Hi all,
Leaving Sunday for Greece; independent traveler. I'm set to Crete, but don't know the best route from there. Options:
Fly Crete to Rhodes - ferry tp Fethiye to hike, gulet trip - bus bus to Ephesus - bus to Cappadocia - fly to Istanbul
or
Fly Crete to Samos - ferry to Kusadasi to see Ephesus -bus to Fethiye - bus to Cappodocia - fly to Istanbul

Are the bus stations going to overwhelm us or are they English friendly?
Do I need to book ahead for the flights noted above or can I arrange them just a day or two ahead or on the spot?
Should I book a tour from Fethiye or Kusadasi to do the above or is it doable for folks that don't speak the local language. I've always traveled where I could speak Eng., Spanish or Italian so I'm a little intimidated!
Thanks much for your help.

As for Turkey, I would learn the numbers and word for ticket, etc. It will help expedite any bus ticket transactions, etc.

I would check all of the flight options in advance--there are several low cost carriers, but some are not year round.

don't know if you can get ferry from Rhodes to Fethiye. Ferries usually go to Marmaris.

You should not have too much problem with flights or bussesuntil the 18th of September (long weekend starts on 19th to 23rd.) but there are not many flights from Cappadocia to istanbul. you may have to get them from Kayseri or Ankara.

Also bus from fethiye to cappadocia will be very long even if you can find a non-stop one.

you should have no problems at all at the bus depots. you can see the names of the destinations on the offices, and all you have to do is show where you want to go on a map.

Try to get Varan, Ulusoy, Metro, Koc, Nilufer busses.
Varan has an online ticketing site in English also, and you can check where they go.

You will not need a tour at the West coast. You should get a guide at Ephesus. (start at upper entrance and walk down and do not miss the Terrace Houses. Why don't you rent a car? roads are good, signs are the same and most places you go will not have too much traffic. But fuel is very expensive.

For hiking, you can do something different and do it at the Bes Parmak mountains, getting a guide at Heraklia, which is a lovely village on the shore of Bafa lake. there is a monastery and possibly other sites, orchids and birds. They have daily and overnight treks. And you will be away from the tourist crowds at Fethiye. Heraklia is about 75 minute drive from Selcuk (Ephesus) to the South, towards Bodrum. You can also visit Prienne and Miletus on the way if you have a car.
There are some reasonably good clean B&Bs at Heraklia. You could try flying to Cappadocia from Bodrum airport.

In general Turks will try to understand and help, even if they do not speak English. More will speak a few words than you will find in Spain or Italy. So do not worry.

From Rhodes you can take a ferry to Bodrum, Marmaris or Fethiye.

http://www.feribot.net/feribot/?lang=en

Thankyou so much for your replies. I really appreciate having the details you've provided. Feeling a little less intimidated and eager to get going! Are good guides available right at Ephesus?

There are licensed guides at both entrances of Ephesus, and i strongly recommend taking one. Their fees are usually fixed and they speak good English. the electronic guides are not very useful.

if you have a rental car, you can ask the guide to arrange for someone to drive it down to the lower entrance for you.
(it will also be lovely if you can find some dry cat food to feed the cats of Ephesus and share some of your water with them.)

take some water with you at the entrance, against dehydration and possibly some cookies, because Ephesus will take at least two hours and there are no facilities on the site (only at the entrances). a hat, and if it is a hot and humid day, a small towel on the neck to wipe of sweat are also useful.

We are leaving for Greece and going to Crete. How are you getting there? There is a big holiday the 19th will that mean everything will be booked? do you know