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General
Q.
How many people will be on my tour?
A.
Groups are broken up into buses and generally there will be no more
than 40 people in a group.
Q: My friends booked
there ANZAC tours some time ago and I would now like to join them in the
same hotel and bus.
Is this a problem?
A.
Providing you let us know at time of
booking that you wish to join your friends or be part of a group then we
will do our best to accommodate you. However if you make a booking close
to Anzac Day then we may have already allocated hotels and bus groups.
Once again we will do our best to accommodate you but we cannot make any
promises.
Q. I see that you
have ‘Welcome Drinks’ on the 21st April for tours that start on that day
(6 days, 8 days & 15 days). Will I arrive early enough to attend these?
A.
If arriving on the 21st April and wish to attend these
Welcome Drinks then we recommend that you aim to arrive at the airport
by about 4pm as this will ensure you have enough time to get to the
hotel, get checked in, meet with your guide and get ready for the event.
Q. I want to attend the Gala Dinner on the 22nd April but I am on a tour
starting that day and I want to ensure I arrive in Istanbul in time to
attend. What time would you suggest I aim to be in Istanbul in order to
ensure I can?
A.
If arriving on the 22nd April and wish to attend the Gala
Dinner then we recommend that you aim to arrive at the airport by about
4pm if you are flying as this will ensure you have enough time to get to the hotel, get
checked in and ready for the event. If travelling directly to the
hotel then we suggest being there no later than 6pm.
Q: I am travelling
alone and was wondering if you have many people who travel alone on your
tours? Also what are my options for accommodation?
A:
Every
year we have many people (both male and female) who travel alone on our
tours and it is a great way to meet new people. In regards to
accommodation you can either pay more for a single room or if you do not
mind we can match you up with someone else who is travelling on their
own (same gender) and put you in a twin or triple room for the lower rate.
Please note that this is subject to availability.
Q: Do I need a Visa
to visit Turkey?
A:
It depends on what passport that you are travelling to Turkey on. New
Zealand passport holders do not need a visa and can go straight to
passport control. Other passport holders are required to purchase a
visa from the kiosk near passport control before proceeding through.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do need a visa then please make sure
you look for the visa kiosk first before going to passport
control. Unfortunately this is not always clear once
arriving so do not get into the passport control line first.
The Visa window has all the prices for visas listed on the front
of it so should be clear.
The following site has more information
on visas:
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/details/BorderFormalities/index.html
Q: Which currency do
I need for Turkey and do I need to Exchange Money before leaving home?
A.
The most common
currency in Turkey is the YTL (New Turkish Lira) although other
currencies are accepted in some shops and restaurants. We recommend for
ease that you use the local currency when paying in cash but you can
purchase many things on credit cards also. We advise all our passengers
to carry some cash on you at all times for small purchases and paying
for public toilets etc. At Ataturk International Airport when you
arrive there are a number of ATM machines that can be used with cards
that are set up to be used overseas. You may like to check with your
bank before leaving home if your card is ready for international use.
Q. I am
interested in going on the Bosphorous Cruise and attending the Gala
Dinner, what time do they start and will I arrive in enough time to
attend these?
A.
On the 22nd April we will pick people up from hotels for the
Bosphorous Cruise at 2:30pm and the Gala Dinner will commence at 7.30 pm
that evening. You can easily attend both of these but if you wish to
attend the Bosphorous Cruise and you are arriving on the 22nd
then you will need to arrive early.
Those people on tours starting on the 21st April and who have
the Istanbul City Tour on the 22nd then your tour will be
finished in time to go on the Bosphorus Cruise as well.
Q. Do we need to
give our guides and driver a tip at the end of the tour?
A.
Tipping is a big part of life in Turkey and the cost of your tour does not
include any tips or displays of gratitude towards guides and coach
drivers. If you have enjoyed your tour and efforts of these people then
please feel free to give them a tip. The amount is entirely up to you
and usually one person will collect these on behalf of the people in
your group.
Accommodation
Q: I notice that some of your tours
stay in Edremit away from Gallipoli prior to Anzac Day. Why is this?
