Raves & Reviews
  • We were delighted with our two 3-day stay in Istanbul and also with the services SRM provided for our day to Gallipoli. We are especially grateful that you allowed us to reschedule from our original date in 2012 to 2013 after Mike's medical issue was resolved. I am hopeful of returning to Istanbul for an extended stay with a friend...
    Jan.09, 2014 – Pam & Mike Fiorini, WA, USA

  • Many people study Turkey and its history, but I am not sure anyone outside Turkey could give as many details about the culture, the food, and the music, which made the trip all the more special. The guides were outstanding and the drivers were careful and attentive. We set up the itinerary so I guess I should not be surprised that we were tired at the end because it was an ambitious schedule. However, the guides were responsive to any requests we made along the way and we made some changes on the fly based on the weather or a whim of the moment. We tried to identify the best moment and we could never identify just one. Everything was better than we had hoped! Thanks again.
    Oct.15, 2013 – Jennifer Larson - family of four, Omaha NE, USA

  • Dear Pelin & Lale, Be assured that we absolutely loved our stay in Turkey! Aysegul & Deniz were the perfect guides for us. Thank you for your careful planning of our itinerary, and for the flexibility we had within the framework. We are telling everyone how wonderful Turkey and SRM are! Gratefully,
    Oct.15, 2013 – Ginny (& Bob) Allen, CA, USA

  • Dear Pelin, We very much appreciate all the help we received from you and Lale and your endless patience as we debated whether to make the trip or not. We're so glad we did! We would highly recommend your agency.
    Oct.08, 2013 – Cynthia Kennett, ME, USA

  • Dear Lale, It is very rare when a vacation lives up to your dreams, like this one did. Your two guides and all your help made this vacation memorable. We would rank the guides as among the top three we have ever worked with in the last 14 years. In addition we have never experienced a tour like Cappadocia where everything promised actually exceeded our expectations. Thanks again for all your help.
    Oct.06, 2013 – Patricia Coil, USA

  • I had a wonderful time visiting Istanbul with Lale as my guide. We saw everything on my wish list but the experience I had was so much broader and deeper. We sampled lots of the local cuisine and I enjoyed so much the time we spent outside the main tourist venues. Lale encouraged me to try new things and enabled many new experiences. I am amazed at all we managed to see and do over the four days I was there. Our schedule was flexible and the pacing worked very well for me. I particularly enjoyed the insight into Islam that Lale provided as I learned about the city, its history and citizens. What more can I say? It was just great.
    Oct.03, 2013 – Sharon Sullivan, FL, USA

  • Our group thoroughly enjoyed your country and especially the people. Our visit to Ephesus is something we will treasure forever and Istanbul is an amazing city with too much to try & see in three days but we did our best. The guide you provided was exceptional! He was always on time, very professional in everything he did and besides having excellent knowledge of all the historic sights he provided us with in depth knowledge of Turkish history, your culture, your religion and much more information we would never have discovered on our own. After being with him for 2 full days we only regret to not planning more time to see more of your country in some of the outlying areas. We would certainly recommend the services of SRM to anyone traveling to Istanbul. Thanks for ending our 3 weeks in Europe on such a high note (my wife & I were celebrating our 50th anniversary, the last 2 weeks with our closest friends). Yours truly,
    Sept.28, 2013 – Don Belsher, AB TOL, CANADA

  • Lale, I can’t imagine having gotten so much from our visit to Istanbul without you. Money and time well spent. Last, but certainly not least is the spice market experience with Ms. Bilge. She is an absolute treasure. She gave us an extensive tasting — even beyond spices — and was an absolute delight to be with. I spent almost 2 hours there and felt I had found a friend. She is very passionate about her work; cooking, spices and connecting with her customers.
    Sept.15, 2013 – Celestte Campbell, LA, USA

  • Dear Lale, We had an absolutely wonderful stay in Turkey and much of that owes to our excellent experience with you. The itinerary you developed for us around the Ephesus area was perfect. We could not have been more impressed with our guide. Over the years I have engaged a number of guides in different countries and she stands out as one of the best--knowledgeable, gracious and highly professional.
    July 30, 2013 – Jane Hutchings, Seattle WA, USA

  • There are no words to describe my feelings and those of our group. To this day we are still talking about that experience each time we come together. The visit to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque were beyond our expectations thanks to our wonderful guide Aysegul. The sunset with Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in the foreground was a vision to die for, as a photographer that was a dream come true. Walking the back streets of the Grand Bazaar, to see the daily life of the Istanbul people and the different shops they visit to buy the common things was icing over the cake. Selecting your company to guide our visit to Istanbul instead of the crowded and cookie cutter tours of our cruise ship was the best decision we made. Lale was of great help tailoring thru emails the best 1.5 days tour we could dream of. Thanks again to Lale and Aysegul for such wonderful experience!
    July 12, 2013 – Myrna Y. Santiago-Sénquiz, Puerto Rico, USA

