Kusadasi Private Tours - recent reviews

Hello,

We usually take ship excursions and for the first time I am researching a private excursion. We will be travelling with our 9 year old children and want the flexibility of a private tour. Our planned itinerary is House of Virgin Mary, Ancient Ephesus (including terrace houses) and Temple of Artemis.

Does anyone have a recent review or recommendation of a private tour from Kusadasi? Were you made to go to a rug/leather/pottery demonstration?

Thanks

Shellie

We were in Kusadasi three weeks ago, here's my post to CC right after our visit, hope it's helpful:

Ephesus Deluxe—The Best

A few months ago I had booked on-line with Ephesus Deluxe a full day excursion for two people to Ephesus, Artemis, House of Virgin Mary & St. John shrine originating from Kusadasi for Monday June 9.

My wife and I were sailing on Windstar.

Ephesus Deluxe described this as a “shared” tour meaning up to 14 people could be on the excursion but that the tour was also guaranteed to run regardless of the actual number of people on the tour.

On 6/9/14 when we disembarked in Kusadasi, we were the only two people booked on the tour and Ephesus Deluxe did indeed run the excursion.

Firstly, Kudos to Ephesus Deluxe.

In fact my wife and I had an exceptional tour, transported via a private car & driver along with an expert tour guide Ceyla (pronounced J La)

Ceyla was an archeologist by training & was very familiar with all the sites visited. She had at some point dug at all of these ruins. She was highly knowledgeable & extremely personable.

The tour included a traditional Turkisk lunch at a rug cooperative ( a place in Turkey where people are trained in rug weaving) and we also managed a stop at a ceramics factory, where we purchased a number of items at a very fair price.

For anyone looking for a tour of Ephesus & the surrounding area, especially someone who might be in port for a day in Kusadasi while cruising, my highest recommendation would be for Ephesus Deluxe.

Unlike another tour operator in Santorini who accepted both my reservation & money but then reneged on running their excursion, Ephesus Deluxe made good on their commitment.

In my book, they’re the best.

Thank you again to:

Mr. Deniz Kose

General manager

http://www.ephesusdeluxe.com

Travel Agency number A- 3633

We were in Kusadasi in May and also had an excellent tour with Ephesus Deluxe. Because it was our second visit, we chose to spend all our time at Ephesus and the must-see Terrace Houses. There was no requirement of a stop for any shopping or rug/pottery demos.

Remember: a private tour is your tour; your guide must do want you want. My advice is to review your itinerary for the day with the guide as soon as you are picked up at the port so everyone is clear on what you will be doing. Sometimes what you arrange with a tour company by email is not communicated to the guide.

We used About Ephesus in 2011 and would highly recommend them. We did however have a rug factory tour, which was fairly quick and mildly interesting. The highlight was definitely Ephesus itself and the incredible Terrace Houses.

Our guide was extremely helpful when one in our group left a camera bag behind. Thankfully it was found!

We used Ephusus Deluxe on our tour. Check out my blog with pictures at

winenchocolate dot com

We used Ephusus Deluxe on our tour. Check out my blog with pictures at

winenchocolate dot com

Thank you for the link to your blog. I am enjoying reading about the stops we will be visiting!

Thank you all for your replies. I have sent an email to Ephesus Deluxe and am awaiting their reply.

I had emailed Private Ephesus Tours and they have advised that they will stop at a factory 'because they support us' even though I requested not to do a shopping stop. It makes me worried as I am not sure how we will cope under sales pressure or how I will feel being 'locked in' as some reviewers have described it. The ships tours also stop at a rug factory. Maybe there is no way around it.

Thank you all for your replies. I have sent an email to Ephesus Deluxe and am awaiting their reply.

 

I had emailed Private Ephesus Tours and they have advised that they will stop at a factory 'because they support us' even though I requested not to do a shopping stop. It makes me worried as I am not sure how we will cope under sales pressure or how I will feel being 'locked in' as some reviewers have described it. The ships tours also stop at a rug factory. Maybe there is no way around it.

You do not have to stop at any factories. Book with Ephesus Deluxe and set the itinerary yourself. It is your private tour; take ownership of it.

We have used Ephesus Deluxe two times in the past three years and they are excellent...both tours were highlights of the cruise...the guides are superb as are the drivers and the vehicles.

