We provided 6 days of quick Turkey tour for Mr/Ms Altman from USA in March 2009 including Ephesus, Cappadocia, Istanbul and Jewish heritage tours
My husband and I, busy medical doctors, yet avid, adventurous and enthusiastic travelers, had recently an absolutely incredible trip to Turkey. My husband was most impress by the website, Turkeytravelplanner (http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/). After reading all the suggestions at that most helpful website, he contacted Backpackers Travel Agency (http://www.backpackerstravel.net/) for suggestions about how we could fit into our tight schedule all the wonders we wanted to see during our one-week vacation. He got a reply from Tahsin Unsal who not only had excellent suggestions what to see and how to get around within our time limitations, but who also made all possible customized accommodations to the itinerary according to our wishes. We ended flying to Ephesus, then traveling overnight to the unbelievable underground- and cave cities and valleys of Cappadocia, and finally taking a flight to explore Istanbul.
Tahsin’s arrangements for us in Turkey proved to be amazing – with details polished to perfection. We were picked up from hotels and airports without ever waiting even a minute. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly and the accommodations were just what we wanted. Per our request, Tahsin made a individualized itinerary for a private half-day tour of “Jewish Istanbul”. What a unforgettable morning! In addition to the synagogues and The Jewish Museum, we made stops on our way to scenic overlooks, cemetery, an important Orthodox church – even to have a peek into a very old, historic Turkish bath!
Tahsin was a personification of what we experienced of the Turkish people: extremely friendly and helpful in a very unassuming and sincere manner. The country was modern, and very European, friendly and easy to get around, yet full of history, full of wonders, full of affable and welcoming people. I have only two questions remaining in my mind: why did I not go there already years ago, and when can I return there to explore it more!
Thank you so much, Tahsin, for arranging us this unforgettable, wonderful experience – made to perfection! Kristiina Altman
Jeremy Altman Here is the original review
Antonio Prado from Brazil had 3 days of trip through our agency for Cappadocia in June 2009
I made a trip to Cappadocia, visiting valleys and natural castle around the region. The 3 day trip that I found at http://www.backpackerstravel.net/ was really complete and great. You can learn a lot about history and see many beautiful places. The hot air ballon is the top atraction of the place and I really recomend it. I followed suggestions from the manager of the tour agency Gokay and I found everything very well organized.
Antonio Prado Here is the original review
Raquel Melendez and her boyfriend Guillermo Salinas, a very friendly couple from El Salvador, made a tour for Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus in June 2009.
M
y boyfriend and I just came back from an amazing trip! Turkey is beautiful! We´re definitely going back to see the rest of it and of course, to have a great time in Istanbul again!
We were advice to go there with travel agency’s support, if we’ve never been there. Gladly we found Backpackers Travel (www.backpackerstravel.net), a unique agency from Istanbul which we’d like to recommend 100%... Manager, Tahsin Ünsal, is a very friendly and special guy who will make you feel like home! He arranged the whole trip for us and took care of every little detail… We couldn’t have taken a better choice for our first time in Turkey:
A cozy and warm hotel in Istanbul, a Cave hotel room in Cappadocia and a fancy room in Kusadasi… Amazing places to see, so much history to discover, incredible landscapes…
If anyone’s planning something different for vacations, try Turkey… and do not hesitate to contact Backpackers Travel, you won’t regret it!!!
Raquel Melendez and Guillermo Salinas Here is the original review
I had planned my trip to Istanbul a couple of months ago and was wondering how to book the taxi transfer to and from Atatuk to Sabiha airport. Just a week before traveling I was getting desperate as I was not sure of waiting till I got to Turkey as I had read and heard of regular taxi´s trying to make a quick unfair buck from foreign tourists. I had been warned of taxis in Istanbul not being honest just like in all big cities.
Just a few days prior to flying out to Turkey I found "Backpackers Travel Agency " website through a recommendation from another website I don´t remember now. I booked my first taxi transfer through their website which is so easy to use and then made a call to confirm same. All was so easy to set up.
When I landed at Istanbul Atatuk airport and was in the long Immigration queue I heard an announcement asking me to report to information Desk. I was so relieved to know my driver was already waiting well before time for picking me up. As promised I had my name displayed by an efficient girl from Backpackers Travel. The pick up car was an excellent big van with a very smartly dressed and courteous driver. The car was clean and also got refreshment in the car a great thought for tired travelers. I was dropped at my hotel and was picked up for my second flight a few hours later. The driver again was very helpful on time and did his best to get to Sabiha airport in time though the drive was very stressful seeing the extremely long queues. The planning of pick up was so well planned considering the traffic jams enroute at peak hours. I was so impressed with their service that I re booked airport transfer service again for return trip from Sabiha to hotel and back to Atatuk. I also visited their office and spoke to their travel consultants as well as both were pleasant and helpful.
To round up my experience with Backpackers Travel I would like to say that till today I haven´t had this excellent service even in United Kingdom. I would recommend any foreign traveler to use Backpackers transfer service seeing the professionalism/efficiency of their company and staff.
I had a wonderful time on the tour and our guide, Abdurrahman Yaramis from Backpackers Travel was more than we could have ever asked for- he is very intelligent, charming, professional, informative, and has very good English. The tour was around the old city/Sultanahmet in Istanbul and we saw 7 sites all together; sites more difficult to get to than the Aya Sofia and the Blue Mosque. I would recommend this tour highly to anyone. All of the places we visited were very worth it and showed you a lot about the city and history. The transportation was very good as well- I commend the very good driving in such difficult streets in the old city! They even brought us peach juice and a sweet bread for breakfast! Very good value for the price of 15 euro (about $20) for hotel pick-up in Sultanahmet at 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. Drop off at the Spice bazaar or back at hotel. Here is the original review
