Uber Halts UberXL Services in Istanbul, Turkey Ahead of Rerun Vote

Uber Technologies Inc., subject of physical and legal battles with Turkish cab drivers and authorities, has stopped providing its luxury UberXL service to clients in Istanbul.

“We had to make a very tough decision and halt UberXL operations in Istanbul as of May 31” Uber said in a statement. The company will continue traditional yellow and turquoise cab services, it said. Uber is “committed to Turkey” and would like to work with the government to maintain long-term business operations in the country, it said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has frequently spoken against Uber, saying the company’s services are illegal. On May 24, he told cab drivers and owners in Istanbul that Uber vehicles are akin to pirate cabs. “The Uber issue for the Turkish Republic government is over,” Anadolu Agency cited him as saying.

The company’s decision comes ahead of the June 23 repeat elections for Istanbul Greater Municipality after the opposition’s narrow victory in the March 31 local elections was voided.

Turkish taxi drivers and medallion owners have been protesting Uber, asking the government to ban the company. Uber drivers have frequently faced attacks by yellow cab drivers since the company started operations in Turkey’s commercial capital in 2014.

But, for the ones who use Uber XL or need more luxury service for Istanbul Airport transfers and daily / hourly chauffeured car (limo) and unsatisfied with taxi service in Istanbul because of the trust issue, security matter, get cheated, unprofessional driver and bad conditioned vehicle problems; Illusthrone provides all clear and professional limo service with its luxury vans and takes you away from bad surprises.

Limo Service in Istanbul by Illusthrone
/by

British holidaymakers’ favorite is Turkey in 2019

Holiday agency Thomas Cook says Turkey ranks second top destination for Brits as Greece falls to third spot.

Turkey has been one of the top destination for Britons for the summer of 2019 as holidaymakers turned their backs to EU destinations due to Brexit uncertainties, a top holiday agency said on Monday.

The number of Turkish package holidays sold to British people has rocketed 27% compared to last year, leaving Greece behind, a report by Thomas Cook said.

The Thomas Cook Holiday Report says the low value of the pound thanks to Brexit effects has resulted in 48% of all 2019 summer bookings to destinations outside the eurozone.

“Turkey has risen up the ranks to become Thomas Cook’s second most popular destination overall for Brits and a quarter of all Thomas Cook Airlines’ bookings are to this Eastern Med hotspot,” the report said.

It added: “Turkey has been rising back up the ranks of the destination league table for the last few years.

“In 2019 it reaches a new peak, with flight-only bookings to Turkey seeing a 27% uplift compared to last summer.

“At this point in 2018, Turkey was at the number three spot in the list of the most popular summer getaways so it has already leapfrogged Greece this year.

“Aside from its attractiveness for being outside the EU, Turkey is a 2019 tourism hotspot thanks to the great value for money offered by its five-star resorts.”

According to the report, Britons are turning their backs on the classic holiday destinations such as Italy and France but preferring Turkey instead.

Thomas Cook CEO Peter Fankhauser said Turkey breaks offered holidaymakers greater security.

“For those who have booked, it’s non-EU countries such as Turkey and Tunisia which are proving popular, along with all-inclusive deals as customers ‘lock in’ costs for food and drink for peace of mind,” he said.

Holiday firm TUI also said the demand for Turkey holidays increased the number of flight seats this year.

TUI Airways said it will increase capacity to Antalya and Dalaman airports by 45,000 seats in the summer of 2020.

Antalya, a Mediterranean resort city in Turkish Riviera, has become one of the top spots for tourism in Turkey with its luxury hotels, golf courses, shopping centres and hundreds of historical sites, as well as miles-long sand beaches.

A spokesperson for TUI said Antalya and Dalaman of southwestern Mugla province are “set to impress with their coastal scenery and pristine beaches.”

Luxury Holiday in Turkey
/by

Luxury service (ground transportation (limousine), guidance, yacht charter and helicopter rental services) preparations are completed by Illusthrone for 2019 high season in Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman

Just before the national holiday in Turkey, Illusthrone tailor-made hospitality completed all preparations through luxury ground transportation (limousine) services including airport transfers and meet & greet, guidance, yacht charter, helicopter & private jet rental services in Turkey’s famous holiday destinations.

