Spain’s latest train cost a whopping $5.9 million to make travel faster, more efficient, modern, and fun zooming between the second most popular country on Earth’s most renowned cities.
Fortunately, you only have to pay a microscopic fraction of that at just $8…if you act fast!
All travelers love a good deal, no matter if you splurge on a stay at the Ritz or opt for space-age capsule hotels to stretch your budget.
There’s perhaps no better deal for train travel in Europe right now than Spain’s newly launched Renfe Avlo’s S106 trains, connecting travelers to 7 of the country’s top destinations.
Let’s Recap How Awesome Spain Is This Summer
Spain has always been popular, but it’s on pace to become”numero uno” in 2040 forcing France to say “au revoir” to first place.
Are my Rosetta Stone lessons paying off?
While they’re sitting fat and happy in second place for the time being, there are a ton of reasons why.
As travel has roared back, Spain has seen a massive surge in tourism from border to border and island to island.
Between legendary cities like Barcelona and Madrid brimming with history and sunny paradisal islands like Mallorca and Formentera, can you really go wrong?
As household names have become even more popular than usual, new hotspots have emerged as well.
Take Benalmadena, for example, a beautiful coastal city experiencing more visitors to the point where it’s reasonable to ask if there’s such a thing as a hidden gem in Spain anymore.
Digital nomads are partly to “blame” as Spain has become one of Europe’s best options for long-term stays for remote workers.
All of this and more is why it’s so enticing for new trains, such as Renfo Avlo’s latest addition, to provide more transit options to Spain’s top cities.
As Paris transforms into Olympic Land in the coming weeks, Spain will keep its true authenticity, making this iconic country even more appealing as a summer getaway.
Renfe’s New Speedy Routes To 7 Of Spain’s Best Destinations
Madrid? Barcelona? Valencia? Where will you go? Good news is you can go to all 3, plus 3 more.
Renfe is the national rail operator of Spain and Renfe Avlo is a low-cost, high-speed train service under the ‘Renfe’ umbrella.
If Spain is a must for you this summer, you’re definitely not alone. But how you get around is a key component to a fun trip.
This the most exciting new way to experience Spain by being able to check off 7 amazing cities ranging from iconic to lesser known.
These are the 6 new routes with a $8 introductory promo:
Madrid – València
Madrid – Zaragoza – Barcelona
Alicante – Madrid
Murcia – Valladolid
Valladolid – Alicante
Madrid – Murcia
That’s the plan for now, but rumor has it there are more to come!
There is no mention of an expiration date for the sale, but travel dates cannot extend beyond July 21, 2024 for promotional fares.
What To Expect On Board
You could argue Avlo is the “Spirit Airline” of train travel, or to put in European lingo, the “Ryanair of the rails”.
Although, it’s not quite no-frills – there are some nice amenities to make your journey more enjoyable especially after the upgrade to new S106 models.
Here are some added perks to expect on board:
Luggage compartments
Automatic vending machines dispensing hot and cold refreshments
Touch screens with exclusive PlayRenfre entertainment options
Power outlets (Don’t forget your adapter!)
Complimentary wifi access
Classes are divided into 3 sections:
Comfort (2×2 seating)
Standard (3×3 seating)
Tourist (3×3 seating)
Zooming from city to city at approximately 186 mph, you can explore so many cool spots in Spain, all while avoiding the hassle of airports in comfort, taking epic photos.
Rather than arrive 2-3 hours before departure, which airlines usually recommend, Renfe recommends just half an hour.
Like airlines, train tickets will need to be shown with a valid ID to match the exact name.
Before purchasing, you will need to create a new Renfe account online.
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Royal Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise lines in the world. In fact, it recently ranked as the number one cruise line for travelers in a new trends report.
If you’ve never been on a cruise before, Royal Caribbean is a great cruise line to choose because they offer something for everyone and have a good reputation and high customer satisfaction rate. Many cruisers are loyal to Royal Caribbean and don’t travel with any other cruise line.
Royal Caribbean made headlines last year when they announced Icon of the Seas, which will become the largest cruise ship in the world when it debuts in January 2024.
This ship will accommodate a staggering 5,610 guests on 18 passenger decks. The ship also features seven swimming pools, eight distinct “neighborhoods” to explore, more than 40 restaurants, cafes, and bars, and half a dozen water slides and attractions.
