Mr. Ufuk,
We thank you for the excellent job during our travel to Istanbul/Izmir. The outstanding guides you selected (Neslie and Ender) made our time well used and their tips for shopping and dinning were great. The selected hotels were at a convenient short walk to shops, restaurants and so on and reached our expectations. If anyone asks me, I’ll tell them to have Matiana’s assistance while visiting Turkey! By now, goodbye… I think we’ll meet again very soon.
Márcia & Paulo Tominaga
December 2010
Dear Ufuk,
We wish to thank you and Matiana Travel for enabling our stay in Turkey to be so memorable. From the greeting at Cairo Airport to seeing us on to the bus at Antakya to travel to Aleppo, the organization and execution were excellent. Nothing was too much trouble for our drivers and guides. The accommodation was generally very good, food very good and we were not expected to start too early in the mornings. We would particularly like to thank our excellent driver, Ibrahim. He is such a good driver and always so considerate. A real gentleman. Yeliz, our first guide was very obliging and filled our minds with lots of information in addition to answering our many questions. She was delightful. Gonja was good fun and helpful. We thought Hakkim in Antalya, was especially good and we were sorry to only spend one day with him. Your office in Goreme easily changed our arrangements from a night in Konya to Antakya. It was so much easier than we expected that we have decided travelling with a driver is the way to go in future. Thank you again for all your work and could you please ensure the enclosed photos reach the subjects with a big thank you to them all.
Regards
Lym and Ken Fraser
December 2010
Dear Owner of Matiana Travels,
We are very pleased with our travel arrangement via your company. We have Ozlem to thank for this as she worked very speedily and effectively at a very tight deadline. In addition, the tour guides in Istanbul and Cappadocia, Belgin and Ramazan (I hope I have got the names correctly) were professional in their work, experienced and gave us very good insight into your country's rich culture, both past and present. The meals were delicious and choice of hotels were excellent. We did not know what to expect when we came but now that we have been there, we know that we will be back to explore other parts of Turkey.
As a testimony to your good service, I have spoken to Ozlem and am recommending a good friend of ours to your company. We hope you will take care of her as you did us.
All the best to you and your company.
Best Regards,
Mrs Arvind MathurAnyway
Novemver 2010
Dear Ozlem,
We had such a wonderful experience in Cappadocia, thanks to you and your colleagues. It was beyond our expectations. We have been telling our family and friends about it and of course sharing how delighted we are with Matiana services. Regards,
Sophia Bate
Novemver 2010
Dear Ufuk,
Today is my last day in Cappadocia..in a few minutes I'm going to Istanbul to stay one more day and them I'm going to Rome and finally I'm going back to Rio.
t was a very nice trip, but Turkey was a special chapter in my trip! The little piece of the country (Istanbul + Capadocia) was enough to show me how is fascinating your people and culture. Here in Cappadocia we've a great time… including the 1st Balloon flight...it's very peaceful in the air...it's a little bit hard to describe in a few words. I met a lot of nice people here and for sure some of them will be present in mind for a long time and in my pictures for the rest of photo memory! Thanks a lot to help me in this trip!
The Museum Hotel is more then perfect.. it's a little piece of the paradise.. I travelled for a long time, for my luck I'd opportunity to stay in some top hotels, but I can assure that's in one of my favorites..it's very charming and the people .. specially in the restaurant are very polite and friendlily.. and of course very professional.. the Maitre has a very good energy and do the same with his team!
Thanks again I hope to see you in Rio some day!
PS: Ms Ozlem thanks for your support! The Dervishes was very nice!
Marcelo Portella
November 2010
Dear Mr. Ufuk,
Anyway I'm back from vacation. I'd like to thank you the attention and affection that my husband and I had of the entire staff of Matiana when our visit to Turkey. Everything was perfect on our stay. I'm sure we will make a good partnership going forward. Thanks again and see you soon.
Best Regards,
Lucia / Rodolpho
October 2010
Thank you for your offer of assistance. We had a wonderful time and will be sure to use Matiana on our next trip to Istanbul.
Jane and Mel
October 2010
Dear Ramazan,
I just arrived home from our wonderful trip through Greece and Turkey and wanted to drop you an email while the trip was still fresh in my memory. Our time in Cappadocia was outstanding thanks to your company and our guide, Ramazan. From the time we landed on Tuesday morning until the time we left Friday morning the efficiency of your company and the knowledge and helpfulness of Ramazan, made our trip a memorable one. Ramazan imparted his love of the area to us and made Cappadocia come alive.
Joy Licht
October 2010
Dear Ms. Mutlu,
My wife and I would like to start this email with the biggest TESEKKUR EDERIZ we can send to your company and to you personally for the attention and care in the delivery of the tour we contracted with your company. We specially want to thank you for making yourself available to us anytime ( day or night ) before and during the tour.
We had an absolutely fabulous time and the tour went without a hitch. We were specially pleased with our tour guide, Mr. Ibrahim and with our driver, Mr. Mikail (spelling?!). Sorry for not retaining their last names, however, we bonded so well during our trip that we were simply on a first name basis, just like old friends.
