Trail Travel

We are only moderately experienced travelers and weren't sure about how to go about planning a trip to Turkey. No local travel agents had any expertise. We found Berat and Murat through KimKim and in hindsight feel so lucky to have connected with them. Communications were clear and timely throughout the whole process. Costs were upfront and they were willing to adjust to our desires/budget. It was such a joy to leave all the details in their hands! Every communication, every driver, every guide and all reservations were perfectly on time and professional. Ground transportation was clean and high quality. Each of our guides were terrific - Volkan in Istanbul, Burcu in Ephesus/Laodicea/Pamukkale, Yakup in Antalya, and Sumer (Efe) in Cappadocia. Hotels were all unique from each other and consistently nice. In-country flights were super easy and on time. Food in Turkey is terrific, though somewhat limited for vegetarians. Our guides went out of their way to help us find places that had good vege options. We really felt that we were given the best tour of Turkey that 13 days could allow. This was definitely not an inexpensive trip, but the quality of everything and the professionalism of this team made it feel like we absolutely got our money's worth! We really loved Turkey! Now if they'd all just quit smoking, lol! If you love history, you need to do this trip.

This was a great trip, well planned! We wanted to explore Turkey with our 9- and 11-year-old kids, but were a bit anxious about all the domestic flights and road trips on top of the transatlantic flights. Berat worked with us to take some locations off the itinerary and add others based on our preferences, and gave us knowledgeable insights that helped us make decisions. We tailored the trip to our wishes and our kids' stamina, and we had an incredible time. Turkey is a beautiful country, very accessible, and its people were very welcoming.

Our local guides (Zekiye, Ozan, and Efe) took us through sites in three different regions with just the right amount of historical and cultural information. They were great with our kids, sensitive to how ambitious we chose to be on any given day. Our drivers were all prompt and friendly. We received almost daily WhatsApp communications from Murat, one of our trip planners, with reminders about our itinerary and helpful information, which were greatly appreciated.

At times during the trip planning process, communication was slow, with us waiting several days for replies to questions. Ultimately, this was not a problem, because we planned our itinerary well in advance. But even so, we had a few minor surprise alterations to the trip on the ground, which might have been avoided by better communication. These were small things (one site visit moved to another day; a bike ride deemed too ambitious for our kids despite a conversation about it weeks earlier). Our planners and guides shuffled our schedule and found replacement items very efficiently, and none of this deteriorated from the trip in the end. Still, some momentary confusion for us and a little disappointment for our kids might have been avoided. None of this is a major criticism. We had a terrific trip and would recommend Berat and her whole team of planners and guides.

This was our first time using KimKim and I had my fingers crossed that everything would run smoothly. Our trip to Türkiye was amazing! It started off wonderfully with Yigit waiting for us at the Istanbul airport after our 13 1/2 hour flight. He was so friendly and welcoming and we were driven to The Bank Hotel. A great first impression! Exhausted from our travels, they invited us inside and handled all of our luggage and immediately served us a drink of our choice in the lobby while they finished readying our room and ushered our bags up stairs. This level of service continued throughout the entire trip.

Our guide, Volkan, met us in the hotel lobby the next morning and while we sat he gave us a 45 minute brief historical introduction to Türkiye. We loved this! We really wanted to learn on this trip, and I wish we could have had Volkan as our guide for the entire trip. Not only was he knowledgeable, but he did a beautiful job of balancing guiding and directing us and talking with also giving us some time to wander and explore the sites at our own pace. When it came to the food, we would have been lost without him. He gave suggestions and there were many opportunities to try the various foods. We weren't quite prepared for the amount of hills and walking we would be doing in the city, but in hindsight it would be challenging to tour Istanbul by car, and we are so glad to have done it this way. Volkan also was familiar for good picture spots and invited our family to pose while he took several pictures of us with our camera. We really enjoyed him teaching us while we toured Topkapi palace so we could learn about the life of the sultans. The mosques were incredible and beautiful. Be prepared for motorcycles driving on sidewalks! :-D Volkan was very aware of his surroundings and did a great job guiding us through the busy places. We also bypassed the long lines because we had a guide with us. Super!

Berat and Murat communicated with us daily on our trip. This was so reassuring. The day before they would provide us with driver names, vehicle license, phone number, and times for each pickup. I was impressed at how everyone was on time and we were not left waiting. When we had a small bit of trouble at one hotel, Murat contacted them and smoothed things over, and the hotel even had wine and snacks waiting for us that day!

