Going To Istanbul Later This Month

[Balthazar]

On the 27th of December me and a friend of mine are going to Istanbul. We'll stay there for about 10 days, so there should be plenty of time to catch the most important of attractions. Seeing how this is probably one of the very few trips I'll take to a Middle Eastern country for the foreseeable future (unless my economic situation drastically betters ), I though I should do some hookah related shopping.

Here's what I'll definitely be on the lookout for:

1-2 hoses (preferable those large Turkish ones)
500g-1000g shisha. BRAND SUGGESTIONS? (would buy loads more if it wasn't for Norwegian law, in actuality I'm only allowed to bring 250g with me when I enter again, and if I go way overboard I'll be awarded a pretty hefty bill)

MAYBE a new hookah. I'm not quite sure about this yet. I do have two hookahs I love (a KM and a Nour), but I have to say some of the topics on different Turkish hookahs have made me want one. My main consideration is getting it back to Norway without breaking the vase or something similar. My bag really isn't very roomy. For those of you who has brought hookahs back from foreign countries, how have you done this?

I'm also pondering getting some coal, seeing how I'm running low (and usually have to order from Germany to get good coal). However, I have no idea what kind of coal you can get a hold of in Istanbul, and it might not be worth it.

Anything else I should get?
Any places (hookah bars or whatever else I should see) I should visit?
If I remember correctly, Hassouni has been there (maybe several times)? What would you recommend?

[Amn_sinclair]

I really don't have any suggestions but make sure you post how the trip goes because I have been wanting to go to Istanbul while I'm still in Europe and this girl I was seeing a while back got me wanting to go since she was from Turkey and went to Istanbul every year

[The Jester]

if i'm not wrong, the shisha/tobacco limit is per capita
which means you can bring in that amoung and your friend too, you're at a total of 500g at least

packing
i recommend you get a large sport bag if possible, they are lighter which makes it cheaper for you if your plane has a limit
also, they are pretty big, so a large stem should fit
take useless T-shirts and other clothes you can leave behind-you can take 5 plain "worthless" T shirts, socks, underwear and some old jeans or anything and just dispose them before you go back

hookah
TOILET PAPER
LOTS OF IT!!!
since you probably wont be able to get your hands on wrapping foil use it
fill the base with it thight so that it becomes sturdier (a T shirt will do it too)
put it between clothes, so that it has some cushion


second option is to see if you or your friend can get a big hard case bag
the hookah would be safe in there

have fun on your trip

[Hassouni]

[font="Arial"][size="2"]Ah you lucky fellow.[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]
[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]Yes, get the hoses, don't worry about coal, and look for Elmas or Rosanna tobacco. Getting a good nargile may take some tracking down or knowing where to go, a lot of what's sold in the touristy places is not fantastic.[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]
[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]As far as places to smoke, the best ones are:[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]
[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]At the cafes on the Galata bridge, preferably late afternoon[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]
[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]At one of the many nargile places at Tophane, any time (Tram stop: Tophane)[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]
[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]In one of the alleys of İstiklal Caddesi at night[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]
[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]and on the Asian side, the classy waterfront cafes at Fenerbahçe neighborhood of Kadıköy on the Asian side. [/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]
[/size][/font]
[font="Arial"][size="2"]Where are you staying? Feel free to PM me for lots of recommendations on everything[/size][/font]

[Balthazar]

[quote name='Amn_sinclair' timestamp='1291631023' post='490461']
I really don't have any suggestions but make sure you post how the trip goes because I have been wanting to go to Istanbul while I'm still in Europe and this girl I was seeing a while back got me wanting to go since she was from Turkey and went to Istanbul every year
[/quote]

Will do

[quote name='The Jester' timestamp='1291636293' post='490464']
if i'm not wrong, the shisha/tobacco limit is per capita
which means you can bring in that amoung and your friend too, you're at a total of 500g at least
[/quote]

That's true. The 500-1000g is what I will take home myself, my friend will probably buy about the same amount as well.
And thanks for the packaging suggestions. If I end up buy a hookah they'll come in handy for sure.

