Booking and payment for accommodation in Istanbul were made through the travel agency NABGIERS TRAVEL.
In the evening, on the eve of departure, when we returned to the hotel, we found in the rooms a notice about the marathon on the day of our departure and, allegedly, the complete closure of the city during these hours from transport. We were told that in order to ensure that we arrive on time at the airport, we MUST leave the hotel before 5 a.m. the next day. In our case... arrive at the airport 12 hours before departure.
At the reception, it turned out that the employee directly dealing with this problem ... had gone home, as her working hours were over. The demand to talk to the general manager was not satisfied – he did not come out to us… Ordinary employees could not offer any other solution to the problem, assistance in booking a hotel at the airport was also not provided to us (and this despite the fact that the reservation is made by bank card, and Russian cards do not work abroad, as the staff is well aware!)
The problem was solved by us and at our expense.
Later it turned out that there was no total closure of the streets, and the rest of the passengers of our Boeing to Moscow got to the airport perfectly on the day of departure!..
Neither the hotel nor the travel agency where we actually sent the payment for the tour,
- they didn't reimburse us for the expenses
- they did not make an official apology
- they did not provide real effective assistance.
Draw conclusions!
And beware of these companies!