Singinalot's 2023 Land Trip to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Rome, Amalfi Coast, & Florence

[Guest]

Arrival at the NaV airport is so easy! They only have one gate and one luggage carousel. You definitely can’t get lost.

 

Boarding our plane on IST.

 

we landed!

 

looking back at our plane

 

the luggage carousel inside.

[Guest]

There are several ways to get from the airport to Goreme: taxi, shared shuttles, private transfers. Prior to the trip, I had received and email from the hotel offering private round trip transfer for 100 euro each way. Um no thank you. I researched, of course. I used Get Your Guide to book a shared shuttle for the two of us $35USD total.

As we exited the airport, the driver had a sign with our name on it and we quickly headed to the full size van where only 2 others joined us. 

 

Free wi-fi on board!

 

landscape as we made the 35 minute drive

 

[bobmacliberty]

36 minutes ago, singinalot said:

Next, I knew I wanted to pick a hotel that had a pool, great reviews, great views, and that we could pay for with points. I pulled up credit card portal, watched tons of Youtube, and settled on a junior suite at https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297983-d298402-Reviews-Kelebek_Special_Cave_Hotel-Goreme_Cappadocia.html#/media/298402/465866022:p/?albumid=101&type=0&category=101

 

for 3 nights. The total would have been $852USD but I used 85,000 points instead.

 

Can't wait to see your hotel pictures.  The pics on Trip Advisor look amazing.

[Guest]

Helios Transfer dropped us right at our hotel where we were met by the welcoming receptionist. She quickly scanned our passports and had the porter take our luggage to our room.

 

 

to be honest, it was quite small compared to what I had seen in videos and online. We had nowhere to lay out our suitcases 

 

I ended up putting the coffee table on top of the chairs so that we could at least lay one out at a time when getting things.

 

 

 

our first view from the room

 

 

our bathroom had no door and was downstairs. None of the suites  I had seen online were like this 🤷🏼‍♀️ Would I stay there again? heck yes but in a different room

 

 

 

[Guest]

We’re starving and hangry so quickly grab a bite from the hotel restaurant

 

they brought this to the table. The bread and cheese were delicious but the lard not so much. Don’t worry! Things get better!

 

 

haydari was delicious!

[Guest]

views around the hotel while we munched.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HBE4]

4 hours ago, singinalot said:

When researching Turkey, I went back and forth on places to visit. There is so much to see! Ephesus, Antalya, Izmir, Cappadocia. We needed an entire month….That we did not have. I felt secure in my decision and chose Cappadocia, a region about an hour’ flight from IST. Next up, hotels and how best to get there.

there are a few towns in the region, but Goreme was recommended again and again as the place to stay.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g297983-a_ufe.true-Goreme_Cappadocia-Hotels.html

 

7 of the top 10 hotels have "Cave" in the name. Are they really built into the hillside like a man-made cave? Cause that's kinda cool! (pun intended).

[Guest]

16 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

7 of the top 10 hotels have "Cave" in the name. Are they really built into the hillside like a man-made cave? Cause that's kinda cool! (pun intended).

 

yes, in most cases! there are a few manufactured, but the history of this place is so cool. Stay tuned for drone footage and articles about the history.

[Guest]

Feeling a little better from our snack, we headed down the hill to town.

 

sights on the way

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

We are definitely not in Istanbul anymore! 🥰 So excited to explore this new area

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

I had seen a youtube video of a specific restaurant and I knew I wanted to eat there

https://maps.app.goo.gl/SuQBPiyJnmhqJAJb8?g_st=ic

 

Gurme Kebab Restaurant 

 

they brought us a yummy meze sampling

 

my chicken kebab was seasoned perfectly

 

Nate’s chicken casserole…are y’all seeing our patterns yet? lol

 

 

a bathroom selfie. I wanted to pause here to talk about the public WCs in Turkey v restaurant bathrooms. I tend to hold out for restrooms in a restaurant which I always found to be clean and more “american” style. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

our bellies now full, we headed to a local supermarket for snacks and coke zero (is that an oxymoron?)

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

I talked Nate into doing a wine tasting with me. 

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/8rGtAG1CiPQEHyt29?g_st=ic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

afternoon siestas in the wine shop

[Guest]

 

we headed back to the hotel 

 

 

little kittens outside our room

 

 

the front of the hotel holds a pool and several lounge areas

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

How about a little drone footage? 

Finally?!!! Yes, I know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nate talking to the kittens 🥰

 

 

the front of the hotel 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 25, 2023 by singinalot

[Bimmer09]

Amazing drone shots Crystal! A one of a kind location and I can see why it is a center for hot air ballooning.

Such a change from Istanbul-Turkey on a more intimate scale.

Norris

[Guest]

After getting the drone shots I’d been dying for and relaxing on our patio a bit, we got ready for dinner.

 

OOTN

 

While Nate got ready, I took some quick pics outside

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

Amazing drone shots Crystal! A one of a kind location and I can see why it is a center for hot air ballooning.

Such a change from Istanbul-Turkey on a more intimate scale.

Norris

Thanks Norris! You describe it perfectly. While Istanbul was lively and scenic, Cappadocia was intimate and more relaxed. Stay tuned for hot air balloon footage 😉 

[Guest]

dinner is served

 

cheese stuffed mushroom appetizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

Dinner was $61! for an app, 2 mains, 2-3 glasses of wine, 2 desserts, tea, sprite…amazing.

 

 

[dani negreanu]

It strongly reminds me of Alberobello in Italy --

 

https://alberobellotourism.com/

 

[Guest]

33 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

It strongly reminds me of Alberobello in Italy --

 

https://alberobellotourism.com/

 

 

totally! and that place is still on my bucket list 🥰

[Guest]

“So why cappadocia?” some of you might ask? Well, in the tourism world it’s known for its sunrise hot air balloon rides and its sunset horseback rides.

 

We woke up today, August 7, at sunrise thanks to my alarm clock, and headed out to our little balcony.

 

Sadly, due to the smoke/haze (from Greece?) there were no balloons this morning. I did send the drone up tho!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[aussielozzie18]

Crystal, as always, this is a superb trip report to a part of the world I will probably never get to visit.  Thank you.

[BonTexasNY]

WOW, just WOW!