Our favorite place to visit was Cappadocia. After the masses of people in Istanbul, it was refreshing to see those views, and lunch at The Dream Spot took my breath away. What a way to start off Cappadicia! When we visited the Underground City, Volkan asked us if we had claustrophobia, and I told him I was mildly affected, and I didn't want to be trapped in the tunnels. He did a great job of making sure the tunnels ahead were cleared of people before having us walk through, and that made it very enjoyable with no moments of panic bent over in a passage waiting for people ahead to move. The hot air balloon ride was unlike anything we have ever done, and we were so glad the weather cooperated.

The only place we could have skipped was Izmir... it's a modern city. We think it was probably a necessary connection point for our travel day where we flew from Cappadocia back to the west coast. We met Ozan as our guide for Izmir, Ephasus, and Sirence. He was knowledgeable and friendly. We loved the mussels stuffed with rice that we sampled from a street vendor! I honestly didn't think I would like them, but I'm willing to try just about anything. When he found out we ran a math learning center, he took us to a summer camp/school/univercity in Sirence! This was an unexpected surprise, and it was the first time Ozan had been there as well. My only wish is that Ozan gave us a bit of time to explore on our own. At the museums he was excited to have us see certain things, but I would have liked a little unstructured time to view things at our own pace as well without being overly directed.

Our private boat tour in Bodrum was beautiful! I thought 6 hours might be too long, but with four stops for swimming (we were only promised three) and lunch served, it was a relaxing day towards the end of our trip. Bodrum was also wonderful for walking in the evenings.

A few notes below on our lodgings:

The Bank Hotel - amazing. Gorgeous architecture and this family loved the complimentary chocolates! The breakfast was so good. No complaints.
Hotel Taskonaklar Cappadocia - How exciting to have a hotel built into ancient ruins! Gorgeous accommodations. Our daughter's mattress had springs pushing into her and she ended up sleeping on the couch. When I found out, I flipped her mattress and all was well the second night. Be prepared for quite a few stairs outside. Again, the breakfast was amazing.
Mövenpick Izmir - nothing of note. Nice modern hotel.
Nisanyan Houses - This was a visual treat. The hospitality was wonderful and the food was so good, as was the view. The artistry in the rooms was lovely. All that said, we were glad we only spent one night here. The large bed had an uncomfortable, flat mattress, and my husband had to climb over me to get into and out of bed with the way it was framed and oriented against the wall. It was lacking in linens and only had a flat quilt (not a duvet) to cover us. The second bedroom had two beds. Our daughter had the larger bed and she said it was comfortable, but the other bed was only big enough for a child. Our 6 foot tall son and to sleep on the couch downstairs. The spiral staircase was treacherous without a handrail, and I was worried I'd accidentally fall into the sunken shower when using the bathroom during the night, so I left that light on. I attempted to make coffee, but when I turned the dial for the counter-top plug-in stove, I got an electric shock. The toilet ran non-stop, and we switched the water off between uses. (There was no phone to contact the lobby, and I didn't feel like navigating the walk up the stairs to tell them, so we waited until we left to report it. ) The stairs on the grounds were also very challenging with rough-hewn stone and no hand rails. It was a hike to get to the pool. It was a beautiful place for photos, visually delightful, and the owner was so nice I hate to say anything critical, but not somewhere I'd stay again. They could improve it by taking care of some of these issues, such as adding handrails.
Divan Bodrum Palmira - Very comfortable hotel! We ran into a few minor issues, but they were taken care of.

We would definitely use KimKim again for planning a trip like this to an unfamiliar country!

