bonlou30

Thanks to everyone who answered my questions re:hotels and have now booked our accomodations. Now I would like help finding a private tour guide/driver for about 4 hours on our second September day in Istanbul. Any names that you would recommend? Also, what should I expect to pay for this service?

sinan

hi bonlou30

There are mant private tour guides in Istanbul and their fees are different. Some of them don't get any fees BUT you may not see any places that tourist have to see because these people are not interested in any fees they interested in to sell something and get some commission. I mentioned one of my post but I am writting again because you may not aware about this type of GUIDE. The real Tourist Guide who registered by the Ministry Tourism and Culture have their fees this year fees is start from 120 Euro a day whether you are single or couple it doesn't matter they charge. Some of the Tour Guide may charge less then this or higher then this because of their experience. You have to add on this fee some extra expences like rent a car lunch and entrence fees.

I have a friend in Istanbul I always recommend this friend or his wife to everyone who want to have a tour in Istanbul if you want you can write him and ask a his service.
His name is Tan Turan and his e-mail is:
[email protected]

Have a nice trip in Turkey

Sinan Akdeniz
[email protected]

pattysuericia

Hi Bonlou-where are you staying in Istanbul?

balci

Hello bonlou30,

Contact Mehmet Ozbalci who is an english speaking tour guide specialized in private tours. His e-mail is [email protected]
Cheers

laurie_ann

My husband and I were in Turkey in June. We used Ilknur Karaagac for a day's guide. The cost was US $100. We usually travel on our own, but including her was really worthwhile. See her website www.tourinturkey.com.

ChrisV

We stayed at the Kempinsky in Istanbul and used the guides in the hotel. We had Asha for a full day and she was great. Cost $100.00 + 18% tax. the hotel fronted the cash and then charged $5.oo for the service. Still, worrth every penny! Have a great trip!

ggnga

I can also highly recommend Mehmet Ozbalci. Used him for two days prior to Med cruise and he provided a wonderful and informative tour. Have a wonderful trip.

ggnga

Forgot to say Mehmet was $100 day in Nov. 2000. He also picked us up at airport and dropped us a cruise pier for a nominal charge.

sinan

Dear ggnga

Mehmet also charged transfer? WOW he is really doing good business there. $100 guide fee and plus transfer. I wish I could be your guide.

Sinan Akdeniz
[email protected]

FLA12

We are still on our Cruise and just got back from spending the day with Mehmet Ozbalci, too. He was fantastic - very informative, excellent English and made our day in Instanbul perfect. We had another "guide" in Athens who really ended up being just a taxi driver with a bit of knowledge, never accompanying us on any of the sights. Mehmet escorted us everywhere, gave wonderful accounts of the history and selected a wonderful restaurant for lunch. He is at [email protected] and we highly recommend him. Enjoy!

cmt

In answer to the question in your thread heading, yes, I do. Her name is Rana Erol, and she's a native of Istanbul and a freelance guide. I have no idea what she charges, but, in general, prices in Turkey for hotels, food, things, taxis, etc., were lower than in other countries I've visited in Europe. Here's her contact info:

Rana Erol
[email protected]

The following is copied from a reply I posted on slowtrav to someone inquiring about a private guide in Istanbul:

Rana is a native of Istanbul and a freelance private guide. She also guides for some tour companies, e.g., Overseas Adventure Travel tours and Grand Circle tours. That's how I met her. She was the excellent guide on my recent 10-person tour to Turkey with Overseas Adventure Travel. She's an extremely bright, nice, hardworking young woman with an impressive depth and range of knowledge about a wide range of topics related to Turkish history, from ancient to present, architecture, folklore, literature, religion, government and politics. She was an outstanding tour guide on our tour in Istanbul, Cappadocia, the interior of Anatolia, the Mediterranean coast, and Ephesus area, and I expect it would be even more interesting to have her as your own private guide in her home city of Istanbul.

cmt

I just realized this was an old thread from 2003! I've been reading Turkey threads since I got back from my trip, and I guess there just aren't that many of them. Anyway, the guide recommendation my be useful for someone else, though not for the original poster at this point.