On our tour last July we had small children in our group and we asked not to go to a rug factory and it was no problem...

Make sure yiu include the Terrace Houses in your tour...it is extra but so well worth it'...

We have used Ephesus Deluxe two times in the past three years and they are excellent...both tours were highlights of the cruise...the guides are superb as are the drivers and the vehicles.

 

On our tour last July we had small children in our group and we asked not to go to a rug factory and it was no problem...

 

Make sure yiu include the Terrace Houses in your tour...it is extra but so well worth it'...

Thanks for your post. There are 12 of us booked with them in October and we are really looking forward to touring Ephesus for the first time - including the Terrace Houses :)

I just returned from there in May. I booked with Ephesusshuttle.com and had a wonderful experience. Booked online and was greeted by the guide at the pier with a sign that had my name on it. Escorted to our air conditioned Mercedes van, driver was very safe and polite. Our guide was FANTASTIC! She has a tourism degree and was so informative. We spent several hours together. We learned so much from her that we would have never known had we not taken the tour. She explained what everything was used for, why that particular carving or rock belonged there and who did what, where and why. Had the most amazing day and I will absolutely cherish my time in Ephesus!

I am curious in these tours if any of you also went to the Temple of Apollo, and if so, how that worked within the confines of all there is to see? Thank you

We have used Ephesus Deluxe two times in the past three years and they are excellent...both tours were highlights of the cruise...the guides are superb as are the drivers and the vehicles.

 

On our tour last July we had small children in our group and we asked not to go to a rug factory and it was no problem...

 

Make sure yiu include the Terrace Houses in your tour...it is extra but so well worth it'...

we are booked with them in october and also informed them no rug factory.. and we have the email confirming we will not be stopping at a rug factory...

We used Ephesus Shuttle as well. They were super easy to work with and did not require payment until the end of the tour.

We have both port days booked with them. They have been great to work with. And reasonably priced. We are looking forward to our tours with them

Ekol Tours will also not take you to a rug factory (or a leather factory or any other factory) if that is what you want……. it is a private tour. You should have full control over what and where you see and do…….. We have used them 3 times and will use them again next May. Excellent guides and drivers by the way. And clean cool cars too.

When did you last tour with EKOL? I read several recent reviews that said they will insist that you take a rug factory tour, making it sound like a governmental requirement.

I took a great EKOL tour in 2008 but this time happily used Ephesus Deluxe, where I set the itinerary.

Our last tour with them was last fall (October) with my husbands mother and father in tow……. this was our third tour with them.

Not sure why people would let anyone "insist" on taking them somewhere they don't want to go…… if you have paid for a private tour.

On our second visit we opted to skip the rug factory…. no problem.

We did return to the rug factory this last trip because we wanted to buy a rug….. we bought two !!!!

I will be booking with them again for next spring and I will be sure and set the itinerary I want….. or use someone else. But I don't anticipate any problems.

As a side note: when booking our last visit we really wanted to go to the same restaurant we went to on our second visit….. of course I couldn't remember the name only a vague recollection of it being by a marina and having a great view of Kusadasi. She figured out where we had been taken and unfortunately it was closed due to renovations on the marina…….. but she spent a lot of time trying to figure it out - sending me numerous emails to do so…… to me that is service. Hope we get the same this time :D

We've used Ephesus Shuttle twice, most recently in June. We also went to the ruins of St. John's Basilica which was interesting and only a few Euro more. We were asked if we wanted to stop at a carpet factory. We agreed the first trip and my wife enjoyed the demonstration and we left as soon as it was done without staying for the sales pitch. The second time we said no and drove straight back to port. No pressure to stop either time.

Whoever you use, get off the ship as soon as you can to get ahead of the tour buses.

Our last tour with them was last fall (October) with my husbands mother and father in tow……. this was our third tour with them.

 

Not sure why people would let anyone "insist" on taking them somewhere they don't want to go…… if you have paid for a private tour.

 

There was a lot of talk last year about this because of what several people reported when they corresponded with Ekol. They were getting push back on the "no shopping" requirement and were told that a stop at the carpet factory was mandatory and in fact was "required" by the government. (yeah, right :rolleyes:).

