AVL004, Sept 2019

Heard and read about Ali and his tours well before coming to Istanbul. We were going on a 13-day escorted tour of Turkey and wanted to spend 3-4 days in Istanbul before our tour. Of course, we book these days with Ali. We knew that he was a busy guide; therefore, we booked well in advance. Ali exceeded our expectations. He has a very amicable and easy-going attitude. There was never any pressure to accept any part of a proposed itinerary, only reasonable advice and suggestions. There were options for visiting these or those sights, transportation options and we, the clients, were free to choose. Our tours started at the time promised, without any major delays. Ticket lines were skipped because Ali came prepared. During the excursions, ample time was allowed for photography. There was also sufficient time for rest, eating, and other needs as we went along. There was no rush. Of note also is Ali's knowledge of history of his country and his ability to answer the questions without evading the answers and or hesitation. Overall, I highly recommend Ali as a guide but remember, your tours with him would go smoother if you do your "homework" as well, namely, read about Istanbul, decide what you do or do not want to see and do in the city, then contact Ali for advice as to how to accomplish this better. Planning your day(s) with Ali helps a lot.