Trip at a glance
What needs doing, what's locked, and the answers everyone asks.
🟡 Needs action
| What | Who | By when |
|---|---|---|
| Decide: rebook both hotels via Chase Travel (up to $200 in credits) — check prices vs. direct first · Money | Luke Xander | Jul 30 |
| Review the activity decision guide & pick our days — zipline books out 1–2 wks ahead, Vintgar needs a timed slot · Activities | Everyone | Next group call |
| Jenn & Xander: decide on the Istanbul room for Aug 27 — €15 pp without breakfast / €30 pp with (confirmed by phone) · Istanbul | Jenn Xander | Open |
| Book Istanbul transfers (3 legs) — hotel shuttle quoted €95; prebooked private sedans run ~€30–60, so shop it · Istanbul | Luke | Open |
| Confirm horseback riding (Bohinj) | Xander | Open |
| Ask the Occidental to hold a parking space for Aug 28 — garage exists on-site, ~€35/night (unofficial), limited spaces | Xander | Open |
| Call hydrospeed operator — verify it's running (water level) | Xander | ~Aug 11–18 |
| International driving permits | Everyone | Before Aug 25 |
✅ Locked in
- Flights booked for all four; same IST→LJU flight in, LJU→IST out
- Sixt Škoda Octavia booked under Xander (pay at pickup)
- Both Airbnbs paid; all four Slovenia stays booked
- Canyoneering booked; route + daily framework set
📌 Quick answers
We all land in LjubljanaFri Aug 28 · 12:55pm
We all fly homeSun Sep 6 · 9:40am
Shared Istanbul nightThu Aug 27
Shared cost so far$1,029 / person
Itinerary
The confirmed plan — route, stays, travel, and booked activities. Ideas live on the other tabs until locked in.
Travel
Istanbul
Ljubljana
Bovec
Bohinj
Bled
✈️
FlyHome → Istanbul
Luke & Christina — LAX Tue Aug 25, 8:10pm (TK10) · Jenn & Xander — Seattle Wed Aug 26, 7:15pm (TK204)
🕌
IstanbulAug 26 – 28 · Wish More Hotel Şişli2 nights▶
Istanbul
Aug 26 – 28 · Wish More Hotel Şişli
Luke & Christina arrive 7:15pm Aug 26 (2 nights, 2 rooms, breakfast incl.); Jenn & Xander arrive 5:05pm Aug 27 — room 2 available to them for the overlap night — then all four fly to Ljubljana together.
HotelWish More Hotel Şişli Booked
Address19 Mayıs Mh., Halaskargazi Cd. No:196, Şişli, İstanbul 34360
Phone / email+90 212 496 00 00 · sisli.reservation@wishmore.com.tr
ReservationStopover form 0008169375 · PNR TX36DI · 2 singles × 2 nights · breakfast incl. (L&C)
Check-in / outAug 26 (late, ~10pm arrival) → Aug 28 early (8:15am on form)
Airport transfers[booking — hotel shuttle €95 vs private ~€30–60]
✈️
FlyIstanbul → Ljubljana2h 10mair
TK1051 · 11:45am → 12:55pm Fri Aug 28 · all four together
🏙️
LjubljanaFri Aug 28 · Occidental Hotel1 night▶
Ljubljana
Fri Aug 28 · Occidental Hotel
Land at 12:55pm, pick up the rental car, and overnight in Ljubljana.
HotelOccidental Ljubljana
Address[from booking confirmation]
Check-in / out[from booking confirmation]
StatusBooked · pay at arrival · $455.84 (2 rooms)
ParkingOn-site garage, guest section (code at desk) · ~€35/night (unofficial) · limited — ask them to hold a space · fallback: Kongresni trg garage ~400m
🚗
DriveLjubljana → Bovec2h 30mdrive
Over the Vršič Pass · 50 hairpin turns · meds for Christina & Jenn · Luke drives
🧗
BovecAug 29 – Sep 1 · Airbnb3 nights▶
Bovec
Aug 29 – Sep 1 · Airbnb
Adventure base. The full activity menu — rafting, biking, zipline and more — is on the Activities tab.
Address[from Airbnb itinerary]
Check-in / out[from Airbnb itinerary]
Host contact[from Airbnb messages]
StatusPaid in full · $1,006.12 · 2 bed / 2 bath · listing
🧗 Canyoneering — intermediateBookedHalf paid
When[assign day + time]
Operator[name + phone]
Meeting point[from booking confirmation]
Cost$480 all four · split 4 · Xander fronted [amount] · [balance] due on the day
NotesNo experience needed · swimwear + quick-dry gear
🚗
DriveBovec → Bohinj~2hdrive
Non-water day — valuables stay on us after checkout
🏞️
BohinjSep 1 – 5 · Airbnb4 nights▶
Bohinj
Sep 1 – 5 · Airbnb
Lake base — Bled is ~30 min away for a day trip. Activity ideas (horseback, river bike, gorges) are on the Activities tab.
