Turkey trip suggestions, please
 

Husband and I have booked flights Australia/Tokyo (where we will spend a few days) then on to Istanbul.

We will arrive Istanbul 13th May and depart 3rd June.

Looking to spend at least 5 days in Istanbul. We're currently assessing an 8 day tour from Istanbul, taking in Gallipoli, Canakkale, Troy, Pergamum, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pamukkale then Marmaris.

We would then like to ferry from Marmaris to Rhodes for 4 days. Upon return from Rhodes, can we fly from Maramis back to Istanbul?

Any suggestions on ways to accommodate a visit to Cappodocia at any time would be happily received.

Hi

You can fly back to Istanbul from Bodrum. Look up Turkish Air, Atlas Jet - http://www.atlasjet.com or Onur Air - http://www.onurair.com.tr. Take a ferry from Marmaris to Bodrum - http://www.bodrumexpresslines.com/domestictimetable.htm.

No trip to Turkey is complete without visiting Cappodocia - it's truly amazing so try and find a tour that includes it. If you have to choose I would drop Troy and Pamukkale.

I agree that no trip to Turkey is complete without Cappadocia, but I would not miss Pamukkale which is a unique and fantastic when the crowds are gone ( deserves an overnight....& you can visit even in the moonlight and soak in the healing waters like the ancients did!).

http://www.soultravelers3.com/blog/4...271A5F99B.html

If you go to Pamukkale, you might as well stop at wonderful Aphrodisias which is on the way & special:
http://www.soultravelers3.com/blog/0...59D87362C.html

I would forget the tour and do it yourself. Turkey is an extremely easy place to do on your own & super cheap. Look at our pages on Turkey on our blog archives:

www.soultravelers3.com

I would probably spend a little less time in Istanbul as all the main sites are close together & easy to see plus the best of Turkey is in the countryside.

You are going to see Gallipoli ( as most from Oz do) so might as well see Troy.I HIGHLY recommend this guide which made all the diffference for us:

http://www.soultravelers3.com/blog/E...7B372A690.html

I would drop Kudasi and Marmaris as they are overbuilt, so avoid or spend as little time as possible there. We passed thru both, but could not wait to get out of that high rise hell, could be anywhere glut atmosphere. Take a bus to pretty Fethiye if you need to overnight near Marmaris. Maybe take at least a day gulet cruise if you must miss the 4 day one due to time issues.

I would spend at least a week in Cappadocia & Ephesus area, but if you do not have that kind of time, I would base in Goreme if you do not have a car as you can walk to much & it is more central than urgup.

Turkey is wonderful, you will have a fabulous time and be amazed at the sites and hospitiality ( and how European it is).

There is a lot to see in Ephesus area, so put extra time there. We loved staying at this place that is special:

http://www.soultravelers3.com/blog/4...68C099425.html


We really enjoyed Rhodes ( took the ferry to Turkey in and the ferry to Samos when we left):

http://www.soultravelers3.com/blog/1...38217AAC1.html

Don't miss lindos and the Greek dancing in Rhodes Town.

This is a good site for planning Turkey:
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/

I don't know if there is such a plane or not between Maramis & Istanbul , but it it is probably on that site.

Do not miss Cappadocia! It was absolutely the best part of our ttip to Turkey. I'd skip anything else rather than Istanbul in order to fit in Cappadocia.

Thank you!

Will re-read all comments and revise our schedule.

Dear Tuppy1,

If I were you I wouldn't change my original itinerary at all. After all, Gallipoli is a kind of pilgrimage place for every Australian and skipping Troy, Pergamum means skipping Gallipoli as well.

The only thing you can do to fit Cappadocia-which is a must see place-into your programme is to spend 3 days - instead of 5 days- in Istanbul and take a guided tour in Cappadocia for 2 days which will allow you to see all the highlights of the area. All you have to do is to fly from Istanbul to Kayseri, spend two days in Cappadocia and return Istanbul from Kayseri.

P.S. As for your return flight from Marmaris to Istanbul the nearest airport to Marmaris is not Bodrum but Dalaman. Depending on the hour of the flights you may consider Bodrum as a second option.

With all good wishes.

I do also suggest to fit cappadocia after Istanbul. Flying to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport (depending the day of arrival you can fly to Nevsehir).
Dalaman aiport is 1 hour drive marmaris to connect to istanbul.

Happy travelling,
Murat

Thank you both AnatolianCruiser and Murat

I did read all the advices, but did not want to cancel our intended 8 day tour as it covered much of what we're going to see.

I had discovered we could return ferry Rhodes to Bodrum and from there fly to Instanbul......and now you've provided another option.

So....have been looking at a couple of 3 day tours that involve flights/tours to Cappodocia as you have suggested.

Many, many thanks

Another question for advice please.

We would like to spend our last 4 nights in Turkey in a 5 star Hotel in Istanbul.

Could Murat and/or others please advise if noise from renovations at nearby Hotel is still an issue for Empress Zoe?

We had also been interested in staying at Four Seasons (the other hotel in question I think).

A number of other hotels mentioned seem to be good taxi ride away from most sights.

Thank you for your responses.

Hi Tuppy,

I will ask friends about the nosie issue next to E.Z hotel.

If you have the budget 4seasons is a great hotel. However there are also nice B&B's around. I like Sultanhan at the same region.

Happy Travelling,
Murat

Thanks Murat......and I should have checked the price in Aussie dollars before I nominated the 4 Seasons! We would be happy to pay for a couple of nights there, but we'll be in Istanbul for 5 nights and that's just too much!!

Are you able to recommend B&B's? A couple of moderate hotels look good - comments on Sari Konak & Celan Sultan would be appreciated.

We'll definitely be including 5 days in Rhodes, so any recent recommendations on accommodation there would also be appreciated.

My favorites in Rhodos Either old city like Fashion Hotel or Lindos village 40 min. drive away from the center.

Býth Sari Konak and Celal Sultan to my experience are nice too.

Happy travelling,
Murat

Thank you.

Summer of 2006, I spent a week in Turkey and had a great time. We flew from Marmaris to Istanbul on Atlas jet. Great airline but beware of filight delays . In other words do not book international flight on the same day. In istanbul we stayed at the swiss hotel nice and modern. But I do recommend a visit to Cirigan Palace. If you are a member of american express platinum , you get an upgrade for your room and complimentary buffet breakfast as well. I enjoyed Bodrum , by far more than Marmaris. Marmaris is beautiful but I loved Bodrum. It has more of a night life . have fun

Tuppy1, I also wanted to draw your attention to the fact 5 star hotels in Turkey varies. At least there are 3 different styles of 5 star hotels except the 5 star resorts. Real 5 stars, 5 star looking like and pretends to be a 5 star and ofcourse prices are variying as well.

Regards from snowy Cappadocia,
Murat

My thanks to you both.

When I have drawn up our suggested schedule, I shall re-post for comments.

Dear Tuppy 1,

I would also recommend Celal Sultan Hotel which is conveniently located at the heart of the old city.

http://www.celalsultan.com/

With all good wishes