However, Icon of the Seas may not actually be the best choice for first-time cruisers.
This massive ship might be overwhelming if you’ve never been on a cruise before, and it’s only offering 7-night Caribbean cruises out of Miami, Florida in 2023.
Why Utopia of the Seas Is Perfect For Your First Cruise
Although Icon of the Seas received a lot of press because it will be the world’s largest cruise ship when it arrives, Royal Caribbean is debuting a brand-new ship called Utopia of the Seas in 2024 too.
This ship is actually a better choice for first-time cruisers.
Utopia of the Seas, which will begin cruising in June 2024, is part of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class of ships. These ships are chock-full of amenities, and Utopia of the Seas will have more than 20 dining options, 20 bars and entertainment venues, five swimming pools, water slides, and more.
However, it will be the only Oasis-class ship to cruise exclusively 3-night and 4-night Bahamas itineraries out of Port Canaveral, Florida.
This is one of the only extra-large ships to do such short itineraries. Most of the ships doing these cruises are older and smaller.
But Utopia of the Seas will give first-time cruises a taste of what cruising is like. You’ll get to enjoy all the amenities of an Oasis-class ship without having to commit to a 7-night (or longer) cruise.
Where Will Utopia of the Seas Go?
Utopia of the Seas will sail exclusively in the Bahamas from Port Canaveral during its first season. You’ll get to spend a day in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, as well as CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s own private island.
According to Royal Caribbean’s CEO Michael Bayley, this new ship is perfect for “vacationers [who] are looking to make every moment count by celebrating and recharging with their friends and family. We’ve combined the best of the best to create the world’s biggest weekend for everyone.”
Since all the sailings in 2024 are just 3 or 4 nights, first-time cruisers can spend a long weekend trying out this style of travel that is rapidly growing in popularity before committing to a longer cruise.
The Bahamas offer something for everyone, whether you want to spend a day relaxing on the beach, enjoy a tour of the island, or try an adventurous outdoor activity.
Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay has been named the best private cruise line island for three years running, and it offers two private beaches, swimming pools, more than a dozen waterslides, and various swim-up bars and dining options.
Hideaway Beach, an adults-only retreat, is also opening on the island in 2024.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
When you choose your next beach escape, odds are you’ll be looking where to spend blissful beach days in Mexico or the Caribbean.
One Caribbean nation that has soared to new heights in terms of tourism is the Dominican Republic.
Even the country’s cultural cities have become more popular, like Santiago de los Caballeros and the sprawling capital, Santo Domingo.
Near both cultural hubs are some of the most pristine beach resort towns you’ll find along Caribbean shores.
One that is super easy to reach and continues to thrive is La Romana, home to lavish resorts and stunning beaches.
Move Aside Punta Cana! La Romana Is The Place To Be
As someone who just spent 5 days at a luxe resort in Punta Cana, I can easily compare apples to apples since I also spent some time in La Romana.
If you’ve done any vacation planning along the East Coast or Caribbean, surely you know it’s sargassum season.
Sargassum is an unsightly brown algae that invades coastlines for miles and miles ruining your postcard-worthy photo-ops.
Punta Cana, including world-renowned Bavaro Beach, was teeming with icky piles of sargassum baking in the sun, creating not only an eyesore, but an unpleasant odor and constant annoyances trying to swim in the crystal clear waters.
Taking a day trip to La Romana was like flipping a switch from an okay beach vacation to the dreamy paradise you envision when splurging on a Caribbean getaway.
Perfect Conditions For The Ultimate Beach Escape
Not a flake of sargassum was spotted when I swam in various spots throughout the La Romana region.
Setting sail on a Catamaran from Bayahibe, there were stops away from shore to swim and snorkel.
Water conditions were absolutely perfect with warm temperatures and limpid visibility – no seaweed or trash in sight.
Like Zac Brown said, the ‘Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair’, the only worry here is stepping on Starfish as they’re a very protected and encouraged by tour guides not to touch.
The only portion not suitable for water activity are the ports of Bayahibe and Isla Saona, where the water is still very clear, but you will need flip-flops to avoid cutting your feet on jagged rocks.
Stunning Tropical Islands
Within close distance from the small resort town of La Romana lies a pair of stunning islands – Isla Saona, and Isla Catalina.
While I can’t speak to personal experience with the latter, tourists have left rave reviews with comments like, ‘Saona Island gets all the cred but this was an awesome excursion’.
