Important Information for May 14-18 2021 IR Workshop Gathering in Ağva/Istanbul

We are very excited and looking forward to meeting you for our Workshop Green House Garden Park Hotel in Cumhuriyet/Beykoz outside Istanbul from May 16-21 2023. Please see below for some crucial information as of October 2021 (we will update this page as changes ocure).

Istanbul Card and Passport Number:
If you stay in Istanbul before and/or after the workshop, we will arrange an Istanbul Card for you so that you can easily get around by Bus, Metro, and Boat. You can even use public toilets with it. 

WhatsApp Group:
Join the closed Workshop May 2022 WhatsApp Group. Click here to join.

Contact us:
You can text or call Mehmet at +90 531 655 9306
You can text or call Martin at +90 535 863 6450
Martin US Landline: +1 707 566 2106
[email protected]

Airport Transportation Options:
It is vital that you send us the dates, times, and flight numbers for both, your arrival and departure at the New Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), so that we can support you with transportation to and from Green House Garden Park Hotel Cumhuriyet/Beykoz.

If you arrive before Tuesday, May 16. you have several options to travel from the Airport to your destination in Istanbul:

1. We can arrange an inside airport pickup and transportation to your Istanbul destination in a comfortable Mercedes Minibus for 550 Lira (about US $30) from the New Istanbul Airport (IST) and 600 Lira (about US $32) from Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).

2. If you are on a tight budget, you can take the HAVAIST bus from the New Istanbul Airport (IST) https://www.hava.ist/en/ for 74 Lira* (US $4). It picks up at the lowest floor below the arrival hall.

If you arrive at the Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) you can take the HAVABUS https://www.havabus.com/ for 50 Lira* (US $2.65). It picks up outside the arrival hall.

* You can pay cash. Prices may change by May 2023.
Both buses make several convenient stops in Istanbul. You need to tell the driver where you will get off so that your luggage is in the right compartment. Check the websites above for stops. From there, you can take a taxi to your final destination. Let us know if you choose this option and we will give you more details, especially which stop to use and how to hail a Taxi without getting scammed.

3. You can take a Taxi from the New Istanbul Airport (IST) to your Istanbul destination for 500 Lira* (US $26.50) or from Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) for 570 Lira* (US $30). We strongly recommend to fix the price before getting into the Taxi (show them the money and your destination address and use Google Maps to make sure you are dropped off at the right place.) Otherwise, you may be charged much more and dropped off somewhere else. You may have to try a few drivers until one accepts. Don't get scammed!

If you choose the bus or Taxi option above, it is best to exchange your currency to a few hundred Turkish Lira inside the airport.

Current cash exchange rates for Turkish Lira:
1$ US Dollar = about 18.87 Turkish Liras (February 2023)
1€ Euro = about 20.10 Turkish Liras (February 2023)

To and from Cumhuriyet/Beykoz:
On Friday, May 16. at 4:00 PM we will have a tour bus take you from the Integral Center to Cumhuriyet/Beykoz.
This trip is included in the workshop price.

Integral Center (4 Walking Minutes from Trump Tower)
Mecidiyeköy Mahalesi (Neighborhood)
Lati Lokum Sk. Cinar Apt. No 12, Floor 4, Apartment 14 (Street and Apartment Number)
34387 Şişli/Istanbul
Google Maps: https://g.page/Integralcenteristanbul?share
Mehmet Cell Phone +90 531 655 9306
Martin Cell Phone +90 535 863 6450
US Landline +1 707 566 2106

If you take a Taxi to Integral Center, it is easiest to tell the driver to take you to Trump Tower and then walk 4 Minutes to the Integral Center from there.

Outside Integral Center Building across from Şok Market:

When you get there, open the outside gate, and dial the number 14, and press the bell sign, then take the elevator or stairs to the 4th floor.

Airport to Cumhuriyet/Beykoz
If you arrive on Tuesday, May 16 at the New Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), we will arrange a Taxi, private car, or minibus pickups every 2 hours  to Istanbul (if you arrive in the morning) or directly to Cumhuriyet/Beykoz (if you arrive in the afternoon/evening). This trip is included in the workshop price.

