Our trip to India via Istanbul

Travel Idea: Istanbul & India Urban Escape

Travelers: 4 adults / 0 children

Themes: India, Urban Getaways

Itinerary Overview

1) San Francisco → Istanbul

• Transportation from San Francisco Intl (SFO) to Istanbul Airport (IST).
• Stay 2 nights at Grand Makel Hotel Topkapi, Istanbul (Turkey).
• Included experience: "Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Show and Private Table" in Istanbul, with evening views of the city skyline and bridges.

2) Istanbul → Mumbai

• Transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Intl Airport (Mumbai).
• Private transfer from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Hotel Kumkum in a MINIVAN, ideal and comfortable for 4 adults and luggage.
• Stay 7 nights at Hotel Kumkum in Mumbai (India), perfect as a base to explore markets, colonial architecture, and the waterfront.
• Private transfer from Hotel Kumkum back to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in MINIVAN at the end of the stay.

3) Mumbai → Goa

• Transportation from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (Mumbai) to Goa.
• On arrival in Goa, transfer from Goa to All Seasons Guest House by CAR, a more intimate option suitable for a relaxed ride.
• Stay 7 nights at All Seasons Guest House in Goa (India), combining beaches, old Portuguese quarters, and local cuisine.
• Return transfer from All Seasons Guest House to Goa in a MINIVAN, convenient for your departure with all baggage.

4) Goa → San Francisco

• Transportation from Goa back to San Francisco Intl (SFO), closing the loop of your multi-city urban and coastal escape.

For your trip, I recommend a mix of practical guidebooks and inspiring reading. For Istanbul, consider “Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World” by Thomas F. Madden for a historical overview, and the Lonely Planet or DK Eyewitness Istanbul guide for maps, walking tours, and restaurant tips. For India, a general Lonely Planet India or Rough Guide to India is very helpful for logistics across Mumbai and Goa. Specifically on Mumbai, “Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found” by Suketu Mehta offers a vivid portrait of the city’s contrasts, while “Mumbai: A Literary Guide for Travellers” by Musharraf Ali Farooqi can enrich your urban explorations. For Goa, look for regional guides like “Goa” by David Abram (Rough Guides author) or local-focused guidebooks that cover beaches, heritage trails, and cuisine. As travel agents, we also suggest you download offline city maps and transport apps, and if you enjoy culture before you go, reading Indian authors such as Arundhati Roy or Amitav Ghosh will deepen your appreciation of the places you visit.