Home to gorgeous beaches clear waters for snorkeling and diving, this short journey to the island is definitely worth checking out.
I went to Isla Saona. Beyond simply relaxing with endless poolside pinã coladas, this jaw-dropping island was the highlight of my Dominican vacation.
You are instantly welcomed by towering palm trees and sandy pathways giving access to what feels like secret beaches, and it was some of the clearest water I’ve ever swam in.
No sargassum, jellyfish, garbage, stingrays – nope, just picture-perfect blue waters and white sand.
La Romana’s Lavish Resorts
Punta Cana is great, but everyone wants to be here.
The same way Cancun is an awesome vacation spot since everyone knows about, that’s not to say you won’t have an awesome time in Puerto Escondido.
The same goes for Punta Cana and La Romana. The latter is a very popular resort town but doesn’t hold the same recognition.
Vacationers can come here expecting to have the time of their lives the same as you would in Punta Cana, but the experience may be even better.
With high-end all-inclusive resorts such as Hilton, Dreams, and Iberostar, you can’t go wrong, especially since the beaches don’t find themselves in the path of massive seaweed invasions.
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Travel can be as addictive as it is expensive. And I have the bank balance to prove it!
But if you want to travel more without spending a fortune, then one of the biggest ways to save cash is by choosing the right destination.
Picking a travel destination that offers budget hotel rooms, affordable costs on the ground, and perhaps most importantly, cheap flights are all great ways to save money.
Dollar Flight Club has revealed a list of the cheapest U.S. destinations to fly to in 2025. Meaning 2025 can be a big year in travel without breaking the bank.
Note: I’m often a little dubious about lists like this. However, Dollar Flight Club analyzed a full year of airfare data, took into account destinations with multiple departure points, and used seasonal travel data to look at airfare peaks, too.
Destinations were ranked based on the affordability of their airfare as well as the frequency of their flights and connections from major US hubs.
5. Nashville, Tennessee (BNA)
Nashville is the heart of the country and a paradise for music lovers. If you’re looking for old-school Southern hospitality and a huge dose of charm, then this is the place to be.
As well as epic live music venues, you’ll also find incredible heritage architecture. The growing art scene in the city means there is an abundance of galleries and art shows to enjoy, too.
The Dollar Flight Club report puts Nashville as the 5th most affordable destination in the U.S., with average flight prices of $190.
The best time to visit Nashville is in the spring, especially if you’re a music fan as this is when the most renowned music festivals take place in the city.
With this advice in mind, I looked for some sample prices for flights in April.
The cheapest flights available right now are from Chicago. Departing on April 1 and returning on April 8 will cost $178. This is based on economy-class flights with American Airlines.
4. Austin, Texas (AUS)
Austin is a modern city with an old-fashioned attitude.
You’ll be sure of a warm welcome here, and there is a thriving cultural and arts scene to immerse yourself in in the city, too.
Austin is known as the live music capital of the world, so if you’re looking for some of the best live music venues and festivals in the U.S., then that’s another great reason to put Austin on your bucket list.
The best time to visit the city is in March when the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival is taking place.
The cheapest destination to fly from Austin is Denver, Colorado. Return flights from March 12 to March 19 will cost $98. This is based on economy-class flights with Frontier Airlines.
3. Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS)
As an adult playground, Las Vegas is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the U.S. and one of the most domestically well-connected.
Which explains why it took 3rd place on this list.
Las Vegas is known for its casinos, mega resorts, and hotels. But it has so much more to offer. Think of a huge array of fine dining options as well as epic outdoor pursuits.
To take advantage of the cheapest flight and hotel prices, Dollar Flight Club suggests traveling in December and January.
Using this info, I looked at flights for January and found San Francisco is the cheapest departure airport. Flying out on January 8 and returning on January 15 will cost just $36 return.
This is based on an economy-class ticket with Frontier Airlines.
This is a city best known for its high-quality winter skiing nearby, but there are also amazing hiking trails to enjoy here in the summer months.
Looking for something a little more relaxing and, dare I say it, sedentary? The craft beer scene in Denver is highly regarded, so why not book a brewery tour or two?
The best time to visit depends on what you’re looking for. Try March for the tail end of the ski season or late summer for hiking.
Return flights from Salt Lake City are available in March for as little as $39. This is based on flights from March 1 – March 8 with Frontier Airlines, flying economy class.
