Pacha Tour - Our Experience
Oct 29th, 2003 | 01:09 AM
#1
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Pacha Tour - Our Experience
We just returned from a Pacha Tour to Turkey and since so many people have asked questions about this company I want to make some comments about my personal experience. We ususally travel independently, but have taken some escorted tours in the past.
The transfers and pickups from hotels and airports were all on time which is amazing given the traffic and number of things that could go wrong.
Pacha has many tours and tour segments and we were not with the same group throughout the tour. We would pick up people and drop off others at various cities so if you are looking for a cohesive traveling group this would be disappointing. I was surprised that no one on Fodors had mentioned this in previous posts. Our traveling companions were wonderful, helpful and we had fun together.
Some of the hotels listed in the itinerary received three weeks before our trip were not the ones we were given. Although the new ones were fine and there was no problem for us, it was bothersome. If the hotels had not been satisfactory, there would not have been a thing we could have done about it without a major hassle, loss of time, and actually I doubt we would have had any success in making a change. Others in our group had the same experience. Therefore, don't base your decision on a particular hotel but rather on the class of hotels. Fortunately, when I gave the itinerary and hotels to our family I listed Pacha as a contact number and not just the hotels.
We did not travel in a full-sized bus, but in a small bus. We were nine people in a 13 passenger bus (including the 4 joined seats in the back) and we felt cramped For one short day we were 12 people. There were no overhead racks or seat pockets, so cameras, jackets and water bottles were hard to access and took up valuable leg room. The seats were stiff, probably narrower than regular buses, and it was almost impossible to stretch your legs anyplace or take up two seats to sleep. This would be fine for short hauls, but we had many long days on the bus, for example one day was 8 hours of driving. One of the couples in the group had specifically asked if it was going to be a full-sized bus as they had experienced a small one in Viet Nam, and had been assured by Pacha that it would be a large one...not good.
We really enjoyed visiting Turkey. The sights and the people were great, the food was plentiful and yummy, and the weather was kind to us. Our one day of "on again-off again" rain was in Istanbul and did not interfere as it was mostly a museum day. We did not go on the tour one 90 degree sunny late October day, but stayed at the beach resort in Antalya and just relaxed and enjoyed the beauty of the sea.
Evelyn
The transfers and pickups from hotels and airports were all on time which is amazing given the traffic and number of things that could go wrong.
Pacha has many tours and tour segments and we were not with the same group throughout the tour. We would pick up people and drop off others at various cities so if you are looking for a cohesive traveling group this would be disappointing. I was surprised that no one on Fodors had mentioned this in previous posts. Our traveling companions were wonderful, helpful and we had fun together.
Some of the hotels listed in the itinerary received three weeks before our trip were not the ones we were given. Although the new ones were fine and there was no problem for us, it was bothersome. If the hotels had not been satisfactory, there would not have been a thing we could have done about it without a major hassle, loss of time, and actually I doubt we would have had any success in making a change. Others in our group had the same experience. Therefore, don't base your decision on a particular hotel but rather on the class of hotels. Fortunately, when I gave the itinerary and hotels to our family I listed Pacha as a contact number and not just the hotels.
We did not travel in a full-sized bus, but in a small bus. We were nine people in a 13 passenger bus (including the 4 joined seats in the back) and we felt cramped For one short day we were 12 people. There were no overhead racks or seat pockets, so cameras, jackets and water bottles were hard to access and took up valuable leg room. The seats were stiff, probably narrower than regular buses, and it was almost impossible to stretch your legs anyplace or take up two seats to sleep. This would be fine for short hauls, but we had many long days on the bus, for example one day was 8 hours of driving. One of the couples in the group had specifically asked if it was going to be a full-sized bus as they had experienced a small one in Viet Nam, and had been assured by Pacha that it would be a large one...not good.
We really enjoyed visiting Turkey. The sights and the people were great, the food was plentiful and yummy, and the weather was kind to us. Our one day of "on again-off again" rain was in Istanbul and did not interfere as it was mostly a museum day. We did not go on the tour one 90 degree sunny late October day, but stayed at the beach resort in Antalya and just relaxed and enjoyed the beauty of the sea.
Evelyn
Oct 30th, 2003 | 08:35 PM
#2
Joined: Feb 2003
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Thank you for your posting. I have been considering Pascha cause of their itineries, but now have doubts. Has anyone been w/ Boris whazhisname and his cultural tours? He is very expensive but seems to really cover the country? I want a long and extensive tour. Insight also has a tour but it does not go as far east as I would like to travel. So many choices but none of them quite right!!!
Nov 11th, 2003 | 09:34 AM
#3
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,138
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I did travel with Bora Ozkok of Cultural Folk Tours on an 18 day Western Turkey tour in May 2002. By all accounts I made the right choice. While not great for the company, my group of 10 enjoyed stretching out on a 52 seat bus. Quality of the food and guide was great! I don't know if they are still giving out videos of what you can expect on the trip, but that was helpful.
Nov 11th, 2003 | 11:14 AM
#4
Joined: Mar 2003
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I did the Pacha Turkish Delights tour last September and yes, there were people who came and went, traveling with us for a few days and then leaving to do their own thing. There were about 20 of us and we had a full size bus, with most people having their individual seat (with no sharing).