A:
It is
difficult to get good quality accommodation close to the Gallipoli
region and as we visit the battlefields on the 23rd April on most of our
tours we want to
ensure that you have decent accommodation to stay at and relax prior to
the overnight stay at Anzac Cove on the 24th. Very few companies who
run Anzac Day Tours stay close to the Gallipoli area unless they are
offering a budget hotel/hostel package. The accommodation we use in Edremit is far superior to anything else we can find in the Gallipoli/Cannakale
area.
In Edremit you will also get to see a
different aspect of Turkish life and it will allow you to compare life
in Istanbul versus the rest of Turkey.
Q. If I want to
arrive in Istanbul earlier than my tour starts or stay later after the
tour finishes can I arrange accommodation with your company at the time
of booking my tour with you?
A.
We can arrange
both pre and post accommodation at our hotels in Istanbul so if you
would like to arrive early or stay later then please let us know and we
can arrange that for you. It is best you let us know at time of booking
but if you change your mind later then we can add this to your tour.
We have limited availability of both pre and post tour
accommodation so it is made available on a 'first come first
served basis'.
Please do not arrive early without telling us and expect
accommodation to be available because we cannot guarantee that.
We can also arrange arrival airport transfers for our
customers booking pre-tour accommodation (Please see section
below regarding Airport Transfers)
Q. I have heard
that it is common to leave your passports behind reception at hotels in
Turkey. Is this really the case and is it safe to do so?
A.
By law hotels are
required to register your details with the authorities and it is
therefore common place to leave your passport with reception and it can
be collected either on departure or once this registration has been
done. This is for your security and your passports are kept safe with
reception staff so there is no need to worry.
Transport & Travelling
Q: I have heard from
friends that the ferry crossings at Gallipoli can sometimes be very
crowded. Will this affect travelling times and is there any risk of us
missing the Anzac Day Commemorations?
A.
The ferry
crossings between Eceabat (Gallipoli Peninsula) and Canakkale (Mainland)
can be very busy during the Anzac Day period. Unfortunately our
travelling times are dependent on the ferry running properly and subject
to the number of buses trying to cross so therefore times given are best
estimates. We ensure that on the night of the 24th we leave with ample
time to spare so we can get to the ferry early. We do our best to ensure
all times quoted in itineraries are accurate but due to this being a
busy time delays are unavoidable.
Q: Do you have
toilets on your buses and are there regular toilet stops during long
journeys?
A:
Unfortunately it is not common to have toilets on buses in Turkey so it
is very hard for us to provide. However we will stop at regular stops
along the way so all passengers can use toilet facilities.
Q. What time do
we depart for Gallipoli on the 23rd April?
A.
This will be an
early departure for the battlefields after breakfast and your guide will
discuss the timing with you the night before. It is essential that we
keep to set times as the earlier we leave the more time we can spend
looking around the Battlefields. It is also not fair on the
majority of customers if we have to wait for some people so we place the
responsibility of being on the bus on time with the customer and we will
depart on time. Any customer who has not been able to make it on time
will have to make their own way to Gallipoli and meet the group there
later in the day if this is possible.
Q. Do we stop off
for a break on the way from Istanbul to Gallipoli on the 23rd April?
A.
Yes we will stop at a spot where you can use the toilets, order some
snack foods such as grilled toast and pick up snacks for lunch. This
will be our only opportunity to stop before Gallipoli and once we get
there, while some toilet facilities will be available, there are not any
places to eat so we suggest all customers buy something to keep them
going until the evening when you arrive at your hotel in Edremit.
Q. What time will we
arrive back in Istanbul on the 25th April?
A.
The arrival time back in Istanbul will vary depending on how busy the
Gallipoli Peninsula is and the traffic back to Istanbul. Generally you
can expect to arrive back to Istanbul between 8pm and 11pm.
Airport Transfers
Q. How far away are
your hotels from the airport in Istanbul?
A. There
are two international airports in Istanbul (Istanbul Ataturk Airport IST
and Sabiha Gokcen Airport SAW)
-Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is located on the Europe side of
Istanbul and 15 km away from our hotels and the old city center
Sultanahmet Area. Most of major international flights arrive at Ataturk
Airport.
-Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) is located on the Asian side of
Istanbul and 60 km away from our hotels and the old city center
Sultanahmet Area. Sabiha Gokcen Airport is used by mainly domestic
flights and budget airlines such as Easy Jet.
