Two females are have flights arriving in Istanbul and 2 wks later departing Athens in late October. My questions that I cannot seem to find any information are as follows:<BR>1. Is there a star rating site for hotels/apartments in Turkey and Greece.<BR>2. Can you take a ferry from a Aegean port in Turkey to Athens? and if so, how long would it take?<BR>3. can you join a cruise line have way through, joining in Turkey and ending in Athens?<BR>4. Does a car make more sense for travelling from Istabul to say Kusadasi to meet up with a ferry rather than flying? train? taxi?<BR><BR>This is such a great site. Never knew this existed. Thanks in advance.

1)where are you going to stay in turkey and greece?<BR>for istanbul for exp . put istanbul hotels as keyword and press find.It is same for all your other questions..<BR><BR>4)It is not easy to drive in turkey but you can see alot of places by driving.<BR>You can fly from istanbul to izmir then rent car till kusadasi or take bus from izmir..<BR>Don't worry for anything as both countries are used to live with tourists but as you are two females you have to read about other travellers suggestions-stories

Sheila, You need to repost this with a heading of "need help for Greece and Turkey" I stumbled on it by accident but dont usually open the vague titles.<BR><BR>Cruise lines won't let you join in the middle of a cruise, so you need to take a hydrofoil or ferry if you want to travel by boat. I waited to get to Greece and Turkey to make my reservations for flight and ferries since it isn't any more expensive to book the day before you leave and Greece and Turkey shouldn't be that busy in October. I took flights most of the time because I didn't want to spend the time on boats and it was inexpensive. I took one hydrofoil but it was frustrating due to strikes delays etc. The airlines that might travel that route are: Olympic, Turkish, and Aegean. Good luck.

I finished up my European trip with the opposite of what you are planning on doing. Athens to Istanbul. Hotels in Istanbul are easy to find, I like the ones in the less touristy areas or the business sectors. Taksim is also a fun area to stay. If I were you I would fly from Istanbul to Bodrum (The flights are very cheep Under $100, and you can buy them a day or two before you want to leave), stay there for a few days (beautiful and exciting), then take a 2 hour bus trip to Kusidasi. I would not stay there the night there, but get straight on that boat and be ready for a long journey. Athens is great and all, but I would not be in such a hurry to get there (I know you need to at least stop at one island, probably two, I think the closest connection is Samos to Athens), I think you can see what you need to see in Athens in a night or two, where Istanbul will take at least five days. (And no just because I have a Turkish name does not mean I have animosity toward Greece, by the way I'm very American). In fact may suggestion is that you cut some of that time you wanted to spend in Athens and enjoy one of the Greek isles. Depending on how old you all are will determine which one to go to. I do have to say I pulled into Athens with low expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised, much nicer than Rome.<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip.<BR><BR>Tolga <BR>

Sheila,<BR><BR>Star ratings for hotels may not be always relevant... There are some hotels which are even more luxuary but have no stars, there are 5 star hotels but you would may be rate 3 only. So better to check their web sites or get recommendation. Another source I would suggest to check www.johansens.com<BR>There are Greek and Turkish hotels too.<BR><BR>Depending on your time planning and desires to visit places hire car could be vise. Or fly to izmir would save you quite some time.<BR><BR>As far as I know there are daily ferries and hydrofoils from Turkish coast to Greek island. Ferry to italy passes by Greece.<BR>