Husband, adult son and I experienced the trip of a lifetime with our guide Mine through Turkey at the end of October. Every moment was better than expected. Mine brought Türkiye to life for us with her life experience as well as her educational background (two Masters degrees!). Our days were full and carefully calculated to bring us the best experience. We would leave early some days to beat the tourist rush. She offered many recommendations for restaurants and shops and was accurate in her assessments. Traveling with a group was new for us and turned out to really enhance the experience. We formed friendships that will continue when we get home. Mine encouraged our togetherness by asking everyone to get a ‘buddy’, spend a few minutes to get to know them, and connecting with them whenever the group moved together. That way we could move quickly from site to site. We saw so much, learned so much. Mine would outline the history, share interesting anecdotes, and then give us free time to explore the wonders of Turkey. We shared new foods, new cultural experiences, new understanding of religions. A couple of bus rides were long (5-6hrs) but we stopped every 2 hours at truck stops (not at all like those in US) and Mine made the trip go fast by sharing her personal experiences and even teaching us the alphabet and basic phrases. We learned soo much. The small boutique like hotels were marvelous: prime locations, clean and better than adequate, lovely attributes like gardens or swimming pool or even staying in rooms carved out of the stone of Cappadocia! Optional side trips like flying in a balloon in Cappadocia (highly recommended) or Turkish bath ( also highly recommended). In fact we decided all of the optional opportunities were well worth it. Such an incredibly rich experience. The Rick Steve’s method cannot be beat. There were only a few like us that had had never experienced his trips. But we are true converts and this will not be our last. Especially if Mine is guiding, I would follow her anywhere.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a heartfelt and detailed review of your journey through Turkey with Mine. We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that your experience was beyond expectations and that Mine was able to bring the rich culture, history, and spirit of Türkiye to life for you and your family. Her passion, knowledge, and warmth truly make her an exceptional guide, and your kind words mean the world to us. We’re also so happy to hear that traveling with a group turned out to be a rewarding and enriching experience, full of new friendships and shared memories. From the carefully curated itinerary and boutique accommodations to the optional experiences like the hot air balloon and Turkish bath, it sounds like your trip was filled with unforgettable moments. It would be an absolute pleasure to welcome you again in the future — and we agree, following Mine anywhere is always a good idea! Warmest regards, Melisa
