fOsh

I've been reading extensively on Fodors forum and have never come across a hotel and/or guides that receive fantastic and constant praise except Suleyman and Cappadocia Tours. Sounds rather suspicious - when things are too good to be true, its probably ain't true!

I've just booked the Gamirasu Cave Hotel, and hope some kind souls (and genuine too) can enlighten how good the hotel is. Thanks!

Intrepid1

Re the hotel: while you are hanging around here and hoping somebody who stayed there actually shows up I suggest you read the reviews at TripAdvisor which are uniformly good, even if there aren't many.

caroline_edinburgh

You might get a better response if you re-post with a more specific title, giving some clue as to what country/resort you're talking about.

nat2430

Hi fOsh

We used Sullyman and stayed at Gamirasu last spring - I had contacted various travel agents I read about and decided to use his services. I can highly recommend both him and the hotel (be warned that the hotel is situated on the edge of a quiet and small village stuck way out in the countrysid - if you want nightlife it's not for you: we found it a wonderful change after the noise and bustle of Istanbul.)
Suleyman was able to get me a better deal for a hire car for 2 weeks to drive Cappadocia to Izmir than my own travel agent here in Canada could.
However, he is obviously not the only travel agent that gets recommendations on the Fodor forum. I think you'll find that there are many. We found everyone we met in Turkey were helpful and friendly(the carpet sellers too much so!)
BTW Sulyman has excellent French as well as English.

fOsh

Intrepid1, I did tried looking at Tripadvisor and it look suspicious too. Out of 4 reviews, 2 are posted on the same day and 3 are written in the same style.

nat2430, thanks for the info. We will be using another travel agent instead of Suleyman bcos of the price. Its almost a difference of 300 Euros for the same itinerary after considering meals and standard of hotels. But we will still be staying at Gamirasu Hotel.

Thanks for all the information.

yolsen

We vacationed in Turkey and stayed at the Gamirasu during October 2004. Suleyman was extremely helpful, via email, in pre-trip planning. Not only did we enjoy our stay at the Gamirasu but the travel advice and other hotels he recommended for great. As for the Gamirasu, it is visually fantastic and the entire staff goes out of their way to ensure you have a wonderful time in this region. I believe that the ongoing positive review in Fodors are a result of an organized effort to develop and maintain relationships. How many hotels are sent you a note to say Happy New Year?

TarkanFan

I am an American filmmaker, and my husband is a producer for a major American news network. Our professions have taken us all over the world...literally! My husband has even been at both the South and North Poles! So, it's completely true when I say that the Gamirasu Hotel in Cappadocia is one of the BEST hotels in the world! The accommodations are extremely comfortable, the food is excellent, and you get loving care from the family who owns and operates the place in English, French, German and Turkish! (They may even speak other languages as well, but those are the ones I heard fluently during our three-day stay there in 2002.) Also, I cannot speak more highly of Suleyman as a hotelier and travel agent. He got us in to see a little- known local presentation of whirling dervishes (Sufi Muslim dancers) in a 12th C. building. We STILL talk about that night and play the CD we bought there. It was a life-affirming experience!!!
Also, since my return home, Suleyman has helped me many times with film contacts in the Middle East. We also always receive holiday and New Year's cards from him. I don't know too many hoteliers who take an interest in your life and needs AFTER you've returned home!!!

stma7

it is one hundred percent true - they and it are wonderful

you shouldn't be so negative - advice on fodors is unbiased and genuine - no one makes money by posting their opinion here

you will love it i guarantee it

i would buy the place if i could

cheers

yaromac

I second the opinions expressed. We booked a vacation with Suleyman and found his pre-trip help and organization (and prices) to be second to none. In the end, only half of our party was able to go to Cappadocia but they said it was the best part of the whole vacation, that the owners of the hotel were the nicest/friendliest they had ever met period and the hotel was the best they had ever stayed in. They had dinner together every night with Suleyman and his partner. I have never ever heard such raves from them, and like other posters to this forum, they have travelled all over the world, and have many points of comparison. They returned home from there last week. Hope this helps you to see that it's not hype, you're in for a wonderful experience.

progol

I had a great experience, too, with Suleyman and staying at Gamirasu. My husband and I were there in August of 2001, and it had just begun to get recognition. It is a charming hotel in a TINY town, and that's one of the reasons why it was so special. The staff was great, and did whatever they could to accomodate us. I had used Suleyman to make my reservations in all of the hotels, and because of him, I got upgraded or better prices. We also toured with him for two days; he took us to the more well known places, but also to some smaller places that we wouldn't have been aware of on our own. We had a great time with him, had fun meeting people and really found that leaving was hard because he'd become a friend.

Ayvali is tiny, but the charm is being able to walk around and interact with the children in the street, the women sewing scarves and the men in the cafe. It is NOT a place with nightlife! The experience in staying here is being far removed from the familiar.

