Glens Restaurant - Three visits Glens Restaurant fast became a local hotspot for us; we stumbled on this beautiful dining establishment after visiting Istanbul Dental Center as we needed a refreshing cocktail. Glens was a perfect choice; we intended on a quick drink, but a few hours later, we had thoroughly enjoyed the delicious Italian style dishes and sashimi from Chef Murat Taşdemir , including sampling some fantastic Turkish wines. The cocktails were also excellent, very authentic and mixed to perfection. Beautiful indoor and outdoor dining space, funky decor and the staff are all friendly and welcoming. We chose Glens a few days later for our Friday lazy lunch. After a 7-hour session, enjoying the fun atmosphere and a few bottles of our new favourite Turkish wine, Chamlija , we are yet to be disappointed by their magnificent range of wines. The food was equally impressive, each dish was immaculately prepared, bursting with flavour and divine. We had too much fun working our way through the cocktail menu, watching the world and the day pass us by. The food is exceptional, and we enjoyed meeting the chef and devouring all his mouthwatering dishes from starters to dessert. The desserts were magnificent too! Glens is located in the trendy and upscale neighbourhood of Nisantasi, Istanbul part of the luxury lifestyle hotel Glens Palas Istanbul . An ideal spot to stop off after a day of shopping.

Turk Fatih Tutak - One visit Turk Fatih Tutak is the epitome of a degustation dining experience. It is a destination restaurant with all the hallmarks of being the first Michelin star restaurant in Istanbul. You are greeted at a candlelit entrance and escorted into the beautifully modern, warm decor dining room from the moment you arrive. Upon entering the restaurant, you are presented with the front and centre kitchen to your dining culinary experience. Tasting menu only, so you can sit back and enjoy a gastronomic journey heavily influenced by land and sea. Be prepared to experience new flavours and textures to receive your palate. The bread was divine! But be sure to stop at a sample as you need space to continue your way through the evening's experience. An impressive Turkish wine collection to complement each course perfectly, and masterful cocktails to end your evening. Attentive service and served by worldly teams they have the luxury of time to spend time with you. We enjoyed engaging in good conversation with the team. Wayne and I especially loved the intimate tour of the kitchen following the tasting menu. A shoutout to the team who maintain a spotless kitchen and prepare all the delicious dishes. It was fun to meet you all, and thank you for the warm welcome. We love slow dining, and the team here are more than happy to accommodate your dining style. Plan ahead as reservations is a must. This new restaurant has fast become the place to be and fully booked most evenings. A foodies delight and cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. You will be impressed by the warm atmosphere, mouthwatering food, excellent wine and exceptional service. A special thank you to Baran, Özkan and the amazing team, from the service to kitchen teams, for a magical evening. We loved it so much we have booked our last meal in Istanbul back at Turk Fatih Tutak.

Ascot Hotel Buyukada - One night The Ascot Hotel is a boutique hotel in Adalar, Istanbul, modern, pristine clean with stunning views of the sea of Marmara. We booked on hotels.com a sea view suite 15 minutes before checking in. Therefore we were basically a walk-in (no luggage). It was a spur of the moment booking after arriving on the island and realising we needed more time to explore this picturesque island. The suite has an incredible terrace overlooking the sea, with comfortable lounge seating and an outdoor setting. The bed was equally comfortable for a peaceful nights sleep. We received friendly service and a lovely warm welcome, considering we were a last-minute booking. We were there during the offseason, but they have a beautiful large pool which would be lovely in the warmer weather to enjoy and relax. Location was ideal, as in the heart and easy access to all the walking areas and dining establishments.

Secret Garden Restaurant Büyükada - One visit Upon arriving in Adalar on our ferry, we needed a great place for a lazy lunch. After a quick google, reviewing the positive feedback , we were in a secret garden restaurant enjoying excellent Turkish food. It indeed was an escape as it is tucked away in the most magical garden setting. We would have loved to have experienced it during the evening; you can imagine the beautiful lights surrounding you. The setting is very calming and genuinely a hidden garden. You are enveloped in bright flowers and plants, along with enlightening quotes and decorations. The service was excellent, Engin was very friendly and welcoming, and a pleasant surprise to receive a picture of us in a frame. The food was excellent, primarily seafood (obviously being on an island). We started with the delicious fish bites followed by meat dishes, and they were delightful, especially the lamb. Our lazy lunch was a lovely afternoon and a perfect welcome to our one night away on this fabulous island.

