Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[hungryhun]

Looks like voting is now down to 2 finalists Amsterdam and Istanbul.
Not sure why all the support for Amsterdam as there are always deals to be found. Istanbul gets my vote!

[cmyden]

So, KLM has narrowed it down to two finalists, Amsterdam and Istanbul. They've introduced a 'second round', where the voting essentially starts over.

Please vote Istanbul, a chance for a price like this may never be seen again. If Istanbul gets the most Likes and Comments, they will be putting it on sale for $749.

All you need to go is go to KLM Canada's Facebook page and hit Like under the Istanbul picture and make a Comment.

*Important* - Make sure you're hitting Like and leaving a comment for the correct destination!

Their Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/KLMCanada

[cmyden]

Calgary to Istanbul, Turkey - from $700 roundtrip after taxes!

I've been waiting a long time for this! Turkey has always been near the top of my list of places on this planet that I want to check out (and it's a long list). Fares are *never* cheap though, and usually hover around a minimum of $1300-$1400 roundtrip after taxes.

But then KLM decided to have a contest, and thanks to a little assistance from YYC Deals followers, well, here we are. I can't emphasize enough how rare an opportunity this is. If you've ever wanted to visit Turkey at an insane price, this is your chance.

At the time of this writing they haven't officially announced the winner, but I can see that they've already loaded the cheap fares to Istanbul into the system on KLM.com. In fact, I just bought my tickets. The bottom price looks to be $700 roundtrip after taxes, but the majority are in the range of $750 roundtrip after taxes (as KLM promised they would be), depending on the dates.

To find them, you can just go to http://www.klm.com and search for flights from Calgary to Istanbul.

The cheap fare period is from mid October 2012 to May 5th of 2013 ! So it's a pretty wide date range that you can choose from. KLM has stated that the cheap fares will be in the system for 48 hours.

Personally, I would aim for October 2012 or late April 2013. Both would be great times to visit Turkey, with good weather and less tourists.

Here's a link to historical weather for Istanbul:
http://www.allaboutturkey.com/iklim_ist.htm

screenshot from KLM.com



I've already created a Google Map to outline the places in Turkey I want to check out:

http://tinyurl.com/7moz2s9

Istanbul, Turkey



Cappadocia, Turkey



Pamukkale, Turkey



If you can't tell, I'm pretty excited about this deal! If anyone has any recommendations on places to check out in Turkey, please post.

cM

[bizaro86]

Booked for spring. I've been to Istanbul fairly recently, and it's awesome. We're planning to mainly use it as a jumping off point to other parts of Turkey/Middle East.

[cmyden]

Just to note a few other things...

- This deal is available from 10 cities across Canada. KLM said it was only going to be Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal, but you can find similar pricing from Kelowna, Victoria, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Regina, which is even more amazing.

- You can book a multiple night stopover in Amsterdam for about the same price.

[Kybosh]

This is very very tempting. I'm saving for some other locations though. . . Hmm, decisions.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Just to note a few other things...

- This deal is available from 10 cities across Canada. KLM said it was only going to be Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal, but you can find similar pricing from Kelowna, Victoria, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Regina, which is even more amazing.

- You can book a multiple night stopover in Amsterdam for about the same price.

How do you book the multiple night stopover? I've been trying to figure that out.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

How do you book the multiple night stopover? I've been trying to figure that out.

1. Go to the KLM page for multi-city booking, found here:

http://www.klm.com/travel/ca_en/apps...=home_multiple


2. Example:

Calgary to Amsterdam - departing November 8 (or whatever date you want)

Amsterdam to Istanbul - departing November 15 (or whatever date you want)

Istanbul to Calgary - departing November 22 (or whatever date you want)


3. Hit Search


4. Go through booking process

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by cmyden

1. Go to the KLM page for multi-city booking, found here:

http://www.klm.com/travel/ca_en/apps...=home_multiple


2. Example:

Calgary to Amsterdam - departing November 8 (or whatever date you want)

Amsterdam to Istanbul - departing November 15 (or whatever date you want)

Istanbul to Calgary - departing November 22 (or whatever date you want)


3. Hit Search


4. Go through booking process

I just tried something similar and got $718 all in with 4 days in Amsterdam.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I just tried something similar and got $718 all in with 4 days in Amsterdam.

Yep! Should be able to get as many or as few nights as you want.

[mykalberta]

If I wasnt going to Europe in September already I would be all over this.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Yep! Should be able to get as many or as few nights as you want.

In case anyone else thought of this you can't do it twice. You can only have one extended stop over in amsterdam before they jack the price up on you

[Tiger]

So... I have about 24hours to convince the wife she wants to go to turkey

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Tiger

So... I have about 24hours to convince the wife she wants to go to turkey

Tell her you'll take her on a sunrise balloon trip over Cappadocia...

[cmyden]

Heads Up: Looks like Air Canada is matching the fares to Istanbul and Amsterdam, if for some reason you'd prefer AC over KLM.

http://www.aircanada.com/en/offers/a...t.html#YYC-INT

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Heads Up: Looks like Air Canada is matching the fares to Istanbul and Amsterdam, if for some reason you'd prefer AC over KLM.

http://www.aircanada.com/en/offers/a...t.html#YYC-INT

Rats. I would have preferred that for aeroplan miles purposes, as the AC flights earn 100% status miles, while the KLM flights are in a fare class that earns zero on Alaska Air (where I've credited KLM flights in the past).

[Notorious Honey Badger]

Hey Chris,

is it easy/cheap to get to Croatia from Istanbul?

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by cmyden

1. Go to the KLM page for multi-city booking, found here:

http://www.klm.com/travel/ca_en/apps...=home_multiple


2. Example:

Calgary to Amsterdam - departing November 8 (or whatever date you want)

Amsterdam to Istanbul - departing November 15 (or whatever date you want)

Istanbul to Calgary - departing November 22 (or whatever date you want)


3. Hit Search


4. Go through booking process

Wow, that still works? I sadly remember when you used to be able to do that for flights within the U.S.

Thanks Chris.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Rats. I would have preferred that for aeroplan miles purposes, as the AC flights earn 100% status miles, while the KLM flights are in a fare class that earns zero on Alaska Air (where I've credited KLM flights in the past).

Agreed about the miles, I was thinking the same thing. It looks like a lot of the Air Canada dates didn't have much in the way of availability. Mid October to late October already looks to be higher priced.

[cmyden]

Heads up Part II..

Now it looks like every airline is matching the insanity to Istanbul !

Air France (should be possible to get a free stopover in Paris)
Austrian Airlines
Delta
Lufthansa
United


http://www.kayak.com/flights/#/YYC-I...10-31-flexible