Backpackers Travel was founded in 1993 in Sultanahmet. Since then keeping an active role in Turkey´s
tourism. The first employees were part-time working university students who
loved tourism business and carry the company´s profits up to higher standards.
Now all the employees are professionals serving full time for the travellers
all over the world.
Many of our clients
say "You give an excellent and a very top quality service that is totally
a contrast to your company name don´t think to change it ?" Well we know
it but we love this name. Maybe the main reason is still having the soul of being
a backpacker and one should not forget that the idea of travelling abroad has started by the
grandfathers of the BACKPACKERS in 1960´s. Those years were also when the first hostels,
family run pensions started to take action in Turkey´s tourism so here is the
answer "We Love Being a Backpackers Travel Agent".
Born in 1972, Tahsin Ünsal and graduated from Navy High School and Tourism Guidance Faculty of Marmara University. He started to work in travel industry during his university education by working at hotels and travel agencies and continued working as an English-speaking professional tour guide until 1997. Then, he had given a break to his career in tourism due to the crisis in the sector during the time which he served in the finance sector as an export business assistant and afterwards as a company credit controller, both provided him gaining extensive experience in managing a company. He was back in tourism for working for the group hotels of the main company of Backpackers Travel, he managed 3 hotels successfully for 6 years and made them among the well knowns in their field. He also advanced his knowledge a lot about internet marketing and guest satisfaction during that position. With the growing of the main company, he took over the accounting department and started to contribute the marketing activities of Backpackers Travel. Since the beginning of 2009, he is in duty as the Group Manager with the help his great team whom have working with him for the last couple of years. He aims to give a new character and direction Backpackers Travel Agency by giving smooth, reliable, prompt and extensive travel assistance with clear and limited profits being aware of the fact that "word of mouth" is the best way of marketing and internet is the best shop of the new century. On the other hand, he knows very well that a travel group can not be managed behind of an office desk, thus he is still working as a -soldier of the team- which gives him the chance to keep his contact with the company guests and receive the direct feedbacks. He is in love of his country and job, that´s why has not fallen in love with a woman yet and still single :) For any matters about Backpackers Travel and it´s group hotels, you can directly contact with him and he will be pleased to help you.
Ercan was born in 1977 in Samsun. He is one of the most engaged staff in the travel agency for whom his mobile phone became a part of his ear. He is the Manager of the Transfer Department of the Backpackers Travel Agency. All transfers made for Ataturk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) are operated by Ercan. He is a very nice and smooth person whom will not care eventhrough you call him for a last minute transfer in the middle of the night.
Name : Ugur Yagci
Position : Airport Transfer Department Asst. Manager E-mail : info@backpackerstravel.net
He was born in Rize which is on the Black Sea Coast of Turkey in 1973. He has been in Germany in his childhood thats why he can speak German fluently. He has been working in Tourism Sector since 1992. He has worked as Operational Manager of Transportation for many travel agencies and hotels in Istanbul. He is working as a Transfer Department Asst. Manager in Backpackers Travel now.
Ibrahim was born in 1981 in Iskendurun. He graduated from Hatay High School. He worked in Saudi Arabia as a driver and in one of the best universities of Turkey - Bosphorus University as a Receptionist. Now he is working in Backpackers Travel as a Transfer Service Chief. He is a chief of 12 excellent drivers.
Yusuf Karaca has been a travel professional for six years. Graduating form the prestigious Akdeniz School of Tourism Management in 2004, he spent an additional three months training in a hotel in Bremen, Germany. He then worked as a Tour Leader in the southern city of Antalya. For the past 4 years he has been an integral part of the Backpackers team, working in the hotels first and now as a travel agent.
Yusuf speaks fluent English and German as well as his native Turkish. He is known for his warm,gracious manner and is always willing to help a fellow citizen of the world.
Testimonials for Yusuf:
07/17/09
I was on a personal vacation to Istanbul, Turkey 04/07/09-14/07/09. My hotel referred me to a tour of Istanbul and the Bospherous conducted by Mr. Yusuf Karaca. He was calm, very informative, and thorough. His knowledge of Istanbul´s history past and present seemed endless. His English was perfect. He also took the time to discretely make sure everyone was comfortable throughout the tour. At the end of the tour I asked if I could call him with any other questions.
During the tour I mentioned I was considering buying a very valuable gift for a very dear friend. I wanted the perfect piece of jewellery. I made up my mind and called Mr. Karaca for assistance or advice. As he wasn´t conducting a tour at the time he was at my hotel in fifteen minutes. He took me to a very excellent jeweler with whom he had done business in the past. I received personal and discreet assistance from the jeweler and ended up buying just the gift I had in mind. At a very reasonable price.
I am a retired physician and executive of a medical corporation. In that time I reviewed the C.V.´s and interviewed many wanting to work with or for me. If Mr. Karaca had applied with similar medical experience I would have hired him without further concern. Both my patients and my business would have profited from his skills and experience.
I recommend Mr. Yusuf Karaca for any position of professional responsibility.
Should you have any questions regarding Mr. Yusuf Karaca, please contact me at my e-mail address: thomasfergu@gmail.com.
Sincerely Yours And Thank You,
Thomas S. Ferguson, M.D. (retired)
Gokay was born
in 1984 in Istanbul. He studied Travel Agency Management and graduated in 2006 from university. While he was studying, he worked as a receptionist, barman, transfer organizer and cashier. After getting a background in the industry, he was ready for Backpackers Travel and since then been working for the company. He is also the editor of Turkey boutique hotel booking page called Bed and Breakfast Turkey and although Gokay enjoys rap music, he is known to help his customers with the smoothness of a classical music piece.