Our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable, very tunned into our needs and wants and always informative with an extreme sense of humor and care. He loves his job and it shows. He is passionate, well informed, sensitive to every client need and extremely supportive. Mr. Ibrahim's English is impeccable and his delivery is very amusing, while very informative. He chose some outstanding local restaurants for our lunches and gave us excellent recommendations for dinner. Our only complaint is that we sample so many of the authentic dishes of Turkey that we gained some weight.
Our driver was polite, attentive and excellent driver with safety in mind at all times. He anticipated when and where he needed to pick us up during various parts of our tour and throughout the day, always attempted to park the vehicle in the shade and have it ready for us with air conditioning so that we can board it in comfort.
We are already missing being with both our tour guide and our driver.
While the tour composition and length, the sites visited, the restaurant selection and the food, the tour guide and driver were excellent and exceeded our expectation. We believe the hotel is in an excellent location and is in the process of becoming an excellent boutique hotel. We found the personnel to be very carrying, attentive to our needs and very prompt in fixing items needed to be fix or helping us with the various questions and requests. Thank you again for the room upgrade - we received a mini suite that had a terrace with a great view and all the space and comforts anyone may require.
Once again, our many thanks for an excellent vacation. We thank Matiana Travel and to you personally for an outstanding tour and excellent value. We will refer you and Matiana to all our relatives and friends, who may be interested in touring Turkey and specially Cappadocia region and would be glad to serve as reference.
Best wishes to you and all at Matiana Travel,
Cornell Teoman,
September 2010
Dear Ufuk,
If I never told you – they had a fabulous time!! They liked everything you do – so congratulations!!
Diane Myers, Universal Travel/American Express
September 2010
Dear Ozlem,
Thank you so much in helping to make this such a special trip. The Museum Hotel exceeded our expectations. The rooms were exceptional as was the staff.
My husband and son enjoyed the hot air balloon ride, it was the highlight of their trip. The Cappadocia Complete tour was very professionally done. Our guide was patient and knowledgeable and spent much more time with us than we had anticipated. The whirling dervishes were a unique experience, glad we had the opportunity to see them in such a beautiful setting. The car rental afforded us some freedom to explore this region on our own. I would not hesitate to recommend Matiana, specifically to utilize your service at the agency. You helped to make our trip most memorable.
Thanks again,
Randi Pellmar
September 2010
Dear Ufuk,
I'm finally back home after a wonderful time in Europe. I need to say that we had a great experience in Turkey which is a beautiful country with very nice people. My husband and I enjoyed very much. Cem was exceptional and we had a nice day with him we were able to visit all the highlights and did a lot of things for one day! Thank you for your help and I’m sure I'll recommend your services to my friends. Turkey is now very popular in Brazil.
Kind Regards,
Carolina Opice, International Products Manager / HSBC Global Asset Management
September 2010
Dear Ufuk,
From the bottom of all 4 Fretz's hearts, we'd like to thank you for organizing the best trip that our family has ever taken. Eric and I started bringing the girls traveling when they were little because we wanted them to see that our world is full of different people, different ideas and cultures, yet we are all the same. Turkey was the epitome of diversity of culture, geography, sophistication and tolerance. The people were so friendly and proud of their country. We had such a wonderful time.
Matiana Travel made the trip effortless and seamless. The drivers were great, the guides excellent. In Cappadocia, I could have listened to Ali for weeks - he was such a wealth of knowledge- an historian, linguist, and philosopher- it was like taking a university course. We all had a special love for Cem because he was so friendly, eager and knowledgable.
Your choice of hotels was impeccable- I am very choosy- and I am happy to say that we share the same taste in accommodation! The highlights were the Museum Hotel (of course), the Manastir Hotel (they were so friendly and hospitable and the pool in the courtyard was idyllic), and the charming place in Sirince.
I would have changed nothing (other than stay longer and see more parts of your country.....but that is for next time....and I promise there will be a next time). I passed on your name/email/website to others already, so hopefully more Canadians will be coming your way.
Best to you and everybody at Matiana.
Michele Fretz
September 2010
Hello Ilke,
I want to thank you and Ufuk for our wonderful family trip to Turkey. The guides were wonderful, the history and ruins are amazing, the Turkish people were friendly and we loved the food. We were fortunate to have found a wonderful Turkish folk music café that we returned to the following night. The musicians, the singer and the audience who danced Turkish folk dances were enchanting. Unfortunately, we did not have time to travel to other parts of the country. Maybe next time. Regards,
Gail Auster
August 2010
Ozlem,
Thank you so much for your help with our trip! We had a wonderful time and hope to return again.
Kind Regards,
Dayne
August 2010
Omer and Ali,
Thank you much for your wonderful hospitality. Between you (Matiana Travel & Museum Hotel) and the Four Seasons we were able to see what a wonderful country you have, what brilliant, intelligent, hard working and kind people you have and how Turkey is poised for great success as the bridge between east and west…
Thanks,
Lisa and Candace
July 2010
Ibrahim was our guide while in Cappadocia. To say the least, he was one of the most genuine, nicest and knowledgeable guide I have had in a long time. We learned a lot from him and our 3 year old son, Kai, was treated by Ibrahim almost like his own son, playing, and carrying him all around. To this day, he remembers Ibrahim and mentions him every time we talk about Turkey and our great time there. Thank you Ibrahim!
