“My wife and I just returned from a fantastic trip to Istanbul…. Our private CTC guide was a huge part of why the trip was so enjoyable. Hasan is amazing: not only does he meet the basic needs (reliable, personable, excellent English, knows the city) but he also brings several very special things to the mix. We covered an astounding amount of territory in our three days with him, including a huge proportion of the must-see “tourist stuff” but also many wonderful off-the-beaten-path places that we never would’ve found on our own. But we never felt rushed, never felt as though we had some hyper-drive agenda to stick to. And on our last day, he took it upon himself to take us, that evening (long after his day with us was finished) to the incredible pedestrian street in Beyoglu where it seems as though the entire population of Istanbul goes every night. Left us at one of the best restaurants in the area while he was at it (360)—but not before showing us exactly where to go to get a cab back to our hotel. We didn’t ask him to do any of this; he just did it, on his own, and we’re SO glad he did. Thanks to him, and thus indirectly to you, our trip to Istanbul was one of the most memorable we’ve ever taken. And as Jennifer at Travel Gallery may have told you, we’ve taken many trips in the past few years, and we’re not the easiest folks to please!”
R.R., Charlotte, NC
November, 2006