  • Cappadocia was definitely a highlight of our trip to Turkey. We were extremely pleased with your services. The guide was excellent, and the food at the homes was outstanding. The hotel was awesome, the hikes were excellent and the balloon ride was outstanding! We would definitely repeat everything!
    July 06, 2013 – Joyce & Ted Love - family of four, USA

  • We would like to thank you for the wonderful tour you arranged for us in Ephesus, Pergamon, Aphrodisias, and Hieropolis. All in all it was everything we had hoped for and much more. It was a little hard to imagine what it would be like, as we have never taken a similar trip, and it completely surpassed any expectations we had. We are very grateful for the experiences we had on this trip, and for your advice and arrangements that made it so special.
    July 02, 2013 – Sally & Tom Logothetti, CA, USA

  • Dear Lale, I wanted to let you know we had a wonderful trip to Turkey. Every arrangement you made for us came off perfectly. Our guides, Nilay in Istanbul and Sanem in Cappadocia were professional, gracious and full of information. Our college aged children really enjoyed them. We will definitely recommend your agency as we have not stopped talking about our trip to friends and family. It was the trip of a lifetime.
    June 20, 2013 – Ann Straub - family of five, USA

  • We have been home from Turkey a couple weeks now and want to thank you for the wonderful trip. We enjoyed it so much! The tour was excellent and we left with wonderful impressions of your country and the people. We especially enjoyed Istanbul with Senem as our guide. She was a perfect fit! Her caring attitude and wonderful manner with the kids are rare gifts and it really made our time in Istanbul outstanding. We also really loved Cappadocia. Your hotel is phenomenal and we had a wonderful time there.
    June 17, 2013 – Melissa King Polsinell - family of four, MI, USA

  • Our tour guide, Ozgur, was professional, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and our day was packed with Istanbul sights, sounds and tastes. He made sure we were safe as we crossed streets, boarded trams, and moved through crowds. He shared a depth of information and insight about Istanbul and Turkey. He opened the wonder and charm of his beautiful homeland. In fact, he was so good, that Istanbul proved to be our favorite city toured. Many thanks for an enriching and delightful experience.
    May 04, 2013 – Mary Nichols, WA, USA

  • Lale, Nothing short of sheer excellence! You had no influence or control to assure us of 12 days of spectacular sunshine or to create the magnificence of Istanbul's treasures, Cappadocia's or Pamukkale's natural wonders, or the mind-boggling ruins of Hierapolis, Pergamum, or Ephesus, but you did provide us three intelligent, knowledgable, flexible, and spirited guides, as well as totally satisfying boutique hotels with great access to the evening entertainment of each locale. Your tour plan was even greater than your prominent reputation. THANK YOU.
    April 25, 2013 – Dennis and Amy Boike, NY, USA

  • Hi Lale, Well, our holiday in Turkey is almost finished and we are in Bodrum on Sunday night reflecting on 16 wonderful days (so far). Karen and I have been very happy with the arrangements you made for us. We have seen a lot of variety and the guides, lunches, cooking class and sites of interest have been just fabulous. Yaren and Cemil are both top class guides (5 out of 5) and I would recommend them to anyone. They remained flexible and positive at all times. The cooking class was great fun and was worth doing. The balloon flight was excellent and we had a really good pilot. We have seen some wonderful trips to ruins, seen the Turkish way of life, had interesting conversations on all sorts of subjects with our guides, eaten very interesting food, had excellent transport and airport pickups and deliveries and added to Turkey's economy with our shopping. Many thanks for your help.
    March 01, 2013 – Erica Smyth, AUSTRALIA

  • SRM lived up to its wonderful standards with our tour of Ephesus and surroundings with Zeynep. There were 4 of us and each found the day to be extremely interesting, informative, as well as flexible in terms of our wishes. She was superb!!!!! Our hope is that if we ever return to Turkey for a 3rd time, we could have her as our guide again. Keep up your wonderful standards in selecting your guides.
    Oct.21, 2012 – Adele Delisi, WA, USA

  • Dear Pelin, The SRM travel team helped give us a most enjoyable trip to Istanbul. Our guide was excellent. I have recommended SRM to our friends who are traveling to Istanbul in March. Here we are on the rooftops of the bazaar enjoying a panoramic view of beautiful Istanbul. Gratefully,
    Sept.21, 2012 – Rob Nehring, NJ, USA