William, Nancy, Kai Gaultier
July 2010
Dear Ozlem,
We would like to give you a feedback of Matiana's service, specifically our tourguide (Ibrahim) and the driver (captain - sorry we don't remember his name, but Ibrahim called him like that).
We have already travelled some times with private tourguides, but this was by far the best tourguide we ever had. Ibrahim is very well prepared. He knows everything about the sights we visited, local habits, cultures and 100 other things we would never find on guidebooks. Besides that, he also knows how to entertain and please his clients. Always pleased to help and give instructions. (Not to mention his English is much better than ours).
Captain (our driver) was also very kind, driving us safely all over Capadocia, inclusively picking us up for one day (off his working hours).
We can't forget also to mention the Chef from Museum Hotel’s Restaurant and his staff. They were very nice and made huge efforts to teach us some traditional ottoman recipes. The food came out perfectly and was the best farewell lunch we could ever have had.
Finally, we also have to thank you for the great assistance you gave us. From the beginning to the last minute (we won't forget the Turkish delight).
Matiana is a great travel agency because of all of you!!!!!
Kind Regards,
Andrea & Fabio Tichauer
Dear Matiana agency,
Last May 17th, 18th and 19th, we took advantage of the services provided by your agency in Cappadocia.
The team taking care of us was exceptional. We regret to ignore the name of the driver, he was very safe but not slow, obviously highly experimented. He had a real personality but was quite accommodating and flexible. He knew pretty well the region, made relevant proposals and accepted our specific wishes with perfect flexibility and good mood. The car was perfect.
Our guide, Ramazan Kacar, was the ideal guide we ever had. His culture was large and brilliant, but he did not insisted in giving explanations when we wanted to meditate silently, even for long periods. He sensed perfectly, without needing directions, what were our expectations, our mood, our desires. He made exactly the proposals adjusted to our wishes, but was not too directive and accepted with real pleasure our comments and directions. Our tours have been a complete success and delight because we were not stuck to a rigid program but allowed to introduce lots of variations accorded to our wishes. This allowed us in particular to evade crowds and tourist attractions loosing their charm and authenticity, and to focus on natural and human wonders as fascinating and much more touching.
Please accept this totally spontaneous comment, without any ulterior motive. You can make it public it if you wish, but please transmit our sincere thanks to the guide and driver who welcomed us so perfectly.
Best regards
Claude and Lucile CORNUAU
We'd like to thank you for all you did for us in Istanbul, for making the fabulous Cappadocia arrangements (booking our guide Ali, our stay at the Museum Hotel and the unforgettable balloon ride with the best pilot Lars), and for the helpful information you sent before we even arrived in Turkey. Your services were way beyond the call of duty - you made the city come alive for us in a very personal way. We especially appreciate how graciously you accommodated our minute-to-minute change of plans. We know this must have been a problem sometimes, but you never made us feel guilty! Thank you.
Julie Marshall
Dear Mr. Ali,
Now, we are back to Brazil again. Thank you so much for your attention and kindness to our group. You and your company are the best in Cappadocia. We hope see you soon.
Wilma e Andrea Turquino
Dear Ozlem,
We arrived home safely! Just wanted to drop a quick note to thank you (again) for the wonderfully arranged trip and the fantastic memories we now have of Turkey. Of course , who can forget the many friends we made along the way too!
Avon Neo
Dear Ufuk,
We want to take the opportunity to thank Matiana travel for the fine job they did with our organized tours in both Cappadocia and Kusadasi. Special thanks to our tour guide Ramadan and the driver who were both wonderful, my husband Nishith and I cannot thank them enough, they were extremely well informed, courteous and helpful throughout making our trip very memorable indeed.
Thank you
Suman Bhattacharyya
Dear Ufuk,
Istanbul is an amazing city, but it was you, Ufuk, that made our visit unforgettable. We were only there for a couple of days and yet somehow you managed to send us home with so many invaluable experiences, interesting stories and rich impressions of the city. You made a great program for us, combining the famous touristic sites with a more personal tour of the city. When we booked a guide for our stay in Turkey, we were expecting a "tourist guide". You were so much more for us, perhaps something like a very 'enthusiastic, professional, devoted, local friend'. Perfect!
Anneke & Asher ALTMAN
Dear Ufuk,
Thank you for your follow-up note. We did indeed have a wonderful time in your beautiful country. It was truly a pleasure working with the Matiana team. From our first contact with you, we felt we had the best advice possible. Matiana made arrangements for us that resulted in a visit we will remember always.
We especially appreciated the ways the Matiana team went the extra mile in helping us. These kinds of help with the unanticipated challenges of travel are what set your team apart from most travel companies. We really appreciated it. For example, when we encountered complications with the visa documents of one of our party, it was enormously reassuring to have an immediate response from your team about our options for addressing those problems. We felt like we had a friend in our corner when we were half-way around the world and needed help.
The accommodations were superb and it was very helpful to have the benefit of your experience in choosing them. We loved the Museum Hotel. It was spectacular. It is one of the finest and most distinctive hotels we have ever visited. Your teams help with flights and airport transfers, including transportation on our tours, made travel very pleasant. It also allowed our 92 year old with mobility problems to get the most out of the trip, including the special cruise--another case of your team going the extra mile..
