Berat Ornek

Excellent trip. Our guides were great, informed, took questions, etc. Our guide for Istanbul Safak Emre Kilic was +++excellent. 2 suggestions:
1. The rooms at Rose Mansions Sinasos were very good. However our room only had 2 small windows. It was hot sleeping. I would suggest they provide a fan in the room to at least get some air circulation. Also a small refrigerator would be nice to be able to have some cold water.
2. The room at our shortened night in Istanbul was also very good. However it is above a Pub and was very difficult to get to sleep with the loud music, etc. both inside and outside in the street. The activity in the street was still going on when we left the hotel at 2:35AM. Great room but poor location especially since we tried to get to bed early because of our early departure.

Our Turkey vacation was a trip of a lifetime.
From the very beginning Berat listened to what we were seeking and she definitely delivered!

We wanted to see the famous sites but also have experiences that were different and outdoor nature related.

Our guides were very professional and knowledgeable. We had great private transportation in every location..
We had our detailed itinerary but it was wonderful to have Berat check in with us daily with reminders regarding our guide/driver/activity.

The highlight in Istanbul was the Hamam experience.

The hot air balloon ride in Capadoccia was magical.

The hike on Lycian Way was adventurous and boat ride to Kekova island so beautiful.

Pamukkale was the magnificent natural wonder that had been on our wishlist for decades that Berat was able to fit into our tight schedule and I will always be grateful to her! (Many told me I was asking for too much in a week)

Thank you Kimkim for helping us find Berat and thank you Berat for a fabulous 40th anniversary celebration that is memorable!

This is a review of our trip to Turkey, May 24, 2024 to June 5 2024.

First we would like to say that our guide for 8 days, Ms. Sebnem Altin was truly exceptional (5 stars!!). She was friendly, knowledgable, and fun to be with. We would definitely want any future travel by us to this region to involve her friendly services and expertise.

There were too many high points of our trip to review them all here. We would like to focus on a couple of things:

1. Hotels: Our favorite was Nisanyan Hotel in Sirinje. It was pretty much perfect in atmosphere, location, and charm. It had excellent service, and good food.
Bank Hotel in Istanbul was good, it was very well located the City, and had good things to do within walking distance. It was a little bit on the "high end" for us, in terms of luxury, but still OK. One note about this Hotel (if you communicate with them) regards the in room electrical set-up (e.g., lights). They were very difficult to use.
The Hotel in Pammukale was billed as a "Spa resort". It was just a Ramada franchise, and was our least favorite. All of the "Spa" water facilities there were closed. It was full of bus loads of tourists, and had cafeteria-style food in a large common room. We would have been much better off to skip this and drive on to the Hotel Anatolia (Sebnem knew this place and took us there for lunch), and stay there (the restaurant Anatolia there was excellent).
Swissotel Bodrum : This was comfortable and nice, and the location on the sea was good. However the atmosphere was veery high end and exclusive. The restaurant in this hotel had a limited menu, and there was nothing else within walking distance. We did discover on our own a town near Bodrum, called Yalikavak. In Yalikavak there is a region called the "old city", this had a very nice atmosphere with small shops and cafes in a charming pedestrian zone. This would probably have been a better location for us.
2. As for the daily tours with Ms. Sebnem, everything was great. She was very knowledgable, helpful, friendly, and we saw and learned a great deal. If we were to change anything, (knowing what we know now), would probably leave Pamukkale out altogether. It was crowded and touristy, and the hotel was a letdown. In retrospect we would consider replacing it with Cappadocia, or possibly just visiting Hieropolis, and then going on to hotel Anatolia.

Thanks for helping us make this trip so memorable!
Best regards,
Walt and Marilyn Madsen

Hotel Reviews

The Bank Hotel

Istanbul

Great location in the city. Walking distance from many good shops and cafes.

Authenticity & Character

Quiet and comfortable.

