Website reconaissance: Am debating whether to go on RS tour or any tour (finances.mainly. . .). Would love to be with RS people but only 7 day tour and for similar price could stay longer, see more of Turkey with "Grand European Tours"-- Has anyone heard of them, one way or the other?
(To be honest, I'd much prefer a combination of being with other travelers part of the time, and being on my own part of the time--especially first time in Turkey at all, being alone and not speaking Turkish--though I have a phrasebook and am "practicing" (:-)) a few key polite phrases.
Posted by
Land of La
8648 posts
You'd be surprised how much English is spoken in Istanbul.
Have never heard of Grand European but did the RS 7 day Istanbul tour last year. It was fabulous. We arrived a a few days before hand and wandered. Whatever your choice I'm sure you will enjoy Turkey.
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2788 posts
I go to Europe very summer for a month and while there take a RS tour. I took his "Turkey in 13 days Tour" in 2010. I did not speak any local language but had no trouble communicating with the locals anywhere. If you are looking for a 7 day Turkey tour you should consider his Istanbul tour.
His tours are not filled with scheduled activities 24 hours a day and you can go off by yourself whenever you want, just make sure to notify the tour guide of your plans. I was not sure what to expect from the citizens of Turkey and how they would relate to an American but I had one of the best times on a RS tour ever. I spent a total of 9 days in Istanbul and would return there in a minute. Happy travels.