I have to admit that my first tour experience with Ekol a few years back was quite good. However, on my second private tour with them, the guide was determined to get us to SOME type of commercial stop, despite my making it clear in correspondence and at the start of the tour that it was NOT on.

After he got nowhere with me, he went around me and tried to get others on the tour to agree we should stop at the carpet place. No one was interested. He then tried pottery -- no go. Finally, he insisted the only place to have a "rest stop" was at the leather factory and that we only had to go in and come out...... When we went inside, the pushy staff tried to get us to all sit down for a fashion show. PLEASE!!! We all just got up and walked out.

Last year when others started reporting this new "requirement", I emailed them -- using a different email address -- to see what response I'd get. Like others reported, they insisted the carpet stop was mandatory.

Perhaps they have softened that stance now. (I certainly hope so!) But with other good companies available, I personally do not want the hassle of dealing with this. Don't want to feel I have to be constantly on my guard all day, lest a "shoppertunity" try to present itself....;)

I will be contacting them soon to arrange our day next spring and I will see how this goes.

As a side note: we probably will want to stop at our favorite rug co-op since dh and I have been talking about purchasing another one for our new home. We are very happy with the two we purchased last trip :D

BUT if we don't want to stop somewhere - then you are right that you don't want to be "on guard" all the time.

We have found in other countries (mostly Caribbean) we use the line: we bought one of those our last trip here……and it works too !

I am not sure that we are in the market for a rug - I am just not educated enough to know what a great deal is for that part of the world. Probably the same with leather (found that out the hard way in Italy years ago) I love negotiating, but without the knowledge of what comprises a good deal, I am reticent. That said, we have two Ephesus Shuttle private tours scheduled. I told them we are not interested in any factory tours and they said that was fine. No pushback whatsoever.

Your experience Cruisemom42 would have totally pushed my buttons!

On another note - when quoted USD to be paid after the tours, as all have been - and credit cards are accepted - do you all pay by card or do you take USD with you?

I am not sure that we are in the market for a rug - I am just not educated enough to know what a great deal is for that part of the world. Probably the same with leather (found that out the hard way in Italy years ago) I love negotiating, but without the knowledge of what comprises a good deal, I am reticent. That said, we have two Ephesus Shuttle private tours scheduled. I told them we are not interested in any factory tours and they said that was fine. No pushback whatsoever.

Your experience Cruisemom42 would have totally pushed my buttons!

 

On another note - when quoted USD to be paid after the tours, as all have been - and credit cards are accepted - do you all pay by card or do you take USD with you?

We have done both. But mostly I like to pay in cash whether euros or USD (we take some of that too) We buy euros here at our bank ahead of time. I have little white envelopes with each private tour printed on the front with the date and then put in the tour and tip cash. That way on the morning of the tour I take the appropriate envelope out of the safe and put in my purse. No hassle worrying about having the right amount etc.

Sounds a bit over the top but I like stress free vacations :D

We have done both. But mostly I like to pay in cash whether euros or USD (we take some of that too) We buy euros here at our bank ahead of time. I have little white envelopes with each private tour printed on the front with the date and then put in the tour and tip cash. That way on the morning of the tour I take the appropriate envelope out of the safe and put in my purse. No hassle worrying about having the right amount etc.

 

Sounds a bit over the top but I like stress free vacations :D

Definitely not over the top. You descibe the method I used on a 27 night B2B in April / May. I got Euros before we left, made sure I had correct amounts for the 9 private tours we participated in and put them in the cabin safe when we boarded. I didn't give payments a thought until we were in port, ready to go, and I just grabbed the envelope for that port visit. No scrambling around to make change or keep money 'put aside'. Considering the several ports we visited in which we did our own thing, the tour money organizing was no problem. And BTW, we used Ephesus Shuttle in Kusadasi. They took us where we wanted and, mid tour, when we wanted to add a stop, no problem.

We also took a private tour with Ephesus Shuttle last September. Our guide was excellent and we really enjoyed the buffet lunch that was included. The option to stop at a rug demo was up to us, and we declined. That was ok with our guide.

Be aware, though, that the estimated length of our tour included the rug demo, so we ended up being dropped off at the ship earlier than expected. We went on tour 4 A2.