The guides on the Matiana team were extraordinarily well-informed and personable. It added immeasurably to our enjoyment to have such excellent sources of information and insight. Again, we felt that we had made new friends that we will long remember.
Please know that we would love to return to Turkey and be assured that we will definitely call on the Matiana team to assist us.
Best regards,
Margaret Dise, Mikol and Rebecca Dise and Susan Wisely
Dear Matiana Travel,
Thank you for the wonderful trip I've just completed in Turkey. Your Operations Manager Ufuk helped me with kind advice from the beginning. Thank you Ufuk for the interesting itinerary. I feel that in a short time I was able to get to know some people, your rich culture and proud heritage. Ufuk and Ali provided excellent guiding and deeply felt personal insights to everyday Turkish life. Mr. Tosun it was a great pleasure meeting you, and thank you for your patient guidance with choosing a carpet that will always remind me of the great times I've spent in your wonderful country.
Judit Mandi
Ufuk,
Gaby and I can't thank you enough for all your planning and organization for our recent trip to Turkey. We surely got the most out of our 8 days in country. Starting with the wonderful hotels we stayed in, the sights we visited and the guides you provided made this trip very special. Based on your recommendation, I even took my first hot air balloon ride. Seeing the Cappadocia landscape from the air was amazing. Thanks for suggesting that.
We would not have seen so many wonderful historical places without your planning.
We would definitely recommend your services to others.
Thanks again for a great trip!
Rich Sulpizio
Dear Ufuk,
We are home again after our holiday. We've had a wonderful holiday in Turkey. We especially liked Cappadocia and Istanbul. We're sure we'll return to Cappadocia again. We want to thank you for your efforts to give us a wonderful holiday in Cappadocia. We really appreciated your phone call when we were sheltering in the thunder storm. Thank you again for your efforts regarding the gluten-free diet of my son. We found that the restaurants were very helpful.
I wish you all the best.
Kind regards,
Coby van Zaal
Dear Ufuk,
I should have written to you and Ibrahim to thank you very much for everything you did for us. It was one of my best vacations in my life. We loved the days in Istanbul and Cappadocia. We loved the Museum Hotel and made some friends in the neighborhood. I will be back soon, you can be sure of that.
Francisco Lima
Hello Ufuk
Hannah, Peter and Emily all say hello!!
Your excellent pre trip suggestions and customization allowed us to carefully coordinate and create a relevant and timely itinerary.
Traveling as a Dad with three inquisitive but of varied interests teenagers who have had passports since they were each six months old can be daunting at times.
You created the perfect daily mix of culture, religion, history, daily life, culinary delights and of course some shopping.
Your teaching through stories and anecdotes rather than mere fact telling made the history come alive for us and gave my kids a stronger basis of understanding.
You were a charismatic, knowledgeable, articulate and wonderful ambassador and guide of your country.
Regards
The Bozians
Dear Ufuk,
We really felt Matiana was so very professional, responded quickly to our correspondence via email and most of all - listened to our requests and supplied all the greatest guides one could hope for. The hotels were very satisfactory. The best was The Museum Hotel in Cappadocia which I found independently.
Lewis Clan
Dear Ufuk,
Overall a fantastic trip! We’d love to return to Turkey, largely because Matiana Travel made our experience so pleasant. We would highly recommend Matiana Travel services to anyone planning on going to Turkey. Ufuk demonstrated great patience, attentiveness, and thoughtfulness during the planning of our trip – especially with all our many changes. He made sure that our trip was everything we wanted – and more.
Warmest regards,
Lloyd and Darcy Campbell
Awh Ibo!!!!! We miss you already! Thank you so much for giving us 150% all day everyday! This trip was truly, the best ever, largely do to all of your efforts and wonderful attitude! Don’t ever change! We will never forget you or our wonderful experience there with you. I wish all the best for you.
MJ Day, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2009 Photo Shots Cappadocia
We traveled to Turkey in March 2009 with our 14 year old son. We wanted to experience the culture and history of Turkey during Spring Break. Matiana Travel put together an absolutely delightful and interesting tour for us. We experienced different types of hotels, the uniqueness of the culture, the wonderful history, and amazing topography. I would readily recommend Matiana Travel to anyone planning a tour of this beautiful country.
The Barker Family
I have been meaning to write to you and thank you for organizing such a tremendous holiday for us, but we enjoyed ourselves so much and came back in such a rested state that I have put a lot of things on a long to do it and just relaxed.
However our life is now returning to normal and we are catching up on our promises.
Firstly planning such a specialized holiday is very time consuming but with your expert help it was a very enjoyable one.
My wife Maire is an archaeologist and has a keen interest in Geology and so as a present for her special birthday I had the idea that a visit to Catalhoyuk, the oldest known city in the world be a fitting present and to find that it was so close to other great archaeological sites and the geology of Cappadocia, would be a great present.
We wonted an independent tour as there are no tours available that suited our needs and finding Matiana travel was a gift from the Gods.
You were very patient and helpful. It must have appeared strange to you that we kept changing our minds so often, we were so unsure of what we wanted. With your help it turned into one of the holidays of a lifetime.
Looking back there is only one thing that I would have organized differently, To have flown into Konya on day 1. instead of flying into Ankara, and visiting Geordon on the last day. That said it was great to see the fertile plain between Geordion and Konya.