The map below
shows the location of these airports:
Q: Are Arrival Airport Transfers Available with these tours?
Ataturk International Airport – Most International Flights
9 Day Tour Customers - Tour Start Date: 18th April 2009
If you arrive at Ataturk
Airport on the 18th April between
12 noon and midnight then we will meet you and transfer you for
FREE to your hotel. If arriving outside these times you
will need to make your own way to the hotel or use our optional
transfer service which has a cost involved and is explained
below. In early April you will be provided with full
details of how to get to your hotel.
6 Day, 8 Day, 16 Day Customers - Tour Start Date: 21st April
2009
If you arrive at Ataturk
Airport from 8am until midnight
on the 21st April then we will meet you and transfer you for
FREE to your hotel. If arriving outside these times you
will need to make your own way to the hotel or use our optional
transfer service which has a cost involved and is explained
below. In early April you will be provided with full
details of how to get to your hotel.
5 Day
Customers - Tour Start Date: 22nd April 2009
If you arrive at Ataturk
Airport from 8am until midnight
on the 22nd April then we will meet you and transfer you for
FREE to your hotel. If arriving outside these times you
will need to make your own way to the hotel or use our optional
transfer service which has a cost involved and is explained
below. In early April you will be provided with full
details of how to get to your hotel.
4 Day Customers - Tour Start Date: 23rd April 2009
If you arrive at Ataturk
Airport from 8am until midnight
on the 23rd April then we will meet you and transfer you for
FREE to your hotel. If arriving outside these times you
will need to make your own way to the hotel or use our optional
transfer service which has a cost involved and is explained
below. In early April you will be provided with full
details of how to get to your hotel.
Important Note:
Please
ensure we have your arrival flight details no later than the 7th
April 2009 if you wish to use our free airport transfer service.
If you do not provide these then we cannot guarantee an airport
transfer.
Optional
Paid Airport Transfer Service - Ataturk International Airport
If arriving outside of the above times of the free airport
arrival transfers as outlined above then you can either make
your own way to the hotel by the Metro Rail system that runs
from the airport or you can find a taxi outside of the airport.
We will provide you with your hotel details in early April.
Alternatively we can arrange a transfer for you from Ataturk
International Airport and the cost is based on the number of
people we transport from the airport at the same time.
Pricing Schedule for Transfers - To be paid in cash in the
coach.
1 Passenger £30 per person
2 Passengers £15 per person
3+ Passengers £10 per person
Important Note:
Please ensure we have your arrival
flight details no later than the 7th April 2009 if you wish to
use our airport transfer service. If you do not provide
these then we cannot guarantee an airport transfer.
Sabiha Gokcen
International Airport – Easyjet Flights from London
For customers arriving on the Easy Jet Flight from London Luton on the
21st, 22nd & 23rd April then we can meet you at the airport and
transfer you to your hotel for
£15 per
person
which is to be paid in cash in the coach to our representative.
If you arrive
on a different day or at a different time then we can arrange a
transfer for you but there is a cost involved and it is based on
the number of people we transfer at the same time.
1 Passenger £50 per person
2 Passengers £25 per person
3+ passengers £15 per person
The reason that we cannot provide a free transfer from this airport is
because it is a considerable distance from the center of Istanbul.
Important Note:
Please
ensure we have your arrival flight details no later than the 7th
April 2009 if you wish to use our airport transfer service.
If you do not provide these then we cannot guarantee an airport
transfer.
Pre-Tour Accommodation & Arrival Flight Transfers
If you book pre-tour
accommodation through Sammy's Travel then we are able to offer
you an airport transfer service as per the details below.
Ataturk International Airport
If arriving 21st April between 8am and Midnight = Free
If arriving 22nd April between 8am and Midnight = Free
If arriving 23rd April between 8am and Midnight = Free
If
arriving outside of these dates and times
we can arrange a transfer for you from Ataturk International
Airport and the cost is based on the number of people we
transport from the airport at the same time.
