TRIP REPORT: Zagreb - Miami and Cancun via Istanbul

TRIP REPORT

Written by Darko Benović

Greetings, everyone!

For a family summer vacation, we wanted to go somewhere distant and unique. We decided on Miami Beach in the USA and Cancun, Mexico! I started searching for flight tickets, which isn’t exactly simple nowadays, as airlines have significantly raised prices. The optimal flight was with Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to Miami. A few days later, we had a flight to Cancun with American Airlines. The round-trip ticket for ZAG-IST-MIA cost EUR 1,200 per person for extra legroom seats. The MIA-CUN-MIA ticket was EUR 370 per person.

Here, I'll describe the six flights we took over these 18 summer days. I hope you find it interesting.

ZAG-IST, August 11, 2024 - A321-200 TK1054

At Zagreb Airport, Turkish Airlines had four check-in counters open.

Since we were flying to the USA, we had to show proof of our ESTA application and provide an address for our stay in America. A visa is no longer required for the USA, but travellers must fill out the ESTA online form, which costs USD 21 per person.

Turkish Airlines recently celebrated 20 years of flying to Zagreb. It started with just two flights per week, and now, in summer, there are three daily flights.

We enjoyed a light breakfast at the Primeclass Lounge, which was recently renovated. The space is now more pleasant, but the food selection hasn’t improved.

The flight was on time, pleasant, and the crew was as friendly as ever.

A full breakfast was served.

I like the A321-200 because it offers easier access to one of the 18 seats in the Exit Row. The flight lasted 2 hours, followed by a 25-minute taxiing. Understandable, as this is the world’s fifth-largest airport by area.

IST-MIA, August 11, 2024 – B777-300 TK0077

With only an hour and a half for transfer at such a large airport, we had to hurry, especially since there was strict security screening for each passenger at the boarding gate for flights to the USA.

Everything went smoothly, and our 12-hour flight began. Here, we booked seats with extra legroom (EUR 168 additional per person per flight). At nearly 2 meters tall, it would have been difficult for me to endure such a long flight in the cramped economy rows.

After lunch service, the cabin crew dimmed the lights, which helped passengers rest and enjoy the in-flight entertainment. This also made it easier to adjust to the 7-hour time difference between Istanbul and Miami. Each passenger received a blanket and a small kit with slippers, a sleep mask, and earplugs.

The flight path took us over Croatia, then southern France, followed by a long Atlantic crossing.

Dinner was served two hours before landing. Meanwhile, drinks and snacks were available, including feta cheese sandwiches and cookies.

The landing was so smooth that we barely noticed it. We quickly disembarked, took a final look at our “bird,” and headed to customs and baggage claim. All went without a hitch.

MIA-CUN, August 16, 2024 – A319neo AA895

After five days in unique Miami, it was time for our flight to Cancun, Mexico. We constantly used UBER, even for transport to the airport.

Check-in was done at self-service kiosks, which is always a bit stressful, especially when you end up with a pile of printed boarding passes, baggage receipts, and luggage tags.

Fortunately, a helpful staff member assisted us with tagging our bags.

The American Airlines round-trip ticket from Miami to Cancun was EUR 340 per person, with an additional USD 35 per bag per flight. This fee must be paid at check-in, as no fare class includes it. Interestingly, during check-in, we were offered a few hundred dollars to cancel our seats, as the flight was overbooked with about 20 people on the waitlist.

Miami International Airport is large, but not particularly impressive. It mostly consists of long hallways without a central hall with distinctive architecture.

Flights are displayed alphabetically by destination rather than by departure time, which was initially confusing but maybe makes sense given the volume of flights.

At the airport, we saw “robot” pizza delivery vehicles, and here they had “robotic wheelchairs” hustling around.

We had breakfast at the Turkish Airlines Lounge, which was nothing special—just a small space with limited food offerings and a hard time finding an open table.

The boarding process was timely, and the plane was packed.

No screens on the seats, but Wi-Fi connection and entertainment were available on aainflight.com for your device.

In-flight Wi-Fi access for browsing costs USD 12.

We were offered drinks and light snacks.

The two-hour flight went by quickly, and soon we could see the turquoise Caribbean Sea near Cancun’s coast.

The plane docked at the jet bridge, and we quickly went through customs, connected to a local network using a Nomad eSIM (10GB for USD 18), and exited the terminal. As expected, there were many loud and persistent taxi drivers.

We pre-booked a taxi, and the 20-minute ride to our accommodation in the Hotel Zone was smooth.

CUN-MIA, August 24, 2024 - B737-800 AA1469

Our eight relaxing days in the vibrant Cancun area flew by, and it was time to return to Miami. In Cancun, it’s best to pre-book a taxi to avoid price surprises. We reserved ours through booking.com for USD 21.

Cancun Airport is a lively place with no prominent police presence or heightened security. In general, the talk of Mexico being unsafe seems a bit exaggerated, at least in the tourist areas.

It was interesting to spot planes from airlines not commonly seen in Europe.

In the cabin, I immediately connected to the free in-flight entertainment, so the 1-hour and 12-minute flight flew by.

I spotted a United Airlines plane flying parallel to us and managed to capture a photo.

The sky was clear, providing beautiful views of Cuba’s atolls.

Soon we were over the Everglades, signaling our approach to rainy Miami.

Our American Airlines flight was on time, but after landing, we were informed by the captain of a delay in docking at the jet bridge, which extended to an hour. It was frustrating waiting so long, strapped in so close to the terminal. Miami Airport seemed a bit disorganized to me, even for a major airline hub.

MIA-IST, August 24, 2024 - B777-300 TK0078

After landing from Cancun, the check-in for this flight was not yet open, so we stored our luggage in the airport cloakroom for USD 16 per bag and went back to the city.

Check-in went smoothly, leaving us enough time for dinner at the Turkish Airlines Lounge. The lounge in Concourse J is larger and better-equipped than the one in Concourse E.

Boarding was at a gate that was too small for the “triple-seven’s” many passengers, leading to some frustration and a half-hour delay.

Turkish Airlines staff made our 11-hour flight as pleasant as possible, serving two meals with snacks and drinks available upon request. The cabin remained dimmed, helping us adapt to Istanbul’s time zone (+7 hours from Miami).

Comfortably seated in extra-legroom seats, we enjoyed the free entertainment. With a Miles&Smiles login, you can also access free Wi-Fi, though limited to text messaging on apps like WhatsApp.

We departed Miami at 10 p.m. and arrived in Istanbul at 4 p.m., a bit disorienting, but we were excited for our two-day stay in Europe’s largest city.

IST-ZAG, August 27, 2024 - B737-800 TK1055

If you decide to spend the night in Istanbul between two flights, Turkish Airlines offers a complimentary 4-star hotel stay. We took advantage of this “Istanbul Stopover” offer and paid extra for an additional night.

Our flight to Zagreb was at 6:20 p.m., giving us plenty of time to explore the city. However, we arrived early at the airport due to extra security screening at the departure terminal entrance.

Istanbul’s new airport is grand, blending Oriental and European styles, with numerous shops from well-known fashion brands. 

We had lunch at the IGA Lounge, a spacious mezzanine with a great selection of food and even shower facilities. There’s also a small exclusive duty-free shop with competitive prices.

The two-hour flight to Zagreb was pleasant and on time. 

As we flew, we caught sight of Mount Medvednica, and after traveling to distant lands, it was nice to finally touch down on familiar ground.

I hope you enjoyed this trip report!

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