Address[from Airbnb itinerary]
Check-in / out[from Airbnb itinerary]
Host contact[from Airbnb messages]
StatusPaid in full · $1,044.44 · 2 bed / 2 bath · listing
🚗
DriveBohinj → Bled~30mdrive
Morning transfer · drop luggage
🏰
BledSat Sep 5 · Bled Rose Hotel1 night▶
Bled
Sat Sep 5 · Bled Rose Hotel
Last night before flying out. Day options (Vintgar, toboggan, castle, island) — deciding via the Activities tab.
HotelBled Rose Hotel
Address[from booking confirmation]
Check-in / out[from booking confirmation]
StatusBooked · pay at arrival · €513.04 (≈ $587)
✈️
FlyLjubljana → home9:40adepart
Depart LJU 9:40am Sun Sep 6 (TK1062) · drop the rental car first
Istanbul Wish More Şişli — Booked
Aug 26–28 · Both stopover rooms secured (free via Turkish Airlines). Open: J&X's yes/no on the second room, transfers, and what we do while there.
🏨 The booking Confirmed
HotelWish More Hotel Şişli (5★, Osmanbey — #3 in our hotels guide)
Rooms2 singles × 2 nights (Aug 26 & 27) · free via stopover
BreakfastIncluded for Luke & Christina (4 total)
ReservationForm 0008169375 · PNR TX36DI
AddressHalaskargazi Cd. No:196, Şişli 34360
Phone+90 212 496 00 00
Emailsisli.reservation@wishmore.com.tr
MetroOsmanbey (M2), short walk — Taksim 2 stops, old city ~25–30 min
J&X add-on (confirmed by phone): additional guests in room 2 on Aug 27 are €15/person without breakfast, €30/person with — so €30–60 total for the night vs. paying for their own hotel. Their call.
🕌 Luke & Christina — a day and a half
ArriveWed Aug 26 · 7:15pm
Full dayThu Aug 27
Depart for LJUFri Aug 28 · 11:45am
Plans[to plan — Şişli/Osmanbey base, M2 to everything; research next]
🌙 The overlap night — all four
WhenThu Aug 27 evening
J&X windowLand 5:05pm → depart 11:45am Fri
The one shared Istanbul moment[dinner plan — decide]
J&X roomRoom 2 held · €15 pp (no breakfast) / €30 pp (with) · J&X deciding
🚕 Airport ↔ hotel — our three transfers
| When | Who | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 26 · IST → hotel · ~7:15pm arrival | L&C (2 + bags) | [to book — private sedan ~€30–60] |
| Aug 27 · IST → hotel · ~5:05pm arrival | J&X (2 + bags) | [to book — if they take the room] |
| Aug 28 · hotel → IST · for the 11:45am flight | All 4 + bags | [to book — minivan; leave by ~8:30am] |
Pricing (researched Jul 2026): the hotel's own shuttle quote is €95 — about double market. Prebooked private sedans to Şişli run ~€30–60 fixed (flight tracking + meet & greet included; minivans a bit more); metered yellow taxi ~$50–60 incl. tolls as the no-booking fallback. The run is ~50 km / 50–90 min — nothing is quick, book ahead.
Next for this tab: a researched shortlist of things to do from the Şişli/Osmanbey base (L&C's full day Aug 27) and overlap-dinner options near the hotel — plus transfer operator quotes. Say the word.
Flights
Turkish Airlines for everyone.
All four together Booked
TK1051Istanbul → LjubljanaFri Aug 28 · 11:45am → 12:55pm
TK1062Ljubljana → IstanbulSun Sep 6 · 9:40am → 1:10pm
Luke & Christina Booked
OutLAX · Tue Aug 25 · 8:10pm · TK10
IstanbulArrive 7:15pm Aug 26 · 2-night stopover
HomeIST 2:30pm → LAX 6:15pm · Sep 6 · TK9
ReservationTX36DI
Fine print
Cabin · fareEconomy (promo, class P) · ~$2,537 (2 pax, incl. seats)
Tickets235-2299809821 / -9822
AircraftB777 long-haul · 737 MAX 8 / A321neo short-haul
Bags[from e-ticket]
Seats[from e-ticket]
Change rules[from fare rules]
Jenn & Xander Booked
OutSEA · Wed Aug 26 · 7:15pm · TK204
IstanbulArrive 5:05pm Aug 27 · overnight layover (18h40m)
HomeIST 3:00pm → SEA 5:20pm · Sep 6 · TK203
ReservationS5Q4LU
Fine print
Cabin · fareEconomy (U out · Q back) · $2,113.06 (2 pax, incl. $436 seats)
Bags2×23kg checked + 1×8kg cabin each
Seats29J & 29K (IST–SEA return)
Change rules$135 change · $540 no-show · non-refundable
Personal payment/card details are intentionally left out.
