Day trip to Turkey

Three years ago we took the catamaran from Kos to Bodrum. Had to wait over an hour to depart - but good once we finally got to Turkey. Returned again this year by boat - lovely trip 20 euros each. Went on a Tuesday, which is market day. Very busy. Good fun bartering for goods. It was very hot. We had a nice lunch and returned to Kos at 4.30. Would thoroughly recommend the trip. Just remember all the goods on sale are fake, but still very worth buying. Everyone wants your business, but a polite no thanks will suffice. Some people don't like the hassling, but you can always walk away. To be recommended. Euros, sterling, dollars are accepted everywhere, even in the market, so there is no need to change currency.

Hi thinking of going to Kos next year and taking a day trip to turkey! I was wondering if you had to change currency from euro to Lira or if turkey will accept euro?

Done this last Tues 40 Euros each..not very well organized nearly missed boat due to q in wrong place needed a boarding pass collect from little cafe and passport..25 min on boat very nice views busy at Bodrum market and locals are very pushy to have your cash...Euros Lira or English! toilet 75 cents no wash and a whole in the floor. Lovely lunch here on the harbour we had minibus collided with vehicle on route back to port..oops! Great to have travelled to 2 countries in 1 week but Kos was better

Having read the comments on the turkey trips I have to pass my comments that alot of these statements are not correct, first of all you do not need to handover your passport all you need to do is show this at passport control.  The situation of waiting in the sun outside is wrong you now can wait in the cafe to go through passport control. On arrival in Bodrum the Turkish authorities are very good and you get through almost straightaway.  Regarding the trip round Bodrum, if you go with the right travel agency, they will tell you that if you want to go on the tour, just go, enjoy the trip and when it comes to the the Gold Centre just walk in and out if you are not interested in the gold, the trip is worth going on and the guides are very informative.  If you are staying in Kardamena go to Harriet Travel these people will tell you the truth. I have been on this trip many times and cannot fault it.   Bodrum is a place of many shops and you can barter with most of them, you can barter in the market which is on a Tuesday, have fun enjoy it and dont find fault with everything its just an experience to enjoy. Only comment I would say is be careful in the sun it gets very hot, use plenty of sun cream.

Myself and my partner have just back from a week in Kos town which we really enjoyed.

Booked a day trip to Turkey with Hermes Travel.  We were left standing at the port as there was a delay on the ferry. This wasn't very pleasent as the heat was unbareable and there were too many people shoved up together. An English couple told us that we had to get our boarding card from the cafe place next door.  We were not told this by the Hermes Travel. So, we fought our way through the crowds got our boarding card and re-entered the crowd.  The people that came after us were boarding their boats to Turkey, leaving us stood there a while longer.  People had been waiting for so long that tensions started to fray and there was arguements with the port authorities before we'd even got there.  It was so chaotic and dis-organised. To top it all they expect you to hand over your passport to these people. After seeing this choas, nearly passing out with the heat and worried about giving our passport over to such dis-organised rabble we decided to leave the crowds and not bother with the trip. When we told Hermes Travel of our experience and that we weren't happy they never gave us any sympathy or our money back. I would not recommend this trip especially with Hermes Travel.

I would not recommend the market trip for girls travelling alone, the men think the have the god given right to touch you and it is quite scary at times.

Also if travelling by hydrofoil dont book the 11am trip it doesn't exist and you have to sit on the boat until after 12 very frustrating!

Hi Alan,

Hi,as my wife has walking difficulties to some extent,would she have any problems getting on and off the boats that go across to Turkey,as our friends want to do this trip whilst we are on Kos in September.Also

Did the Turkey Trip called Bodrum Sunset which is done on Sunday through Travel services. This includes a tour guide around Bodrum, exclusive access to Gold Manufacturer where you can buy gold etc. Its then down to bodrum town for couple hours shopping, then onto the Forever club four star hotel. Where you will dine and be entertained by live music band, dancers and belly dancer. You get over by hydrofoil and return about 8pm the crossing takes about 20minutes, so not to long on the water.