Location

Close to interesting things to see on foot.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Signature Hotel & Spa

Authenticity & Character

All "spa" facilities were closed. Loud bar music we could hear from the room. Very crowded with bus tourist groups. Cafeteria style dining.

Location

Isolated. No neighborhood.

Staff

Everyone was courteous and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nisanyan Houses

Selçuk

Very charming location with multiple quiet, beautiful terraces. on the side of a mountain overlooking the town. The room was very nice.

Authenticity & Character

The interiors were all charming and comfortable. The food was great, and there were many quiet, leafy terraces with nice views. It had the feel of a nice older house.

Location

Lovely views over the town and valley

Staff

Great service, everyone was very considerate and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Swissôtel Resort Bodrum Beach

The atmosphere is high end and very exclusive.

Authenticity & Character

Very quiet, with great ocean views.

Location

The beach setting was great, however there is nothing accessible on foot nearby.

Staff

Very courteous and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Urban Hiking Tour: Strolling around Old City Walls, Fener + Balat

İstanbul

The neighborhoods Fener and Balat were well worth visiting. This brought home many of the more interesting aspects of life in Istanbul, seeing interesting small shops and everyday houses and buildings.

Quality of Experience

Again, our guide Ms. Senem Altin was really good, with helping get a feel for what we were seeing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip to beautiful Aphrodisias

Turkey

The quality of the restorations are remarkable, giving this site a remarkable feel of somehow being there when it was thriving.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus

Turkey

This site is truly impressive, just magnificent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Very informative walking tour with a great guide (Sebnem Altin).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

The views of the city from the water are spectacular and worth seeing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul

İstanbul

Another good day with our guide. Seeing and learning so much. We are not sure if this was the day we took a side trip to the restaurant Ciya Sofrasi on the Asian side for lunch, but that was one of the more special things we did in all of Istanbul.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Şirince: A Guided Stroll in a beautiful Aegean Village

Şirince

The town is nice. The shops are pretty geared for tourists.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Priene: A beautiful ancient Ionian town

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pamukkale and Hierapolis

Pamukkale

Hierapolis was really good. It is worth strolling the ruins, and particularly the necropolis (largest in the ancient world). Pamukkale was very crowded and touristy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the ancient city of Laodikeia

Pamukkale

The site is large and very interesting. The ongoing restorations are amazing. We were lucky to be there when it was not at all crowded, so it was relaxing and felt very special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sebnem Altin was great on this site, its history and character.

Transport

Guided Tour + Lunch in Kusadasi

Turkey

Kusadasi is a busy metropolis with high end euro boutique shops. The restaurant was excellent. The best fish of the whole trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the ancient sites of Miletus and Didyma

Turkey

Miletus has a fantastic Roman colosseum. Didyma has spectacular huge columns.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Ephesus Archaeological Museum

Turkey

Really good to see so much up so close.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver (Etam, sp?) was great.

We had a wonderful guide, Ms. Şebnem Altın, who show us about the beautiful sites of Istanbul. I really appreciate an experienced private tour guides who can pivot and modify the tour, as needed. Ms. Şebnem Altın was excellent at this technique and gave an efficient access to the sites and an informative backstory and context to each site.

We had a great time.

Hotel Review

Sirkeci Mansion Hotel

Istanbul

It was a clean and comfortable hotel room. The moring breakfast was satisfying and the concierge service was very helpful. It is also centrally located.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Turkish Bath and Spa at Hürrem Sultan Hammam

İstanbul

Spoil yourself. You will not regret it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Cave Houses, Hot Air ballooning and underground cities in Cappadocia, to the Grand Bazaar and spectacular Mosques and Palaces of Istanbul to Troy and the Trojan Horse and finally the incredibly moving Gallipoli Peninsula where we experienced both the ANZAC and Turkish Memorials, I can’t say enough about this amazing country.
Our local specialist Berat put together ouritinerary with lots of consultation. Her communication was excellent and the guides and transport we had were 5 star. Special mention to Emrie in Istambul and Gallipoli. He was fantastic.
Thank you Berat and all tbe team at kimkim. We hope to come back one day and will definitely use your services again.

