Stopover at Turkey Airport

Q: I shall be visiting Turkey for the second time in April next year. My flight from Johannesburg arrives in Istanbul early in the morning and I leave for Dalaman on the coast much later in the day - about 5 pm. I should like to shower, change and rest before flying on to Dalaman, preferably in an hotel near the airport, unless there are facilities in the airport itself. I would appreciate information on this. - Rosemary Burke

A: The most convenient place for you to spend your time between flights is the Istanbul International Airport Hotel. This hotel is located within terminal one and is divided into two parts - one within the transit zone and one on the land side. It has a fitness centre, a business centre and a restaurant. You can make bookings on the hotel website (www.istanbul-airporthotel.com). or However, the hotel is not cheap and a six-hour stay can cost around 130 Euros. There are plenty of other hotels near the airport, many offering free shuttle services. You will need to make a request for "day use" of a hotel room, as your times do not fit in with regular overnight times. You can check the various hotels available on the website www.istanbul.airporthotelguide.com. Be careful to check actual distance from airport and the regularity of its shuttle bus service. (26/9/10)