Lodging
Booking status and money. Addresses, check-in times and contacts live on the Itinerary stay cards.
| Stay | Nights | Status | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wish More Hotel Şişli · Istanbul | Aug 26–28 (2) | Booked free via stopover · 2 rooms · J&X add-on €15–30 pp (Aug 27) · Istanbul tab | $0 (L&C) |
| Occidental Hotel · Ljubljana | Aug 28 (1) | Booked pay at arrival · free-cancel to Jul 30 · on-site garage ~€35/night (unofficial) — ask to hold a space | $455.84 |
| Bovec Airbnb | Aug 29–Sep 1 (3) | Paid in full fronted by [who] · 2 bed / 2 bath | $1,006.12 |
| Bohinj Airbnb | Sep 1–5 (4) | Paid in full fronted by [who] · 2 bed / 2 bath | $1,044.44 |
| Bled Rose Hotel | Sep 5 (1) | Booked pay at arrival · €513.04 | ≈ $587 |
Flexibility: we could add a night in Bovec and cut one in Bohinj if we want more time in the mountains.
Activities
Booked items live on the Itinerary. The full menu with prices, durations and booking leads is in the companion Activity Options Decision Guide (separate file) — nothing stays "plan on the day": every day gets decided before we go.
📗 Companion file: Activity-Options-Decision-Guide.html — 24 researched options with costs, a map, and the day-by-day grid we're deciding from. Two bookings are time-critical once picked: zipline (books out 1–2 weeks ahead) and Vintgar Gorge (timed entry, 2–7 days ahead).
Booking status
| Activity | Where | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Canyoneering (intermediate) | Bovec | Booked · $480 all 4 half paid · details on the Itinerary |
| Hydrospeeding | Bovec | Xander calls ~Aug 11–18 — verify it's running (water level) · decide the backup now |
| Horseback riding (Mrcina Ranch) | Bohinj | Xander confirming · phone booking only |
| Everything else — rafting, zipline, kayak, SUP, bike park, Vogel, gorges, Bled | Bovec / Bohinj / Bled | Decide before the trip — via the decision guide |
Bovec menu (Aug 29 – Sep 1)
🧗 Canyoneering ✓
🌊 Rafting
💨 Hydrospeed
🛶 Kayak
🏄 SUP gorge tour
🪂 Zipline Učja
🚵 Bike park / e-bike
💧 Slap Virje
🥾 Soča Trail
🧀 Cheese museum (Kobarid — closed Sun)
Bohinj & Bled menu (Sep 1 – 5)
🚠 Vogel cable car
🐴 Horseback (Mrcina)
🥾 Mostnica Gorge + Voje
💦 Slap Savica
🏊 Lake swim + kayak/SUP
🚴 Valley bike + Studor hayracks
🌉 Vintgar Gorge (timed slot)
🛷 Straža toboggan
🏰 Bled Castle
🚣 Bled Island (pletna / rowboat)
waterland
Sep 1 heads-up: transit day with Airbnb checkout — non-water only so valuables stay on us. Route choice that day: back over Vršič (Peričnik / Kranj) or south via Kobarid (cheese museum open Tuesdays).
Day plan (fills in as we decide — options in the decision guide)
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Sat Aug 29 drive LJ→Bovec | [not yet decided — en-route stops: Vršič / Peričnik / Kranj] |
| Sun Aug 30 Bovec | [not yet decided] |
| Mon Aug 31 Bovec | [not yet decided] |
| Tue Sep 1 transit · non-water | [not yet decided — route A (Vršič) or B (Kobarid)] |
| Wed Sep 2 Bohinj | [not yet decided] |
| Thu Sep 3 Bohinj | [not yet decided] |
| Fri Sep 4 Bohinj | [not yet decided] |
| Sat Sep 5 Bled | [not yet decided — Vintgar / toboggan / castle / island] |
💶 Cost notes from research: water trips exclude the €6–21 pp municipal river tax; most operators want a group of 4 minimum (we are exactly 4); the Julian Alps: Bohinj Card (check if the Airbnb qualifies us) gives free Savica + Mostnica and discounts on Vogel and Bled Castle.
