BEFORE YOU GO…
The Agents
All are excellent and can plan complete itineraries or simply arrange for day guides as needed.
Murat Ozguc, Travel Atelier
travelatelier.com
Karen Fedorko Sefer, Sea Song
seasong.com
Betty Jo Currie, Currie Co. Travels
curriecotravels.com
Turkish Air
Operates daily direct flights from a number of U.S. cities including New York, Boston, L.A., and Washington, D.C. turkishairlines.com
ISTANBUL
Stay:
Çirağan Palace Kempinski
On the banks of the Bosphorus, with views of Asia. When you arrive, proceed directly to the hammam. Trust us. kempinski.com
Four Seasons Sultanahmet
With a newly renovated roof deck in the shadow of the Hagia Sofia. fourseasons.com
See:
Vedat Palandöken is the guide to historical Istanbul, leading information-packed walking tours of such sites as the Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Topkapi Palace. vedatp@superonline.com
Shop:
Hit the Grand Bazaar for Turkish towels, linens, tiles, and rugs. It’s crowded, and there’s lots of cheap stuff to wade through, but the gems are real gems. grandbazaaristanbul.org
Upscale and pristinely curated jewelry, clothing, and textiles, Armaggan is like the Barneys of Istanbul. armaggan.com
Find shelf upon shelf of colorful pillows by Turkish designer Rifat Ozbek at Yastik. yastikbyrifatozbek.com
CAPPODOCIA
Stay:
Argos in Cappodocia
The best of the region’s many “cave hotels,” comfortable and chic, with its own garden and winery, the fruits of which can be found at the excellent in-house restaurant, Seki. argosincappodocia.com
See:
A hot air balloon tour is a must in Cappodocia, and Royal Balloon has the roomiest baskets, the smallest tours, and the best guides (ask for Suat, who’s been piloting tours for 20 years). royalballoon.com
Hike the Red Valley either on your own or with a guide from Travel Atelier. travelatelier.com
BODRUM
Stay:
Maça Kizi
On a secluded hilltop with an excellent restaurant offering local catch and a sprawling wooden deck providing unobstructed access to the green-blue Aegean. macakizi.com
Amanruya
One of the hotel group’s best, with a private beach and amazing views too plentiful to count. amanresorts.com
Eat:
The best sunset (and mezze) in all of Turkey is at Limon Café, where guests sit on mismatched furniture spread across a tea-lit lawn. limongumusluk.com
For the official Turkish summertime meal of fish and raki—an anise liquor—Mimoza’s outdoor ocean-side patio, lit with colorful lamps carved out of gourds in the Turkish tradition and a number of tables actually in the Aegean Sea, beats all. mimozagumusluk.com
Sail:
The Zephyria gulat—a traditional Turkish wooden boat—offers trips by the day or week. zephyriayachting.com.tr
ALACATI
Stay:
Alavya
An oasis in the heart of the bustling town of Alacati with quiet rooms, an intimate pool, and the best breakfast spread around. alavya.com.tr
Beyevi
The Roman stone house-turned-boutique hotel has a courtyard pool meant for lounging (and wine-drinking), and convivial vibe thanks to the gracious owner Celal Bayraktaroğlu. beyevi.com.tr
Eat:
On a side street just steps from the busy town center, the mother and son team at Asma Yapraği serve exceedingly local food, family-style, in a lively, leafy courtyard. asmayapragi.com.tr