What I found most unusual, was the fact that my traveling companion and I were the only ones from the US. Most were Australians, with a couple Canadians. In Istanbul we were split into two different hotels, but all were where they were originally booked for.
Our guide was a young lady who spoke excellent English and was extremely knowledgable about her homeland.
If the political situation ever calms down in that part of the world, I hope to go again, this time to include the eastern part of the country.
Food, hotels, sightseeing, guide, all very good in my book.
What I found most unusual, was the fact that my traveling companion and I were the only ones from the US. Most were Australians, with a couple Canadians. In Istanbul we were split into two different hotels, but all were where they were originally booked for.
Our guide was a young lady who spoke excellent English and was extremely knowledgable about her homeland.
If the political situation ever calms down in that part of the world, I hope to go again, this time to include the eastern part of the country.
Food, hotels, sightseeing, guide, all very good in my book.
Nov 11th, 2003 | 02:50 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 587
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Dear Fodor.com FRIENDS,
Pacha Tour is one of the BIGGEST tour company in Turkey and some Europian countries like France Spain, Belgium and also in USA. Some hotels and restaurant are belong to this company because of this reason Pasha tour price cheaper then other companies they also can combine tours to create cheap tour. There are many companies in the world offering cheap tours too like COSMOS travel if you know country that you are going to you can see the difference between the cheap tour companies and expensive companies ( I have to say in here there are many tours companies has good price for right tour).
If you are willing to go to Turkey, you have to prepare yourself to pay $75-100 per day, per person. Less then this sometime cause some disapointments.
I hope this incovenience tour won't stop you to go back to Turkey because Turkey has alots of thing that you have ever seen any other countries in The world.
Sinan
Pacha Tour is one of the BIGGEST tour company in Turkey and some Europian countries like France Spain, Belgium and also in USA. Some hotels and restaurant are belong to this company because of this reason Pasha tour price cheaper then other companies they also can combine tours to create cheap tour. There are many companies in the world offering cheap tours too like COSMOS travel if you know country that you are going to you can see the difference between the cheap tour companies and expensive companies ( I have to say in here there are many tours companies has good price for right tour).
If you are willing to go to Turkey, you have to prepare yourself to pay $75-100 per day, per person. Less then this sometime cause some disapointments.
I hope this incovenience tour won't stop you to go back to Turkey because Turkey has alots of thing that you have ever seen any other countries in The world.
Sinan
Nov 11th, 2003 | 06:40 PM
#6
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 99
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I intend to visit both eastern AND western Turkey all in one trip so I'm thinking about a month is what I need to see it all. I just cant figure out which tour/s will really get me to all the stuff I want to see. I keep comparing and trying to figure it all out. I would also like to see the St. Paul stuff, but that almost seems to mean 3 diff tours. I do want nice hotels and some meals included if possible. So here I sit w/ a stack of brouchures and sheets of lists trying to compare. To be honest I"m having a hard time!!! 
Anyway this input is all great....THANKS TO YOU ALL!!!!
Anyway this input is all great....THANKS TO YOU ALL!!!!
Nov 12th, 2003 | 01:46 PM
#7
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 587
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Hi LEANNAT,
I don't know where do you live but I am sure you can find Turkish Consulate close to your area or send an e-mail them and get Turkish Map for your self and check the places the travel agencies offering.
If you have any problem you can ask
Sinan
I don't know where do you live but I am sure you can find Turkish Consulate close to your area or send an e-mail them and get Turkish Map for your self and check the places the travel agencies offering.
If you have any problem you can ask
Sinan
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Nov 12th, 2003 | 06:39 PM
#8
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 99
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Hi Sinan...you are so kind to help us all w/ Turkey info! Yes I have maps...and I study each tour itinery and try to match them up to see what is what. But its proving to be difficult as each tour seems to list things differently. I've not encountered this before...St. Peters was/is St. Peters and I knew it was in Rome! But one Turkish company may go from one place to another and not quite list in their discription what they pass on the way so I know if I see the same things or not. Im not explaining this very well...sorry! Anyway I'll see my TA tomorrow and maybe we can start to sort some of this out. One thing for sure I AM GOING TO GO TO TURKEY!!!!
Nov 13th, 2003 | 06:25 AM
#9
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 587
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Hi LEANNAT
I am here to help. You have to becarefull about what travel agencies explain about their tour scheledue because one of my neigbour's friend bought a tour from COSMOS and she though that she could see the pergamum BUT she was not able to see anything even if BERGAMA which is new town close the ruin of Pergamum. Some travel agencies officers may not know anything about tour either they may read the brochure on the 800 number. I heard many stories.
Sinan Akdeniz
I am here to help. You have to becarefull about what travel agencies explain about their tour scheledue because one of my neigbour's friend bought a tour from COSMOS and she though that she could see the pergamum BUT she was not able to see anything even if BERGAMA which is new town close the ruin of Pergamum. Some travel agencies officers may not know anything about tour either they may read the brochure on the 800 number. I heard many stories.
Sinan Akdeniz
