Travel agencies
Oct 7th, 2014, 06:58 PM
#1
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Travel agencies
i just started to do my research for our upcoming trip to Turkey in September of '15. I usually plan all our trips myself from start to finish. I ran across a website that offered info on some Turkish travel agencies. The article said that they may be able to get better prices and can help you put a workable itinerary together. Has anyone used one of these agencies? Has anyone used Argeus Tourism and Travel? Any thoughts on using an agency? I'm open to all help planning this trip including hotels in Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia and Anatalya. Thanks
Oct 7th, 2014, 08:12 PM
#4
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Although I'm not aware of either of these companies, we've often found that local travel agents are able to get preferred pricing and have an intimate local knowledge that is invaluable when arranging a trip. It's easy to compare rates to ensure you're comfortable with the value you're getting.
We're off to Istanbul this weekend and will report back on recommended places to stay, eat, go, etc.
We're off to Istanbul this weekend and will report back on recommended places to stay, eat, go, etc.
Oct 7th, 2014, 10:55 PM
#5
Soods, travel agencies always say that they get better prices, whether they do or not.
Having said that, they usually have deals with some hotels but those hotels may not be among those that you would prefer. If you go on tours, they will take you to restaurants which you may not otherwise select. They will get better transportation rates but not necessarily at hours you may wish to travel.
And finally, you would lose the flexibility you could have to make your own decisions.
Turkey is an easy country to do on your own and Istanbul also.
Do not forget that if you feel overwhelmed or lazy at any time during your travels, you can still get short tours or ask an agent to make the needed arrangements for you at very short notice.
If you can afford it, get a tailor made tour with Fest turizm or similar which you can modify at any time before or during.
If you cannot afford agencies like Fest, you cannot afford not to do it on your own, which will allow you cheaper but good lodging, interesting street food and glorious freedom as well as better contact with interesting local people.
Having said that, they usually have deals with some hotels but those hotels may not be among those that you would prefer. If you go on tours, they will take you to restaurants which you may not otherwise select. They will get better transportation rates but not necessarily at hours you may wish to travel.
And finally, you would lose the flexibility you could have to make your own decisions.
Turkey is an easy country to do on your own and Istanbul also.
Do not forget that if you feel overwhelmed or lazy at any time during your travels, you can still get short tours or ask an agent to make the needed arrangements for you at very short notice.
If you can afford it, get a tailor made tour with Fest turizm or similar which you can modify at any time before or during.
If you cannot afford agencies like Fest, you cannot afford not to do it on your own, which will allow you cheaper but good lodging, interesting street food and glorious freedom as well as better contact with interesting local people.
Oct 8th, 2014, 06:49 AM
#6
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Thank you both. Otherchelebi, I see that you were in my town, Chicago! Just started to look at airlines and it looks like Turkish air is the best deal so far. Is that what you fly? Having the inside track, do you think the first two weeks of September are a good time to visit? I see there are a few holidays/celebrations in September. Is this a good or bad thing for visitors. In some countries, everything shuts down on holidays which may not be to a visitors benefit.
So now having talked about travel agencies, I will probably not use one. We're not fans of tours but we are big fans of street food and mingling with the locals! I guess I could just use some guidance on good places to stay(not big chain hotels) for $200 or under per night. I understand that Turkey is a little less expensive than other European countries where we've been, we have spent up to $300 per night. Is this correct? I listed some of our intended areas in my prior post.
I appreciate all the help I can get because I really know nothing about the country and have just started my educational journey
.
Thanks for the help
So now having talked about travel agencies, I will probably not use one. We're not fans of tours but we are big fans of street food and mingling with the locals! I guess I could just use some guidance on good places to stay(not big chain hotels) for $200 or under per night. I understand that Turkey is a little less expensive than other European countries where we've been, we have spent up to $300 per night. Is this correct? I listed some of our intended areas in my prior post.
I appreciate all the help I can get because I really know nothing about the country and have just started my educational journey
. Thanks for the help
Oct 8th, 2014, 07:59 AM
#7
soods, our daughter and American son-in-law live in Chicago and we visit them frequently. She has lived there since 2002, attending SAIC undergrad and grad.
There are quite a few decent hotels within your preferred price range. Check previous posts like that of IamDoneHere for pleased customers staying at Sultanahmet (the historic area) which makes it easy to visit almost all the major sights on foot.I saw the location of the hotel IMDone stayed and thought it was very good, but (between us, he may be used to live in a dump and may not know a good room from a dumpy one - )
Many of the hotel reviews at Trip Advisor for that area in Istanbul are not to be fully trusted because I discovered that the owner of one major hotel chain and someother owners have been retaining a destination expert at TA and also begging/requesting their customers to write good reviews.
You can read the recent ones of many vey good trip reports of previous visitors to Istanbul and to the major locations of Turkey and come up with many ideas, But it will be a good idea to buy one book, Fodors, or whatever on the country with a decent size map and also a map of Istanbul, and go through it.
You may follow your instincts, or your countrymen, or others of your age group, or do something totally different depending on current interests or newly discovered ones.
You can do like a generalist, ie. neolithic, hittite, greek, roman, ottoman.
You can be more specific, such as :
- biblical or jewish or islamic sites
- greek temples versus roman ones
- Byzantine churches and monasteries.
- Georgian and Armenian heritage.
- Cities where famous Greek writers, philosophers, mathematicians lived.