Istanbul is always an attraction for travellers, but as summer 2019 at the door, Turkey’s holiday destinations; Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Izmir are the shining stars for tourism industry. Not only in Istanbul and Ankara, Istanbul brings luxury services to those summer holiday destinations. Professional staffs of Illusthrone even your close protection officer (shortly “bodyguard”), meet you at the door of your plane, your private chauffeur is ready at the airport with a black luxury vehicle while your super yacht waiting you for an amazing Blue Voyage in Mediterranean & Aegean Sea. For the ones, who prefer to be over the clouds; private jet and helicopter rental is another option for your tours and transfers. All those services are being prepared through your preferences, which are provided before your journey by Illusthrone. We are sending you a questionnaire, and getting all informations for a real tailor-made luxury experience. Just rest, don’t think about anything and leave all to Illusthrone. A perfect planning and a fabulous holiday.

Illusthrone’s Meet & Greet Service
/by

How to rent a luxury lifestyle: planes, boats and automobiles in Istanbul, Turkey and worldwide.

The world of private jet travel, holidays on the deck of a superyacht and a Lamborghini in the garage is no longer exclusively for the mega-rich.

As paying monthly for goods and services becomes increasingly popular – from Spotify, Netflix and your phone contract, to cars on finance – the luxury end of the market is also starting to play ball.

Blame it on the Instagram generation if you like, but it’s now possible  – and easy – to rent yourself a luxury lifestyle for a fraction of what owning a jet, a yacht, or a Ferrari would normally cost. 

Yes, you still need five figures of spending money per year – more, ideally – and yes, you could argue this is cheating slightly, but who could say no to a private jet on the cheap ?

Here is the guide to renting yourself a luxury lifestyle.

Planes

Does anything say you’ve made it in life more than a private plane? Okay, so technically we are hiring someone else’s plane and pretending it’s ours on a dozen Instagram photos. But in some cases – you need to get somewhere obscure at very short notice, or you just fancy treating yourself to something far more exclusive than first class – private jet chartering makes perfect sense.

It’s a growing industry too, as chartering firms describe themselves as the ‘Uber of private jets’, where smartphone apps secure you a jet with just a few screen taps. 

The prices may still seem high, but remember this is for the whole plane – divide it by the number of seats and it can get awfully tempting…

Also worth remembering are extra fees like de-icing before take-off on a cold morning, which can add thousands to your booking.

  • Private Jet Service by Illusthrone

Boats

Charting yourself a superyacht isn’t quite as speedy as booking a private jet (gap in the market, maybe?), but there are still plenty of options for stepping aboard something truly luxurious on your next holiday.For starters, you can bag yourself a Riva Aquarama – the quintessential speedboat – from a range of companies for around £1,200 per day or £750 for a half-day on Italy’s Lake Como or at Turkey’s beautiful Bosphorus. Considering these boats can cost over £200,000, a slice of the lifestyle for under 1% of the sticker price seems like a deal worth making.

Stepping things up a gear, entry-level charting firms offer compact 13 to 15-metre yachts in the Mediterranean, Aegean Caribbean and elsewhere for between £4,000 and £10,000 per week. It is also available to rent a super luxury yachts by Illusthrone in the Mediterranean and Aegean.

Just don’t forget to add food, drink and mooring fees on top, as these are often not included in the base price.

Private Yacht Rental by Illusthrone

Cars

It’s all well and good having a fleet of exotic supercars in the garage, but isn’t taxing, insuring and servicing them just a massive faff ? We think it’s much easier to join a supercar rental club, where you pay an annual membership fee for points which can be redeemed against a range of cars.

The more expensive and exclusive the car, the more points it costs to borrow for a day or a weekend. Most clubs offer a range of vehicles, from Range Rovers through to the likes of the Audi R8 and Ferrari California, right up to supercar royalty like the Lamborghini Aventador.

