TESTIMONIALS

The trip occurred exactly as spelled out in the TSC itinerary when we landed in Istanbul. We were picked up on time at the airport and drove to different hotels per TSC personnel during our stay. Hotel accommodation and service were great. Their minivan were first class and all of their guides were knowledgeable, nice and dedicated. I would rate this trip as 5 stars except for one unexpected incident. In the itinerary it said the optional balloon ride was $175 per person, in Cappadocia when we decided to sign up for it we were charged $195 US, the guide said the increase of $25 were due to last minute sign up. If that is the case then they should make it clear from the beginning of the additional charge for last minute sign up, there were 4 people in our group, that makes $100, we could have saved this money for a nice dinner.

 

Visited February 2014

My wife and small boy always travelled together . We got a customized package to tour 3 places in Turkey within 7 days and were pleasantly surprised at how much we got out of the tour . We are happy with the time and hotel arrangements . In short we enjoyed Kusadasi seaside resort , Cappadocia cave suites and Istanbul guided and free and easy walkabout . We went to Taksim and saw much and explored much on our own . The programme was not restrictive simply because we were well advised and thus got value for money . Our extension tour to Athens was also well handled by Okan . Generally exceed our expectation .

 

Visited January 2014

Carol and I enjoyed TSC’s whirl-wind ten day tour of the western half of Turkey including Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Aphrodisias, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Pergamon, Troy, Canakkale, and Gallipoli. It packs a lot into ten days. TSC’s general manager, Okan Kutlu was consistently responsive to any questions we had or issues that required resolution. This modestly priced tour ($1,350 per person) delivers real value for your money. The best thing about the tour was the excellent, friendly and knowledgeable tour guides that TSC chooses to accompany you. As our first introduction to Turkey, it was a good choice.

 

You have to accept compromises when choosing a low to mid-range tour. The main compromise on this trip was the forgettable dinners at the large hotels we were booked into. The food was routinely buffet-style, the quality of which all of the guests on our tour found disappointing. However, breakfasts were fine, and we had some excellent lunches on the road in small restaurants.

 

Normally, a summer TSC tour is 35-40 persons. We traveled at the end of November and enjoyed an almost private tour of 10 people for the first six days, and only 4 people for the last four days. Go to Turkey off season and avoid the crowds! This is particularly salutatory at popular sites like Ephesus and the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. Our guides confirmed that places like that guarantee a wall-to-wall, sardine-like experience in the high season. Check the long-term weather forecast just before you leave, and pack for changeable weather. We had two days of rain in ten, and the early morning balloon ride in Cappadocia would have been unpleasant without warm clothes, hats and gloves.

 

We purchased the Istanbul ‘Turkish Night Out’ for $75 each as an extra. It promised an evening of fine Turkish food, song and dance. The show was “Vegas Style”, the belly dancers had unnatural, grapefruit-sized breast implants, and at the end, danced for money stuffed into their bras which we found very tacky. The food was boring, chicken (again!!!), the vegetables over-cooked, and the appetizer dish forgettable. Avoid this extra, it did not deliver.

 

That disappointment aside, we heartily recommend TSC Travel!

 

Visited November 2013

We took a cruise of the Mediterranean in April and used Turkeytorspecialist for our shore days in Izmir and Istanbul. We were very pleased with the tours we received. The mini buses were great as in Izmir there was 10 in our group and in Istanbul there was 7. Both guides we had were very knowledgeable and easy to work with. The one thing that we did not particularly enjoy was the pressure we received on the Izmir tour after we toured the rug making school to buy rugs from them.

Turkey is a very lovely country and hope to get to go there again someday.

Visited April 2013