You provided us with a great guide/driver in Ali. Such a helpful intelligent and knowledgeable guide we have rarely encountered. At ever stop he was able to strike up a rappore with the local caretakers and they gave us a guided tour which may magic with Ali's translation.
He also surprised us when he brought us to the museum in Corum. It is a hidden treasure housed in a beautiful building.
We got to visit the archaeological sites in Gordion, Catalhoyuk, Kultepe+ Karum and Hatusa-Yazilkaya. See the wonder Cappadocia , stay in the best hotel room that we have ever been in in the Museum Hotel actually in a cave room with windows looking over the wonderful landscape that is Cappadocia. We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary in the best honeymoon hotel room in the world. The food in the hotel was of the highest order.
Last night we saw a documentary on the television about the Hitites and their capital of Hattusas. It brought back memories of our visit and gave us a very warm feeling.
We hope to go back to Turkey in the next few years to visit the better known sites in the West.
We consider ourselves to have been extremely lucky to have seen such a beautiful part of the world before it becomes better known and full of tourists.
Again thanks for all your help.
David and Maire
I hope everything went fine at the weeding day.
I make Ana's words my words and I would add that you really WOW us as you propose on your website. Matiana really made the difference in our trip!!!
We got very much positively surprised with Turkey and moreover to the organization of every detail of our trip. We could experience different facets of the country and I hope I can go back soon to find some others and without any doubt I will contact Matiana.
With such a nice experience, the least we can think, like Ana said, is to partner with you here and foment the business in this niche.
Attached please find the form completed.
Kind regards,
Silvia
Should I begin this with my childhood song: "Anne, ma soeur Anne, ne vois-tu rien venir?" It would be fitting, as I am looking forward to you helping us prepare our next Turkey chapter.
The survey envelope came back with us, because the guy at the Nena Hotel Desk would not take it, and our transfer drivers that day did not speak any English. It is a good thing because it forces me to keep in touch.
*Should you ever need someone in the US to give you a reference, please do not hesitate to contact me or Patty at anytime.
*In the early 80s I was a Tour Operator, and we were really good. The quality of your pre trip services and your attention to details were the best I encountered in the industry. The best bar none.
*Our tickets for Bejart at the Ataturk Cultural Center in Istanbul could not have better if we had ordered ourselves.
*Your courteous approach to my demanding and exacting requests was met with grace and a helpful eye.
*Your knowledge of Turkey is primo.
*Ali, our guide was funny and helpful. We all enjoyed his company and would probably want to organize a tour of tour Ottoman era and Mosque and other purely Turkish historic sites, based on Ali being our guide.
*Our driver was excellent and patient. Too bad we did not know a rudiment of Turkish to communicate with him.
*Omer's brief review of carpet making and what to look for in acquiring a tapis or rug was so short. The man is so knowledgeable we wanted more, more and more time with him, and would have definitely drunk more tea just to learn. Together we purchase a few rugs. Patty and I got 2.
*The first night at the Nena was special, really special. I want 2 of their plush towels. And a permanent seat at the balcony to look at the Sultanahmet in the evening.
*The only hotel we found a tad bit too rustic was the hostel in Egirdir, but the view of the lake and an opportunity to watch the sun come up on the lake made up for the cold water shower. Brrr.
*Still need the name of the village up the road and would appreciate Ali telling us via email.
*Overall you get a momo (my nickname) SUPERBE, MAGNIFIQUE.
Now on a few things not related to the survey.
*The hotel in Izmir is on our list of place to return to. These ladies are absolutely graceful.
*The hotel in Bursa is on our return to list.
*Ilke was truly cute and helpful. Please tell him that I went to Ayan Ebru and purchased some natural pigments. Also tell him that his mother replied to my request and my response to her is my next email. I will be coming to Antalya to study with her in the next year 2008.
*The food in the villages was unequalled. We purchased seeds at the Spice Market to try growing the Turkish vegetables in our garden, particularly the tomatoes and the eggplants.. Unfortunately we cannot make yogurt like the one we purchased on the boat toward the last stop of the Bosphorus cruise. *I came to Turkey for: rugs, photography, and the fairy chimneys, I fell in love with the people and left too soon.
*Turkey is our 2010 vacation destination. Not sure you are interested, but when my photos are on flicker, I will send you a link. And I hope you are willing to help us with our next Turkey trip. Again, Merci d'avoir partagé votre connaissance de la Turquie avec nous et surtout merci de votre galanterie. Sincèrement;
Monique
I can't thank you enough for the wonderful vacation you planned for us. You are definitely five star. You understood what we wanted almost as if you knew us. There was no pressure and it was a pleasure dealing with you.
We have wonderful memories of every destination. All of the hotels have a special flavor in their own way.
The Sultanhan was very hospitable; the staff could not do enough to keep us happy. We had a wonderful brunch there even though it was between hours; they fixed up a special meal with tea on our arrival. Our dinner there was exceptional. Food and service as well as ambiance was wonderful.
Kalkan was amazing, what a beautiful village. The sea was exceptional. Villa Mahal was definitely 5 stars. Beautiful room and grounds, great food, breathtaking views. It was a very relaxing place. Good way to start the vacation as we were very tired. We fully charged the batteries there.
