Hi! Has anyone joined the Leisurely Tour of Turkey (from Cosmos)? It's a 13-day tour to different cities in Turkey. It cost US$789 (rate for May 2005). . I plan to join this tour in May 2005. Do you think it's too many days and not worth it? I mean, do you think the places would be the mediocre ones aside from Istanbul? I don't want to waste a lot of days on things that are not special. I'm wondering if a lot of people join this tour because I don't see any post in this forum about this tour. Only one post and nobody replied to the poster. Maybe this is not a good tour. What do you think?

If I don't join this tour, I might join the "Splendor of Italy" or the "Italy and Greece" tour. Has anyone joined this tours? Was it a good tour?

The "Splendor of Italy" cost $950+ and it's a 9-day tour. The "Italy and Greece" cost $1259+ and it's a 12-day tour.

Thanks!

I posted a question about the Cosmos Leisurely Tour of Turkey a while back and no one responded. Anyway, I leave March 19 on this trip so I will post my reactions when I return.

[quote="marymbs"]I posted a question about the Cosmos Leisurely Tour of Turkey a while back and no one responded. Anyway, I leave March 19 on this trip so I will post my reactions when I return.[/quote]

Hi Marymbs!!

So you're joining the tour in March, right? Did you book the pre and post hotel accommodations or do you think there is no need? I think there is no need for this because on Day 1, it's a free day and the group meets in the evening for the drink. Then on the last day, the tour ends after breakfast, so no need for post hotel accommodation as well. What do you think?

How about the airport transfers? Are you taking the taxi or is there a better or cheaper alternative?

It's kind of hard to find an airline that goes to Isbanbul from where I live. I live in the Philippines. The cheaper fares are those that stopover in the Middle East and they take more than 5 hours of stopover time. I don't want to wait for a long time. The KLM airways goes to Isbanbul but I'm wondering why it goes all the way to Amsterdam first (from Manila) before going to Istanbul. Shouldn't it go to Istanbul first before going to Amsterdam (Istanbul is closer to Asia than Amsterdam), isn't it?

I can't wait to hear your story about your trip. Take care and good luck!!! Write soon when you get back, OK? : )

Travelgirl

I did not book any pre or post nights. I have quite a trip there too..from San Diego-San Francisco-Frankfurt to Istanbul. Sorry we can't get there more directly. I was told in my travel documents that a representative from Cosmos will be at the airport for the transfer to the hotel. I was in the Phillipines in '98. It's beautiful. I went to Palawan, Manila, Boracay, etc. I'll post when I return!