ANZAC Day 2015 The Sergeant Tour
Derya,
I meant to write to you earlier this week but got tied up with work. So, we are back and we had an absolutely fabulous time, I love Turkey, such a fabulous country and I had forgotten some of my high school history, wow!!!! The food, the people, the sites absolutely fantastic.
As for Fez tours, what can I say, they were great, I would not hesitate to recommend them to any of your future customers. The challenges that Anzac Day Centenary brought to them were dealt with very professionally and our tour guide was brilliant, his knowledge of the history, customs, economy, politics , really all spheres of Turkey was extraordinary
Thank you so much for organising our trip. We caught up with our son in Troy which was just great.
Thanks once again, don’t hesitate to use me as a reference.
I will leave you with the following excerpt from Peter Fitzsimons which was published in the SMH last week:
PEACE LOOKS LIKE THIS
When the actual Lone Pine service finishes in the early afternoon of Anzac Day, the problem for so many Australian attendees, who haven’t slept for the previous 36 hours is that it takes as long as – and I’m not making this up – EIGHT HOURS for the jam of buses to clear. Finally, though, most of the last lot get to the wharves where a ferry awaits to take them across the straits of the Dardanelles to Cannakale. They’re all, not to put too fine a point on it, buggered, and slump in their seats. At least most of them do. Not, however, the Barker Choir and Band, some 200 strong. Even as the ferry waits for the last stragglers to arrive, the young’uns assemble on the foredeck and start to sing and play. Oh, how they sing and play. The ethereal harmonies of Waltzing Matilda, Run To You, Nearer My God To Thee, the Australian and New Zealand National anthems rise rich and beautiful into the Turkish twilight, as even the passengers on other ferries come out to watch on their verandas. They clap, they join in, some dance ‘neath the diamond sky, with one handwaving free, silhouetted by the sea. And now, the final touch. As the last stragglers arrive and the Turkish guides who have been so good to them all start to wave goodbye and walk to the bus that is to take them back to Istanbul, the Barker choir instantly switches into a fabulous rendition of the Turkish national anthem. The guides stop, the wharf workers and security guards stare open-mouthed, the police and soldiers snap to attention. At the end, the Turks, the Australians and New Zealanders all together – 100 years on to the day since the beginning of the devastating battle that killed over 100,000 of our citizens – cheer and clap wildly.
Peace between our fine nations. It looks like this
My very sincere thanks,
Eric Richardson – 8th May 2015
Anatolian Highlights October 2014:
Thanks to Derya in the Sydney office for your advice while I was considering which trip to Turkey would suit me best as a mature age traveller. I wondered if, at age 74, I’d manage walking and climbing around the ancient sites in Turkey. Derya took time to give me a lot of information and once reassured, I joined a group of 16 and had an amazing experience. Yes there was a lot of walking and I needed a level of fitness but it was certainly worth it. The trip notes promised 4 star hotels and we were not disappointed, they were of a very high standard. Our Turkish guide, Ergon, had a wealth of knowledge to share and we learned such a lot of history. Highlights were visiting Gallipoli, Ephesus, Cappadocia, and the amazing travertine pools at Pamukkale. One regret – I wish I’d booked an extra day or two in Istanbul to see more of this fascinating city.
Was the trip good value for money? Absolutely!
Elaine, Sydney – 7th May 2015
Dear Derya,
I am very slow to contact you but I wanted to tell you how much the whole family enjoyed our time in Turkey.Your planning was very good,no problems at all and we loved the hotels you chose.
We look forward to going back one day and I will certainly recommend your services to any friends we have who may be planning a trip.Thank you again and Happy New Year.
Best wishes,
Jock Harkness and the Whyte family – 2nd January 2013
Hello Sevinch,
We have returned from our trip and just wanted to let you and all at Trans Turk what a wonderful time we had.
We particularly wanted to thank Derya for making all of our arrangements. Everything from our Dubai arrangements to our time in Turkey went off without a hitch.
We feel we have made a wonderful friend with our driver Ayhan who was a fantastic source of information as well as great company. Not to mention driving us very safely through Turkey.
We know we have hardly scratched the surface of Turkey and can’t wait to return.
So thank you once again and we will be in touch when next we go to Turkey and will not hesitate to mention Trans Turk to anybody we here of who is travelling there.
Regards Vickie Dodds – 19th August 2011
Hi Derya
Just a note to say thank you so much to Transturk travel on our recent visit to Turkey. The hotels both in Istanbul & Canakkale were superb and the service at hotels and tour guide/s to Gallipoli was excellent.
I have recommended your travel company to my travel agent for her clients.
Regards,
Fiona Chandler
DES Local Employment Support & Solutions Branch
Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations – 11th April 2011
Dear Derya,
We are back after our mammoth trip to Europe. We wanted to say a very big thank you to you for all the arrangements you did on our behalf.
We fell in love with Turkey. Everyone was so helpful and charming. The Urgup Evi Hotel was just fabulous. The lady who runs it is just perfect in the job. We managed the balloon flight but only just as the weather was a bit windy. We are so glad we made it as it was a fabulous experience. All the guides were superb, they fitted in with what we wanted to do and see and in our time frame. The hotels were all fine.
In all a wonderful experience and we will certainly go back to Turkey again. Thank you for making the start to our journey such a success.
Kind regards, Pam & Ian McGaw – 5th May 2010
Hi Derya from the Blue House, Istanbul.
Just a quick one to let you know we’re having a fabulous time in this great city of yours!
Also helped so far by beautiful weather – cool & clear blue skies.And very happy with teh Blue House too…..obviously a great location, but also very friendly staff, and clean rooms, altho’ a little on the small size (but then, we’re used to the larger rooms normally found in Asia!).
Thanks & Regards,
Roger & MJ. – 23rd March 2010
Hi Derya
We had a truly WONDERFUL trip & I look forward to meeting with you & giving you our feedback. We have friends who want to go after hearing about our adventures – Geoff & Lyn MacBean. I have given them your details.
I will be in Sydney 4-8 December so hope to call to make a time.
Fond regards to you all,
Julie
Bruce & Julie Armstrong – 30th November 2009
Derya,
Paul and I have returned from our travels and want to thank you for making arrangements for us in Turkey. Everything went smoothly and the guides were always where they should be on time. It’s nice to be home, though.
Regards,
Robyn Coghlan – 3rd September 2009
Hi Derya,
I have been meaning to send you an email since I got back home but of course have been swept up in day to day life again! I wanted t say thank you from both my Mum and I for the wonderful tour you arranged for us in Turkey. We had a great time and Ihan (sorry not sure how you spell his name) our driver was fantastic.
I hope you are well and thanks again for all your efforts. I would not hesitate in recommending Transturk to anyone wanting to go to Turkey.
Kind regards,
Annie de Botton
Head of Human Resources
Consolidated Press Holdings – 7th August 2009
