Tuesday Travel Diaries: Turkey

Today's TTD is awesome.

Want to know why?

Because it features my real-life friends, Jon & Jen.

Jon and Jen are great friends of ours in Los Angeles,

and they are also well seasoned travelers.

I know you'll enjoy reading about their trip!

The basics: where, when, & how long?

 Turkey for 13 nights:

5 nights Istanbul

1 night Canakkale

2 nights Kusadasi

1 night Pamukkale

1 night Konya

2 nights Cappadocia

1 night Ankara

What route did you take?  And how much was the flight?

 We flew from LAX to IST on Turkish Airlines.  The non-stop flight was 13.5 hours.  The tickets were a steal, $550 each (including taxes + fees). 

Who did you travel with? 

 My well-traveled husband.

Goreme rocks and fairy chimneys, Cappadocia

Tell us where you stayed.

 We stayed at 7 different hotels throughout Western Turkey.  My favorite was KoruMar Hotel in Kusadasi.  The hotel was in an outstanding location that overlooked the Aegean.  The view from our room was breathtaking.

Did you encounter anything unexpected?

 Since most hotels in the States only offer non-smoking rooms, I did not remember to inform the hotel reception that we wanted a non-smoking room.  Our room not only smelled like smoke but the ceiling and room vents were covered in soot.  Around 3 AM my husband woke up vomiting from the strong smell and had to sleep in the bathtub for the remainder of the night.  We could not change rooms because the non-smoking rooms were occupied.

Tell us about the food.

 Turkish cuisine is very tasty. Dining in Turkey is affordable, you can get a full meal and drink for about $7. 

Tea is an importation part of Turkish culture, it is offered after every meal and in any social situation.  The offering of tea is considered to be a sign of friendship and hospitality.

Were there any must see’s?

 There is so much to see and do in Turkey.  Here are a few of my favorite experiences:

City of Ephesus, Ephesus. Famous for its temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world.

Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia. Cappadocia is known around the world as one of the best places to fly with hot air balloons.

Pamukkale hot springs, Pamukkale

Ozkonak Underground City, Cappadocia.   The top four floors are open for public exploration.

House of Virgin Mary prayer wall, Ephesus

Bosphorus Cruise, Istanbul

Do you have any regrets? 

Nope. 

  

Would you go back? 

Absolutely, I would love to explore the Aegean Region or take a Mediterranean cruise.

  

Anything else you'd like to share about the trip?

 Turkey is underrated.  It is friendly, beautiful, culturally rich and a good value.  Rick Steves says it best, "Those who haven't been to Turkey wonder why anyone would choose to go there. Those who've been dream of returning."

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Jen--when you guys are ready to return to Turkey, count us in :)

The trip looks amazing!

Thanks so much for sharing.

Readers--please leave Jen some comment love.  She's a non-blogger, so there's no link to follow.