Cumhuriyet/Beykoz to Istanbul
On Wednesday, May 18 we will have a tour bus leave from Cumhuriyet/Beykoz at 5:00 PM to take us back to the Integral Center in Istanbul (included in Workshop price).
From there, you can join us for dinner at Big Chefs in Trump Tower and/or take a taxi to your final destination, including the Airport. If you have to leave early, we will arrange transportation from Cumhuriyet/Beykoz for you (not included in the workshop price).

What to bring:
It will be between 17 and 27 Celsius (62F - 80F) and may rain at times and be windy. Bring comfortable clothes and dress in layers.

Other than that, remember money, passport, cell phone, charger (Turkey uses the typical European Type C, E, F Power Outlets; we will have adapters to US Outlets for you), laptop, medication, toiletries, etc.

Food Requests:
Please let us know if you have specific food requests (there will be meat and vegetarian/vegan breakfast, lunch, and dinner options) or if you have any food allergies so that we can let the Robin's Nest Kitchen Staff know and go shopping for you or ask you to bring specific food items that are not available in Turkey.

Sightseeing:
On Monday and Tuesday, May 21/22, we will leave from the Integral Center at 11:00 AM for the sightseeing tour (or you can meet us at the starting point of the tour.)

Tentative Plan:
Day 1: Thursday (or Friday, depending on weather)
Meet at Integral Center at 11:00 AM. Metro to Şişhane Galata Exit Metro Station
11:30 Galata Tower and Museum (100 TL)
12:30 Istiklal walk towards Taksim Square
13:15 Lunch at historic Haci Abdullah Turkish Restaurant,
14:30 Taksim Square,
15:00 Şişhane Metro Station Istiklal Exit and walk to Bosporus Boat Tour
15:45 Bosporus Boat Tour https://goo.gl/maps/seq3St59AUwkNeum7
17:45 Ferry to Kadiköy
18:30 Dinner at Ciya Kebap (or similar Turkish restaurant)
20:00 Ferry back Karaköy or Besiktas or Metro Bus back to Integral Center near Trump Tower.

Day 2: Friday (or Thursday, depending on weather)
Meet at Integral Center at 10:00 AM or 10:30 at M2 Metroline Vezneciler station (towards Yenikapı) in front of Coffee Gutta Vezneciler at the little Plaza (Kalenderhane, Vezneciler, 16 Mart Şehitleri Cd. no:1/A, 34134 Fatih/İstanbul https://goo.gl/maps/UGVEYXvMexhkZ5Ew7).
11:00 Topkapi Palace Museum (320 Lira) or
11:00 or West Entrance Grand Bazar
13:00 Lunch at Pierre Loti Hotel Loti Roof Lounge, Sultan Ahmet, Divan Yolu Cd. No:27, 34112 Fatih/İstanbul+90 538 093 58 85
14:30 Hagia Sophia Front Entrance (closes around 11:00 AM for Noon Prayer and re-opens around 1:00 PM - Same for Blue Mosque, which may still be under construction)
15:30 Blue Mosque (may be under construction)
16:00 Basilica Cistern
17:00 Main (Tourist) Entrance Suleymaniye Mosque
18:00 Main (Tourist) Entrance Suleymaniye Mosque
18:30 Şişhane Metro Station (Galata Tower Exit as today)
19:00 Dinner at Firuzende Galata Roof Top Restuarant https://g.page/firuzendegalata?share (Use Anemon Hotel Elevator to top)
21:00 Return to Integral Center by Metro or your hotel.

Other activities for you to consider:
Traditional Turkish dance & whirling dervishes in a cultural center in a 15th-century bath-house.
Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 PM
Hoca Paşa, Hoca Paşa Mahallesi Ankara Caddesi, Hocapaşa Hamamı Sk. No:3 D:B, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul
https://www.hodjapasha.com/en/

For any questions, requests, or information, please, contact us: [email protected]