  • We loved Turkey, found the people to be very friendly and would go back to Istanbul in a heartbeat. The services of SRM were excellent and Senem was a delight, just like being with a friend. She was very punctual, accommodating to our needs and extremely knowledgeable.
    Aug.28, 2012 – Isabella Richardson, CA, USA

  • Thank you and your staff for working so hard to make our 5 nights stay in and three days touring Istanbul so comfortable, informative and enjoyable. Our two guides, Nilay and Yasemin were incredible... professional, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, personable, patient, poised and most enjoyable to spend the days with. They made us feel like long lost friends finally come to visit their incredible city. They not only met, but vastly exceeded our every expectation, and having to say goodbye to them at the end of our time together was like saying goodbye to family. Please give them our most sincere wishes... we will not forget them. Again, THANK YOU!
    Aug.28, 2012 – Harry T. Hall & Dan- Anita Decker, Oregon, USA

  • Hi Lale, We had a wonderful trip! We enjoyed the cruise across the Mediterranean from Istanbul all the way from the east to the western end. Getting a feel for Istanbul, a day trip on the ferry up the Bosporus and then cruising across the Sea of Marmara on our way west was all new to us and made us understand places about which we were not geographically familiar or historically aware. The time you arranged for us in Turkey was most enjoyable. In particular, having our own guide was a new experience for us and one which we would do again without any question. The time efficiency makes the days that much more worthwhile. With Yaren, our days were very full. I think we covered most everything and she made both the history and the present come quite alive. Interaction with people on the streets, in restaurants, in public transportation are what give the flavor to one's travel experience. Our Cappadoccian visit was also much to our liking. Your hotel was lovely and we were well taken care of. We ate at the restaurant at the end of the street and loved the idea that it was the home of our driver's brother and that we met the whole family, including your manager at the hotel. Deniz took us to a local farmer's market which I thoroughly enjoyed. Also, she needed to stop off at her apartment and brought us along. Any kind of a home visit is wonderful for a tourist, especially when it included her lovely little boy and we felt privileged to be welcomed. This is all beside the real reason for going to the area. We loved seeing the fairy chimneys and the beauty of the region.
    Aug.21, 2012 – Donna & Howard Bass, IL, USA

  • Hi Lale, Deniz, Fuat, Mustafa, We've been telling everyone what a special experience we had with you in Turkey last fall. Hal and Sheila had travelled with one of your tour groups earlier in the year so we feel very fortunate they recommended you. We are busily paying that recommendation forward. Thanks for taking such good care of us.
    Aug.12, 2012 – John Barrett & Anne Burns, WA, USA

  • Please let us begin by saying that your service was as good as it gets. It was our good fortune to have, as our tour guide, Cemil who provided us with a most memorable experience. We want to say a big "thank you" to all of you at SRM who provided us with unblemished service. You left us with cherished memories not only of you as a service provider but also of Istanbul as a destination city. Whenever we return (and yes, we do hope to return), you will surely be our business partners. And, Cemil will surely be our tour guide of choice so that we can once again be the beneficiaries of his superior service. Please communicate our sincerest gratitude to him.
    Aug.02, 2012 – Pat Romilli, Florida, USA

  • Hello Lale, We just wanted to write to tell you that we are so happy we took tours with your company when we were in Turkey! Both our tour guides were great--knowledgeable and helpful. We especially liked the personal approach and friendliness of Sanem in Cappadocia--she went beyond our expectations. Through her, we gained much respect and appreciation for the people, places, and history of Turkey. We have never taken a real tour before so this was a new adventure for us. We are now "sold" on the idea of taking short, personalized tours with knowledgeable staff.
    July 30, 2012 – Stephen & Sharon Padnos, VT, USA

  • I had a wonderful time on the Blue Cruise last August/September. It was a perfect holiday and I have to say that everything was exceptional: the attentive crew, the food, the bays and coves we visited each day. I had a wonderful, relaxing vacation. My intention is to come back to Turkey this coming summer and taking another Blue Cruise. Thank you all for making my time in Turkey this past summer and the spring of 2010 when I took the Rick Steves tour memorable and so enjoyable.
    July 30, 2012 – Shelia Green, Ontario, CANADA