Fethiye was another beautiful village, almost a city really. We loved the marina area as well as the sights and ruins we visited. Paradise Garden was warm, friendly and very accommodating. Grounds were beautiful and the view of Oludeniz was spectacular we felt as if we were guests at a relatives home.
They learned that we loved Latino music and prepared a special Latino theme evening of dancing starting at 9:30 PM at the pool bar. Music and much guest mingling proved to be a party till 4:00 AM! Our first day there, the chef drove us to the Oludeniz lagoon and later picked us up. It was as if our uncle was taking us! Our last night we ate in Fethiye because we had shopping to do and were running late. We got back to Paradise Garden around midnight to find our friends waiting for us to have a night cap and mingle. Although we had not packed and were leaving early in the morning we stayed and of course got to sleep at 3:00 AM, but it was worth it. Robert was crowned "Eniste" in Fethiye!
Istanbul, my favorite city in the world never disappointed us. Ciragan Palace was excellent. The room was beautiful and it was hard to leave the terrace with the views of the Bosphorus. Beautiful ships, boats, sail boats, ferries all added to decorating the magnificent Strait. Our only disappointment was the Tugra restaurant. Food and service did not hold up to what it was 13 years ago. It seemed rushed and the taste of the food was not the excellent Turkish food we had had there.
The transfers you provided us with were always on time and professional, thank you.
Korfez was excellent.
Feriye restaurant was amazing. I went there 3 times with my aunt and niece; each night was more enchanting than the one before.
My only regret is that I did not get a chance to meet you. I was really rushed with visiting family I had not seen in 13 years.
Hopefully the next trip. I am attaching a picture taken in Kalkan (Trio Restaurant); we can sort of meet this way!
Thank You So Much. From beginning to end you and your staff were so pleasant to work with and you made possible a vacation that we will remember forever. It was perfect!
I'll keep the Boutique Style reference, although I can't imagine anyone coming close to the experience we had with you.
Sag ol, we will keep in touch. Best regards to Ufuk and Ilke as well.
Fulya Ziegler
We returned to India last night.
I must thank you for your planning and assistance for our stay in Turkey. Everything went off well and we had a very enjoyable trip.
I must compliment you on your quick responses and attention to every detail and query. Both the tour leaders were very good, especially Fatih in Istanbul. Finally the itinerary and hotels worked out very well.
Thanks again
Vivek
Thank you all very much for our recent trip to Turkey. This was our second trip to Turkey within a year. Our first trip was a general and wide ranging tour of a large area. On this trip we went back to the areas we enjoyed the most. Those areas were Istanbul and Cappadocia.
All of our travel arrangements were executed on time and professionally. You did not miss any details.
Our guides were excellent. We enjoyed Cem in Istanbul. He was knowledgeable and fun to be with. He took us shopping for some household items such as a Turkish double boiler tea pot on the street in Istanbul that sells tea pots to locals. We can't buy that type of tea pot in the US and the online shops wanted three times as much. Ali in Uchisar was excellent. He is very "laid back" which was perfect for this trip where we were visiting the areas that we did not see on our first trip. I particularly enjoyed the walk down the Ihlara valley. We wanted to obtain some kitchen items and Ali took us back to the pottery shop we went to last time in Avanos. We compared prices before we left and found that we could purchase items hand crafted in Avanos for less that factory patterned in the US.
The hotels were very good. The Museum Hotel was excellent again in both service and atmosphere.
We visited Omer and the Indigo Gallery. Omer is much more pleasant to deal with than the carpet dealers in the standard tourist stops. The quality of the inventory is better as well.
Our second trip was different in that we knew the country and the people a little better. We knew what to expect. We knew at least a few of the tourist scam vendors and avoided them. Once again the best part of Turkey is the people. Those who have ever traveled in Europe will be astounded to find a country where the people seem to actually want visitors. I don't just mean those in the tourist industry, I mean the general population.
At the current time we are mapping out some ideas for our next trip which will most likely be to the Black Sea and eastern Turkey region. We will spend some time doing research and when we have a general idea of what we want to do and when we will contact you again.
Thank you all
John and Karen Le Neve
Hope you are both doing well. I would like to thank you for helping me arrange a wonderful & a very memorable trip. It was nice meeting you.
Ali – we had a wonderful time with you in Cappadocia, thank you for an entertaining tour & the interesting conversations that we had during our stay there. It was nice meeting you.
Thank you once again for making our trip very special and enjoyable.
Sincerely,
Pinakin & Karishma
I would like to thank you very very much for your PERFECT organization!! Everything of our beautiful holiday in Istanbul has been absolutely perfect! The driver was very kind and polite; Mr. Ufuk was very precise and very polite and the guide was very well prepared and professional.
Should other of my friends decide to come to Istanbul, I will recommend them to contact you!! Thank you again for everything and many compliments for your professionalism!!!
Kind regards.
Laura Mucci
Words cannot describe the holiday that my mother and I had in Turkey. We both had a magnificent time and it was all thanks to you and your professionalism with putting the whole trip together which left us to enjoy a hassle free holiday. My favorite part of the trip was the cruise. The food was to die for and the staffs were amazing. Most importantly though; my mother had the holiday of a lifetime. I told her on our last night that I had bought the trip as a present for her and she was thrilled (and a bit cross that I had kept it from her). I wouldn't have changed a thing about the trip and return with NO complaints! I am indeed singing your praises. Thank you once again for a memorable journey through Turkey.
