If it is two full days for Ephesus and Aphrodisias, you can do it, Otherwise you should reconsider Aphrodisias as it is about a three hour drive from Selcuk (Ephesus area) and a bit longer from Kusadasi where I would advise you to stay, especially if you wish the baby to have some beach time.

1. You will need a stroller in istanbul, at Cappadocia and at Ephesus. It will also be usefull to carry stuff.
2. I am not sure if they will allow a stroller into the mosque. Maybe if you wipe off the wheels with wet wipes???
Neither can you leave it outside because that will most probably be the last time you see it. Museums though should be fine. Stroller at Hagia Sophia, the archology museum and especially Topkapi Palace will be useful.
4. I do not know. Will you allow her up?
5. Pleace check with your local Hertz, Avis or similar int'l rental agency. turkish directives write about drivers licenses requiring a picture but I do not know if there are regional differences. I know that US and EC licenses are fine.

We went to Istanbul and Ephesus with our daughter when she was three. I know we used the stroller in Istanbul. I don't think we took it in the mosque, but whatever we did we didn't lose it. We made her walk at Ephesus because I had read a stroller wouldn't work. In the end, I remember thinking we could have used it. It is very uneven, so it won't be a smooth ride, but it is possible.

We also took things a bit more slowly. We had about five days in Istanbul and about the same in the Ephesus area. Since having a kid, we try to limit the number of moves we make on a trip.

Have fun!

We also used strollers for 2 of our children in Istanbul & Ephesus. Very handy.

Hi sh,

>Need tips for travelling with a 15 month old baby <

Bring along a nanny or wait until the baby is at least 3.

Who is going to be caring for the baby while you are shlepping through Turkey?

I just travelled with a 15 month old to central Europe. A couple of thoughts:

- I resisted the notion of a stroller, but my wife insisted. We brought a compact umbrella stroller and it was extremely handy. We purchased it second hand for $10 and knew that if it ever became unwieldy or inconvenient, we could just leave it behind. Boy am I glad we had it with us though.

- Our child did fine, but the travel days were really stressful. I think your itinerary would have been a bit too intense, with a lot of time in transit. Consider slowing things down a bit, eliminating perhaps one destination, or being prepared for some unhappiness. It seems a shame anyway to be doing 2 days here and 2 days there, when really much of the time will be spent driving/flying around, checking into hotels etc. This would be hard for adults, but will wear on your child especially and could end up really stressing everyone out.

I know this is US based regarding hot air balloon rides, but do read:

While there is no legal age limit to fly in a balloon, most balloon ride companies will have thier own age policies.

We've found that very young children (under 5 or 6 years old) are often frightened by the noise of the burner. Another rather interesting thing we've noted is that young teens are sometimes bored with a balloon flight -- go figure! We guess that since the flight doesn't have the excitement and g-forces of a roller coaster, some youthful passengers lose interest pretty quickly.

Since each company will have their own policy regarding minimum passenger age limits, you need to discuss this directly with them.
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I cannot imagine traveling with a barely walking child without a stroller of some kind, but the again, I think your trip is overly ambitious for the needs of a child that age.

thanks everyone. clearly, yes to carrying the stroller and perhaps a rethink on itinerary is warranted.

OC - I will remember to carry enough wet wipes
I am ok to have the baby in the hot air balloon. But if she gets frightened, my husband and I will take turns doing solo rides. Indian driving licenses do have a picture, but will check locally.

Ira - I lost the argument with hubby to keep the baby with grandparents at home, so will have to figure out the caring bit. But yea, we are definitely not going to be partying in taksim square in the nights!

Revised Itinerary (pls do comment):

Option 1 - cancel Ephesus & Aphrodisias
Do only Istanbul and Cappadocia

Option 2 - cancel Ephesus / Aphrodisias and instead do a beach resort along with cappadocia and istanbul. Can anyone recommend a (high-end) beach resort / town?

Your option 2 can include a beach resort, if you cancel aphrodisias.

kusadasi, only 15 minutes from ephesus is a beach resort. Check Kismet, kustur, Turban, and similar beach hotels to the North of the city. If you rent a car, you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

And there are flights between Cappadocia and Izmir airport which serves Kusadasi/Ephesus.

The weather should not be too hot and the sea should be nice and warm.

Every take off and every landing is terrible for babies if they have any kind of congestion. They cannot do the exercises that allow adults to open their sinuses. This is the source of the screaming-bay-on-the-plane syndrome. Minimize flights.