  • My world-traveling family rated Turkey as one of our most enjoyable and memorable trips. SRM travel team was very flexible. They can design trips with any degree of structure travelers desire. We wanted to spend free time in Istanbul and also to fly to various parts of Turkey and then drive through them at our leisure. We started planning only about five weeks before our desired departure and, then, communicated a pretty detailed itinerary wish list to SRM. Incredibly, they quickly made smooth and convenient air, hotel transport, and car rental reservations. They booked lodging in charming, unique, locally-run, boutique hotels. They promptly responded to all my email questions and provided nuanced advice. We bought their book on Istanbul and it provided us with structure while allowing us to independently immerse ourselves in the city. We traveled during Ramadan--a beautiful time of family and spirit--and found Turkey to be welcoming and diverse, with a fascinating history, and warm, good humored, and helpful people. We highly recommend Turkey as a travel destination and SRM to anyone.
    July 09, 2012 – R.S.- family of three, Seattle WA, USA

  • We very much enjoyed our trip to Istanbul and look forward to an opportunity to visit the rest of Turkey sometime in the future. Our guide was very knowledgeable and eager to flex the itinerary to meet our preferences. Her English was excellent, which was very helpful. Her expert knowledge of Istanbul history was augmented with a thorough knowledge of culture, current events, food and religious practices that gave us a very comprehensive perspective on the city and country.
    June 12, 2012 – Kendra Browne & Tom Mitoraj, IL, USA

  • Dear Lale: Thanks for an absolutely wonderful trip. All the connections worked perfectly, and the guide, Deniz was great: warm and friendly, amazingly knowledgeable and enthusiastic, so accommodating, and pleasant to be around. The food was perfect and the sites astounding. This was one of the best trips we have ever had-no part of it could have been better. We will be singing your praises from now on. Thanks for making this marvelous trip possible for us.
    June 11, 2012 – John and Nancy Boles, Texas, USA

  • It was fantastic and your services were the main reason for it. Your guide did a great job of setting a pace that enabled us to hit everything that we wanted and more... We saw many things that we would not have included, and of course many more things than we would have been able to see on our own. My impressions of Turkey and the people were fantastic. I will definitely be back.
    May 18, 2012 – John Carmichael, CA, USA

  • Our 3 days in Istanbul is the highlight of our 10 day cruise from Barcelona to Istanbul. The 4 of us were very pleased with the location and quality of the hotel you chose for us. The transportation services and itinerary selected were also excellent. By far, the best aspect of our trip was the guide provided by SRM. We had high expectations for our visit to Istanbul, but you exceeded them. We have already recommended you to several friends who are making plans to visit your country.
    April 11, 2012 – John Jamison & Jean Henderson, Texas, USA

  • Pelin, I can only say it was amazing and SRM played a big role in it. Taylan was excellent. He quickly got to know us and understood who we are and with that knowledge created a tour of Istanbul that was perfect. Because of him we got to know the people, understand the culture and see a side of the city that was fascinating. He gave us the knowledge and confidence to explore the city and explore we did. We will definitely return to Turkey and SRM and hopefully Taylan will be a part of our next trip.
    April 04, 2012 – Mike & Katie Jones - family of three, WI, USA

  • Thank you, Lale, for a wonderful trip. More than anything I feel like you truly listened to and understood what we were looking for and put together a thoughtful and outstanding trip. You really went the "extra mile" by being aware of the authentic experiences that we wanted (the wedding ceremony & whirling dervish) and on the spur of the moment added them into our day. You went out of your way to personalize the trip in a way that I don't think others would! Most certainly, the trip felt as if we were visiting with friends and having a taste of the real Istanbul. Kemal was a perfect fit for Rob and his photography (and I mean... perfect fit!), and we loved our day with Mert. Overall, the trip you put together for us was an 11/10! Over the top and AMAZING! Really loved it! Thank you.
    December 09, 2010 – Leslie Elliot, California, USA

  • Dear Lale and Pelin, We had a wonderful trip through Turkey, thanks to you and your staff. Every driver, every tourguide, every appointment worked out perfectly. The hotels were all special with very helpful staff and perfect accommodations. Each day's schedule was ambitious, but this fits with our style of travel - we want to see as much and learn as much as we can on each trip. And we certainly learned a tremendous amount of information! Thank you for providing such an exciting introduction to Turkey and its people...
    November 24, 2010 - Pat & Steve Kessler, Seattle WA

  • I was delighted when I arrived to the hotel you selected in Istanbul—enchanted by the view of the Blue Mosque outside our window and the plethora of activities within easy walking distance. And I was delighted and enchanted every day thereafter. Turkey’s reputation as a fascinating country with very kind people is well-deserved. We loved it! As you know, I was particularly hesitant about whether to hire guides. Our day with Yaren, in Istanbul, was one of the very best days on the whole trip, and we also liked our guide in Cappodocia very very much... Your hotel in Mustafapasha was wonderful. And we were blown away by the villa in Sirince — what a beautiful place. But even the less grand hotels in Ayvalik and Cannakale were perfect for our needs, and I don’t think we would have lucked into them without your help.
    Nov.09, 2010 - Maude Anderson, Seattle, WA, USA

