Trying to garner info. on travel in Dec. to Cappadocia, Kusadas, and Istanbul. It looks as if in country flights are about $100 a leg, and wonder if anyone has driven between these areas, taken busses, trains? We will be landing on the 18th in Istanbul w/ 14 days on the ground. Would like to immediatley travel onto Kayseri for 4 nights, on to Izmir/Kusadas area for Ephasis time (4 days) then end our time in Istanbul. It seems the Sultanahmet district is the place most folks like to stay. There will be 2 adults and 2 kids, and we usually travel on a moderate budget, hopefully no rooms over $100. Have read others postings/threads, and hope to have input on the do-ability of this w/ kids in Dec. thanks

topping...

don't understand "topping".

Brings it back up to the top of the threads so more eyes will land on it.

thank you, both.

Hello cape,
Road conditions in Anatolia in winter can be tricky to harsh, because of snow. I have done Ankara-Kayseri once a long time ago with a suv-kind of car and it was very time consuming and rather dangerous. One thing I have to say however, Cappadochia under the snow on a clear cold day is something you'll never forget!

Best to fly from Istanbul to Kayseri and rent a car there to travel around Cappadocia --it will be cold though. Stay in Urgup or Goreme. From Kayseri, would recommend taking a bus to Izmir and then renting a card again from there to see Ephesus & the area.
Sirince (about 30 minutes from Selcuk/Ephesus) is a charming place to stay if you want to be out of the city.
Then fly back to Istanbul from Izmir. This way you avoid long intercity highway driving. In Istanbul, think about renting an apartment rather than staying in a cramped hotel room--try
Istanbul Holiday Apartments--they have great apartments for families steps from Galata Tower. (www.istanbulholidayapartments.com)

Thanks for the info on Cappadocia, Galata. Do you know the travel time by bus from the Cappadocia region to Izmir?