Testimonials for Gokay:
He was born in 1987 in Istanbul. He carried out his high school training in Trade Vocational School, Section of Accounting. Then he had studied in Social Science College of Mugla University, Department of Foreign Trade and coming in first he graduated as Honorary Degree. He finished end of his education life having fulfilled the requirements of four years studies prescribed by the Faculty of Business Administration of Anadolu University, Department of Business Administration. He worked in Head Office of Turkish Airlines for 10 months as Accounting Intern for high school. In tourism seasons he worked in Fethiye and Marmaris where is well known vacation resorts of Turkey as a barboy and barman when he was going on his study in University. For his university internship he was in a customs agent and also after graduation he kept on working there for 8 months. His previous workplace before Backpackers Travel Agency was Antalya International Airport working as a Terminal Guide. Now he has been working in Backpackers Travel Agency since 16th of October 2009.
She was born in Adana. She finished Selcuk University Tourist Guideness Section. After university she started to work in Backpackers Travel Agency as Airport Transfer Department Asst. She is working since 2008 in Backpackers Travel Agency.
He was born in Isparta in 16th April 1986. He graduated from S.Karaagac High School Foreign Language Section in 2004. After he finished Selcuk University Tourism Guideness Section in 2007, he worked different tourism departments in Kusadasi, Antalya and Belek. He is a Professional Tourist Guide of Ministry of Culture and Tourism since 2008. He is working as Airport Transfer Department Asst. in Backpackers Travel Agency Team since 4 months. Also he is a student of Business Administration in Eskisehir Anadolu University.
She was born in 1990 in Ýstanbul. She graduated from Ataturk Cagdas Yasam High School, Department Of Accounting in 2006. Now she is studying in Anadolu University, Faculty Of Business Administration. She had took office in National Energy Form as Research Assistant then she worked in Certified Public Accountant Office for 2 years. She has been working in Backpackers Travel Agency as Airport Transfer Department Asst. since September 2009.
He was born in Ankara in 18th August 1987. But he grow up in Izmit-Kocaeli. He graduated from Korfez Foreign Language High School in 2005. Then, he graduated from Tourism and Hotel Management Faculty of Aydin Adnan Menderes University in May 2010. He worked in some hotels in Antalya while he was studying in summer season. He has been working in Backpackers Travel Agency Team as a Travel Constultant since he finished university. He is still studying in Eskisehir Anadolu University, Guest Relations Section.
Arzu was born in a small village near Amasya in the Black Sea Region in the north of the Turkey in 1976. After graduating from Eyup High School in Istanbul she continued her studies in Turkey before moving to England for 2 years where she worked as an au pair. Whilst in England Arzu studied English, Tourism and Travel Management at Kingston College, West London before returning safely back to Turkey in 2003. Arzu has worked in the travel industry for over 10 years and has travelled and worked extensively around Turkey, She has now made Istanbul her home as it is her favourite city in the whole of Turkey. She joined Backpackers Travel in 2008 as a Travel Consultant. Always helpful and reliable, Arzu delights in helping people to plan and organise their trips to Istanbul and elsewhere in Turkey. With her wealth of experience, local knowledge and Backpackers Travel resources behind her she is ideally suited to help people make the best possible travel arrangements. From giving advice on destinations, making arrangements for transportation and accommodation, recommending restaurants or suggesting tourist attractions, she is always well informed and delighted to help. She would like to meet you all and say “Welcome to İstanbul!”.
Dilek was born in 1979 in the pearl of Agean Sea (Izmir) where many of the famous people come from such as Greek epic poet Homer, British diplomat, traveler and writer James Justinian Morier. She studied Tour Guide Department in Ankara University, as a graduate from Guiding, she is qualified on history, mythology, archaeology, history of religion, history of art. During the time she has lived in London for 5 years, she worked and studied Travel and Tourism in Greenwich School of Management and graduating from this school qualified her on “Air Transport Training & Consultant Services, Travel Planning–Itineraries and Business Travelers, Global Distribution Systems–Using Galileo CRS, Travel agency practice, Travel Geography Europe and Worldwide“. She has worked, studied and travelled almost all part of Turkey. She has an engaging personality. When you pay for a tour, you are really paying for the personality. She is fun, know interesting personal things about each place that might not be in the guide material, and have a sense of humor.
Dilek was born in Bolu which is a famous city with its chefs, in spite of the fact that all members of her family are chefs, she decided to be a tourist guide and graduated from Ankara University Tourist Guideness Department in 2001. She has been working as a tourist guide in different cities since 2003 and lived in different parts of Turkey like Antalya, Ankara and Bolu. She lives in the old part of Istanbul now and likes the city so much.
Salih was born in 1985 in Kilis. He is graduated from Tourism and Hotel Management Faculty of Selcuk University. Salih is working as an accountant responsible for the hotels run by the company. Salih is attending to the courses to improve himself and becoming a manager in his field.
Kemal Abi ´the big brother Kemal´ was born in 19.. (sorry, he is getting angry to say his age :) ) in Kars. He is graduated from Beyoglu Ataturk High School. He worked in reputable banks of Turkey for many years as a Credit Controller and now he is working for Backpackers Travel as a Chief Accountant. What 3 words Kemal always repeat: money, money,money... :)
Ayfer was born in 1986 in Mugla. She is graduated from Banking and Insurance Affairs Faculty of Selcuk University. She is working as an Accountant in Backpackers Travel Agency. She has a very important role in the company, because she is responsible for the money :)
