• Does your prices include taxes and enterance fees?
• All the quoted rates include VAT apart from some of the Greek Ferry Tickets. Please check the inclusions for the included entrance fees.
• Where is the meeting point in Istanbul?
• Please check the tour details for the meeting point of each tour. It is suggested to be ready at the meeting point at least 30 minutes before departure.
• What is the schedule for Bosphorous Boat Trip and Gala Dinner?
• We will pick you up from the hotel for the Bosphorous Boat Trip at 1:30 pm and for the Gala Dinner at 7.30 pm. (This time table applies for Sultanahmet and Sirkeci area hotels and are stated as a reference. The optional tours time table may change according to the Schedule of the main tour.)
• I have heard from friends that the ferry crossings at Gallipoli can sometimes be very crowded. Will this affect travelling times and is there any risk of us missing the Anzac Day Commemorations?
• The ferry crossings between Eceabat (Gallipoli Peninsula) and Canakkale (Mainland) can be very busy during the Anzac Day period. Since we are a local company operating in Gallipoli, we have taken extra precautions in order to avoid any missing. Our tours cross to the Anzac Cove around 8 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• I am wondering if you have many people who travel alone on your tours? Also what are my options for accommodation?
• Every year we have many people (both male and female) who travel alone on our tours and it is a great way to meet new people. In regards to accommodation you can either pay more for a single room on your own or if you do not mind we can match you up with someone else who is travelling on their own and put you in a room max for 4 people.
• Do I need a Visa to visit Turkey?
• It depends on what passport that you are travelling to Turkey on. New Zealand passport holders do not need a visa and can go straight to passport control. Other passport holders are required to purchase a visa from the kiosk near passport control before proceeding through.
• How many people will be on my tour?
• It depends on the number of people on your particular tour but a group will be not be larger than 40 people.
• Which currency do I need for Turkey and do I need to Exchange Money before leaving home?
• The most common currency in Turkey is the TL (Turkish Lira) although other currencies are accepted in some shops and restaurants. We recommend for ease that you use the local currency when paying in cash but you can purchase many things on credit cards also. We advise all our passengers to carry some cash on them at all times for small purchases and paying for public toilets etc. At Ataturk International Airport when you arrive there are a number of ATM machines that can be used with cards that are set up to be used overseas. You may like to check with your bank before leaving home if your card is ready for international use.
• Do you have toilets on your buses and are there regular toilet stops during long journeys?
• Unfortunately it is not common to have toilets on buses in Turkey so it is very hard for us to provide. However we will have regular stops along the way so all passengers can use toilet facilities.
• I am booked on the 2 Day Anzac Tour and want to know where the pick up and drop off points are in Istanbul.
• The 2 Day Anzac Tour starts on the 24th April and all customers need to meet at 16:30am at Near the entrance to Haghia Sophia museum in Istanbul. Haghia Sophia is in the Sultanahmet Area and adjacent to the Blue Mosque and there is a large carpark there. Please look out for the anzacdayreservation signs once you arrive.
This point is also where you will be dropped off at the end of the tour on the evening of the 25th April. 2 Day Anzac Tour customers are responsible for making their own way to and from the meeting points.
• If I want to arrive in Istanbul earlier than my tour starts or stay later after the tour finishes can I arrange accommodation with your company?
• We can arrange both pre and post accommodation at our hotels in Istanbul, in Canakkale and in Kusadasi so if you would like to arrive early or stay later then please let us know and we can arrange that for you. It is best you let us know at time of booking but if you decide after booking then this can still be arranged subject to availability. Please do not arrive early without telling us and expect accommodation to be available because we cannot guarantee that. We can also arrange arrival airport transfers for our customers booking pre-tour accommodation.
• I have heard that it is common to leave your passports behind reception at hotels in Turkey. Is this really the case and is it safe to do so?
• By law, hotels are required to register your details with the authorities and it is therefore common place to leave your passport with reception and it can be collected either on departure or once this registration has been done. This is for your security and your passports are kept safe with reception staff so there is no need to worry.
• Do we need to give our guides and driver a tip at the end of the tour?
• Tipping is a big part of life in Turkey and the cost of your tour does not include any tips or displays of gratitude towards guides and coach drivers. If you have enjoyed your tour and the efforts of these people then please feel free to give them a tip. The amount is entirely up to you and usually one person will collect these on behalf of the people in your group.
• For those tours that arrive back in Istanbul on the evening of the 25th April, what time can we expect to arrive there?
• The arrival time back in Istanbul will vary depending on how busy the Gallipoli Peninsula is and the traffic back to Istanbul. Generally you can expect to arrive back to Istanbul between 7pm and 10pm.
• How far away are the Istanbul hotels from the airport in Istanbul?
• *Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is located on the European side of Istanbul and 15 km away from our hotels and the old city center Sultanahmet Area. Most major international flights arrive at Ataturk Airport.
*Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) is located on the Asian side of Istanbul and 60 km away from our hotels and the old city center Sultanahmet Area. Sabiha Gokcen Airport is used by mainly domestic flights and budget airlines such as Easy Jet and Pegasus Airlines.
• What if I am arriving by another form of transport other than air. How do I get to my hotel and meet my tour?
• If arriving in Istanbul by train, bus, ferry or car then you will need to make your own way to the Hotel to meet your tour. You will be provided with the Hotel name and address in early April so you can easily travel by taxi or metro from any point of entry to the hotel.
• Where do we stay on the night of the 24th April before the Dawn Service?
• We arrive at Gallipoli on the evening of the 24th and spend the night at Anzac Cove. There is temporary seating and a grassed area that you can sit on. Unfortunately every year people take up more room than they need to by either lying on the grass or over a number of seats in the seating area. The main organisers from the NZ, Australian & Turkish Governments do all they can to get people to move and make room for those arriving but we suggest that you should not be shy in asking one of your fellow countrymen to sit up or take up less room.
We strongly suggest you take warm clothes and maybe even a sleeping bag( hiring available at anzac cove) and blanket as a minimum. Once you arrive at Anzac Cove you will not have access to your luggage on the bus so you may like to take a small pack or bag with you with everything you will need until you can access your bags again in Eceabat/Istanbul or Edremit depending which tour you are on.
• How will we get back to our buses at the end of the day at Gallipoli?
• We are going to arrange a pick up point and we will let you know the meeting points on the bus. You will need to look out for our staff at our meeting point and make sure you are ready at the time they say. All the coaches from all tour companies will make their way up to the the pick up points in the order in which they arrived the night before and there is a very short time to get people on the buses. We ask people to be patient during this time as the timing of buses is completely out of our control.
• My tour finishes in Canakkale / Gallipoli, what do you suggest me to do?
• We have plenty of optional tours after the dawn service in Gallipoli. You can return back to Istanbul and enjoy our tours in Istanbul or stay longer in Canakkale and explore the site in detail, or join our on going Turkey Excursions, which can be ended in Kusaadasi, Antalya, Cappadocia, Ankara, Istanbul. Please send us an e-mail to info@anzacdayreservation.com for further alternatives with you conditions.
