Have you ever dreamed of exploring the enchanting city where East meets West? Istanbul, with its rich history, stunning architecture and vibrant culture, offers a perfect blend of old-world charm and modern excitement. Spring or fall could be ideal times to visit, with pleasant weather and fewer crowds than the peak summer season.

If you’re a small-business owner, we’ll show you how you can book an amazing trip to Istanbul by opening just two credit cards: the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (see rates & fees).

Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

The Card to Get You There

The Chase Ink Business Preferred is a powerful card for earning travel rewards. Here are some key features:

  • Earn 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 1X point on all other purchases.

After meeting the minimum spending requirement to earn the welcome offer, you’ll have quite a few points. These points can be transferred to Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners at a 1:1 ratio or redeemed for airfare through Chase Travel℠.

You don’t have to use the same program to book tickets in both directions, but for flights from the U.S. to Istanbul, we find that United MileagePlus is one of the best options for pricing and availability. United MileagePlus also doesn’t charge fees to change or cancel your award ticket. Avianca LifeMiles can also be an intriguing option, especially if you don’t quite have enough points to cover your ticket.

Fly to Istanbul with United Airlines Mileage Plus

United Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, which includes Turkish Airlines, making it an excellent choice for booking flights to Istanbul. While United uses dynamic pricing, here are some general guidelines for award flights:

  • Economy class: Starting from 40,000 miles each way (44,000 for partner flights)
  • Business class: Starting from 80,000 miles each way (88,000 for partner flights)

United has moved to dynamic pricing, but the lowest price you can expect to pay is 40,000 miles each way in economy class, while flights on partner flights tend to cost more. Business class rates would be 80,000 miles each way on United-operated flights and 88,000 miles and up on partners. United doesn’t pass on any surcharges, so you’ll just have to pay taxes.

Note that United shows more award space to elite members and co-branded credit card holders.

To search for available award flights:

  1. Go to United.com and log in to your MileagePlus account.
  2. Click on “Book with miles” and enter your travel details.
  3. Look at your options.

While looking for sample flights, we found nearly wide-open availability for 44,000 miles each way in economy class. This means that your welcome bonus would cover a round-trip ticket for one person with plenty of miles to spare.

Chicago to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines Through United with Points

A nonstop flight in economy on Turkish Airlines costs 44,000 United MileagePlus miles + $5.60 in taxes during our sample dates. | Image courtesy of United

You can easily switch between the seven-day calendar and the 30-day calendar on the results page and see the dates with the cheapest award tickets.

Calendar Chicago to Istanbul on United with Points

Availability was wide open in economy class for our sample search from Chicago to Istanbul. | Image courtesy of United

Two things we love about booking through United is that you won’t pay any surcharges, only taxes on your ticket, and United offers the ability to cancel or change your ticket for free regardless of your level of elite status.

Flying to Istanbul with Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca’s prices are a touch higher than United’s, and as a general rule, you’ll have access to the same award availability, so why consider booking through Avianca? Two potential reasons:

  1. You already have some Avianca LifeMiles in your account.
  2. You don’t have enough miles to book your ticket, but you’re willing to buy some.
Chicago to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines Through Avianca with Points

Avianca offers economy flights from 46,500 LifeMiles. | Photo courtesy of Avianca

As a general rule, we don’t recommend buying miles. But there are times when it can make sense. If you need just a few thousand miles to top up your account, it could be a good idea.

With Avianca, it can be a good idea slightly more often because Avianca is known to offer pretty insane mileage sales where you can buy miles for as low as 1.15 cents each (more often from about 1.3 cents each). These prices can mean that if cash ticket prices are high, you can get a better deal by buying miles—even for your full ticket.

In a case like this where a roundtrip ticket costs 93,000 miles, it would cost you $1,209 to buy the entirety of the miles needed for your ticket at a cost of 1.3 cent each. You’d also still need to pay taxes on the award ticket, which would bring your total cost to around $1,300. Although it’s definitely possible to find less expensive tickets between Chicago and Istanbul, it’s also possible that cash ticket prices would be higher than this.

Flying to Istanbul with Air France-KLM Flying Blue

In case you’re having trouble finding availability on Star Alliance carriers, you can also consider using Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles to get to Istanbul on SkyTeam partners.

We found availability from:

  • 49,000 miles in economy
  • 61,000 miles in premium economy
  • 89,500 miles in business

Keep in mind that you may see prices higher or lower than this due to the more dynamic nature of Flying Blue’s award pricing.