Info & booking links (operator/info pages from Xander's doc)
Rental car Booked
Sixt · Škoda Octavia · Ljubljana airport pickup + dropoff, ~9 days.
The reservation
CompanySixt
VehicleŠkoda Octavia · midsize wagon · auto
Booked underXander (primary driver)
Reservation #[from Sixt confirmation]
PaymentPay at pickup (reserved, not yet charged)
Est. total~$541 (9 days)
Additional drivers: decide before pickup whether Luke or others get added.
Good to know
- Automatic — good for the Vršič Pass hairpins.
- 5 seats, unlimited km, min driver age 21.
- Sixt adds a ~2.7% foreign transaction fee — use a no-FTX card at pickup.
- Bring driver's license + international driving permit — everyone is getting one (see Checklist).
Discounts: booked under Xander — verify whether Christina's healthcare discount / an Amex offer can still apply, or plan those savings on a different card at pickup. See Money.
Money
Costs, payment status, and the deals still on the table. Static — updated at each version.
$1,028.54
Per person · shared costs
$2,057.08
Per couple · shared costs
$4,114.16
Total shared (split 4 ways)
| Item | Who pays | Status | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental car (Škoda Octavia, 9 days) | Split 4 | Pay at pickup Xander's reservation | ~$541.00 |
| Occidental — Ljubljana (2 rooms, 1 nt) | Split 4 | Pay at arrival free-cancel to Jul 30 | $455.84 |
| Bovec Airbnb (3 nts) | Split 4 | Paid in full fronted by [who] | $1,006.12 |
| Bohinj Airbnb (4 nts) | Split 4 | Paid in full fronted by [who] | $1,044.44 |
| Bled Rose Hotel (1 nt · €513.04) | Split 4 | Pay at arrival | $586.76 |
| Canyoneering (all 4) | Split 4 | Half paid Xander fronted [amt] · [balance] due on the day | $480.00 |
| Istanbul hotel (Wish More Şişli) | J&X only, if they join | Booked · free via stopover J&X add-on €15–30 pp for Aug 27 | $0 / €30–60 (J&X) |
| Istanbul transfers (3 legs) | Split by riders | Shopping hotel shuttle €95 vs private ~€30–60/leg | ~€100–180 est. |
| Food / gas / remaining activities | Split 4 | Not yet estimated | — |
| Shared total (booked so far) | $4,114.16 |
Flights are personal, not in the split: L&C ~$2,537 · J&X $2,113.06. Bled Rose converted at ~1.14 — varies with the payment-day rate. Estimates, not final accounting.
💰 Deals — what to do, by when
| Deal | Do this | Who | By when |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSP hotel credit · $100/card, up to $200 verified Jun 2026 | Decide, then each rebook one hotel prepaid via Chase Travel — compare prices vs. direct first; confirm neither has used this year's credit | Luke Xander | Jul 30 |
| Chase Freedom · $100 on $600+ single txn (…0394) | Only if $600+ of separate travel routes through Chase Travel in one transaction — can't stack with the CSP booking | Luke | Sep 30 |
| Sixt healthcare discount · confirmed 5–10% | Verify it applies with the booking under Xander | Christina | Before pickup |
| Amex offer · $100 on $500+ rental | Decide whose card pays at pickup | [assign] | At pickup |
| No foreign-transaction-fee card · saves 2.7%+ | Confirm which card; use it at Sixt and abroad | All | Before Aug 25 |
Cash: carry €100–200 as backup; card for most spending in Slovenia. Still to research: Istanbul/Ljubljana city passes, activity bundle discounts in Bovec.
Maps & key links
Driving routes, en-route stop ideas, and quick links. Map links need internet; the rest works offline.
🚗 The route
Ljubljana → Bovec (via Vršič Pass) → Bohinj → Bled → Ljubljana airport
📍 Stop ideas, by leg
On the drive: Ljubljana → Bovec
⚠ Velika planina is a half-day detour northeast of Ljubljana (wrong direction for Bovec), not an en-route stop — see the decision guide before keeping it.
Around Bohinj
Around Bled
📍 Places on our list
Attractions & guides (reference links from Xander's doc)
Pre-trip checklist
Check-offs save on your device only — the group's shared status lives in the Needs-action table on the Overview, updated each version.