<p>Hi. </p>
<p>We are planning a trip to Turkey in the fall and while we generally plan the excursions ourselves we are thinking of doing a tour with a group for this trip.</p>
<p>Anyone with a recommendation for a tour group company or experiences traveling this way?</p>
<p>Thx.</p>
<p>You are aware of the current political climate?</p>
<p>In Ankara, hundreds of riot police used tear gas and a water cannon on Saturday night to disperse about 5000 demonstrators from Kizilay Square. Pursued by police, they took refuge in side streets off the square, which is the nerve centre of the Turkish capital. Several people were reportedly injured.</p>
<p>Read more: <a href=“Demonstrators defy Erdogan's demand for calm”>Demonstrators defy Erdogan's demand for calm;
<p>busyparent, so far the political turmoil appears to be more localized in the two big cities. </p>
<p>The problem with tourism in Turkey is that no one could go to Turkey without going to Istanbul, and Istanbul is waaaayy far away from Ankara, or Syria. In fact, if you want to do site seeing outside of Istanbul, you pretty much have to do it by plane or figure on a really long bus ride.</p>
<p>After researching this for ourselves, my H and I ended up doing a week in Istanbul. We are used to touring by ourselves, but since Turkey is a language issue for us, we went with Rick Steves. No emphasis on shopping, no tipping - all history and site seeing. I recommend them. He also has a 13-day tour of village Turkey, but that’s a bit of time commitment we couldn’t make. A week in Istanbun was wonderful. </p>
<p>The protesting is in the new city, not the old city, so it’s possible (at least, with things the way they are now) to go to Istanbul and not be near the protests.</p>
<p>If you are adventurous and want something off the beaten path, this might be of interest:</p>
<p>[Balyolu</a> - Walk The Honey Road](<a href=“http://balyolu.com%5DBalyolu”>http://balyolu.com)</p>
<p>An alumna of Wellesley College whom my D knows is involved in the group that runs these tours.</p>
<p>My mother went with Overseas Adventure Travel a couple of years ago and loved it. But, I also think that she, in her 70’s was at about the median age of the group. </p>
<p>She’s off to Mongolia with the organization in a couple of months, and has been to China, South East Asia, and Morocco with them as well. She says they are consistently good.</p>
<p>I went to Turkey last fall. I also spent the week in just Istanbul. I did not go with a group. But, I had spent all day every day doing and seeing stuff and found a great apartment to rent in a cool part of the city.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. I’m not too worried about the turmoil but may buy insurance. </p>
<p>My daughter did a trip to Africa with Overseas Adventure and it was well organized. My co-worker recommends Odysseys Unlimited.</p>
<p>When we went to France and London we rented an apartment in each city and got ourselves around and it was great so I like that idea alot. We also got around on our own in Spain.</p>
<p>I’m concerned with the group being too old. LOL, because I am mid 50s but sometimes forget that I am getting old.</p>
<p>Check out American Friends of Turkey’s website:
<a href=“http://www.americanfriendsofturkey.org/Trips.aspx[/url]”>http://www.americanfriendsofturkey.org/Trips.aspx</a></p>
<p>Only an aside-- We went to Turkey as part of a tour to Greece and as part of trip we visited a rug place. We bought a rug (still very happy–no qualms about that) and every year the salesman calls or e-mails us or texts It’s been a fun reminder actually of the great time we had. It’s a fascinating place and I’m not sure we would have enjoyed it as much on our own outside the tour group–our guide was great.</p>
<p>I love Turkey and have been 3 times - once on an organized tour (local group) and the other 2 times we did it on our own, including renting a car.</p>
<p>Istanbul is fabulous and there is so much you can do on your own. The first time I went with my younger son (he was about 12) and we felt perfectly comfortable walking around and taking taxis. The Grand Bazaar is still one of my all-time favorite places.</p>
<p>Outside of Istanbul - Ephesus (near Kusadasi) and Cappadocia are my favorites, and are also the most popular sights to see. Off the beaten track (overnight trip from Kusadasi) is Aphrodesius and Pammukule - both very interesting. I’ve been to Bodrum twice, and while the castle and harbor area are nice - it’s not my favorite.</p>
<p>Another aside–my son bought a t-shirt with common greek phrases on it (thank-you, good morning–just normal stuff). It was a common joke in the group to say “where’s your shirt?”</p>
<p>If in Istanbul, I highly recommend the “Istanbul Eats” walking/food tour of the Old City. Great way to see the winding market streets of the Old City area and the food was incredible. There are 4 different walking tours- we did the Culinary Secrets of the Old City and loved it. [Culinary</a> Backstreets | The Global Guide to Local Eats](<a href=“http://Www.culinarybackstreets.com%5DCulinary”>http://Www.culinarybackstreets.com), click on “Join our Culinary Walks”
A highlight of our trip to Istanbul.</p>
<p>We had been planning a trip to Istanbul and Coppadocia in late August. Because of the protests and they are spreading,we decided to cancel and will go elsewhere in Europe instead. We will still try to go back, perhaps next year.</p>
<p>After much research,Istanbul is easy to do on your own, we bought Rick Steeves’ Istanbul book and were going to follow the recommended itineraries. However, if you want to go to Coppadocia, we recommend that you join a tour group who will arrange air, hotel transport etc, from Istanbul.</p>
<p>Personally I’d wait to book it, because
a) we don’t know how the political situation will end up - this could be another Syria.
b) even if it turns out fine, then people will be put off, and so tour operators will end up dropping their prices. There were some very good deals to Tunisia at one point for the same reason.</p>
<p>We had a plan to do Turkey in Sept. as well. Recent State Department warning make me hesitate to sign up at this moment. Its not worth the risk at this point.</p>
<p>My parents are big fans of Smithsonian tours. They did one in Turkey and said it was one of their most exciting, exotic and fulfilling trips ever. Smithsonian tours tend to be expensive, but they’re superbly organized and attract better educated travelers interested in history, art & culture, all of which are emphasized in these tours. </p>
<p>[Explore</a> Turkey and the Ottoman Empire | Smithsonian Journeys](<a href=“http://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/tours/turkey-anatolia?display=itinerary]Explore”>http://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/tours/turkey-anatolia?display=itinerary)</p>
<p>I haven’t seen a travel advisory for Turkey on the State Department site. When was it posted? I did an alert.</p>
<p>DD said the protests were peaceful, but noisy with the pot and pan banging. She is in Ankara.</p>
<p>Thanks for the State Dept update. I just sent it to my son who arrived in Istanbul last night/this morning.</p>
<p>I think the State Department warning was for local residents right now, not yet elevated to Travel Advisory. But why take a chance where you have all the choices in the world elsewhere.</p>
<p>Now the police are firing chemical gas at protesters in Istanbuls Taksim Square.
[Police</a> fire water cannon, tear gas on protesters in Istanbul?s Taksim square, Gezi Park - Salon.com](<a href=“http://www.salon.com/2013/06/15/police_fire_water_cannon_tear_gas_on_protesters_in_istanbuls_taksim_square_gezi_park/]Police”>http://www.salon.com/2013/06/15/police_fire_water_cannon_tear_gas_on_protesters_in_istanbuls_taksim_square_gezi_park/)</p>
<p>A travel alert was issued on june 4th.
The state dept has a smart traveler enrollement program, that could be helpful.
[Security</a> Message for U.S. Citizens | Embassy of the United States Ankara, Turkey](<a href=“http://turkey.usembassy.gov/mobile/sm_061213.html]Security”>http://turkey.usembassy.gov/mobile/sm_061213.html)</p>