I have taken 4 RS tours and twice I have stayed longer and twice I have left the morning of the tour ending. I'm struggling with what to do for my upcoming Turkey tour. Has anyone stayed 1 more day in Kusadasi where it ends? I am a solo female traveler and I'm anxious about adding 1 more day without the support of the guide to manage getting to the Izmir Airport. I am always having to head to the airport in very early morning hours and it does make me anxious. Would appreciate any experiences or insight. Thank you!
Posted by
near San Francisco
5696 posts
My tour buddy and I stayed an extra day in Kusadasi after our Best of Turkey tour in 2022. We asked our tour guide what time we should leave to make our flights. We arranged with the Kusadasi tour hotel for a private transfer that picked us up in front of the hotel and drove us to Izmir airport in plenty of time, perfectly safe, perfectly easy.
In 2022, we paid €60 total (not each) directly to the tour hotel (not to the driver) for the transfer.
Posted by
Connecticut
728 posts
I took this tour last September (2023). It was my second time in Kusadasi. It has changed dramatically since 2009. My first flight heading home was from Izmir airport to IST also. The tour bus (including the tour guide) departs from the hotel in the morning (mine approx 8 or 8:30) taking along any tour members with flights out of that airport. This works best for flights departing around 11 AM or later. Interestingly we arrived at the airport early enough for me to board a Turkish Airline flight departing at 10:30 AM. I elected to fly to Istanbul and spend the night at a hotel less than 15 minutes from IST then continue my international travel the following day. Your flight may be headed elsewhere. I’m pretty sure that there was no charge for this ride.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2993 posts
As has been noted, you can use the tour bus will shuttle you to Izmir airport the day the tour ends. No charge and you can catch any flight that leaves about 11 or later. There were some people trying to catch flights that transferred in IST with a very short layover there (about an hour) and it was unlikely they were going to make their flights - so don't do that! Due to flight schedules to my home airport, I wasn't able to use the tour bus option because I would have needed to be at the Izmir airport by 5 a.m. Instead I chose an afternoon flight from Izmir and arranged a private driver (through Welcome Pickups, though there are other options) to the airport. It was nice to have a leisurely morning in Kusadasi before heading out, but I wouldn't probably have wanted to spend a full extra day there.
You didn't ask, but I strongly recommend getting to Istanbul at least one day early, if not two. There is so much to see and do there and the tour time is insufficient to cover it.