Hi there.
Traveling to Instanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus...looking for local tour guides that come recommended.
Thank you!
Posted by
52 posts
Try srmtravel.com. Our RS tour guide and his wife both work with them and they were terrific!
Posted by
1 posts
Based on Rick Steves recommendation in his Mediterranean Cruise ports book, we've just booked an Ephesus tour with Melitour. They have been absolutely fantastic and easy to work with! Reasonably priced at 110.00 pp for 4 people for 9 hours including lunch at a private home. www.melitour.com
I've been connecting with Asli Kumari.
Posted by
1 posts
How did you get the cost of a Melia Tour for Ephesus? I don't see it on their web site. I will be there from a cruise on July 14.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2622 posts
We used Efendi Travel for both a day tour and airport transfers. Small group for the day tour, good guide, good prices.
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
25 posts
We just returned from a trip that included a stop in Istanbul. We used SRM Travel to arrange a full day tour in Istanbul and I highly recommend them. Lale (Lal-Ay) Aran was very helpful and our guide Mine (Me-Nay) Karahan Taner was outstanding and I believe she lives in Ephesus. After visiting Istanbul, we all realized how important it is to have a guide to help with the language and cultural issues but to also give some local insight into Turkey today. We used Efendi Tours to schedule our ride to and from IST. Enjoy your trip.
Keith
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you for the ideas. We too worked with SRM travel and Lale to get a guide for Ephesus. Sanem was awesome!!! Highly recommend! For Instanbul RS guidebook was enough and in Cappadocia, our hotel was a wealth of knowledge. (Esbelli Evi....stay here!!!)
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
25 posts
One last comment on a guide in Istanbul. When you go to the Grand Bazaar with a guide, you don't get hounded by people trying to sell you everything under the sun (carpets). This made the Grand Bazaar much more enjoyable.
Keith
Posted by
Austin
973 posts
I have used Ekol tours in Istanbul, Dikili, and Kusadasi ( twice) and highly recommend them. Valentina at Ekol is prompt and patient. I have a shore excursion booked with them in Ephesus next month. We indicated we were interested in history in Istanbul and we had a professor of history - one of the best ever. Valentina@ekoltravel.com
I think their prices are very reasonable for private tours and we tipped well both driver and guide.