Or, there is another prestigious way. You may prefer a luxury chauffeured service by Illusthrone and look more professional and eye-cathching with your luxury ground transportation service.

Luxury Ground Transportation by Illusthrone
/by

Advantages of Limousines, Chauffeured Luxury Car Services

Limo car service has been so much in trend. Be it business travel or wedding, hiring a luxurious ride offers ultimate convenience and peace of mind. It is proved to be the best mode of transportation. Though hiring a limo car service would be costlier than other modes, it is cost effective. By this means, a passenger gets an opportunity to relish the best of both the worlds viz. extravagance yet at affordable prices.

Conduct Business

Limos are great while transporting your associates to and from airports or to important client meetings. Limos also offer great meeting space that other cars cannot. Limo seats are arranged in such a way that they face each other which makes it easy to prepare for meetings.

Moreover, Limos these days are also equipped with DVD players and televisions so you can enjoy video conferencing with your clients.

The Luxury Ride

Limos are great to make an ever-lasting impression on your clients or potential investors. This will not only impress your clients but it will send the message that you are serious about their investment.

More People

Limos are capable enough to transport up to 6-15 people. This means, if you have a group of 7-12 people then it is easier to hire a limo car service than several cars.

More Romance

Limos won’t only impress your client but will also impress your girl if you hire it on valentine or on your anniversary. You can spend some quality time with your loved ones.

Saves Time and Money

Hiring a limo car service is far more affordable than you think because when you add the parking fees, cost of renting a car, cost of your time when you are lost, getting stuck up in the traffic, all adds up the cost. So, hiring a limo is the best idea especially if you have a large group of people.


/by

Jeff Koons’ contemporary art ‘Rabbit’ Breaks World Record, Selling for $91 Million

A Jeff Koons sculpture sold for $91.1 million at Christie’s in New York on Wednesday, setting the record for most expensive sale of work by a living artist.

“Rabbit” was bought for $91,075,000 by Robert Mnuchin (father of the Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin). It sold for about $20 million more than its estimated price.

Koons’ studio created the 41-inch stainless steel piece in 1986. There are three other castings of “Rabbit,” all currently in museum collections, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, The Broad Art Foundation in Los Angeles, and the National Museum of Qatar.

The sale cements Jeff Koons as one of the most expensive artists alive today — although opinion of his work differs. According to Christie’s, “Rabbit” has been called “cute, sinister, cartoonish, imposing, vacuous, sexy, chilling, dazzling and iconic.”

It is not the first time that a Koons work has set the record for most expensive piece of art by a living artist. Although the previous record-holder was David Hockney (his “Portrait of an Artist” sold for just over $90 million at Christie’s in November), before that, “Balloon Dog (Orange)” held the record for five years, selling for $58 million in 2013.

Jeff Koons’ Rabbit
/by

Illusthrone’s worldwide door-to-door private airport transfer service will take your holidays or business travels up to top luxury level

Illusthrone provides door-to-door private airport transfer service that’s available on wordwide trips. At the beginning of their trip, a car collects guests and their bags right at their front door and transports them directly to their departure airport. Upon arrival at their destination, guests receive the same VIP transfer service to their hotel. At the end of their trip, travelers will be transported back to the departure airport, then greeted by their waiting driver in the arrivals hall at their home airport and escorted back home. This service is available all around the world in the cities such as; London, New York City, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Istanbul, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Madrid, Antalya, Athens, Moscow, Bangkok, Tokyo, Barcelona, Ankara and so on.

The service is one of the top quality ground transportation worldwide. Guests travel in a late-model black sedan or vans, no more than two years old, driven by an experienced, bilingual, uniformed professional chauffeur. With Illusthrone’s luxury chauffeured car service, you feel really safe and comfortable which is our priority.

Door-to-door airport transfers are available on journeys to Europe, Asia, Africa and America.

door-to-door private airport transfer service by illusthrone
/by

Antalya welcomes 2.3 million visitors

In the first 4.5 months of this year, Turkey’s top Mediterranean resort province Antalya welcomed 2.3 million tourists from 178 countries. The province hosted as many tourists as its own population of around 2.5 million. According to the Antalya Provincial Culture and Tourism Administration, the number of visitors in the period between Jan. 1 and May 15 recorded a 24 percent increase compared to the same period of last year.

