This web site really helped me on planning my trip so it is my turn to pass on some helpful advice - I was in Turkey Oct. 17 to 29, 2002:<BR><BR>Istanbul:<BR>Stayed at the Side Pension in Sultanahmet. Nice, clean and good location. I saw no difference between the hotel and the pension so stay in the pension - $35 double with breakfast.<BR>Check the days and times that the sites are open. We went to Topkapi one day and had plans to see Aya Sophia the next only to find out that it was closed.<BR>Cappadocia - Gamirasu Cave hotel ($70 double) and guide ($140 per day) Very nice hotel and the guide gave us alot of flexibility. Airfare Istanbul to Kayseri (1hr drive to hotel) and Kayseri to Izmir (coast of Aegean) $280 Cdn approx.. Overall we enjoyed ourselves but it was pricey and the hot air balloon rides are $200 usd per person. If you have been to Luxor, Egypt you may not be that impressed.<BR>Car rental - rented from Kemwel - 3 day min. with no drop off fee. The car rental co. they used in Turkey is Sixt. At pick up they charged a $75 plus tax drop off fee. I called Kemwel in the states and spoke to the supervisor. He said to pay the drop off fee and charge them back upon my return. This was two weeks ago so I have not received a reply as yet from my reimbursement letter to Kemwel. Also watch for additional fee for extra driver which can be very high.<BR>Selcuk - I will not recommend the hotel I stayed in as it was $52usd and you can do better (I was there in Oct., summer may be different). Ephesus was wonderful and the car rental was the way to go. You have two options - car rental or tour bus and you do not want to go tour bus.<BR>Bodrum - Hotel Ayaz - Great $35 Cdn per night with Breakfast and Dinner right on the beach. The beds were hard though. This is in Gumbet bay about a 10 min drive from Bodrum city center. <BR>Mamaris - Hotel Lidiya $60 Cdn including breakfast and dinner. Good value. <BR>Rhodes catamaran - If you plan to take this book with the local tour operators. Their price is cheaper than the price direct plus the fee includes pick up. Don't assume they will drive to the front door of your hotel even if they say they will. They may mean the front street. double check. The departure time varies as well. We had 9am and 9:30am as possible times but it left at 8:50am.<BR>Rhodos - We hired a taxi / guide for $55 Euros and he kept our luggage in the trunk. The airport will not take your luggage and there are no lockers at the airport.<BR>Athens - The taxis charge double on between midnight and 5am. The hotel Attalos is not the place to stay. It is near the Plaka but not the greatest location. The Plaka is OK but very touristy. good for shopping.<BR>That is all I can think of at the moment. If you have any questions post them.

We will be leaving for Turkey for 3 months, next week. Our plans include several days based fromm Selcuk. What was the name of the hotel you stayed at and would not recommend (and why?).

Very keen to hear about your trip. How long did the catamaran take to get to rhodes? How long did it take for you to get from Cappodocia to Bodrum ? and did you stop at pammukale?

Sheila....where are you ??

What did happen to sheila ?