Hi there,
A friend and I will be on Imaginative Traveller's Jordan Connection tour, ending on October 1st. We will then be starting the Crossroads of Civilisation tour of Turkey, starting on October 10th. To fill in the days in between, we will be travelling through Greece, spending the 2nd and 3rd in Athens, and then ferrying across the Greek islands to Turkey (we were thinking of staying on Naxos and Samos). Could you suggest the best way to get to Istanbul (ferry from Samos to Turkey, and then bus maybe?) and whether the ferries will be operating regularly in the Greek islands at this time? Also, as two females who don't speak Arabic (apart from what we pick up in phrasebooks), will we be OK travelling alone through the country to Istanbul?
Would appreciate any suggestions. Cheers.
Re: How to get to Istanbul?
Hi there,
Please bear with me while I look into this for you.
[b][email]chris@imtrav.co.uk[/email][b]
Re: How to get to Istanbul?
Hi Cat,
There are 2 ferries every day from Samos to Kusadasi, one in the morning another in the late afternoon. From Kusadasi you can take an overnight bus to Istanbul (approx. 10 hrs). We would recommend you use the Kamil Koc (yes, that's what they're called) coach company.
As two women alone in Greece and Turkey you should be relatively safe, there will still be a fair amount of holiday traffic about. As long as you use your common sense and don't take any undue risks you shouldn't have a problem. Read a few guidebooks and learn what is/isn't acceptable to locals/what's perceived as a come on..etc. I'm sure I'm telling you things you already know.
I'm sure I'm stating the obvious but you won't need any Arabic in Greece or Turkey, you'll just need some Greek or Turkish. I take it that you're flying straight from Jordan to Greece?
[b][email]chris@imtrav.co.uk[/email][b]
Re: How to get to Istanbul?
Hi Chris,
Thanks very much for that information about the ferries, and the bus company recommendation; that's very helpful. And yes, you're right about the Arabic, I'm just getting confused with Egypt, Jordan etc and all the reading I'm doing. I will be flying from Jordan to Greece, via Cairo, and my friend direct.
Thanks again.