I can honestly say that Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip to Turkey, and part of the reason was due to having someone show us around that knows the place intimately AND that we really liked.

kgiovacco

I've travelled to 20 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa so far, and Gamirasu is without a doubt the best travel experience that I've had. Suleyman assisted me with domestic Turkish air tickets many months before my trip, and was able to book them for me in Turkey for less money than I could have in the US. His partner Ibrahim is a superb tour guide, having lived in the area his whole life. They provided a fabulous birthday cake for my travelling partner, and did not even add the cost to our bill. The breakfasts and dinners were of gourmet quality. Suleyman and Ibrahim have a knack for providing information and acting as welcoming hosts without being overbearing. And here was the best part of my trip: they arranged for us to attend part of a 3 day wedding celebration in a neighboring village. My friend and I were the only foreigners in a private house where at least 60 Turkish women and children were celebrating. We could not speak with them, but we could communicate and I've never felt so welcomed. My only regret is that my itinerary allowed only 3 nights at Gamirasu. On my next trip to Turkey, I will visit just Gamirasu, and stay for a week. There is plenty to see in Cappadocia. My trip was in March 2001.

jules4je7

Rick Steves has wonderful tours of Turkey. I don't know a single person who doesn't like his tours, and I know many who have done them.

Good luck. Turkey is wonderful, whether you do it alone or in a group tour.

Julie

RichardNH

Just returned from there and using Suleyman, the company and the hotel. The reviews are true.

I tried him because of the mention of his company and the hotel in Fodors. I sent him a email enquiry and had a response within an hour. Of the many things I expected in Turkey, such speed was not one. I had never been to Turkey much less Cappadocia. I had already booked my flights to Istanbul and had a hotel there. I had been trying to book via Turkish Airlines to get to Kayseri. I had not been successful. Given the quick reply from Suleyman, I asked him and had reservations and the flight details within a day.

The village is very rural and walking to Urgup is not practical. I didn't rent a car but had Suleyman arrange a driver and guide. I had them for three days. The driver appeared with a new Volkswagon 12 passenger, air conditioned van for just two people. The guide was an older gentleman who had been an english teacher and a guide for 30 years. He was a veritable font of info. They appeared each day early and were a pleasure to be with. I don't know if everyone in tourism in Turkey is like them, but if they are, wow.

The hotel has good food. Each dinner is set by the cook - not a la carte. With advance notice, he did other things.

I travel extensively (my hobby) and this was one of the best vacations in the last five years - and I had just come from several days in Paris enroute to Turkey. I would happily recommend them to anyone.

I

elaine

stma7
nice of you to praise the reviews on fodors, but I see that you've posted for the first time on this thread.
Regarding Suleyman and Cappadocia tours, are you an employee or just a booking agent?

dove

We just returned from 2 weeks in Turkey, traveling independently. We too contacted Cappadocia Tours and Suleyman arranged all our flights within Turkey for us. It was quite a savings over what we would have paid from the US.

We picked up our tickets in Istanbul on the day we flew to Kayseri. They were paid for and waiting for us. As it turns out, we did not see Suleyman until three days later when prepared to leave Cappadocia and thus did not pay him until then. I worried that we had not settled up with him but he reassured us that this was not a problem. He was extremely helpful and professional. AND NO I DON'T WORK FOR HIM.

We liked Cappadocia and the Gamirsu but I did have some reservations. It is far removed from everything. Unless you rent a car, you are dependent on hiring a car and driver, plus a guide (which we thought was essential). That means that unless you hire a driver for the evening, you are stuck at the hotel for all meals and with the same other guests. While we were there for two nights, a tour group of 14 Americans were there. They basically took over the hotel and since we were not part of their group, we were somewhat left out.

Doing it again, I might stay in Goerme and use Cappadocia Tours for cars, guides, etc, rather than stay so far out in the country.

That is not to say that the Gamirsu is not a wonderful hotel. We stayed in their Cave Suite and it was the most comfortable bed during our stay in Turkey. Rather it is so remote that you are at the mercy of the hotel in all matters. We'd have liked a little more flexibility.

Eloise

At least six of the posters in this thread have never posted before in the Europe forum.

Buyer beware...

propertravel

Recommendations are reflections of personal experiences and one likes something may not be suitable for others. Maybe some others does not bother to share their positive experience which they had elswhere and with someone else. Maybe they have not been told to do so !

I belive one should consider recommendations as guideline but should do more search inline to make sure they find what they want.

Thats why one should also put a little addition "according to me.... thats a great place or.....person is the best ) otherwise might be missleading as well.
Sharing experiences are great thing anyway.....

I am intriqued with the head of the message thats all !

Happy Travelling to all,
Murat

dove

I'm not sure why there's this interest in questioning the Gamirasu or Suleyman. I am new to the Turkey board and only posted after our trip to Turkey.

I thought Suleman did an excellent job and would gladly serve as a reference anytime.