Globus Tours in Turkey
Jan 2nd, 2013, 07:53 PM
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Globus Tours in Turkey
Has anyone taken a Globus Tour in Turkey ("turkish delight")? We're considering a 14 day itinerary in June and would be interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with this tour company. It's our first trip to this country and feel it's a good way to cover a lot of ground. Thanks!
Jan 3rd, 2013, 05:33 AM
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I did a similar trip with Pacha Tours. This company has really good guides, as opposed to Globus whose guides are not very knowledgeable/informed.
The tour I took included the Bosphorus cruise, Perge, and Aspendos which you will have to pay for with Globus.
The Pacha tour was all inclusive but you will need to buy lunches as they are not included.
We also saw more sights in Istanbul rather than have time in the markets. I'd much rather have the sightseeing than the shopping. We stayed 2 extra days in Istanbul on our own.
In Goreme our guide arranged for our group (optional tour) to have some time with a dervish to chat with him and ask questions. During this experience, ours was the only group who was allowed to stay behind and meet the dervish.
The tour I took included the Bosphorus cruise, Perge, and Aspendos which you will have to pay for with Globus.
The Pacha tour was all inclusive but you will need to buy lunches as they are not included.
We also saw more sights in Istanbul rather than have time in the markets. I'd much rather have the sightseeing than the shopping. We stayed 2 extra days in Istanbul on our own.
In Goreme our guide arranged for our group (optional tour) to have some time with a dervish to chat with him and ask questions. During this experience, ours was the only group who was allowed to stay behind and meet the dervish.
Jan 3rd, 2013, 07:55 PM
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I took a Globus Turkey tour many years ago, too many years for my input to be valid. They may have changed the itinerary, hotels, routing, etc by now. In fact, I took several tours with them and their budget arm Cosmos. The only one that I disliked was the Italy tour--too litle was included and the hotels were too far from the center of town. In general though, Globus is a reputable company, and they have been around a long time.
I didn't look at the Turkish Delight tour, but I suggest you compare it with that of a company that specializes in Turkey, e.g., such as Pacha mentioned above: http://www.pachatours.com/
or Ephesus Tours:http://www.aboutephesus.com/content/view/157/36/
Price out the included versus "optional" tours. Sometimes the higher priced tour is actually more cost effective because of its inclusiveness. You also may be able to get a discount on your Globus tour by going through Affordable Tours. http://www.affordabletours.com/Turkey/
Here's a site that gives reviews of Globus in general: http://goo.gl/u9xCv
Good luck!
I didn't look at the Turkish Delight tour, but I suggest you compare it with that of a company that specializes in Turkey, e.g., such as Pacha mentioned above: http://www.pachatours.com/
or Ephesus Tours:http://www.aboutephesus.com/content/view/157/36/
Price out the included versus "optional" tours. Sometimes the higher priced tour is actually more cost effective because of its inclusiveness. You also may be able to get a discount on your Globus tour by going through Affordable Tours. http://www.affordabletours.com/Turkey/
Here's a site that gives reviews of Globus in general: http://goo.gl/u9xCv
Good luck!
Jan 4th, 2013, 09:56 AM
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i am a professional tour guide in Turkey first thing i suggest you is to get a tour which doesnt offers you optional tours. most of the times the itinerary looks ok but when you realse the must see part of an area is optional, its too late. secondly lunches should be included at a group tour otherwise its a waste of time if you have to think everyday what to eat. if you have further questions you may send me mail from my profile page.
Jan 5th, 2013, 06:00 PM
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Thanks everyone for your feedback. Really appreciate it.
There does seem to be a lot of driving, but this is in lieu of flying from point to point, as the Tauck tours do. I suppose the small towns along the way are to give you a rest so you don't have one 8-hour stretch.
Adrienne - wondering how you know about the quality of the tour guides on Globus. I've read lots of reviews and while there are some disappointments, overall they seem to get good reviews.
There does seem to be a lot of driving, but this is in lieu of flying from point to point, as the Tauck tours do. I suppose the small towns along the way are to give you a rest so you don't have one 8-hour stretch.
Adrienne - wondering how you know about the quality of the tour guides on Globus. I've read lots of reviews and while there are some disappointments, overall they seem to get good reviews.
Jan 5th, 2013, 06:44 PM
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<< how you know about the quality of the tour guides on Globus >>
From personal experience and the experience of friends.
<< overall they seem to get good reviews >>
- Many people take tours so they don't have to do any planning or reading ahead of time therefore they don't know what they're missing.
- Some people don't have the experience of knowing a good guide from a passable guide from a very good guide.