Chicago to Istanbul on KLM with Points

Flying Blue has dynamic pricing so the lowest prices you see may be very different from what we saw. | Photo courtesy of Flying Blue

While the economy price isn’t notable compared to our other options in this case, the business class price is—as we didn’t see business-class availability on Star Alliance carriers when we researched to write this article.

How to Pay for Your Stay in Istanbul

The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is an excellent choice for earning points towards your stay in Istanbul. Here are some key features:

  • Earn 6X points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
  • 4X points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. purchases for shipping
  • 2X points on all other eligible purchases
  • $125 annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees

After meeting the minimum spending requirement, you’ll either earn points that can be spent at a hotel or certificates that can be used to cover your stay.

A Luxurious Stay at the Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection

Room at Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul

We love the vibe at the Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul. | Photo courtesy of Marriott

For your stay in Istanbul, we recommend the new Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection if you’re looking for luxury. This boutique hotel offers:

  • Prime location in the heart of Istanbul’s Old City
  • Luxury spa facilities
  • Spectacular views of the Bosphorus
  • Requires about 42,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night

The Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul offers a luxurious and immersive experience, perfect for travelers seeking to indulge in the city’s rich history and culture. Its prime location in the heart of Istanbul’s Old City places guests within walking distance of iconic landmarks like the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.

Some rooms and the rooftop terrace offer views of the Bosphorus Strait. The hotel’s blend of Ottoman-inspired décor and modern amenities creates a unique atmosphere that reflects Istanbul’s position as a bridge between East and West. Guests can also enjoy a fitness center, an on-site restaurant, and a bar.

Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul with Points

With Marriott’s fifth night free, you can book a five-night stay for 168,000 Bonvoy Points. | Photo courtesy of Marriott

By using the free night certificates or points earned from your welcome bonus and spending on the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, you could potentially cover up to five nights at this stunning property.

A Budget-Friendly Stay Near Taksim Square

Room at Four Points Express by Sheraton Istanbul

The Four Points Express by Sheraton Taksim Square offers a comfortable room at a steal of a price for the location. | Photo courtesy of Marriott

For travelers seeking a comfortable, convenient and budget-friendly base in Istanbul, the Four Points Express by Sheraton Taksim Square is an excellent choice. This hotel offers:

  • A central location in the vibrant Taksim area
  • Easy access to public transportation
  • Comfortable rooms with city views
  • Fitness center for maintaining your workout routine
  • Rooms starting from 15,000 Bonvoy points per night

The Four Points Express by Sheraton Taksim Square provides a great balance of comfort and value, making it an ideal choice if you want to stretch your Marriott Bonvoy points. Its location in Taksim Square puts you right in the heart of modern Istanbul, with easy access to public transportation, allowing you to explore both the new city and the historic Sultanahmet area.

Four Points Express Hotel Istanbul with Points

Using the Marriott fifth night free perk, you can stay at a great location in Istanbul from only 60,500 points. | Photo courtesy of Marriott

While you could easily stay in Istanbul for weeks on end, and the right welcome bonus might even offer enough points to stay for 10 or more nights, we recommend sticking with five nights in Istanbul (especially if it’s your first visit) and saving the rest of your points for another stay—either in Turkey or on another trip.

Exploring Istanbul

Istanbul is a city of incredible diversity and history. Here are some must-see attractions:

  • Hagia Sophia: A architectural marvel that has served as both a church and a mosque
  • Blue Mosque: Famous for its blue Iznik tiles and six minarets
  • Topkapi Palace: The opulent home of Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years
  • Grand Bazaar: One of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets
  • Bosphorus Cruise: Take in the city’s skyline from the strait that divides Europe and Asia.

Istanbul also serves as an excellent stopover destination if you’re planning a larger trip. Turkish Airlines offers free city tours and hotel accommodations for long layovers, making it easy to add Istanbul to your itinerary.

Final Thoughts

By strategically using the Chase Ink Business Preferred and the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, small-business owners can turn their dream of visiting Istanbul into reality. The points earned from these cards can cover both your flights and a luxurious stay in one of the world’s most fascinating cities.

Whether you’re drawn to Istanbul’s rich history, vibrant culture or its position as a bridge between continents, this rewards strategy can help make your journey more affordable and comfortable.