Michael

I am looking into different options for this part of our Turkish trip. One is to rent a car in Izmir for a tour of Ephesus, the coast and Aphrodisias for four days, return the car in Izmir and on the fifth day fly to Cappadocia where we would rely on public transportation or tours to see the area for another four days. Renting the car and flying under this option would cost a total of $488.

The second option is to rent the car in Izmir and rather than returning there, drive to Cappadocia and keep the car until we fly back to Istanbul. The cost would be $595 for 11 days (+fuel but minus tour costs in Cappadocia). We generally are independent travelers. What would those who have traveled there or know the area recommend? Cost is perhaps less an issue than if it is worthwhile to spend two days driving to Cappadocia.

nejatincedogan

driving to cappadocia is quite a long dtrive if you go without stop or overlay.
nejat incedogan

sinan

Hi Michael,

Here is my recommendation:

Rent a car in both place and FLY to Cappadocia from Izmir. Or stopover in Pamukkale and Konya because driving from Selcuk where you will visit Ephesus to Cappadocia via Aphrodisias is very long drive (More then 14 hours)

2 or 3 days is worth to spend in Cappadocia.

Have a nice trip in Turkey

Sinan Akdeniz

Michael

Sinan,

Maybe I should clarify my schedule. On May 5 we plan to visit Ephesus, on the 6 see the coast, on the 7 visit Aphrodisias. We had planned to be in Cappadocia on the 11,12,13, going back to Istanbul on the 14. The question is whether we stay one more day near the coast, fly out the next day, then have another extra day in Cappadocia, or use the three days (May 8,9 & 10) between Aphrodisias and Cappadocia to drive through some of Turkey's interior.

tower

Michael:

I would suggest that you take the car option...see remarkable Aphrodisias and then spend the night of the 7th in nearby Pamukkale...quite a sight to see!

The go southeast to the gorgeous Turquoise Coast, Kas(Kash), Kalkan, and spend the night of the 8th in or near Antalya.

From there, head north to the rarely visited, but beautiful Lake District and go on to spend the night of the 9th in Konya (home of the Whirling Dervishes...we stayed in Egirdir on the lake, rather than Konya)...from Konya it is relatively easy flat terrain into Capadoccia, arriving right on schedule on the 10th...you will have seen and experienced interior Turkey as well as the coast.

Driving in Turkey is quite pleasurable, plenty of petrol stations (where they wash your car gratis), good signage and very good roads...just watch for wagons, and be on the alert for people walking.

If you would like to see some scanned photos of all the places mentioned(pre-digital), just write:

[email protected]

Stu T.

sinan

Hi Michael,

If you rent a car at Izmir airport you may visit your sites in Selcuk and around Selcuk rather then Ephesus, like Miletus, Didyma and Prienne, then you may drive to Pamukkale via Aprodisias. Stay overnight in Pamukkale then drive to Konya like "tower" recommend BUT if you go to Kas or south of Turkey you have to spend some more then 2 days to get to Cappadocia so my recommendation is drive to Konya and stay here a night, also you have change to visit some important museum like whirling dervishes museum, Karatay Medrese(Old religious school), Ince minare Mosque (Now stone museum) or if you really interested in Archaelogy you may visit CATALHOYUK which is one of the OLDEST ruins in the world (http://www.catalhoyuk.com)
then drive to Cappadocia VIA ihlara canyon you can visit ihlara and CRATER LAKE on the way to Derinkuyu Underground city. The day next you may continue to visit your Cappadocia tour.

OR

After Pamukkale you may drive to Kas or Kalkan stay overnight and while driving to Antalya (The day next)you may visit some ruins and Swim on the MED. Stay overnight in Antalya (recommend OLD ANTALYA) then another days visit Perge, Aspendos and some waterfall (My recommendation is KURSUNLU waterfall). After Antalya you can dirve up to Konya and follow up the rest of the tour I recommend above.

Have a nice trip in Turkey

Sinan Akdeniz

baldrick

Michael,

I would keep the car and schedule the trip from Izmir to Cappadocia in a logical way.
Why:
- because you say you are independant travellers,
- because both roads Antalya -Manvagat - Beysehir Lake to Konya or Denizli - Isparta - Konya are roads going to typical turkish landscapes
- because Konya is a nice place to visit overnight.

Michael

Thanks for the encouragement. I probably will drive, assuming that the car rates are actually as quoted--I have to check to see if credit cards cover the CDW.

propertravel

Driving can be fun and experience.
Big companies includes CDW in the rate. Try to get a mid. size car not too small for comfort issue.

Try to avoid night drive is my suggestion.

595 is not bad if CDW included and no drop off charge at the end.

Happy Travelling,
Murat

Michael

My experience in the rest of Europe is that if the rental agency includes the CDW, there is a stiff deductible. That is why I prefer to decline the CDW as long as my Visa card will insure me.

propertravel

I experienced that in Greece.
To be totaly duty free I had to pay 10 or 15 euros per day otherwise like first 400 to 600 Euro was renters responsibility.

There are companies offering CDW totaly on renters favour. Only extra is 3 YTL per day against tire burst and glass breakage.......

Ofcourse if a credit card offers extra services for insurance good to take it.
Happy travelling,
Murat