We will take an extended trip to Turkey in the next few weeks. My husband has promised to do a running commentary with photos... stay tuned.
We've finished most of our trip planning and are now in the final stages of collecting information and figuring out what we need to take and to do before we leave. We've always found the preparations for a trip like this--reading guidebooks, checking out websites, becoming familiar with history and culture--to be highly enjoyable, though not as enjoyable as the trip itself. We considered asking a Turkish travel agency to book our lodging, but in the end, with the encouragement of Tom Brosnahan of the redoubtable Turkey Travel Planner, decided to make our own arrangements. This in part was due to our desire to limit our spending on lodging to around $75 per night (we've ended up so far a little over $80). We did make an arrangment through Argeus Travel for a rental car, a diesel Hyundai, and for a flight from Ankara, where we'll leave the car, to Istanbul, where our trip will end.
Here's our itinerary:
Turkey Itinerary
February 25-April 4, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011—Leaving Cedar Rapids at 6:25 PM and arrive in Istanbul at 4:10 the next day, flying via Chicago on Turkish Airlines directly to Istanbul.
Saturday, February 26-Thursday, March 3: Istanbul
Staying at the Hotel Şebnem in Sultanahmet
http://www.sebnemhotel.net/english.html
Thursday, March 3-Sunday, March 6: Bursa (ancient (Caesarea)
We plan to take the ferry and bus to Bursa. On Saturday we’ll get a rental car and visit Iznik for a day. Staying at the Safran Otel http://www.safranotel.com/english/
Sunday, March 6-Tuesday, March 8: Bergama (ancient Pergamum)
Akropolis Guest House akropolisguesthouse@hotmail.com
Tuesday, March 8-Friday, March 11: Selçuk
Hotel Bella http://www.hotelbella.com
Friday, March 11-Sunday, March 13: Bodrum
El Vino Hotel www.elvinobodrum.com
Sunday, March 13-Tuesday, March 15: Pamukkale
Venus Hotel www.venushotel.net
Tuesday, March 15-Friday, March 18: Patara
Akay Pension http://www.pataraakaypension.com/
Friday, March 18-Saturday, March 19: Cirali
Hotel Odile www.hotelodile.com
Saturday, March 19-Monday, March 21: Antalya
Mediterra Art Hotel, http://www.mediterraarthotel.com/
Monday, March 21-Wednesday, March 23: Konya
Hotel Rumi http://www.rumihotel.com/rumieng.html
Wednesday, March 23-Friday, March 25: Güzelyürt
Halil’s Pension http://www.halilspension.com/
Friday, March 25-Monday, March 28 (tentative): Cappadocia
Monday, March 28-Wednesday, March 30 (tentative): Boğazkale
Wednesday, March 30-Friday, April 1: Ankara. On April 1 fly from Ankara to Istanbul.
Angora House Hotel
Friday, April 1-Monday, April 4:
Hotel Şebnem
http://www.sebnemhotel.net/english.html
Monday, April 4, 2011
Turkish Airlines Flight TK5
Depart Istanbul Ataturk Apt,04-Apr-11 (Mon) 11:20a
Arrive Cedar Rapids, 04-Apr-11 (Mon) 05:58p
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