  • Our tour was all that we had hoped for and more. It was truly impressive to tour the many historic sites that we previously had only read about - in Istanbul and down the coast, ending up at sparkling Hierapolis. It was amazing to see the many wonders those civilizations were able to accomplish and to relive the history of those times. We were particularly impressed with Secil as our tour guide. She is very knowledgeable and was able to easily convey that knowledge to us, along with her enthusiasm for Turkey and its history. She was also very adept at adjusting the schedule to the circumstances, including the unexpected rain, selecting excellent places to eat at convenient times, and avoiding the high tourist times at sites. All of which added significantly to our enjoyment of the visit. An unexpected highlight of our tour was the thoroughly professional service provided by Ahmet, our driver. He drove us safely in rain, traffic and other challenging road conditions. He was also impressive in being able to anticipate our needs and being there to address them. We really enjoyed having him on the trip and helping us with our Turkish from time to time. We were very satisfied with our tour and the services provided by SRM Travel.
    November 04, 2010 - John Strong and Lee Dowd, USA

  • Gay and I wanted to thank you for your support and the trip you planned for us. We had a fantastic trip through Turkey and your itinerary made it so. Loved Karcicegi in Istanbul and loved Deniz Turgut in Cappadocia - both ladies are very special individuals and their knowledge, attitude, friendliness and style made our trip perfect. Every flight was perfect, every reservation was easy, everything was perfect and the hotels were fantastic. Cappadocia Estates / Villa Tulip - INCREDIBLE - we were treated like royalty by the family/staff and the meals were incredible (mom's cooking is just like at home). You have done great with this property! Every person and every business your company and your guides introduced us to were absolutely professional, friendly, helpful and genuine. We will gladly be references for SRM and anyone who wants to call or write us are welcome to... Your company was very instrumental to our excellent holiday.
    November 01, 2010 - Mike Chiappetta, Chicago, IL

  • Dear Lale, We really enjoyed the customized tour you set up for us in Istanbul. The sights, sounds, and smells of Istanbul will always be great memories for us. Our hotel was in a perfect location - between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia and within walking distance to many of the places we visited. The food we had was delicious, and in fact the best meals we had on our travels through Greece, Istanbul and Paris were in Istanbul. The best meal of our whole trip was the local seafood lunch at the small fishing village north of the Bosphorus where we disembarked from the ferry boat ride. We especially liked the ethnic Turkish ones which our guide recommended to us. We would like to travel again to Turkey to visit other historical areas. Thank you for putting together an excellent tour for us.
    October 29, 2010 - Kathy MacNamee, Seattle WA

  • Thank you so much for putting together such a wonderful itinerary. I've been telling people what a wonderful experience we had with you. One of the reasons I enjoy traveling is that it always seems to remind me of how connected we all are to one another. We have so much more in common than we ordinarily recognize... and learning about our differences is so enriching. It was fabulous to visit your country and experience such an ancient and on-going mix of cultures. I think it's a really valuable thing to live in the middle of all that history. Once again, this trip helped me take off my blinders to see that each of us are just one small part of a much greater world.
    Oct.23 2010 - Judy Schwiebert, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

  • Lale, We just got back last night and I wanted to write you immediately to thank you for everything. All three guides were informative and very easy to be with. We learned so many wonderful things about your country. We came away with many fond memories. Of course, a highlight for us was actually meeting you and your husband by chance in Cappadocia. We especially want to thank you for including us in the morning village tour of Cappodocia, to get the "back door" experience. You can be sure that we will let all of our friends know of your company when they travel to Turkey.
    Oct.02, 2010 - Phyllis Blanc, CA

  • A quick note of thanks for all your help during my stay in Istanbul. The hotel & their staff were accommodating to my 'princess-like' needs. There wasn't a glitch during the whole stay - thank you! One of the best parts of the Istanbul visit was meeting and spending time with Yaren. She was a wealth of information. And speak of accommodating... She is a credit to your agency - I would recommend her to any of your clients. Again, thank you for all your hand holding and arrangements - the best!!!
    Oct. 2010 - Alida Aldrich, Santa Barbara, California

  • Iris was always punctual. She took us all over, walking, in boats, buses, and cabs. Her insight into events and peoples of Turkey, past and present allowed us to relate to our own lives. She put in a lot of hours and never lost her enthusiasm... We feel very fortunate to have experienced Turkey the way we did...
    July 11, 2010 - Richard & Robin Dunaway, USA