Pricing Schedule for Transfers - To be paid in cash in the
coach
1 Passenger £30 per person
2 Passengers £15 per person
3+ Passengers £10 per person
Sabiha Gokcen
Airport
If arriving 21st April on Easy Jet flight from London Luton
= £15
If arriving 22nd April on Easy Jet flight from London Luton
= £15
If
arriving outside of these dates and times
we can arrange a transfer for you from Sabiha Gokcen Airport and
the cost is based on the number of people we transport from the
airport at the same time.
Pricing Schedule for Transfers - To be paid in cash in the
coach Passenger £50 per person
2 Passengers £25 per person
3+ passengers £15 per person
Q: Do you operate
transfers back to the airport at the end of the tours?
A.
We do operate departure airport transfers back to the Airport at
the end of the 4, 5 & 6 Day Tours on the 26th and 27th of April.
In order to arrange an airport transfer for these dates then
please ensure we have your departure flight details by no later
than the 7th April 2009. Your guide will advise you off
the pick up time from your hotel in Istanbul and cost of the
transfer once you are in Istanbul. Prices are based on the
number of people we transfer to the airport at the same time as
you.
The cost of the departure transfers is shown below and needs to be paid
to our transfer staff in cash on the way to the airport.
|
No. Passengers |
Ataturk International Airport |
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport |
|
1 |
£30 per person |
£50 per person |
|
2 |
£15 per person |
£25 per person |
|
3+ |
£10 per person |
£20 per person |
|
4+ |
£10 per person |
£15 per person |
Q: What if I am
arriving by another form of transport other than air. How do I get to
my hotel and meet my tour?
A.
If arriving in Istanbul by train, bus, ferry or car then you will need
to make your own way to the Hotel to meet your tour. You will be
provided with the Hotel name and address in early April so you can easily travel by
taxi or metro from any point of entry to the hotel. Likewise if you are
departing Istanbul by any means other than flying then you will need to
make your way to the relevant port/station at the completion of your
tour but your guide can assist you in ordering a taxi or give directions
via the metro system.
Anzac Day - Gallipoli
Q. Where do we stay on the night of the
24th April before the Dawn Service?
A:
We arrive at
Gallipoli on the evening of the 24th and spend the night at Anzac Cove.
Due to the growing number of people visiting
Gallipoli for Anzac Day each year there is no ideal
time to arrive. The area is very busy from
early on the 24th and if you arrive early then it is
a long wait in the cold until the Dawn Service
starts approx 04:30am. We get there a bit
later on in the evening so the wait is not so long.
Unfortunately every year people take up more room
than they need to by either lying on the grass or
over a number of seats in the seating area.
The organisers do all they can to get people to move
and make room for those arriving but we suggest that
you should not be shy in asking one of your fellow
countrymen to sit up or take up less room.
We strongly suggest you take warm clothes and maybe even a sleeping bag
and blanket as a minimum. Once you arrive at Anzac Cove you will not
have access to your luggage on the bus so you may like to take a day
pack with you with everything you will need until the evening of the 25th
when we arrive back in Istanbul/Edremit depending what tour you are on.
There are ample toilet and food/beverage
facilities in this area.
Q. Following the Dawn Service at Anzac
Cove how do we get to the rest of the services at Lone Pine and Chunuk
Bair?
A.
The Dawn Service is followed by the Australian service at Lone Pine, the
Turkish service and the New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair. The timings
for these change each year but are published close to the time and your
guide will inform you of the times in 2009. The only way to get to each
service is to walk but there are shuttles available for elderly and
disabled visitors to the area and if you wish to use these then please
let your guide know they can inform the relevant people and let you know
where to access these services. We recommend that after the Dawn
Service that you begin walking as soon as possible to the other services
and that New Zealanders wanting to get a good spot at Chunuk Bair head
straight there as space is very limited in that area and it is approx a
1.15min walk from Lone Pine to Chunuk Bair.
Q. How will we get back to our buses at
the end of the day at Gallipoli?
A. We have two pick up points for collecting customers. The first is
at Lone Pine and the second is at Chunuk Bair. You will need to look
out for our staff and meeting point at both these places and make sure
you are ready at the time they say. All the coaches from all companies
will make their way up to the two pick up points in the order in which
they arrived the night before and there is a very short time to get
people on the buses. We ask people to be patient during this time as
the timing of buses is completely out of our control.
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