the hotel receptionist at the Senatus to book one of the local taxis that have a relationship with the hotel and are therefore unlikely to overcharge.

3. Some of the major tourist attractions in the city, such as Saint Sophia and Topkapi Palace, can get very busy during the season with long queues at the ticket office. We would therefore suggest that if you are visiting these attractions independently and not with a local tour company, you should go early or late in the day.

4. The hotel will supply you with information on excursions, maps etc.

5. The cost of meals is equivalent to Greece, if not a little cheaper and the quality and choice is usually excellent, especially in the vicinity of the hotel.

6. The Metro trams are regular and a cost effective way to get around. You buy your ticket at the machines situated at the tram stops.

7. Make sure you have good walking shoes!

8. Leatherware/accessories, gold and silver jewellery are all good value especially in the Grand Bazaar, but beware, the shop owners will do anything to entice you in! Also take note that some retailers will quote you in euro, so make sure which currency they are quoting and haggle hard over the price, it is expected!

Currency conversion table

10 TRY 4€

30 TRY 12€

50 TRY 20€

100 TRY 40€

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Information Pack

Recommended tourist attractions and excursions 1. Saint Sophia (Hagia Sophia) - within 10 minutes walk of the hotel. 2. Blue Mosque - within 10 minutes walk of the hotel.

3. Topkapi Palace and Archaeological Museum - within 10 minutes

walk of the hotel. 4. Grand Bazaar - within 20 minutes walk of the hotel, or take the tram

from the bottom of Divan Yolu. You leave the tram at the second stop and the bazzar is in front of you.

5. Hippodrome and Obelisk - within 10 minutes walk of the hotel. 6. City bus tour - the buses leave from just in front of Saint Sophia. 7. Half-day Bosphorus and Golden Horn boat trip - book at the

reception and you will be picked up and dropped off at the hotel. Cost 35€ p.p.

8. Basilica Cistern - within 15 minutes walk of the hotel. The

underground cistern was built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century to supply water to the city. It is one of the largest and most amazing cisterns in Istanbul.

9. Spice Bazaar - ask for directions from reception. 10. Emperor Constantine’s Palace - at the rear of the Albura Kathisma

restaurant, next to the hotel. If you have a meal in the restaurant they will be happy for you to view the underground ruins of the palace.

11. Galata Tower - ask at reception for directions. The tower was built in

500 A.D. as a watchtower to defend the city. 12. A walk around the hotel district - the district of Sultanahmet is

renowned for its traditional Ottoman architecture, the vast choice of quality restaurants and shops.

13. The Million Stone - just to the left of Saint Sophia. A Byzantine

milestone which bore the distances to cities throughout the Empire.

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Information Pack

Metro coach and ferry information

When you disembark from the Skala Prinos to Kavala ferry, leave the ferry-port and take the first major road on your right (Kountouriotou). This road leads up the hill out of Kavala towards the Roman style aqueduct (there is a Eurobank branch on the left hand corner of the road). Proceed up the hill and you will come to the aqueduct. Where the traffic goes through the arch of the aqueduct on the right side, you will see a cigarette kiosk. Stand opposite this, the Metro coach will come up the hill from the port area and when you see it, cross over to the kiosk to board the coach.

It may be advisable to buy some snacks and drinks in Kavala for the journey (you will arrive by ferry at approximately 08:45), as the motorway services on route have a limited range of food and snacks. The Turkish motorway services will convert prices in Lira into euro and you can pay in euro.

The coach to Istanbul is timed to arrive in Kavala at 11:30. However, it comes from Thessalonica and may be slightly delayed reaching Kavala, so we strongly advise that you are at the pick-up point by 11:15 and you do not worry if it is a little late, the driver will be aware that you are booked on the coach.

Once on the coach you will be asked by the conductor for your passport. This is so he can record your details for the border control. So please carry your passport in your hand-luggage. The same is true for the return journey.

If you return to Kavala by coach, ask the driver or conductor to drop you off near the ferry-port. The coach enters Kavala under the aqueduct and this will save you walking down the hill. On your journey back from Istanbul, you should arrive in Kavala at approximately 18:00. The last ferry over to Thassos during the summer season is at 19:30 or 20:00 depending on the month, there are a number of tavernas near the ferry-port and there is a bar in the ferry booking hall where you can relax.

We have added a map of Kavala on the next page with the ferry-port and pick-up point marked.

For details on picking up and paying for your coach tickets please email. Ferry tickets are purchased at the ferry-ports before boarding. The coach and ferry costs are included in the example total cost in the itineraries.

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To confirm, below are the 6 easy steps to book your trip to Istanbul!

1. Decide on the itinerary which suits you

2. Choose either a 4 or 5 day trip

3. Choose the class of hotel room you desire

4. Email us with all your details and we will confirm the total cost

5. Book your stay direct with the Senatus Hotel

6. Contact us once more and we will confirm where to pick up and pay for your coach tickets

That’s all, then just look forward to a wonderful time in the amazing city of Istanbul.

Please note

As is the case with all hotels, the room-rate at the Senatus increases for weekend bookings. So if you are budget conscious, it is advisable to book your trip to fall within week-days.

A few of Istanbul’s tourist attractions close for the day on either Monday or Tuesday, check with the hotel reception beforehand.

Payment information

Payment for the hotel charges is payable direct to the hotel and under their normal hotel terms and conditions. If you are paying by credit card, your card insurance should cover you for any unseen problems. Payment for the coach journeys to/from Istanbul are payable to the Metro Coach Company agent at the time of picking up your ticket, either on Thassos, or in Istanbul (dependent on which itinerary you choose) and is subject to the terms and conditions of the Metro Coach Company. Payment for the ferry transfers to and from Kavala are payable at the port ticket office prior to boarding the ferry. You will be required by Turkish Customs to purchase a short visit Visa at a cost of 15€ and payable at the border control.

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