Hotel Reviews

Nisanyan Houses

Selçuk

This was a visual treat, and I want to give it a higher rating, as I think some people would love it here. The hospitality was wonderful and the food was so good, as was the view... the view was truly unmatched. The artistry in the rooms was lovely. All that said, we were glad we only spent one night here. The large bed had an uncomfortable, flat mattress, and my husband had to climb over me to get into and out of bed with the way it was framed and oriented against the wall. It was lacking in linens and only had a flat quilt (not a duvet) to cover us. The second bedroom had two beds. Our daughter had the larger bed and she said it was comfortable, but the other bed was only big enough for a child. Our 6 foot tall son and to sleep on the couch downstairs, and there were no extra linens. The spiral staircase was treacherous without a handrail, and I was worried I'd accidentally fall into the sunken shower when using the bathroom during the night, so I left that light on. I attempted to make coffee, but when I turned the dial for the counter-top plug-in stove, I got an electric shock. The toilet ran non-stop, and we switched the water off between uses. (There was no phone to contact the lobby, and I didn't feel like navigating the walk up the stairs to tell them, so we waited until we left to report it. ) The stairs on the grounds were also very challenging with rough-hewn stone and no hand rails. It was a hike to get to the pool. It was a beautiful place for photos, visually delightful, and the owner was so nice I hate to say anything critical, but not somewhere I'd stay again. We did not have a chance to enjoy the wonderful bread and jams they put in the fridge for us, but that was a lovely added touch. They could improve it by taking care of some of these issues, such as adding handrails and putting in a new mattress and enough linens. With handrails and a more comfortable bed and a safety barrier rail added to the shower, I would love to visit again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Uncomfortable beds and treacherous stairs. It was very clean, but not comfortable or safe.

Hotel Taskonaklar Cappadocia

Nevsehir

How exciting to have a hotel built into ancient ruins! Gorgeous accommodations. Our daughter's mattress had springs pushing into her and she ended up sleeping on the couch. When I found out, I flipped her mattress and all was well the second night. Be prepared for quite a few stairs outside. Again, the breakfast was amazing. Incredible views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had to flip a mattress, and there were also two different leaks we reported. It took a while to get the AC to cool everything down and dehumidfy everything.

The Bank Hotel

Istanbul

The Bank Hotel - amazing. Gorgeous architecture and this family loved the complimentary chocolates! The breakfast was so good with many selections. No complaints. Great location for walking tours of the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Boat Tour at Bodrum

Bodrum

The Private Boat Tour at Bodrum was enjoyable overall, but we faced an issue when the driver was not present at the expected pickup location upon return. Thankfully, the boat captain was very helpful and sorted the situation out, which showcased his commitment to our experience.

Guided Tour of Izmir: The Beautiful Port City of the Aegean Sea

Turkey

The Guided Tour of Izmir didn't quite meet the expectations. The city felt like a standard modern place, and it seemed to be more of a necessary stop due to travel logistics rather than a highlight of the itinerary.

Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

This was a lovely change of pace after some tough walking tours of Istanbul. Just the right length boat tour.

Food Tour in Istanbul

İstanbul

We can't really fit a food tour all in one day, because you can only eat so much! Volkan did a wonderful job of spreading this out and including it during our three full days in Istanbul.

Istanbul Archaeological Museum Tour

İstanbul

How was this museum not packed with people! So much to see an learn.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Another world! So much character and history. Just hearing the calls to prayer was so different for an American. The palace was fascinating, and the mosques were beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Volkan was the best! We couldn't have imagined a better guide. He really does a wonderful job of ensuring we had a full experience, but also gave us time to explore on our own and meet back up with him.

Transport

Thank you Berat for planning a wonderful trip. We enjoyed our stay in Istanbul. Everything went smoothly. We had an excellent guide and a nice hotel.

Hotel Review

Armada Hotel

Istanbul

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Crossing between Continents: Explore Kadıköy and Moda

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Dolmabahçe Palace

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

I’m

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wonderful city and great to have things well planned in advance. With just two days, we were able to see the main sights plus a mosque that is off the beaten path. With Berat, we were able to have flexibility in our schedule which we appreciated. We loved this visit and will likely come back!

Hotel Review

Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul, Curio Collection by Hilton

Fatih Istanbul

We enjoyed this unique hotel perfectly located around the main sights to see. The staff were helpful and the room was great.

Authenticity & Character

Cute houses

Location

Perfect for a short stay in the city centre.

Staff

Everyone was very courteous and helpful for restaurant recommendations.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nothing to change. Keeping doing what you are doing.

Activity Reviews

Private Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

We really enjoyed being on the water and learning more about the land, the location of things, the buildings and history around the water way. We were somewhat surprised by the size of the boat for the private tour. The boat was amazing but we're not sure if there were smaller options available for private tours. Certainly felt like luxury :)

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

İstanbul

It was great to see the bazaars and learn more of the ottoman period. We are not big shoppers but our guide was able to point out high quality, specific places of interest to us.

Explore the Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia

İstanbul

Berat was very informative and efficient to get all spots in yet not feeling rushed or crowded. The history was particularly interesting.