Berat organised a wonderful holiday for my daughter and I in May 2024. The trip design was great capturing lots of major sites from the extraordinary landscape and cave dwellings in Cappadocia to Greco-Roman sites at Ephesus, Aphrodisias and Hieropolis to the thermal waters and travertine terraces at Pamukkale. We ended our trip in Istanbul exploring Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Cisterns, a boat tour of the Bosphorus and the Bazaar. The tour was exceptionally well designed with a full itinerary, great hotels ranging from 5 star to small characterful boutique hotels in lovely places. All transfers and travel arrangements were sorted for us so our trip was completely hassle free and seamless. But what made the trip was our wonderful guide Volkan who guided us every step of the way. He was a superb professional, immensely knowledgeable and helpful, thoughtfully managing every part of our tour. He filled us in on all of the amazing history of the region and made it all fascinatingly accessible to us. He finely balanced his guiding, warmth and support with giving us time to explore and spend time to ourselves. I’ve travelled extensively and this was my best holiday ever. We loved it and were very sad for it to end. I couldn’t recommend it more.

Such an extraordinary trip made possible by our local specialist, Berat - who was exceptionally flexible to our changing needs. Thank you Berat.

Our guides Betul, Ozan and Sumer were knowledgeable of the areas, with interesting suggestions and anecdote stories to delight. They ensured the trip was comfortable, exciting and catered to our needs. Thank you.

Dear Berat, Sumer Sumerli, Ozan, Betul, and the wonderful team of drivers!

I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the absolutely incredible trip my companions and I experienced under your guidance. Each of you played an integral role in making our journey through Turkey an unforgettable adventure filled with awe-inspiring sights, rich history, and cherished memories.

Sumer Sumerli, your expertise and passion for Cappadocia truly shone through as you led us through the enchanting valleys and museums. Your knowledge and enthusiasm illuminated every corner, allowing us to immerse ourselves fully in the beauty of the region.

Ozan, your dedication and warmth touched our hearts during our exploration of Sirince, Ephesus, Pamukkale, and Hierapolis. Your meticulous planning and eagerness to share your wisdom enriched our experience beyond measure. Your efforts to arrange for a priest to bless our spring water reflected your exceptional care and attention to detail, for which we are profoundly grateful.

Betul, your impeccable organization and flexibility ensured that our time in Istanbul was both efficient and enjoyable. Your ability to keep us on track while accommodating our desire to savor every moment of the city's beauty and history was truly remarkable.

To all the drivers whose names I didn't capture, please accept my heartfelt thanks for your professionalism, accommodation, and, above all, your commitment to our safety throughout our journey. Your efforts did not go unnoticed, and we are deeply appreciative of the role you played in making our trip seamless and secure.

And finally, Berat, your patience, expertise, and unwavering dedication were instrumental in crafting the perfect itinerary for us. Your attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our trip exceeded our expectations did not go unnoticed. We are endlessly grateful for your guidance and support throughout the planning process and during our travels.

In conclusion, I cannot thank each of you enough for your contributions to what was undoubtedly the most extraordinary trip of our lives. Your passion, professionalism, and kindness have left an indelible mark on our hearts, and we will forever cherish the memories we made under your care.

Thank you all so much!

Alicia Gonsalvez

We had a fantastic ten days in Turkey. All of the hotels and transfers that Berat organized for us were great, and she gave us excellent advice regarding where to go to maximize the time we had. Our guides (Betul in Istanbul, Ozan in Ephesus, and Hatice in Ushisar) were wonderful. The highlight of the trip was certainly Cappadocia, and Berat's suggestion to stay in Uchisar, not Goreme, was spot-on.