Sorry if you are reading this again - just getting used to this forum and thanks to all who recommended better posting titles! <BR> <BR>Never having been to Turkey, I thought it best to take a TOUR for my honeymoon for two weeks in the beginning of September. My original thought was to take a sailing cruise along the coast - on a small boat (maybe 8 couples max) but have found it hard to find. Also, tour groups here seem to not know too much about Turkey. <BR> <BR>OK - here are my questions: <BR>Are there any recommended tours? <BR>Are tours a good way to go (I normally despise them but do not want to spend as much time as I normally do worrying about train schedules and flights - connections - or if I had "missed" somehting)? <BR>I am not so worried about price - heck, it's our honeymoon! <BR> <BR>Also, she loves the beach, I love history - seems like Turkey is the perfect place - know of any nice resorts on the med? <BR> <BR>PS - I am sold on the Bosphurus cruise that eveyone lauds, as well as seeing Cappodocia, Ephesus, Bodrum and Selcuck/Kusadesi. <BR>Thanks <BR> <BR> <BR>

Mat, <BR>All tours have pros and cons. I took a tour to Turkey as I feared the language problem and didn't want to drive. If I went again, which I would do in a heartbeat, I would look into hiring a driver and setting my own pace. <BR> <BR>If I were you, I would inquire about Maupin Tours. They have a website and Turkey is one of their European trips. They have an excellent reputation and I know friends who have used them in Egypt and were thrilled with the trip. They are more expensive, but from what I have been told you don't get the "hurry-up and wait" approach to travel and you won't get a shopping tour. <BR> <BR>I took a Sporades tours out of USC. The website and accompanying itinerary is very informative.I would look at it, also. If you want more information about Sporades, email me directly. <BR> <BR>Michele, "trapped at home waiting for the repairman"

Globus/Cosmos/Archers do a 'short' coach tour of Turkey (its not called that but they do a longer tour as well) which takes in the northern part of the Agean Coast and Istanbul but not necessarily as far south as Bodrum. You can usually combine this tour (about 8 days) with a week at a resort. The tour would probably also take in Cappadocia in the centre and possibly Bursa as well. Globus are at <BR>http://www.cosmostours.com/ <BR>I've travelled with Cosmos many times but not Globus. Trafalgar probaly do a similar tour, they are at <BR>http://www.trafalgartours.com/ <BR>I think tours are good, especially first time in a place like Turkey, provided you go on them with the right 'mixing' attitude and don't mind turning over the day to day running of your life (days at least) to a third party. They take away the daily hassle of finding hotels, route planning and to some extent meal procuring but of course at a premium. The downside is you go where they want, stay for as long (or short) as they like etc. <BR> <BR>What you described in your first option sounds like a gulet cruise, Cosmos do them as should most operators who have any amount of dealing with Turkey. There have been threads on gulets here and possibly the Africa forum and perhaps even the cruise forum. <BR> <BR>If you like scrambling over ruins then Turkey is about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on. Look out for a tour that takes in Troy, Pergamum and Ephesus. You won't get much rest time on the tour so consider that resort add on, possibly outside Kusadasi or outside Bodrum. <BR> <BR>As for the Bosporus I'd recommend trying the ferry rather than a formal cruise excursion, much cheaper but no commentary. The ferries leave from Eminonu near the old city end of the Galata Bridge. Look for the ferry who's ultimate destination is Rumeli Kavagi which is on the European side of the Bosporus up near the mouth of the Black Sea. This ferry zigzags across the Bosporus. On a tour you may only get one clear day in Istanbul and you may want to spend this seeing the land based sights.

We went with Globus on a tour of western Turkey a few years ago and recommend it highly. Istanbul, Bursa, Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, Antalya, Pamukale, Izmir, Troy, and return to Istanbul. Had an out-of-work archeologist as our guide and he was superb at making those stones come alive. Excellent hotels, food, bus, cleanliness, service. All-round excellent value.

Looking at several tours of Turkey; anyone been on Grand European or Travel- <BR>Learn? We want small group tours, not large bus full.