  • Dear Lale, We all had a fantastic time in Turkey! What a wonder-ful country it is! Our guides were all outstanding! We really enjoyed them and greatly appreciated their historic and local knowledge. We especially loved the Cappadocia Estates. The food there was unbelievable and the staff were so nice. I loved the village feel of it, with children playing, and roosters in the morning. We really had an amazing trip with highlights every single day. I had tears in my eyes on our ride back to the airport in Istanbul for our flight home. I didn't want to leave... We will highly recommend to our friends that they visit Turkey and work with SRM to arrange their visit. We hope to return as well! There's still much more to see!
    July 09, 2010 - Sarah, Jim, Hannah and Peter Skutt, Portland, OR, USA

  • We found Turkey to be a pleasant surprise in every aspect. The history was fascinating. The people were, without exception, friendly and welcoming. Despite our extreme language disadvantage, we found we could communicate... It made for special and memorable experiences, as good natured people tried to help us. We always managed to get it sorted out, and felt that we made a new friend every time. We shall both carry Turkey and its people very close to our hearts...
    July 07, 2010 - Larry & Leslie Schubert, USA

  • Dear Pelin and Lale, We want to thank you for a wonderful trip. You did an awesome job of organizing and coordinating everything so we could do all the things that we wanted to do. We were very happy with our guides. They were a pleasure to be with. Informative of the history of the monuments, with interesting and funny bits about the places we were visiting. The itinerary was just what we asked for and more.... great! The guides made us feel like we were visiting friends. We loved Turkey. We loved the people, monuments, history, country and the food. We definitely would love to visit again. I know, we would not have had such a great experience without your assistance and help. Thank you so much. I am so happy you were able to help us with our trip...
    May 15, 2010 - Lady, Ben, Calvin and Zachary Edwards

  • Our guide was intelligent, lovely, knowledgeable, personable, professional, and unfailingly attentive to the individuals in our group. We would travel with her anywhere on the planet! There were many times on the trip when I saw her make good judgement decisions about when and where to give us information and direct our attention...
    Nov.12, 2009 - Charline and Ernie McDonald

  • Merhaba Pelin, A big 'Thank you!' to SRM for arranging the 2009 Sailing the Aegean tour for my friends and me. My friends enjoyed all aspects of the tour: the gulet, the crew and, of course, our guide. His joyous spirit set the mood for the tour. He did a stellar job, sharing the history and culture of Turkey, joining in the fun of the group and making sure things went as smoothly as possible. He has a keen ability to anticipate any possible problems, ensuring all participants had a wonderful time. And we did!
    Aug.07, 2009 - Sara Normington, Portland OR

  • Our tour was everything we could have wished for. Ayse was very informative not only about the sites we visited, but about Turkey's people, culture, history and customs. Moreover, she put our relations on a personal as well as a professional basis. She is a real sweetheart; she is an incredible treasure. She juggled the needs of the tour schedule with the desires and needs of the people in our group...
    July 30, 2009 - Doug Griebner

  • Dear Pelin: I just wanted to write and thank everyone at SRM Travel who made our recent trip to Turkey such a memorable experience. Our itinerary was planned so well and we loved all of our Turkish guides and drivers. All of them went out of their way to do everything for us that they could do. We found the people of Turkey very friendly and welcoming to us and enjoyed interacting with them. We counted our visit to the dervish ritual one of the highlights of our trip. We found it very interesting to attend this event and to observe an authentic event rather than just a touristic performance. Thank you, Lale, for helping us to make arrangements to attend this special event... We took advantage of our time and did everything we could possibly do. Again, thanks to all at SRM who made this wonderful adventure a reality for us.
    July 27, 2009 - Jane Perry, Conover, NC

  • My wife and I agree this is by far the best trip we have ever taken. It was our first experience with a Muslim country and our guide's knowledge of the religion and history placed us at ease and comfort. We did not know what to expect with all the world attention on Turkey, right now. So there was a great deal of apprehension and excitement at the same time. We have found that even with apprehension the Turkish people were very friendly and positive. We found that so far there has been no other country we have experienced which has provided us with so much hospitality.
    Jan.26, 2009 - Amy and Paul Romagnoli

  • My trip to the East is now over. Once at home one has particular memories of a trip that flood into view.  I want to send you my very sincere Thank You! for the excellent visit you gave me to Istanbul. It was made particularly special by your warmth, cheer, and incredible knowledge of your city and country!...
    Nov.10, 2008 - Sallee Allen, Nevada City

  • Thank you for a unique, very special travel experience. When we think back on the trip, some of our best memories are the "off the beaten track" experiences: the metal worker in the Grand Bazaar, the "flame-throwing" barbers, the lunch in the private home, the sawz music, and especially Market Day in the small town.
    We'll definitely recommend you to anyone planning a trip to Turkey.
    Oct. 2008 - Gary & Patty Dusenberry, Seatle WA