Kate Harrod
We just got home and we are still recovering from the long trip home. We can say without hesitation that our visit to Cappadocia was a wonderful and a most enjoyable experience. We were delighted with the style and comfort of our stay there. Our guide’s knowledge about the area and all the information that he conveyed to us made for a very memorable trip. We were very pleased with both the driver and the guide. We thank you and your team for taking such good care of us. Many thanks again to all of you.
Best regards,
Lynn and Meir
The service provided by you and your colleagues at Matiana Travel and the Museum Hotel was exemplary. The highlight to our trip to Turkey was most definitely in the Cappadocia region. A special thanks to our guide and the tours organized by Matiana Travel, with your assistance. I will recommend your services to anyone who asks.
Best regards and happy holidays,
Adam Schmidt
It does feel good to be home. However, my trip was extraordinarily successful. I loved Turkey. Cappadocia was a fascinating and unique experience. I think your services were perfect, exactly what I expected. We were treated very well. If your guide and/or driver felt there was any problem, it was not in any way under their control. I was extremely tired on Thursday and suffering from a sudden allergy attack. If I seemed less than enthusiastic about the day's activities, it was because of that and not anything else.
Emily Tannen
First I would like to thank you again for handling all of my requests so swiftly. I absolutely loved Istanbul! It was such a wonderful trip and I feel like you are partly responsible for that. I didn't even think to request a female guide and I thought it was extremely considerate of you to think of this. I had no real knowledge of Istanbul or Turkish history or architecture before this trip and I cannot believe how much I learned. Her English was amazing and she was so nice... I really felt like I was sightseeing with a friend! The trip was truly wonderful and I felt very safe and well looked after the entire time. I will most definitely pass your name along to friends who are visiting Turkey because I felt you provided such a good service. Many thanks again... I look forward to my next visit!
Tesekkur ederim,
Kristina Sekula
I wanted to pass my traveling experience on to other travelers about the wonderful time we had under Matiana Travel’s care while in Turkey. It was truly a special experience and it wouldn't have been possible without the Matiana team working so hard for us! Every person we came in contact with was friendly, professional and very helpful. They have an excellent network!
Joe De Lise
I wanted to say hello and thank you for all your help. We were very pleased with the whole arrangement- the hotels were nice, the service was excellent and we were happy to be in Turkey for a week.
Janet Nenkova
Thank you for arranging a lovely holiday for us we really appreciated it very much, We especially thank you for putting us into the lovely little hotels that we so like home, the people were so friendly and kind to us and pampered us to the extreme.
Mary Owen
Excellent service, great guides, wonderful hotels. The tailored itinerary was perfect, Matiana arranged for us to see everything we asked for. Definitely a wonderful experience.
Pam Harris
http://www.matiana.com/travel_testimonials.htm
Márcia & Paulo Tominaga
December 2010
Dear Ufuk,
We wish to thank you and Matiana Travel for enabling our stay in Turkey to be so memorable. From the greeting at Cairo Airport to seeing us on to the bus at Antakya to travel to Aleppo, the organization and execution were excellent. Nothing was too much trouble for our drivers and guides. The accommodation was generally very good, food very good and we were not expected to start too early in the mornings. We would particularly like to thank our excellent driver, Ibrahim. He is such a good driver and always so considerate. A real gentleman. Yeliz, our first guide was very obliging and filled our minds with lots of information in addition to answering our many questions. She was delightful. Gonja was good fun and helpful. We thought Hakkim in Antalya, was especially good and we were sorry to only spend one day with him. Your office in Goreme easily changed our arrangements from a night in Konya to Antakya. It was so much easier than we expected that we have decided travelling with a driver is the way to go in future. Thank you again for all your work and could you please ensure the enclosed photos reach the subjects with a big thank you to them all.
Regards
Lym and Ken Fraser
December 2010
Dear Owner of Matiana Travels,
We are very pleased with our travel arrangement via your company. We have Ozlem to thank for this as she worked very speedily and effectively at a very tight deadline. In addition, the tour guides in Istanbul and Cappadocia, Belgin and Ramazan (I hope I have got the names correctly) were professional in their work, experienced and gave us very good insight into your country's rich culture, both past and present. The meals were delicious and choice of hotels were excellent. We did not know what to expect when we came but now that we have been there, we know that we will be back to explore other parts of Turkey.
As a testimony to your good service, I have spoken to Ozlem and am recommending a good friend of ours to your company. We hope you will take care of her as you did us.
All the best to you and your company.
Best Regards,
Mrs Arvind MathurAnyway
Novemver 2010
Dear Ozlem,
We had such a wonderful experience in Cappadocia, thanks to you and your colleagues. It was beyond our expectations. We have been telling our family and friends about it and of course sharing how delighted we are with Matiana services. Regards,
Sophia Bate
Novemver 2010
Dear Ufuk,
Today is my last day in Cappadocia..in a few minutes I'm going to Istanbul to stay one more day and them I'm going to Rome and finally I'm going back to Rio.
t was a very nice trip, but Turkey was a special chapter in my trip! The little piece of the country (Istanbul + Capadocia) was enough to show me how is fascinating your people and culture. Here in Cappadocia we've a great time… including the 1st Balloon flight...it's very peaceful in the air...it's a little bit hard to describe in a few words. I met a lot of nice people here and for sure some of them will be present in mind for a long time and in my pictures for the rest of photo memory! Thanks a lot to help me in this trip!