[quote name='Hassouni' timestamp='1291639889' post='490472']
[font="Arial"][size="2"]Ah you lucky fellow.[/size][/font]

[font="Arial"][size="2"]Yes, get the hoses, don't worry about coal, and look for Elmas or Rosanna tobacco. Getting a good nargile may take some tracking down or knowing where to go, a lot of what's sold in the touristy places is not fantastic.[/size][/font][/quote]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I'll probably not be buying a hookah, seeing how the ones I have work great, and I'm already a little short on space at home.

[quote name='Hassouni' timestamp='1291639889' post='490472']
[font="Arial"][size="2"]As far as places to smoke, the best ones are:[/size][/font]

[font="Arial"][size="2"]At the cafes on the Galata bridge, preferably late afternoon[/size][/font]

[font="Arial"][size="2"]At one of the many nargile places at Tophane, any time (Tram stop: Tophane)[/size][/font]

[font="Arial"][size="2"]In one of the alleys of İstiklal Caddesi at night[/size][/font]

[font="Arial"][size="2"]and on the Asian side, the classy waterfront cafes at Fenerbahçe neighborhood of Kadıköy on the Asian side. [/size][/font]

[font="Arial"][size="2"]Where are you staying? Feel free to PM me for lots of recommendations on everything[/size][/font]
[/quote]

Thanks, great to get concrete suggestions instead of just wandering around town on our own. Especially cool that you included best time of day to visit. Is it based on opening hours, or on the atmosphere at diffent hours? Anyways, this is very helpful!

We'll be staying in [url="http://www.hostels.com/hostels/istanbul/second-home-hostel/35924"]Second Home Hostel[/url]. It's nothing fancy, but it's affordable, and has very good ratings on different sites/travel guides. It's just going to be used for sleeping and showering anyways, so as long as it's affordable and clean, it'll do just fine.

I'll send you a PM if I have any more questions. I probably will have. Again, thanks a bunch

[Hassouni]

[quote name='Balthazar' timestamp='1291643927' post='490479']
Thanks, great to get concrete suggestions instead of just wandering around town on our own. Especially cool that you included best time of day to visit. Is it based on opening hours, or on the atmosphere at diffent hours? Anyways, this is very helpful!

We'll be staying in [url="http://www.hostels.com/hostels/istanbul/second-home-hostel/35924"]Second Home Hostel[/url]. It's nothing fancy, but it's affordable, and has very good ratings on different sites/travel guides. It's just going to be used for sleeping and showering anyways, so as long as it's affordable and clean, it'll do just fine.

I'll send you a PM if I have any more questions. I probably will have. Again, thanks a bunch
[/quote]


The time suggestions are more for better atmosphere. I looked up your hostel, and it's very close to the Galata Bridge, from which Tophane is just a short walk across. Istiklal Caddesi is bit of a hike uphill but not too far, and to get to the Asian side you can take a ferry from near the bridge. I found some nargile shop near where you're staying that had a lot of cool hoses and accessories - I think it was near the Spice Bazaar.

Again, if you need recommendations on stuff to see, where to eat or drink, etc, just ask!

[Skoozle]

If you do get a hookah, traveling with it should be pretty easy.

I bought one in the Dubai airport on the way to Bangladesh. Thr guy in the Dubai airport wrapped it in bubble wrap and I carried it in the shopping bag as a carry on from Dubai to Bangladesh to Bahrain to London and then finally to the US.

I think you would be better off packing it nicely in your carry on luggage, the baggage handlers are not gentle with your bags.

Have a nice trip, ounds like fun.

[Hassouni]

That's Dubai airport, which is very different. I've bought one there too and it's nice and all with the wrap but the average bazaar guy in Istanbul is not gonna have that.

[The Jester]

oh I forgot something
try to check a duty free BEFORE you even go to Istanbul if it is possible
its a hookah country they could have some basic stuff like coals there cheap

(havent been theren, havent seen it or even heard of it but it is an idea to think about)

[Hassouni]

[quote name='The Jester' timestamp='1291662135' post='490499']
oh I forgot something
try to check a duty free BEFORE you even go to Istanbul if it is possible
its a hookah country they could have some basic stuff like coals there cheap

(havent been theren, havent seen it or even heard of it but it is an idea to think about)
[/quote]

They don't. It's not like Lebanon where it's EVERYWHERE and the airport has a lot of stuff (ditto Dubai) Everything will be quite cheap inside the country anyway.