The article recounts a travel experience where the author and their fiancé faced unexpected hurdles during a long layover in Istanbul. Planning to explore the city, they discovered that as American citizens they required a transit visa to exit the airport, a detail they overlooked. As a result, they had to spend their layover entirely inside the airport. Despite the disappointment, they learned valuable lessons about travel planning, including the importance of checking destination-specific entry regulations.
As an American, I didn't realize I needed a visa to leave Istanbul's airport during my long layover. The oversight cost me more time, money, and stress than anticipated.
We had a plan: We'd maximize our layover and use it as a chance to explore a new city and visit an old friend. However, shortly after we arrived in Istanbul, things took an unexpected turn.
We're usually very careful about checking travel guidelines and regulations - and I couldn't believe such a seemingly small oversight would change our plans entirely.
We tried to make the most of spending hours upon hours walking around the Istanbul Airport, which is actually quite beautiful.
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