The caliber of the guide makes all the difference in a tour.
Lots of people do take Globus tours but I never would again and not just because of the guide. The food was terrible and the hotels were not near towns.
From personal experience and the experience of friends.
<< overall they seem to get good reviews >>
- Many people take tours so they don't have to do any planning or reading ahead of time therefore they don't know what they're missing.
- Some people don't have the experience of knowing a good guide from a passable guide from a very good guide.
The caliber of the guide makes all the difference in a tour.
Lots of people do take Globus tours but I never would again and not just because of the guide. The food was terrible and the hotels were not near towns.
Jan 6th, 2013, 03:11 AM
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Of the 8 or so tours I took with Globus and Cosmos, there was only one tour guide that I felt was below par. He was much more interested in hanging out and partying than guiding the tour. But every profession has its mediocre performers, and overall I found the Globus/Cosmos guides to be knowledgeable. And yes, I know a good guide from a passable one. 
Most of the people on this forum are independent travelers, so don't have good things to say about tours or the people who take them. However, there are many good reasons for taking a tour, and doing so shouldn't imply you are too lazy to plan a trip on your own. That certainly wasn't true in my case, and I always bought guidebooks and read up on places before I visited. In fact, I always spent time on my own before, during, and after every tour I took, which is why I eventually started doing them entirely on my own.
However, I do suggest you take a look at the hotels and see their proximity to the city centers. You don't want to be stuck out in the boonies, particularly if you want to stroll around on your own in the evening. (My Turkish hotels way back in the late 90's were in good locations. I had no complaints).
As you point out, there is a lot of time spent on the bus on coach tours. As long as this is balanced with an adequate amount of time spent exploring the cities, I didn't mind. In fact, I think I saw more on my escorted tours than I would have if I had planned it all independently.
If you feel comfortable with Globus, then I say go for it. I think you will end up having a wonderful trip.
Most of the people on this forum are independent travelers, so don't have good things to say about tours or the people who take them. However, there are many good reasons for taking a tour, and doing so shouldn't imply you are too lazy to plan a trip on your own. That certainly wasn't true in my case, and I always bought guidebooks and read up on places before I visited. In fact, I always spent time on my own before, during, and after every tour I took, which is why I eventually started doing them entirely on my own.
However, I do suggest you take a look at the hotels and see their proximity to the city centers. You don't want to be stuck out in the boonies, particularly if you want to stroll around on your own in the evening. (My Turkish hotels way back in the late 90's were in good locations. I had no complaints).
As you point out, there is a lot of time spent on the bus on coach tours. As long as this is balanced with an adequate amount of time spent exploring the cities, I didn't mind. In fact, I think I saw more on my escorted tours than I would have if I had planned it all independently.
If you feel comfortable with Globus, then I say go for it. I think you will end up having a wonderful trip.
Jan 6th, 2013, 04:34 AM
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walkabout said "I do suggest you take a look at the hotels and see their proximity to the city centers."
Good point. I think the Peri Tower in Nevşehir is probably the last place I'd want to stay in Cappadocia - a cave hotel in one of the smaller towns/villages would always be my preference.
I don't understand why the tour goes via Akşehir from Konya, maybe for a view of Lake Eğirdir, since Pisidian Antioch doesn't appear on the itinerary.
And, since I'm a big fan of the Lycian coast, I'd say it's a pity to miss that region.
My advice would be to do it yourself, and fly from Istanbul to Ankara (or Cappadocia), make your own way to Izmir and fly from there back to Istanbul. Take local tours.
Good point. I think the Peri Tower in Nevşehir is probably the last place I'd want to stay in Cappadocia - a cave hotel in one of the smaller towns/villages would always be my preference.
I don't understand why the tour goes via Akşehir from Konya, maybe for a view of Lake Eğirdir, since Pisidian Antioch doesn't appear on the itinerary.
And, since I'm a big fan of the Lycian coast, I'd say it's a pity to miss that region.
My advice would be to do it yourself, and fly from Istanbul to Ankara (or Cappadocia), make your own way to Izmir and fly from there back to Istanbul. Take local tours.
Jan 7th, 2013, 08:39 PM
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Thanks again for your feedback, I also have always been an independent traveler, relishing as much in the planning of the trip as the journey itself. This is the first tour I will take and we will have a few days before and after in Istanbul on our own. I'm hoping it will give us a great overview of the country in only 12 days and of course, I hope we'll have good guides.
Appreciate your advice Croesus. I hope to see this region of Turkey too.
Appreciate your advice Croesus. I hope to see this region of Turkey too.