Better still, ask grannie to take her for a week.

Ackislander is right. We did travel with our baby a few times when she was 9 months and 16 and 18 months but we know it can not be too pleasant for her.

Why not drop cappadocia which will be the most difficult with the baby and opt for Ephesus and beach together?

We didn't go to cappadocia as it seemed the hardest to get to. Our daughter never had trouble on planes, but it was such a hassle to move around. We stayed in Sirince when we visited Ephesus, and one of the days we went to a nearby beach.

We have had some trips where we left her with her grandparents, but since she is a good traveler we have taken her many places. I think part of our success has been moderating how much we do.

Hey sh,

Your plan is looking better.

I take it that Cappadocia is very important, or else you wouldn't be talking about schlepping all the way out there and back just to spend two days.

Are there no beach resorts near Istanbul on either the Black Sea or the Med?

Ira - I am unwilling to cancel cappadocia. It can be 3 days perhaps.

Eastave - our baby is a good traveller as well. I am currently in Bangalore visiting my parents, yesterday we took her to a small crowded south Indian restaurant for breakfast. She slept off in the car and woke up in the middle of my breakfast, looked at all the people around her and beamed! I really do want to do the hot air balloon and see the rose valley and live in a cave hotel and all of the touristy stuff.

Ackislander - when she was younger, there was never an issue. Breast feeding while take off and landing is better than all the adult exercises. Suckling ensures open sinuses all the way! But I will get her to sip juice or water or bottle milk now. That said, I am cutting down on flights, only to and fro from cappadocia.

OC - we chose sept for the cooler weather. After the Delhi summers, we cannot handle any more heat and humidity. I will check on the beach hotels mentioned by you.
Within Istanbul, we want to split our stay into 2 parts / hotels - mostly because we cannot afford four seasons beyond 2 nights. Staying in sultanahmet will ensure that we can take several breaks in the day while seeing all the sights. We have lots of Starwood points - can be used at W or Le Meridien. Any opinion on the area where these hotels are located?

Also can anyone comment on ira's question about beach resorts near Istanbul?

Freshly inspired after reading a wonderful trip report by DoctorCarrie (who trapaised through turkey with a toddler), I have put Ephesus back on the list. So the itinerary is shaped as followd:
1. 8-10 th sept - 3 day stay in sultanahmet exploring all the usual sites
2. 11 - 13th in cappadocia
3. 14th - fly to izmir from kayseri (stay at Kusadasi) and visit Ephesus
4. 15th - back to istanbul (mode of transport to be decided)
5. 16th to 18th - 3 day stay in Besiktas area doing different stuff like Istanbul Eats, people watching at Istiklal caddessi, Bosphorus views, trying new restaurants etc.

On 15th I am toying with the idea of taking a ferry from Kusadasi back to istanbul instead of Istanbul. Is it a waste of time? Has anyone done it? Practical info on how to book?

http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/special/balloon/safety.html

Hot air balloon safety. Why take a baby. Get a baby sitter.

We took a balloon ride in Cappadocia. I assume your 15 month old is less than 4 feet tall? So you will be holding her? People are squeezing around each other trying to see different things and take pictures. It is very cramped. I admit I am a weenie but the thought of someone holding a 15 month old anywhere near the side of the balloon ... I think I will go throw up now.

I can advice only not to take baby with you at all!

I second coluphere's final words...

You say, "I really do want to do the hot air balloon.."
Well you can do it, just not with a baby. Any reputable company will not allow you to bring the baby on the balloon.
I have been in a hot air balloon 4 times. In 2 of those rides the landings were rough and bumpy, with the entire balloon ending up on it's side. People had to scramble out. Do you want your baby under a heap of people? Ballons are also noisy.
You're the parent and you're responsible for the safety of your baby. You shouldn't be "OK" with taking the baby in a balloon.

Fodorites,
Let me put your (collective) mind(s) to rest!
I have booked with Butterfly Balloons (a company recommended by Esbelli Evi where we are staying). They dont allow anyone under 6, partly for safety reasons and partly for not spoiling the serene experience for fellow travellers. So my husband and I are doing this on different mornings.

Gretchen - i wish the baby sitter was an option. But when my daughter wakes up in the morning, if she sees a stranger and not one of her parent, she will get really upset.

Meadeparsons - Without getting into a debate about 'responsible parenting' in this travel forum, part of the reason me being OK with this was due to a friend's experience in San Francisco. She took her 1 year plus daughter for a balloon ride in napa valley and the experience was amooth for everyone