Me and my friends went to turkey for the day and absolutely hated it1 it was horrible and we spent the whole day looking really miserable the only good thing about it was that 200 cigarettes were only 7 euro's but you could only bring 1 pack back. we had to wait around for hours for the boat back with nothing to do as we had been round the market already and didn't like how pushy the turks were.

We've just returned from Kos (Tingaki) and done the Turkey day trip on a Tuesday (market day)

thanks les was wondering do you have to pay ten pounds tax on entering turkey if you are on day trip also do you know how much trip to turgetreis costs and any idea of times  of crossings  and do they go from kos town thanks

Hi Kevin, I hope you get this in time.  From Kos Town you go to Turgutreis on a Saturday for the Market.  There are plenty of Operators who do it, including Maria Star who we used.  All the best and hope you enjoy.

We booked our trip to Turkey through Trust Tours, who provided all necessary information to make it a great day out. Would recommend to all!

With thanks to the recommendation of Tony Ainsworth, we made our acquaintance with George who turned out to be a hospitable person.  The cost of the trip when we did it on 22nd May 2007 was 20 Euros each plus 4 Euros each for the Port Tax, making a total of 24 Euros each.  This being half the price of our Tour Operator.  Maria Star does its own tour of Bodrum but we didn't enquire about this.  Maybe you can help with this info please Tony.

DAY TRIP TO BODRUM IN TURKEY

    

We did our day trip to Turkey with our tour rep First Choice as we thiught it would be the best bet and safe. Oh where we wrong ! the trip was well over booked over 600 on a small boat to Turkey with little space on board. Turkey was nice and I would visit again but I would plan the trip myself. the boat was late leaving & late getting back and little help from First Choice and to make matters worse we where charged twice when we returned home. I have followed the complants procedure on the First Choice web site but nowone has replyed to me at all. First Choice should be Last Choice

The day trip to Bodrum was great, book through the travel places in the square though. Go for a turkish bath - amazing!!! Only 20 euros!!

THE MARIA STAR

Day Trip to Bodrum on THE MARIA STAR.
Telephone. (0030) 2242 026058
It is a very good trip if you like shopping. The Maria Star goes to Bodrum every day, and you DO NOT require a visa, just take your PASSPORT.

The price changes but it was  €21.00. Euros plus tax in early June, but it may be cheaper now you will have to check at the boat. It left at about 09.00.Hrs and returned at 17.00.Hrs. It took about 40 minutes for the crossing and they offered us a FREE one hour tour of Bodrum. The boat is fully air-conditioned.
Instead of shopping go to the Turkish Hamam (Turkish Baths) it is very relaxing.
On Saturdays they now GO TO TURGUT REIS where they hold a large Saturday Market, if you have been to Bodrum before try this on a Saturday. I have included a few pictures as well, just double click them to enlarge them.

         

 

MARIA STAR:   http://hometown.aol.co.uk/tonyainsworth/page4.html

www.tonyainsworth.co.uk

 

 

Turkey was amazing!!lots of brill fake designer shops. a word of advice though, be sure not to point out to the shop owners taht you like anything in particular unless you are sure because they tend to pounce on you and are VERY persuesive with prices and EVERYTHING is fake so be careful. i bought about three rugby tops which were fake but they are really great quality and the logos well you would never know that they were fakes!! when we got to turkey we had a free coach trip around the towns and that was really great as well, it really gave you an insight into turkish life.

I worked as a Rep in Kos and we ran a day trip to Turkey (Bodrum) on a Tuesday as it is also market day.. people were always saying you can get the trip for 20 Euro's less if you book with an independant seller but just remember with booking through your rep you are getting insurance..Visa and a choice of trips and you'll have a dedicated boat and someone with you at all times.. make sure you have a turkish bath its amazing, although the gold factory is good too! The market is a must for ladies like myself who like handbags..keep haggling at them they will let you have it for next to nothing... some people are often put off by the Turkish men but they are harmless they'e just trying to earn a living be friendly towards them and they will let you have the items for less! Men  -just talk to them about football! its a fantastic trip but just wear comfortable shoes and don't book through anyone other than your rep and you wont be stranded at the harbour without any help !!