In the first four and half month of 2018, Antalya had hosted nearly 1.9 million foreign visitors.

Russians topped the list of foreign tourists coming to the Mediterranean coastal town in the aforementioned period. The number of Russians rose by 30 percent and reached 819,406.

Germans ranked second with 475,198 visitors and were followed by 140,606 British tourists. Antalya also welcomed visitors from the Netherlands, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Israel and Denmark. The Mediterranean resort city hosted 12.4 million foreign visitors in 2018, according to the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Antalya is another destination where Illusthrone serves with ground transportation services (including meet & greet and airport transfers), luxury yacht charter service, helicopter and private jet rental, guidance, security and all kind of reservation services for vip guests.

Yacht Tour in Antalya

/by

“Google Trips” Now Puts All Your Travel Planning in One Place

If you’re like most people, when planning a trip you’re spending weeks (or even months) researching, doing dozens of searches, making a handful of reservations, and going back and forth on platforms and sites trying to keep it all organized. Now Google has a plan to fix that.

Google announced Tuesday a new feature that will put everything related to your next trip in one place. Google’s Trips which you can get to either by making travel-related searches in Google, or by navigating to google.com/travel, will now automatically organize all your travel planning.

Richard Holden, vice president of product management at Google, told “Travel planning is multisession in nature — it takes place over many days, many weeks. Any trip content you have will be featured on that page.”

Trips provides easy access to Google’s powerhouse travel tools, including flight and hotel search, while featuring both your confirmed reservations and whatever you’ve been considering in your searches.

“If you make a reservation via flight search or hotel search and get an email in Gmail confirming that reservation, we’ll automatically take that content,” Holden told. “And when you next type that, take you back into it.”

So, for example; if you’re headed to Istanbul this summer, the next time you search “Istanbul”, Google will know you aren’t looking for basic information. Instead, if you have a flight booked or were already researching The Grand Bazaar, expect to see content tailored to you.

“We’ve spent a lot of time over the past number of years trying to make our subverticals (hotel search flight search) more comprehensive,” Holden told. “What we haven’t done yet is help the user connect the dots.”

Google plans to roll out the unified Trips info in Google Maps in the next few months.

Daniel Craig in ‘Skyfall’ at the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
/by

Is Limousine Service / Luxury Chauffeured Car Service better than Uber, taxi (cab) and other ground transportation options ?

There are many benefits to book a ride with Uber. But it does not always work, because sometimes we need to go for for some professional business meetings where we need professional looking cars and well-trained professional drivers which uber can’t always give you as to when you book a ride you don’t know which car will you get. Also we may need to go to wedding invitations or when we are travelling abroad, we need more professional service with experienced bilingual chauffeurs.

Let’s talk about creating an impression because image important for everybody, which uber rides can’t give you with those old and unknown cars.

It’s not only about travelling from one place to another. You need to look professional in front of your clients when you get out of the professional limousine car for business meetings. Another benefit of hiring a limo (luxury chauffeured car) service is that the chauffeurs have the skills to drive you safely. You can rely on them for giving you a stress-free ride. A reputed limousine company makes sure that the chauffeurs they are hiring to serve their clients have a good hands-on experience. They are not only trustworthy and reliable but should make all the efforts to offer great service to the client. Those experienced chauffeurs have a better knowledge of defensive and safe driving lessons than the other drivers. They are well aware of the different routes of the city. You don’t have to worry whether you will be able to reach the location on time or not.

On the other hand with professional limousines services, they have to make customer satisfaction on top of the priority. They know who they have hired and how their behaviour is with the passengers. Limo services give priority on providing the memorable rides to every person, unlike Uber.

Luxury Chauffeured Service by Illusthrone

 


/by

CONTACT

OUR ADDRESSES

0 + 3 = ?