31 Jan 2023
There were many Istanbul tours available and I selected Popular Tour due to their 5 star rating. The tour also included a local lunch with is unique. Among all the tours I've had in Turkey, this particular tour left the deepest impression, in a very positive way. Below are the pros, and I cannot think of any cons.
1. The hotel we stayed was not among the regular tour pick up points. As we were unfamiliar with the route to get to the meeting place, we were late. The bus driver was very accomodating and he was also very friendly when he finally sees us; i was concerned that he may be upset but that was not the case????
2. Our tour guide Sakir (Mehmet Karadibek) was also the best guide we had in Turkey. He is knowledgeable, chill and friendly. He even brought us to a credible money changer when we needed one, and the exchange rate turned out to be the best we had come across. Sakir also conducted himself very professionally, and yet he is very approachable. He made us feel at ease and we enjoyed the tour a great deal.
3. Part of the tour include a visit to an expensive souvenir shop. It was really fun as there were catwalk models showing you the collection. The quality is very good but there is absolutely no pressure to purchase if you do not wish to.
4. The local lunch while was a simple meal, included salad, main course, drinks, dessert and tea. It was delicious and a meaningful way to experience Turkish cuisine.
Overall, i would definitely recommend this tour, and I hope you get to have Sakir as your tour guide ????