I had an 8 hour layover in Turkey and wanted an adventure. Looking at cheaper options, I saw many tours that would have required me to find my own way to Istanbul and meet someone in a public place… I wanted to be picked up at the airport, see the historic parts of Istanbul, and then be dropped back off at the airport. Ertunga texted with me prior to my flight, asked me about my interests and helped set expectations, and he was right there at the exit to greet me when I cleared customs.
The transportation included a driver and it was very nice and comfortable. I learned and experienced a LOT. In a few short hours, we covered pretty much everything I had hoped to see, and I had made a new friend.
The Istanbul International airport is an amazing place and one could easily spend 8 hours there on a layover, however there’s so much to experience in Istanbul – it’s really worth leaving the airport.
Perhaps the best testimony I can provide is that days later, I’m still talking about this brief trip to everyone I meet. Now, I’m thinking of *WHEN* I can bring my whole family to Turkey and go in a week long tour to see the rest of the country with Ertunga.