Istanbul Dental Center - Four visits From the moment you book with Istanbul Dental Center via WhatsApp to the end of treatment is exceptional. The lovely reception team are very responsive, full of positive energy and warm and friendly, fun to chat with and attentive. Dr Emre is an excellent dentist, and we enjoyed his directness and honesty, complemented with a very kind and understanding bedside manner. During your first consultation, he will settle your nerves and make you feel at ease. He does not upsell you and gives you the best treatment plan and advice. You are provided with a fixed quote on consultation, which is very reasonable with no surprises at the end. During treatments, Dr Emre will make sure you are comfortable at all times. He will check in with you to ensure the pain level is 0 and walk you through the treatment. You feel incredibly at ease with his support, along with the lovely nurse. Your treatments are not rushed, giving you time to adjust as well. The clinic is very modern, beautiful reception and treatment rooms all have professional and the latest equipment. My husband and I were pleased with our crown replacements and treatments at Istanbul Dental Center and the lovely Dr Emre. Definitely recommend IDC to anyone needing some dental work or a new smile. Not only do you leave with the best Raki ( national drink of Turkey) recommendations, but Wayne (my 59-year-old hubby) was treated with a chocolate heart after his filling:-)

Luxury Design Suite in Maçka - One month This stunning apartment is in one of the best neighbourhoods in Istanbul has a spacious floor plan and a lot of natural light. Tucked away from all the tourists and you enjoy the local community vibe. We planned to stay one week, and one month later, we were still there. You feel at home, and the apartment is cosy and comfortable, also perfectly equipped for cooking at home. The wifi was lightning fast with incredible download and upload speeds , perfect for all those travellers who work remotely. The apartment is spotless and maintained weekly . You are often surprised with gifts of chocolate, water and even olive oil, lovely little perks. All your essentials are on the doorstep . You are spoilt with coffee shops, we fell in love with the coffee shop directly across the road, owned by a lovely lady, and the coffees were exceptional. There is also a great supermarket just across the street , where they are so welcoming and friendly, along with a great selection of fresh produce, groceries and spirits and wine. An excellent dry cleaner called Dry Try is a one-minute walk. You are a ten-minute walk from the beautiful Nisantasi, where you can shop and dine to your heart's content, and a five-minute walk from the trendy neighbourhood Beşiktaş where you are spoilt with casual to fine-dining options. You are also five minutes from Macka Park, which provides you with the comfort of nature you need in a bustling and intense city. Tunç is the most supportive and attentive host, with excellent English and a pleasure to communicate with. He is always there to make sure your stay is comfortable and you have everything you need ; he was also incredibly kind to help us organise a luxury transfer to Bursa when we departed. Apartments are self-check-in, and we were able to arrive earlier also, which was a bonus . Thank you again , Tunç . We cannot recommend these apartments highly enough . They are your perfect accommodation that tick all the boxes for a short or long stay in Istanbul in the most desired neighbourhoods.

This week we chatted with Maria & Anthony, our wonderful clients from MazzCorp Partners to share our travel stories from the past 18 months. We shared our experience of travelling and flying internationally during the pandemic. Sal & I are both Australian mature aged full-time travellers, whilst working remotely from all parts of the world. We have been following our dream to travel the world since 2017. Our current travel tips Use canitravel.net, a great travel app to help you navigate the restrictions and entry requirements (of course, double-check with the local government sites for the most up to date info). Don't be afraid to look outside the box and travel to new parts of the world, avoiding the mainstream destinations. You will find they are much more relaxed, lenient and welcome you to be their guest in their country. Most of the world is open to Australia, not just the countries the media are recommending. Do your research. Don't be afraid to travel. The reality is far from the media perception. Amid the pandemic, we have travelled from Morocco to Tunisia, Austria, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey.

Karma Sutra bar & kitchen If you want to enjoy a great cocktail while listening to live music and enjoy the best cheese platter in Samui, then this is the place for you. Very comfortable restaurant to sit back and chill out and watch the village life pass you. Especially a Friday evening with all the action of walking the street and the markets. Service is also impeccable, great team and always very friendly and full of smiles. Great bar atmosphere of an evening, popular with the locals too, so you will be sure to have some fun and meet new people.

Emerald Irish Bar Grill - Weekly Best view from an Irish bar I have ever seen and ideally located in Fisherman's Village with a sensational sea view. Drinks are of excellent value and high quality. You can't beat the Sunday roast; it is delicious, and you definitely won't go hungry. Very attentive service, and Deano and the team make sure everyone feels very welcome. If you are a sports fan, they will also be sure to have your game on while you enjoy a beverage — live music from 8 pm is a treat every weeknight.

Liman Restaurant - Two visits Liman restaurant in Adalar has a great atmosphere, lovely decor and design, great views, and is perfect for people watching. Less of a tourist trap, a hotspot for locals and if you are fortunate to stay overnight, be sure to enjoy the evening live entertainment, a great vibe and energy. The live entertainment was excellent. Expect attentive service from the fabulous team. The team are full of fun, energy and personality. The food was exceptional, traditional fish and steak restaurant, prepared and cooked with care and consistency, after dining for dinner and lunch in 24 hours. The fresh fish was also very popular, so you won't be disappointed if you are a fan. Impressive classic cocktails and a great selection of Turkish wines are also available. Liman is a top choice in Adalar.