humanone - Hotel Bella does drop you off at the top and pick you up at the bottom. I stayed there 2 two weeks ago. It's very convenient. The hotel gives you one of those skinny pictured guide books that has instructions on how to contact them. The shop makes the call for you and tells you where to wait. It probably took no more than five or ten minutes for the driver to get there. The only confusing part was that the shops are only about ten feet wide, so I walked past it the first time.

It's a really trashy souvenir shop and there was no pressure to buy. It was filled with people so they probably wouldn't have noticed if I did. I thought that the free ride might be part of a sales pitch, but in my case, it was just a young driver and me...no other stops. Its about a ten minute drive to Ephesus.

We visited Didyma, Miletus and Prienne on a day trip from Selcuk. We stopped in Didyma first, and am glad we did get there - it was worth the extra effort to get there. We also loved Prienne (location is superlative), and Miletus the least satisfying.

Here's what I wrote in a 2001 trip report:
<<We made the tour of the 3 sites in the region that are usually grouped together: Didyma, Miletus and Priene. Though it was the furthest, Didyma was worth the ride. A magnificent site, a grand temple to Apollo, with impressive columns, some still standing. And few tourists for company.

Next stop was Miletus, and we both found it unappealing. The ruins are very spread out, and many of them are not in good shape. It was interesting to see the scope of the town, but not so easy to walk around because of its size.

The last stop, Priene. We drove through a lovely plain, past the Menderes River (or, the Meander -- and now you’ll understand the meaning of that word!) And then up, into the hills; the siting is spectacular, with the steep and rocky Mt. Mykale behind the town, and the plains spread out in front of it, this Hellenistic town is built into the side of the hill as well. Some of the ruins were not accessible, but those that were gave a good sense of place. The Temple of Athena, between the mountain and the plains, a remarkable sight. And the theater, too, very charming and intimate.

After the crowds at Ephesus, these sites were surprisingly quiet which made it all-the-more pleasurable to visit.>>

It makes good day trip, though, visiting all 3.

I'm far from an expert on Turkey, but since we were there 3
weeks ago I'll chime in w/my impressions of a few places ~

Aphrodisias is well worth a visit; I appreciated it more than
Ephesus especially as it was a 20th as crowded.

The pool at Pamukkale was jam packed w/wandering waders - and
for the 20TL charge I'd want a tad more atmosphere and a few
hundred less 'swimmers'.

Hierapolis - the necropolis is amazing - so many sarcophogi
(is that the plural?). Very dramatic.

Sirince - a sweet village but definitely on the tourist trail
- everything but the stonework is for sale by the village
ladies. There's a fun cafe that makes pide (pizza) in an
open oven. And, yes, the road to the village is very very
hairpin turned!

...and the Virgin Mary's House now charges 10TL entrance fee.

Immimi, We are planning our trip to Turkey now for May 2010.
I can not figure out how to arrange this side trip that you did from Selkuk-Ephesus area. I am not driving on this portion of the trip.
Do I
Istanbul- Cappodocia- Anatoyla- Coast- Eshesus-Pamukkale , Aphrodisias, Hiearpolis-somehow back to Istanbul
OR
Istanbul- Ephesus- P A and H- Izmir or Istanbul depending on flights- Cappadocia- Anatoyla- coast- Dalaman- Istanbul

Bookmarking, great info

Best place to visit:visit to the Laodicea that was through its intensive trade, especially through its Wool- and cloth industry one of the richest cities of Asia Minor. The remnants of a stadium, Baths and water directions remind of those times. Then visit to the Colossae that became a concept because of the "Colossae Letters". Thereafter drive to Pamukkale (Hiearpolis). Visit to the Calcified Terraces. http://kybeletour.com/Pamukkale-Tour...-day-Tour.aspx

Pamukkale and Aphrodisias are well worth the visit and can probably be done in a day from Selcuk with your own car. Pamukkale's terraces are once again gleaming white, whilst the stone carving at Aphrodisias is intricate, especially the lifelike reliefs of faces and statues in the museum. Great!