  • Tan, I did want to just thank you more personally for making the trip to your lovely country such a great memory. You clearly love your country and its people and are proud to show newcomers how to make the most out of a visit. I feel blessed to have shared this experience with so many good and fun people, but your personal introductions to locals, as well as helping us avoid the craziness of tourist sites, created such special moments.
    Oct. 2008 - Karen Euller

  • Dear Lale... I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for organizing such a wonderful trip for us. I especially wanted to let you know how much we loved all the people associated with SRM. Our guides were excellent. They were extremely well informed and worked very very hard to enrich our visits to the various sites. But I wanted to put in a special word for Fuat. In English we have an expression we use to describe a person who has worked harder than required..we say "they give 110 percent"--well Fuat gave 200 percent. Although he was only hired as a driver, he essentially acted as our guide as well, helping us arrange outings, meals etc. But beyond that he became a friend and we will miss him. We had so many wonderful moments with him, and those memories will stay with us forever...
    Oct. 2008 - Jennifer Willis

  • We recently completed an Istanbul tour arranged by your company and it was wonderful! Our guide for the week, Nilufer, is an excellent guide. She was able to keep the attention of the younger ones as well as the interest of the older members of the group. To be able to accommodate the wide range of ages in our group was truly impressive. The itinerary as laid out by your company was just what we'd hoped - an insight into the magnificence of the earlier history of Turkey contrasted with the modern day conficts between religious and secular thoughts...
    Aug.12, 2008 - Harriette Brown

  • Before we came we knew visiting Turkey was going to be a wonderful experience but everything we saw and did and everyone we met exceeded, wildly exceeded, our expectations. You obviously love your country and you shared your country with us in such a way that we felt at once like we were welcomed - not strangers - and that learning about and experiencing Turkey made us appreciate even more what we all share in common.
    November 2005 - Sherrill & Paul Schottler, Somerset Wisconsin

  • Dear Iris... Words cannot describe my feelings about Turkey and the people I encountered there. Your depth of knowledge and willingness to share that with us, in addition to your concern and caring for our personal problems and health issues went above and beyond the call of duty.
    My four days of solitary wandering after the tour ended were very special in that I felt brave enough to interact with everyone I encountered and was treated with kindness and respect…no one laughed at my attempts to speak Turkish, they thanked me for my efforts.
    Oct. 31, 2005 - Barbara Balseiro

  • The trip was an unlikely combination of relaxing and fascinating. A more pristine sea we have never seen. We swam a few times a day, often snorkeling, and enjoying exploring ruins and villages. Our captain and his crew were warm and accommodating.
    Istanbul was quite a spectacle; interesting and exhilarating. It isn't all that dissimilar to our beloved NYC. It's just a bit more exotic.
    Your service was flawless. Thank you for taking such good care of us.
    Sept. 2005 - Jason Minter and Nicole Zernone

  • Thanks again for such a wonderful tour. You made it seem so easy and effortless, and I know that is not the case at all. I knew before I went that this trip would be a life changing experience, and the tour easily exceeded that very high expectation. Every day I woke up thinking that today couldn't possibly top what we did/saw/learned the previous day. And every day, I was wrong because you managed to do exactly that.
    July 10, 2005 - Deborah Norris, Seattle WA

  • It is difficult to extract one highlight of the trip - but one of the most memorable was the visit to Mehmet Bey. It is difficult to put into words how I feel about that visit. We were treated so wonderfully kind by everyone involved. It was so very special to see your ancestral home and to see how everyone holds you in such high esteem.
    Next would be the wedding - what a great cultural event for us to witness. To see two lovely people marry - and how their parents and family wanted to share it with us. How very warm and kind of them.
    tour of East Turkey - June 2005 - Teresa Flynn

  • The trip was so rich with personal experiences and with historical and fascinating sights. If I pick one thing, I just neglect another. The trip was a wonderful experience end-to-end. The people on the trip were an excellent group. The people were interested and interesting, and they were right for the trip. Everyone was on time and actively participated. I have to say you did a great job on that.
    I am not sure whose idea it was to stop the wedding car to get money near Igdir, but that was quite unexpected and another favorite memory of mine. I had never heard of that tradition.
    tour of East Turkey - June 2005 - David Brown

  • Our vacation in your country was wonderful and everything you planned happened perfectly. We especially want to thank you for your quick responsiveness to everything and your flexibility. We would recommend you to anyone and have already done so to our friends. Take care.
    June 4, 2005 - Ken & Carol Fabrizio, WA USA

