Attaturk Airport-food and drink

[Philoz]

last time I had a one hour stopover on my way back to Manchester-I needed a cold Efes, and found a nice bar in the ground floor shopping concourse(On your left as you go in main entrance).

Imagine my surprise when I found it was TL 18 for .7lt-now I have travelled a fair bit,but that is taking the P a bit.

Are there any 'value for money' places to eat and drink in Attaturk? - looked on the website but not much help.

I have a Turkish airlines 'Miles and smiles' card-can I pay and get into a first class lounge with this - anyone know?

[karmels]

Philoz.

If you have a HSBC or may be another bank card with a premier account you can go to the THY lounge and enjoy a free meal and a beer.

Mel.

[cyprusishome]

A bottle of Effes in Istanbul city bar is about 10tl, so 18tl for 0.7 in airport bar is probably equitable to Istanbul prices given normal airport mark ups. I refuse to pay airport prices in UK as ridiculous mark ups.

Used HSBC Premier lounge earlier in year and highly recommended. If you qualify for entry, free food, all types of drink, free internet, comfortable seating etc.

[sophie]

There isn't an airport in the world (at least not those I've been to) that don't rook you blind for food and drink. Also, don't forget that Turkey is a muslim country and all alcohol is expensive.

[Halffull]

I agree my friend was complaining at how expensive effes was where he lives in Turkey, can't remember thinking it was that expensive when I was passing through the airport in July,at least all the staff were Turkish and they have a smoking area for those who must.

[Chieftain]

We were in Turkey end of October . We flew out of Dalaman, at the food concourse there we paid £19.30p for 2 cups of coffee and 2 cheese and tomato half sized baquets .

[suehowlittle]

Chieftain, do you really mean £19.30 or 19.30tl?

[LooseBoots]

There isn't an airport in the world (at least not those I've been to) that don't rook you blind for food and drink. Also, don't forget that Turkey is a muslim country and all alcohol is expensive.

Well we had a steak meal in Panama airport earlier in the year. not only was it the best steak I have EVER tasted, it was not exceedingly dear.

[bigOz]

Transit launges are more expensive to buy food and drinks from. The airport cafes in arrival end departure halls (before check-in) are always a lot cheaper.

The moral of the story; do not have a beer for an hour while in transit launge but wait until you get on the plane it is probably cheaper, depending on which airline you fly with

[Philoz]

Thank you for replies.
I used to have a 'Priority pass' card via an i24 credit card for which I paid £275 a year for-that got me into every 1st class lounge in the world, and was good value considering the amount of travel I was doing at the time.

Now I have retired, and only travel by air maybe once or twice a year, the cost is not justifiable.

I must say I didn't realise it was TL 10 for a beer in turkey- why is it half the price here?

As for Turkey being 'Muslim'-I thought it was secular,although I accept most are(non practising)Muslims-but that is similar to the UK in many ways,re Christianity.

So I will see If I can get in a lounge on the back of my Miles and smiles card. or maybe cardplus.

[woodspeckie]

I holiday in Turkey twice a year and have never paid more than 5tl for a large Effes.

[sophie]

In Antalya 6 weeks ago an Efes was 5tl for a small one in a cafe (when we could find one selling it) and about 8tl in a boutique hotel.

[karmels]

The good lady and my self spent 4 months this summer in Turkey on the boat for the 4th year, we have never paid more than 5TL for a beer, but on the other hand we never venture past Gazipasa into the hell hole of the tourist resorts.
We had to do some shopping in Alanya so got the dolmus did the shopping then had a small walk round, I saw in more than 6 places beer prices in Euros and a Efes beer was 6 Euro.
We tend to travel between Mersin and Gazipasa there are some wonderful places the food is wonderful & cheap, Full kebeb costs 12TL and as said before Efes 5TL.
Maybe soon we will be able to fly from Ercan to GaziPasa as another destination to see the real Turkey.

Mel.

PS Hope this is not to off topic.

[woodspeckie]

Mel. There is a lovely Marina at Yalikavak and another at Cesme, these are lovely places to have a holiday, my favourite though is Akyaka in Gokova, we keep away from the tourist resorts like Bodrum, Marmaris, Kusadasi or Alanya.

[zarafet]

I love Yalikavak as well. Lovely little place.

[andrew4232]

cesme is great for wind surfing loads of younger Turks come down from Istanbul to wind surf