Hi,

My husband and I are considering taking the Gate 1 Turkey package for 14 days in May. Has anyone taken this tour with them? Any advice, comments, recommendations?

Thanks!

Can't comment re Gate 1, as used Isram Travel (or Tours) out of NYC (on 3rd Ave) for our Turkey visit, which was outstanding considering this had been the only group tour (we had 22/people) I've done... prefer private. They do offer options for hotels from moderate to deluxe.

Gate 1 is very reputable, but suggest you compare the two.

We took a Gate 1 italy package in 2006 and had a wonderful time. We are now scheduled to take the Gate 1 14 day Turkey trip on March 20. From all my research this seems to be one of the best offered. Can't give you more info till we get back. So looking forward to it.

Thanks for your replies. Overall the Gate 1 tour seems to have the same itinerary as other companies. But I was wondering about the actual service, the tour guides, are the organized, on time? I assume so since they are reputable? But any specific stories or advice will be appreciated...thanks!

We went to Turkey with Gate1 in November, 2007. We usually travel on our own, but the deal was unbeatable so we decided to try it. It was really great. We had about 35 people on our bus and the guide was very good. He kept things on schedule, but was just flexible enough I thought so that we didn't feel like we were being herded around. Accommodations were much better than we usually feel we can afford -- 4 and 5 star hotels. Meals that were included were very good -- if anything, too much food to try! I think you will be very pleased.

thank you for the reply.

Did Gate1 to Italy for 10 days and it was great. Good value--would do them again!!

I know you didn't ask for another tour company suggestion, but I took (for the second time) a tour with Pacha Tours. My first tour was 11 yrs ago and my second one was last year.

Hands down, the tour guide was the best I've ever experienced. The first guide was also excellent and now runs her own tour company.

I generally like independent travel but within countries where I don't speak the language a tour is preferable.

Check out Pacha Tour; very good prices. E-mail me if you'd like my trip report (first trip) or personal comments. [email protected]

I am going to Turkey with Gate 1 departing in 2 days. I'll let you know how it goes when I get back.

Nancy - thanks for the reply - I will definitely look into Pacha Yours - perhaps for a future trip. We booked with Gate 1 so we are set for now. Thanks again!

Diane - Looking forward to hearing about your experiences when you return.

I would advise going with Insight Vacations to Turkey. They are a very reliable and established company and they use excellent hotels and have very knowledgable guides. I took their " Treasures of Turkey" in October, 2006 and had one of my best trips ever. If you have any questions about the trip, I will be happy to answer them.

Took a Gate 1 Eastern European trip this past October and can recommend them.

It was a large group (Danube cruise from Budapest to Prague) but they had 4 tour directors on board. We were broken into groups of about 40 for the sightseeing expiditions and the leader was very firm about people being on time for departures.

Had a wonderful time and would use them again. (p.s. they include beer and wine in their dinners and it flowed freely if anyone is interested in this tidbit)

Lynnie

I just got back from my Gate 1 tour through Turkey. I loved it! Both the tour and the country. It is taking me a while to get my trip report together, but it was great.

Our tour was large, but VERY well run. They have several experienced guides who handle the tours all of which were more than just tour directors, they were the guides as well. They took a great deal of pride in sharing their country with all of us.

There was only one hotel I flat out didn't like, but it was more because it didn't have a desk so I had no place to write in my journal than anything else.

The food was good, especially for buffets it was really good (I've had worse buffets in Las Vegas). If you have specific questions let me know. I'll start posting my trip report next week.

Diane, thanks for checking back. I will be watching for your trip report.

Diane, I think we saw your tour group in Selcuk when we were in Turkey last week travelling independently. Were you using 3-4 large coach buses each identified with A,B,C and D?

Hi Jersey.

We had buses A, B, and C. The only time we were all together in Selcuk was at lunch on 2/18.

When I found out the tour was full I was worried about being croweded, but being there in February, most of the time I felt like I had the sites to myself.

Diane,

Do you recommend any of the Gate 1 Optional Tours on the Turkey trip?

Nik

I'm not Diane, but I would recommend taking most of the optionals. We didn't take the ones in Istanbul because we could get around on our own there. There might have been one other one we didn't take -- I think it was the one in Konya. But for the most part they are all valuable and very hard to get to on your own (it seemed). Especially in the time allotted for them by the tour.

opti1, Kristinelaine, Diane60030,

Since you all have taken the Gate 1 tour to Turkey I am directed this question to you – but ofcourse if anyone else can help, then please do. I also have a question about the optional tours – we are leaving in May and so they want us to finalize the optional tours by this Friday.

I agree with you Kristinelaine in that it seemed that the Istanbul tours which included the palace, mosques and the Bosphorus cruise were all do-able on your own so I was leaning against them. Here are all the tours – would you be able to help pick which we should most definitely sign up for. Thanks in advance!

We are actually doing the 14 Day Turkish Treasures package and so Konya isn't included in this one. These are the ones we are considering:

$57 – Full Day Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary
$45 – Half Day Perge, Aspendos and Antalya and Archaeological Museum
$42 – Dinner and Whirling Dervishes (IS this really worth seeing)
$42 – Full day Cappadocia

Me, again. I took a tour with Pacha but thought I'd chime in on the optional tours with Gate 1.

I looked up your tour and what was included and not included. Since you will have some time your first day in Istanbul, and if you can stay awake, you could get to the Grand Bazaar via taxi and not pay for a tour - it would only hurry you thru. Also, you can get to the Bosphorus and boat on your own.

All the other optional tours are must see places. The tour is so rushed that if you don't take these optionals (as you listed them) you would miss so many highlights of Turkey. No matter where you go there's history and all is amazing.

Re the dinner and Whirling Dervishes: Excellent! I saw the Whirling Dervishes in Cappadocia and wouldn't have missed it for the world.