  • Dear Lale, Turkey was the first stop on our trip and we have just arrived home. Your country and your services were superb. With friendly people, wonderful history and memorable vistas your country will be a both a cherished memory and a future objective. Our special thanks to you and everyone who made this trip so very, very special.
    May 23, 2005 - Kelly Overman

  • Tom and I back home and in to routine habits now. Thank you again for a most interesting tour! We are continually thinking back on all the incredible sites we saw, the volume of information we absorbed and the wonderful people we met. And of course, the delicious food! ...happy trails!
    May 15, 2005 - Carol Budzinski, Novato CA

  • Thank you for an absolutely wonderful experience! Ed and I both enjoyed ourselves so much, and learned so much from you. The trip was a real high point for us. Whether personally or professionally, and hopefully both, I look forward to our continued association.
    May 03, 2005 - Kay Rodriguez

  • Tankut, I just want to again express my thanks for putting together an excellent tour with an outstanding guide. I also appreciate your taking time from your important meeting to visit with us. I look forward to meeting you again - on which continent remains to be seen!
    May 16, 2004 - Larry Bieber

  • Dear Lale, I had the time of my life and my heartfelt thank you for all that you and Kitty did for our crazy group. We loved every moment and I am going through my pictures and hoping that the Journal will offer the personal insight that we all had...
    May 2004 - Dinah Andress

  • Our trip with you was truly wonderful. I got everything and more from the experience that I was looking for. I think you both helped me learn about and experience the 'past' and 'present' Turkey in a way I will always remember and be thankful for.
    Nov. 22, 2003 - David L. Blackburn

  • Jill & I so enjoyed living in the moment where our attentions were drawn from the sweep of ancient histories to the brilliant kaleidoscope that is your Turkey today. We are deeply grateful to you, especially, and your dynamic duo...
    Nov. 2002 - Larry & Gill Belshaw

  • The Turkey tour was splendid, it gave us a whole new picture and welcome perspective on a part of the world we had not known...
    Oct. 2002 - Angelica & Vic Sansum

  • How do you say 'thank you' to someone for the gift of a wonderful experience? The trip to Turkey is not just in my memory - it is a part of me...
    Nov. 2002 - LaNece P. Lomonte

  • Dear Lale and Tankut, ...We both enjoyed travelling through Turkey much more than we had anticipated. More important, we want to thank you both for your assistance 'above and beyond'. Be assured that we will promote you and your company to anyone who is thinking about traveling to this part of the world. Best of luck to both of you,
    Dec. 15, 2001 - Larry & Claire McKibben

  • Everywhere, there is a smile not only with the mouth but with their eyes... to be invited into a woman's home as we were walking down the street in the small village of Guzelyurt, or to see three other women making grape syrup that their mothers did for centuries was an experience we shall never forget. ...the name Mustafapasha will forever bring smiles to our lips as we think of the local musicians to come and play for us...
    Oct. 2001 - Stan & Diana Haynes

  • Mother, Jim and I still look back at our tour of Eastern Turkey with fond memories, one of the most fun vacations we've ever taken! Thank you again for providing such an interesting, stimulating and well rounded introduction to your fascinating country. And for the concert of Mozart and Ravel in the ancient Roman theater.
    March 2001 - Jim & Dianne Cannon

  • Bonnie and I had our most memorable trip with you this Spring. It sharpened our knowledge in one subject of continuing interest to us. It was also a very agreeable experience to see the country, meet the people in such congenial circumstances and with a guide having such academic prowess. We have had a long time interest in religious teachings and their impact. The Turkish trip exposed us to some of the background of the early Christian church and to the Moslem experience. ...I am hoping that our paths will cross again, your friends Richard and Bonnie
    Aug. 11, 2000 - Richard & Bonnie Lang

  • Nancy and I are still in that 'rosy glow' of pleasant memories of our recent Turkey trip. Although the initial euphoria will fade, we know that the sights, sounds, unique experiences, and most of all, the relationshipswith our new found friends will always be a part of us. Thanks for making the country come alive. ...it was a priviledge to be with you on our Turkish adventure!
    May 16, 2000 - Joe & Nancy Satterfield

  • Merhaba, We wish to express our thanks one more time for the trip of a lifetime. We appreciate your hard work and extra attention to detail in all respects for us and the group. ...the places we have been to are unforgettable but the people of Turkey are even a more precious memory. Your friends, Tyrell & Alicia
    July 12, 2000 - Tyrell & Alicia Grohman

  • Dear Lale, ...your enthusiasm for and knowledge of your country is radiated through your smile and personality. Thank you for making our trip truly a memorable one.
    May 29, 2000 - Tom & Kay Moseley
 
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