Dave B. - Livermore, CA
9 July 2003
Itinerary: Aegean, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia

(A letter to Frommer's Guide)

My wife and I have just returned from a three week vacation in Turkey. We started out with some degree of anxiety, what with the international climate in that part of the world and the fact that our original plans were to be sailing the northern Greek Islands. The cruise was canceled, so we had 17 days to fill and no idea how. We decided to keep the flight to and from Istanbul and figure the rest out when we got there. 

As we later found out, we crossed paths with several entities that you had covered in your book, and I want to say that each was well worth your recommendation. To start with, we decided to get some planning help in Istanbul so a person in my office sent us the name of Rina and Suleyman Tirosoglu at Insight Travel. They listened to our dilemma and objectives and helped us put together an absolutely fabulous experience. The only thing we knew going in was that we wanted to spend some time in Selcuk because a good friend's husband owned a carpet store there and wanted his staff to show us around that area. 

After a couple of delightful hours, we had a car, ferry tickets, hotels, and an itinerary all set. Our route had stops in Assos, Ayvalik, Selcuk (3 nights), Pamukkale, Egirdir, Konya and Ayvali Village ... to stay in a cave for a couple of nights. We are interested in the ancient cultures, so we obviously saw all the sites, as well as some white pools and some lakes along the way. I won't bore you with the details because that's not my purpose. So often, people in your work only hear the negative concerning your references, so I'd like to provide some positive feedback. 

I believe you talked about Insight Travel, and they are the best! We didn't know what we really wanted, nor anything about Turkey other than it had ancient Greek ruins. They took real interest in helping us see where we were and what our options were, then made a series of wonderful suggestions, leaving the three days in Selcuk for us to work out. 

As it turned out, my friend from Selcuk also is in your book ... Authentic Art Carpet and Kilims. Arlson was (and is) in California but his partners were very warm and hospitable. Separately, we met with a Sandra Isaacs to get an Ephesus guide, and it turned out that she used to be a partner in the carpet operation, as well. Small world. Needless to say, we were wonderfully cared for. 

During our time in Selcuk we stayed at the Kismet Hotel in Kusadasi. The staff there (Ebu in particular) was exceedingly friendly and the accommodations were outstanding. I will also add that they have the absolute best hotel bar for a warm summer evening that I have ever seen ... it's the front lawn under the pines overlooking the marina at sunset. The sea breezes wash over you while an Efes quenches you. Utopia! 

We headed east after that and targeted the Gamirasu Hotel in Ayvali Village. What a place! From the time we set foot there, we were treated as good friends, not just paying customers. Suleyman Cakir (part owner), Birsen (manager) and the rest of the staff were just great. And Didem Kutur, our guide for two days in Cappadocia was (in deference to your article ... and Suleyman's ego :-) the best guide in the area and one of the two best guides we've ever had ... and that includes 15+/- guides from Greece, Italy and the Mayan Peninsula of Mexico. It was funny watching the good natured ribbing Suleyman and Didem exchanged when your book was brought out. That really is a fabulous operation. 

I think those are the entities from your book that we experienced and we have nothing but good things to say about each of them. We went to Turkey in the middle of June knowing very little about the country or its people. We left on July 1 knowing that Turkey is a wonderful, warm and hospitable country full of people who want nothing more than for you to enjoy their world. The encounters (above) were all contributors to that new found perspective. And I would also say that you chose your references well. 

Sincerely, 
Dave B. 
Livermore, CA