HI,

here is a preliminary greece/turkey itenary for september.

Day 1: USA to Athens
Day 2: arrive in Athens.
Day 3: Athens - Parthenon and Acropolis to the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Arch.
Day 4: Athens – Delphi.
Day 5: Flight to Santorini (45 minutes)
Day 6: Santorini
Day 7: Santorini
Day 8: Santorini to Mykonos by ferry
Day 9: Mykonos
Day 10: Mykonos to Athens to Istanbul???
Day 11: Istanbul
Day 12: Istanbul
Day 13: Istanbul
Day 14: Cappodocia.
Day 15: Cappodocia
Day 16: Cappodocia
Day 17: Kusadasi - Ephesus ??
Day 18: Ephesus
Day 19: back to Istanbul to uSa.

How does one travel from Istanbul to Cappodocia and to Kusadasi? I know i don't have much time hence I chose the above accordingly. and how to get from Mykonos to Istanbul? Only by plane via Athens? any suggestions welcome!

also what airlines shld i check for good deals to athens? usually i've used hotwire/expedia for inexpensive deals to europe but Greece is tougher to price under 1500$!!!.

thanks!

We've done something like this but in reverse. However we opted for sea links not air links, which made Kusadasi (rather than Istanbul) the easiest link between the two countries. Between Turkish regions we saved time (and money) by using overnight coaches. This is not tiring if you allow a few days at each place, between each overnighter.

Our itinerary went like:
1. Istanbul 2 days
2. Overnight coach (Nevtur Coachline) Istanbul-Nevsihir-Urgup
3. Urgup (Cappadocia) 3 days (local tours included Goreme, Avanos, Zelve, Deryinkuyu)
4. Overnight coach (Nevtur Coachline)
Nevsehir-Izmir-Celcuk
5. Celcik 2 days (visited Ephesus)
6. Local bus to Kusadasi, then ferry to Samaos (Greek Isl).
7. Samos 2 days
8. Ferry Samos-Naxos
9. Naxos 3 days (included local tour to Apollon)
10. Overnight ferry Naxos-Athens
11. Athens 3 days

If you do not need to travel back to Athens;
Rhodes, Samos, Chios are your best choices to cross to Turkey.
Happy travelling,
Greatings from Cappadocia,

Murat

You have well outlined your travel plans. I shall try to answer your question regarding Istanbul - Cappadocia leg. Yes, overnight buses are available. However, you can take the busses that travel during the day time which gives you a nice opportunity to see the country side. It is a choice and preference. I personally do not light bus trips at night and primarily for that reason I am suggesting the day time travelling. A friend of mine was much alert and checked around where he was staying in the Old Section. He found out tour buses of one company leaves almost everyday during the summer months to Cappadocia. www.vivamosaic.com is a hotel belongs to Tentour Co. and they did not mind charging the fee and having him in their bus to Cappadocia. Did you ever think of renting a car? You can rent a car, drive to Cappadocia in one day and on the way you can stop and visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, or just skip that and drive directly to Cappacia to Urgup. After spending 2-3 days, if you start a bit early, you can drive in to Kusadasi in one day including a short stop in Pamukkale,(Hierapolis). It appears you plan to fly to Istanbul from Izmir. Remember, you can fly out from Izmir to Europe and change flights to fly to USA. I will be going with a group of 25 people food editors/writers and that is exactly what we are going to do. Fly in to Istanbul, will rent a bus, see Cappadocia, Antalya (Aspendos, Side, Perge and Thermesos), Pamukkale, Ephesus and fly out from Izmir. The only problem is that the flight, for example Lufthansa departs around 04:00 a.m. in the morning. If you are flying out of Istanbul on the same day you are flying out of Izmir, you will have to catch the early Turkish Airline flights to Istanbul anyway, either at 06:00 a.m. or 07:00 a.m. Rather than online, try some travel agencies, you may get a better deal from them and much more detailed itinerary. Last year I went to Spain/Portugal, last November I went to India, in May as well as in Sept. I will be going to Turkey, I dont know why but, I got better deals from the travel agent from whom I have been buying my tickets. Anyway, driving Turkey is easier than driving in many countries. I have driving in Spain/Portugal, but not in India. In Turkey, except in Istanbul, I have driven all over and there is not much of trafic on the roads once you are out of the cities. In Cappadocia, you may want to stay in Urgup, which is the hub of Cappocia. Hotel Tassaray is where I stayed couple of times. It is not right in the heart of town but a walking distance away, yet quite comfortable. I think their website is, www.vivatassaray.com. Regarding hotels in Istanbul, www.hotelguide.com.tr. or www.ibb.gov.tr. Near Ephesus www.selcuk.gov.tr. Check websites, you will get lots of information. www.goturkey.com, www.tourismturkey.org

Regardless, what and how you decide to travel, have a nice time go out and see, do not miss Cappadocia, climb up the Uchisar Kale to see the entire Cappadocia from the top of the castle and make sure to have "Okuz Gozu - Cappadocia Red Wine" with your dinner.

I was thinking about doing this simaler itinerary however in November. Is this a good time to go? Will ferry and bus services still be available? Do you know of any cheap flights between Istanbul and Athens?