1. Orlando, Florida (MCO)
Perhaps one of the most well-known and iconic vacation destinations in the U.S., every kid in the world dreams of visiting Orlando.
(And many adults want to go to heal their inner child too!)
The big attractions, of course, are Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. But Orlando also offers world-class shopping, restaurants, and outdoor activities too.
According to Dollar Flight Club, average flight prices are $150, and the best time to visit is in early January or early September to beat crowds and demand.
Based on this, I looked for January flight prices and found nonstop return flights from Atlanta with Spirit Airlines for $48. This was based on an economy class flight departing on January 8 and returning on January 15.
The very cheapest flights were from Durham, North Carolina. Departing on January 7 and returning on January 11 would cost $39. This is based on an economy-class flight with Frontier Airlines.
Tor has been writing for more than 20 years and has visited 25 countries (and counting!) She specializes in European and family travel and never says no to new adventures.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Buying gold in Turkey, especially gold jewelry, is gaining massive popularity right now with the amazing conversion rate against the declining Turkish Lira and the ability for consumers to purchase directly from sellers without a middleman.
Personally, I’m getting tired of wasting my money on cheap costume jewelry that will start to tarnish and break just after 1 or 2 wears. This fast fashion craze has people consuming accessories at an alarming rate. What at first seems like a good deal, only $89 for a pair of gold-plated earrings, becomes such a liability with how fast they go out of style and start to discolor.
After years of frustration with wasting my money on cheap jewelry, I decided to go on a mission to find great deals on gold in one of the most famous markets in the world, the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. My aim was to find good quality pieces for fair prices that would last for decades instead of a few seasons.
Below you’ll find tips on how to find amazing deals on gold, tricks to test the purity and authenticity of gold jewelry, and everything else I learned during my pursuit of quality gold at the Grand Bazaar in Turkey.
My Hunt For Quality Gold Inside The Grand Bazaar
For this mission, I needed an insider and gold expert to help me. My friend Alyne and I met up with the fourth-generation master jeweler, Nurhan Gümüş. This guy knows his gold, it’s in his blood. His great-grandfather was a gold jeweler in the Grand Bazaar in the 1800s, a profession his entire family has upheld ever since.
We met Nurhan at the southern Carsikapi Gate that leads into Kalpakcilar Caddesi, the gold jeweler’s road of the Grand Bazaar. Before we got into the nitty gritty of gold shopping, he simply took me for a walk up and down the covered streets so I could get a good idea of the immense variety available inside the market. Basically, any kind of silver or gold jewelry you’re looking for, you’ll find it here. If you can’t find it on display, you’ll meet vendors who will custom-make it for you or find you something similar within a few hours.
We spent the entire day inside the market browsing, testing, trying on, and eventually buying many gold pieces, including a vintage Rolex, gold earrings, and a gold necklace. I’m going to share every insider secret and tip I learned during our time with Nurhan, so you can follow in my footsteps with your own Turkish gold shopping spree.
Top 6 Tips For Buying Gold Jewelry in the Grand Bazaar
Ok gold lovers – Here’s what you need to know to be an informed gold buyer to best apply all the tips we have for you throughout this guide.
1. Is it Hallmarked? (stamped)
Make sure the item has the appropriate karat marking stamp, also known as a hallmark.
Examples are:
22k, or 916 18k, or 750 14k, or 585 10k, or 416
This indicates purity and is also a way of confirming the jewelers’ said details.
Best practice: Ask the seller to show you the hallmarks on the piece directly.
example of hallmark stamping with 18k gold (750 stamp)
2️. Know The Purity (what those hallmarks actually mean)
The purity of gold is determined by karat.
24 Karat gold is 99.9% pure and it descends as you go.
Percent of gold in:
24k = (99.9% gold content) 22k = (91.6% gold content) 18k = (75% gold content) 14k = (58.3% gold content) 10k = (41.6% gold content, which means less than half is gold)
Investing in gold jewelry without checking purity is a BIG NO. The price between something that is 22 karats and 10 karats will vary immensely.
3️. Figure out the Best Price (the tricky part)
The price of the gold jewelry is indicated by its purity as well as how much labor work has been spent while making the piece.
When buying a solid gold item, the best way to compare is apples to apples! Well in this case: karats to karats!
