One of our faithful readers, Jenn, sent us this reader success story about going to four cities with her family of four. They visited Frankfurt, Istanbul, Cologne, and Amsterdam with their family of four (P1, P2, 18-year-old son, 11-year-old son). Here’s her story:

 

Flights

Our trip began with a flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, booked through United Airlines, flying Lufthansa metal. We had been offered $750 each on a previous trip to be bumped and fly on another flight that left 20 minutes later than our original flight. For our family of four, that was a no-brainer, so we took that offer. The $3,000 we got for being bumped on that trip funded the round-trip tickets for this trip, which we took this past August.

We spent one night at Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport (two rooms, 3,500 points each). Thanks to our Globalist status, we had a lovely breakfast for all four of us, a welcome amenity of chocolates, and a round of free drinks at the lobby bar. We have stayed here before and love this hotel.

Then we flew FRA-IST and paid cash (just over $100 one way per person) for this flight, as it was very inexpensive and the points-to-cash value was not worth the 15,000 points it would have cost. Turkish economy class is lovely, including meal service and delicious wine.

 

Istanbul Stay

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Istanbul. It is a Category 4 hotel, and we booked two rooms. I requested adjoining rooms and used a combination of points (15K per night) and free-night awards to book this five-night stay. We used a GOH award for our second room, which guaranteed our kiddos breakfast and club access. Our combined rooms made for the most ridiculously large suite, including a kitchenette and living room. 

The club had snacks (full-on meal-worthy) and tons of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There was the option to have breakfast here, which would have been fine, but the buffet in the restaurant was MASSIVE!! Fresh juices, baked goods, eggs made to order, olives and cheeses, Turkish specialties . . . but the best part was the service!!

 

Istanbul Activities

While in Istanbul, we took a private food tour that changed how we travel. All four of us really loved having our new friend show us around the Asian and European sides of the city. We learned so much about Istanbul’s history and culture, talked about travel (his favorite spot he’s visited is Moscow), and ate more delicious food than I ever thought possible. Now we’re huge fans of taking a food tour on the first or second day of a trip to acquaint ourselves with a new city. 

We also took a tour of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque (this guide, unfortunately, was not as enthusiastic). My oldest had done a report in school on the Hagia Sophia recently and actually knew a surprising amount, so he was guide #2. It was so rewarding to see him make the connections between textbook learning and this real-life experience. Please note that in both buildings, women will need scarves to cover their heads and shoulders to enter. 

 

 

It was at the top of our list to experience a Turkish bath, but traditionally, women attend at different times than men, which would mean we’d be split up. As the P1 who put this whole trip together, there was no way I  wanted to miss this moment with my kids. We eventually found a bath that would accommodate a family for a private session. My youngest loved the bubbles and the warm slab of marble we all rested on during the experience so much that he asked if we could come back the next day. I highly recommend trying this experience if you visit Turkey.

We also visited the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar on different days. Both were great experiences, and we found plenty of souvenirs here. Don’t be afraid to enter one of the shops and have tea with the workers. We spent quite some time chatting with a young man at a spice shop, and this was one of my favorite moments on the trip.

My favorite thing about Istanbul was seeing all the sweet dogs and cats throughout the city. Our guide told us that 17 animal ambulances in the city are dedicated to keeping them vaccinated, dewormed, and healthy. We noticed dog and cat homes in the parks and throughout the city. They are welcome to come and go from all areas, including shops and restaurants, so it isn’t uncommon to see a cat curled up on a chair or a dog sleeping under a table. It made my heart so happy to see the universal respect and care for these creatures.

Istanbul was amazing, and I cannot wait to return. The food, the animals, the service, the history, but most importantly, the people . . . every part was incredible!

Stay tuned for part 2 of this reader success story, next Friday, where Jenn and her family travel to Cologne and Amsterdam!

 

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