- Following Odysseus, Iliad and or Herodotus.
- Unexcavated ruins only.
- Seaside sites only including pirate towns
- Mountains
- waterfalls and lush forests
- high pasture festivals
- town markets and regional wild produce
- nature reserves, bird havens, wild orchids, fauna and flora.
- Attending the Assos philosophy conference and/or Antalya Film festival and/or Cesme Jazz festival and/or Fethiye Morrel mushroom festival. A ballet, opera or dance show at Aspendos antique theatre near Antalya.
- Taking a "blue tour" on the shores on a shared gulet on cabin charter or a smaller boat.
You have an incredibly large number of options and alternatives.
Preparing for such a trip is a great deal of fun.
Enjoy it.
you can check my blogs and/or follow my posts on twitter to keep up to date also:
http://otherchelebistravels.blogspot.com.tr/
http://ahmetcafercelebiler.blogspot.com.tr/
https://twitter.com/ahmetcelebiler
I also have reviews of some books I recommend on Amazon :
- John Freely's books on the antique sites of parts of Turkey
- Translation of parts of Evliya Celebi's Travels
- An Epic poem by Nazim Hikmet, "Landscapes From My Country"
You can find them by just scrolling down to get to my 49 reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A142N7PESHWHB4
There are quite a few decent hotels within your preferred price range. Check previous posts like that of IamDoneHere for pleased customers staying at Sultanahmet (the historic area) which makes it easy to visit almost all the major sights on foot.I saw the location of the hotel IMDone stayed and thought it was very good, but (between us, he may be used to live in a dump and may not know a good room from a dumpy one -
)Many of the hotel reviews at Trip Advisor for that area in Istanbul are not to be fully trusted because I discovered that the owner of one major hotel chain and someother owners have been retaining a destination expert at TA and also begging/requesting their customers to write good reviews.
You can read the recent ones of many vey good trip reports of previous visitors to Istanbul and to the major locations of Turkey and come up with many ideas, But it will be a good idea to buy one book, Fodors, or whatever on the country with a decent size map and also a map of Istanbul, and go through it.
You may follow your instincts, or your countrymen, or others of your age group, or do something totally different depending on current interests or newly discovered ones.
You can do like a generalist, ie. neolithic, hittite, greek, roman, ottoman.
You can be more specific, such as :
- biblical or jewish or islamic sites
- greek temples versus roman ones
- Byzantine churches and monasteries.
- Georgian and Armenian heritage.
- Cities where famous Greek writers, philosophers, mathematicians lived.
- Following Odysseus, Iliad and or Herodotus.
- Unexcavated ruins only.
- Seaside sites only including pirate towns
- Mountains
- waterfalls and lush forests
- high pasture festivals
- town markets and regional wild produce
- nature reserves, bird havens, wild orchids, fauna and flora.
- Attending the Assos philosophy conference and/or Antalya Film festival and/or Cesme Jazz festival and/or Fethiye Morrel mushroom festival. A ballet, opera or dance show at Aspendos antique theatre near Antalya.
- Taking a "blue tour" on the shores on a shared gulet on cabin charter or a smaller boat.
You have an incredibly large number of options and alternatives.
Preparing for such a trip is a great deal of fun.
Enjoy it.
you can check my blogs and/or follow my posts on twitter to keep up to date also:
http://otherchelebistravels.blogspot.com.tr/
http://ahmetcafercelebiler.blogspot.com.tr/
https://twitter.com/ahmetcelebiler
I also have reviews of some books I recommend on Amazon :
- John Freely's books on the antique sites of parts of Turkey
- Translation of parts of Evliya Celebi's Travels
- An Epic poem by Nazim Hikmet, "Landscapes From My Country"
You can find them by just scrolling down to get to my 49 reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A142N7PESHWHB4
Oct 8th, 2014, 05:45 PM
#9
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Thank you all. I haven't gotten a book yet because the next years edition usually comes out in November. I'm trying to hold off but I'm getting "itchy". Love planning trips and this one sounds like it's going to be a great one!
Can't say that we have any special kind of trip in mind. A little history, a little modern culture, scenic old and new. There's so much to choose from.
Please keep the ideas coming
Can't say that we have any special kind of trip in mind. A little history, a little modern culture, scenic old and new. There's so much to choose from.
Please keep the ideas coming
Oct 8th, 2014, 06:42 PM
#10
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I saw the location of the hotel IMDone stayed and thought it was very good, but (between us, he may be used to live in a dump and may not know a good room from a dumpy one - )
The reason why OC is complaining is that he has lived in Istanbul all his life and could not find our hotel with a map, GPS, and hand written instructions. Fifteen more minutes and I was prepared to sleep in his car.
)The reason why OC is complaining is that he has lived in Istanbul all his life and could not find our hotel with a map, GPS, and hand written instructions. Fifteen more minutes and I was prepared to sleep in his car.
Oct 9th, 2014, 05:27 AM
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We are currently using Argeus for our trip starting next Wednesday. Edip has been extremely responsive and helpful. The plans for Istanbul, Cappadocia and Kusadasi look awesome and by our standards reasonably priced for what we're getting, it's all private guided for my husband and I. We are using them on the recommendations of friends who used them several years ago. Another friend just came back from a tour arranged by them and were extremely pleased. They recommended the Blue House in Istanbul, Serinn House in Urgup and LaVista in Kusadasi.