Similar-looking gold items with similar weights might be 1000s of dollars less or more.. HOW?? 🤔
Think of a 100-gram gold chain in 10 karats.. this contains 41.6 grams of gold. But on the other hand, a 100-gram chain of 18-karat gold contains 75 grams of gold!
This alone is a HUGE 34 grams of gold difference!
Best practice: Only compare the same karat items! If you are looking at a 14k chain, compare it to other 14k chains of the same weight.
4️. Determining Weight (How heavy is it?)
It is essential to check the weight of the actual gold item that you are buying. Since other gemstones, materials, or enamel colors can make the weight heavier, you might end up paying a higher price for less gold!
Best practice: Ask the jeweler to weigh it on a scale & take a note of that gram weight
5️. Color Shouldn’t Matter (Yellow, Rose, or White)
Gold can have color variations. Combining pure gold with specific alloy metals will create another color or tone.
Yellow gold has been the most popular tone throughout history. Rose gold & white gold are less popular depending on current trends & international locations.
Best Practice: The color of gold should not make the price cheaper or more expensive.
6. Do the math to get your per-gram cost
How to get your gram cost:
Take the total price of the item & divide it by the weight = YOUR PER GRAM COST
Use that to compare prices of items with different weights & same karat purity.
While the per gram cost does not take other things into consideration, like gems or other details the jewelry might have, or the shop owner’s cost of his storefront, it will give you a good baseline when shopping around.
BOTTOM LINE:
A lot is to be taken into consideration when making a jewelry purchase, but if you have the exact karats and weight, you can make a great base for comparison.
Nurhan Gümüs helping us find great deals on gold in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Türkiye
How to get an actual estimate of how much you should pay for gold jewelry
Below is an equation to use as a rough estimate, using the current rate of gold, to determine if the price they are asking at the Grand Bazaar is fair.
Step 1: Google today’s market rate for gold.
Step 2: Let’s say the market rate for the day is $50 per gram (pure gold). We will take that $50 and multiply it by the purity of the item we are looking at. For this example, we’ll use a piece of jewelry that is 18k gold. 18k has 75% pure gold content.
$50 X 0.75 (purity percent of 18k) = $37.50
$37.50 is the cost per gram of the gold material itself in an 18k piece with today’s rate of $50 per gram.
Step 3: Now, pretend the seller has shown you an 18k bracelet and you’ve put it on the scale to weigh it, and based on the weight and price, you can see he is charging $40 per gram. We can minus the raw cost of the gold from the above equation ($37.50), which means he is charging $2.5 per gram for labor and business costs.
Now, there is no ‘standard’ for how much profit a seller should be making, or how much dollars per gram he is charging for labor and business costs. This varies greatly depending on the actual jewelry itself, how much detail and design it may have, and other factors like his rent and other business costs. What the above equation allows you to do is be better informed about raw costs, compare apples to apples when shopping around, and to feel more comfortable about investing in gold.
Q&A – Buying Gold in Türkiye
Why should people consider buying gold in Turkey? Why not travel to Dubai to buy gold?
Dubai (UAE) and Turkey both have very vibrant gold jewelry industries and both countries export and import billions of dollars a year.
Dubai does have some slight cost advantages compared to Turkey when it comes to machine-made/engineered goods like chains. That’s due to the fact their small and medium-sized businesses have larger budgets available to them for machines to produce highly efficient, machine-made gold items.
Turkey, on the other hand, has two great advantages. One is in the handmade / artisan jewelry department due to the over 5000 year history of jewelry making in Anatolia (current day Turkey). Turkey has an unrivaled history of handmade jewelry that other countries cannot compete with.
The other advantage Turkey has over the UAE is a lower cost of the overall trip. You can stay in Istanbul for a month or longer for what your budget would be for just a few days in Dubai. We have curated a 3-day Istanbul itinerary for a perfect visit to the city, with a gold shopping experience in the Grand Bazaar included!
Sometimes, it’s not always about the lowest cost, but instead the overall experience.
How can we tell if the gold is real?
One of the easiest and quickest ways to tell if a piece of jewelry, let’s say a necklace in this case, is real solid gold or something else like brass with a cheap gold plating, is to rub a magnet on it.
Keep a small magnet in your pocket at the Grand Bazaar and use it yourself to test any pieces you are looking at. Real gold is not magnetic and it will not stick. Many other cheaper metals are magnetic and will stick immediately.
