Yes - if you booked early, you are most likey at the POint Hotel. We will be letting you all know for sure shortly.  See post Under the Athens Hilton - Rooms are ready to book for additonal post nights from Oct. 11 and on!  Book King or Twin Hilton Guest Room if you are on our package and do not want to change rooms.

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/ATHHITW_GOLCA/index.jhtml

Agreed!  We booked for the Point Hotel

Hello everyone! There will be news coming shortly! As many of you know we sold out of our room block at the Point Hotel, and have acquired more space at the sister hotel, the Nippon Hotel located right next door. Hotels are almost identical in facilities, with a little more "Asian" feel at the Nippon. And, we are just 30 rooms of being sold out at the Nippon as well! This will give us 200 rooms or 400 people who will be booked on our Pre-Trip package, which is great!

We will be sending out an email in the next few weeks that will confirm each Olivia guests placement of reservations at the Point Hotel or the Nippon Hotel so you can make arrangements on their website to book additonal nights if needed. Many of you have expressed interest in extending your stay an additonal night. However, please note that we cannot provide the group transfer from the airport if arriving earlier than the program start date of Oct. 1, or refund any difference if not using our group airport transfer. Fare's will run about $50 for a cab.

 For those on the Athens package, we should have the Promotional code shortly to be able to book additional nights in Athens.

-Jill

Hi there,

I'm traveling alone as well and I would love to connect with other people on here before the trip. I'm doing the Istanbul pre-cruise and  staying few extra night after. Lets connect and plan some excursions to explore Athens and iItanbul:) 

Jill posted this November 10th:

UPDATE ON THE POINT HOTEL and ATHENS HILTON HOTEL- additonal night bookings (before Oct. 1 and after Oct. 10) . . .

For those of you who have booked or are booking either hotel package Oct. 1-3 in Istanbul or Oct. 10-11 in Athens, here's the scoop:

Istanbul Point Hotel: For those interested in coming in a day or two early BEFORE our 2 night package, they will not have the ability to book "additonal" nights on their website for several months, and it could be as late as 3-4 months before the actual trip. As soon as the price and time to do this is available, we will be sending an email blast to all those signed up for our package. It is not a discounted price, but their regular web price (which we could not do better in price), and they do not know what that is just yet. We can "guesstimate" it will be in the $200-$250/night per room range.

Athens Hilton Hotel: For those interested in staying a day or two after the Olivia 1 night package, they WILL have the ability to book the additonal night with a special Olivia rate shortly. Again, once that is confirmed, we will let you know.

I hope this clarifies things!

Hi, 

I'm traveling solo, arriving in Istanbul on September 27th, and staying a couple of extra days in Athens.  I am very interested in connecting with other folks who want to sightsee before and after the cruise.   I bought Rick Steves’ DVD that includes the ports of call for the trip and his books on Istanbul and Athens.  While in Istanbul I plan to take the Bosphorus Strait ferry (which may run only once a day after September according to the travel guide) but if there are several people interested in this excursion, perhaps we can hire a private boat.  I've been told that a trip up the Bosphorus is a must and takes most, if not all, of a day.  There is a lot to see in the older part of the city including the Topkapi Palace and its harem.  I can't pass up checking out where the sultan kept his harem!  In addition to mosques and palaces, there are several museums that should not be missed.  The guide book indicates that a walking tour of the newer side of Istanbul is interesting too.  It also indicates that the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market are closed on Sunday so I am setting aside Friday and Saturday for some serious shopping since those are the days the Olivia will be hitting the stores. 

I'm just starting research for accommodations.  For Istanbul, I'm trying to find something reasonably priced near the hotel that Olivia has chosen.  If anyone has lodging suggestions or is interested in connecting for some pre and post excursions and or meals, please contact me.  Thanks.

Maree

Anybody out there planning thier own excursions?  We have the ability to use Hilton Points in both locations, and unfortunately were told by Olivia that we can't pay just for the excursion portions.  We sure would have liked to join the main group!  If all goes well we are bring our friend with us as a Solo, and want to make this the best trip of her life!

Atagrrl

Valerie1...I think that if Jill has recommended a tour company, it's a good one. In our experience she sets very high standards.

I think that some who are going on the Amazon cruise are using them for trip extensions. Haven't heard any negative feedback...