If the gold is real, how do we know what the karat value is? (Example: 10k, 14k, 18k, etc?)
Sellers at the Grand Bazaar can do an acid test right there in the shop. This involves the piece of jewelry being rubbed on a touchstone usually made of slate, then a specific karat formula of acid is used. So, a 14k gold bracelet will have its own 14-karat acid gold test. Once the acid is dropped on the stone, if the acid eats away at the markings on the stone, it means it is not the karat it states. If the markings do stay with the 14-karat acid, or whichever karat-specific acid test was used, then it’s legit.
There are a lot of gold shops in the Grand Bazaar. How do we find a good one? Anything specific to look for or to avoid?
The best way is to be an informed buyer and know about the basics of gold, i.e. the gram weight, the karat purity, and then checking that the said karat is hallmarked on the piece itself.
Knowing the basic pillars of information allows you to more properly compare when you go in and ask some questions. If you see the salesman can’t point out the markings, doesn’t know about an acid test, or can’t provide the basic information you’re looking for – you can safely assume they are not able to provide professional help. You should be wary of places like that. Most shops are professional and helpful, but of course, it’s a bazaar and an everchanging marketplace so the prices will vary.
X Avoid places that can’t pay much attention to you or can’t provide details quickly.
✓ Do business with stores that can quickly provide information about the pieces, can offer the acid test, and are willing to be patient.
Can I negotiate on price at stores inside the bazaar?
Yes. Always negotiate with sellers. That’s what has been done throughout history at the Grand Bazaar and it will never change.
However, it should be noted that sellers will have different costs of doing business and it may affect how much they can negotiate with you. A shop that has the most prime location and the highest rent in all of the bazaar may not have as much room as a second-level shop. There is no formula for how much to negotiate, but again knowing the basic market value of gold will help immensely in this situation.
Do jewelers in the Grand Bazaar take credit cards or only cash?
Both cash and credit cards are accepted by almost all of the shops inside the Grand Bazaar. There are a few smaller stores that may not take credit cards, but they will usually have a sign-up to inform you. Safe and secure ATMs are available both inside and outside the bazaar.
If you are using a credit card, many vendors will want to charge a processing fee. The fee is usually 2.5% to 3%, but should never be more than 5%.
Can I SELL my personal gold inside the Grand Bazaar?
Yes, there are places called “sarrafiye” in Turkish (gold buyers) located directly inside the bazaar.
Due to the Anatolian / Turkish culture of giving, gifting, & saving gold it’s very common for people to trade their coins, bracelets, & jewelry at these places. You can venture inside the Grand Bazaar and ‘shop’ your gold around to see who’s paying the best prices of the day.
What we bought
Istanbul really is the new cool, and we have the gold to prove it. Here’s what we got during our first mission at the Grand Bazaar (and we’ve got another trip planned this spring for a few more pieces)
Now, some people reading this might think I got ripped off with the Rolex because it ‘wasn’t purchased at an authorized Rolex dealer” but I need to remind you this is Turkey. Since then, I’ve had it verified and I am over the moon with the purchase, since it would have been considerably more if I had purchased it in the Western market.
One of the coolest experiences was getting to follow the seller through some tight alleyways, behind the scenes from the main bazaar, and got to watch how they cleaned our gold before giving it to us.
They showed us how each new piece of gold is cleaned and polished before being delivered to customers.
I could not have made this article without the countless hours and guidance from Nurhan, so I’d like to make a special thank you to him.
Nurhan Gümüş is an Armenian fourth-generation master jeweler in the Grand Bazaar. He’s the founder of GrandBazaarJewelers.com which focuses on wholesale B2B jewelry and TurkishJewelry.com which is the premier jewelry news & trends blog for Turkey. He was born in Istanbul and his family immigrated to the United States in 1980. In the U.S. he started apprenticing at the age of 12 in his family’s jewelry manufacturing business. He relocated back to Istanbul 13 years ago due to its international competitive advantage (and his advantage of being a native English speaker Master Armenian jeweler).
He currently helps entrepreneurs create their own jewelry line and offers one-on-one professional jewelry assistance. You can find him on IG @grandbazaarjewelers
We did the research for this article while being guests in Istanbul with Go Türkiye. While the tourism board graciously hosted our stay, our itinerary and elective activities, such as gold shopping, were on our own budget. Our ideas, opinions, and recommendations remain our own.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