The Museum Hotel is more then perfect.. it's a little piece of the paradise.. I travelled for a long time, for my luck I'd opportunity to stay in some top hotels, but I can assure that's in one of my favorites..it's very charming and the people .. specially in the restaurant are very polite and friendlily.. and of course very professional.. the Maitre has a very good energy and do the same with his team!
Thanks again I hope to see you in Rio some day!
PS: Ms Ozlem thanks for your support! The Dervishes was very nice!
Marcelo Portella
November 2010
Dear Mr. Ufuk,
Anyway I'm back from vacation. I'd like to thank you the attention and affection that my husband and I had of the entire staff of Matiana when our visit to Turkey. Everything was perfect on our stay. I'm sure we will make a good partnership going forward. Thanks again and see you soon.
Best Regards,
Lucia / Rodolpho
October 2010
Thank you for your offer of assistance. We had a wonderful time and will be sure to use Matiana on our next trip to Istanbul.
Jane and Mel
October 2010
Dear Ramazan,
I just arrived home from our wonderful trip through Greece and Turkey and wanted to drop you an email while the trip was still fresh in my memory. Our time in Cappadocia was outstanding thanks to your company and our guide, Ramazan. From the time we landed on Tuesday morning until the time we left Friday morning the efficiency of your company and the knowledge and helpfulness of Ramazan, made our trip a memorable one. Ramazan imparted his love of the area to us and made Cappadocia come alive.
Joy Licht
October 2010
Dear Ms. Mutlu,
My wife and I would like to start this email with the biggest TESEKKUR EDERIZ we can send to your company and to you personally for the attention and care in the delivery of the tour we contracted with your company. We specially want to thank you for making yourself available to us anytime ( day or night ) before and during the tour.
We had an absolutely fabulous time and the tour went without a hitch. We were specially pleased with our tour guide, Mr. Ibrahim and with our driver, Mr. Mikail (spelling?!). Sorry for not retaining their last names, however, we bonded so well during our trip that we were simply on a first name basis, just like old friends.
Our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable, very tunned into our needs and wants and always informative with an extreme sense of humor and care. He loves his job and it shows. He is passionate, well informed, sensitive to every client need and extremely supportive. Mr. Ibrahim's English is impeccable and his delivery is very amusing, while very informative. He chose some outstanding local restaurants for our lunches and gave us excellent recommendations for dinner. Our only complaint is that we sample so many of the authentic dishes of Turkey that we gained some weight.
Our driver was polite, attentive and excellent driver with safety in mind at all times. He anticipated when and where he needed to pick us up during various parts of our tour and throughout the day, always attempted to park the vehicle in the shade and have it ready for us with air conditioning so that we can board it in comfort.
We are already missing being with both our tour guide and our driver.
While the tour composition and length, the sites visited, the restaurant selection and the food, the tour guide and driver were excellent and exceeded our expectation. We believe the hotel is in an excellent location and is in the process of becoming an excellent boutique hotel. We found the personnel to be very carrying, attentive to our needs and very prompt in fixing items needed to be fix or helping us with the various questions and requests. Thank you again for the room upgrade - we received a mini suite that had a terrace with a great view and all the space and comforts anyone may require.
Once again, our many thanks for an excellent vacation. We thank Matiana Travel and to you personally for an outstanding tour and excellent value. We will refer you and Matiana to all our relatives and friends, who may be interested in touring Turkey and specially Cappadocia region and would be glad to serve as reference.
Best wishes to you and all at Matiana Travel,
Cornell Teoman,
September 2010
Dear Ufuk,
If I never told you – they had a fabulous time!! They liked everything you do – so congratulations!!
Diane Myers, Universal Travel/American Express
September 2010
Dear Ozlem,
Thank you so much in helping to make this such a special trip. The Museum Hotel exceeded our expectations. The rooms were exceptional as was the staff.
My husband and son enjoyed the hot air balloon ride, it was the highlight of their trip. The Cappadocia Complete tour was very professionally done. Our guide was patient and knowledgeable and spent much more time with us than we had anticipated. The whirling dervishes were a unique experience, glad we had the opportunity to see them in such a beautiful setting. The car rental afforded us some freedom to explore this region on our own. I would not hesitate to recommend Matiana, specifically to utilize your service at the agency. You helped to make our trip most memorable.
Thanks again,
Randi Pellmar
September 2010
Dear Ufuk,
I'm finally back home after a wonderful time in Europe. I need to say that we had a great experience in Turkey which is a beautiful country with very nice people. My husband and I enjoyed very much. Cem was exceptional and we had a nice day with him we were able to visit all the highlights and did a lot of things for one day! Thank you for your help and I’m sure I'll recommend your services to my friends. Turkey is now very popular in Brazil.
Kind Regards,
Carolina Opice, International Products Manager / HSBC Global Asset Management
September 2010
Dear Ufuk,
From the bottom of all 4 Fretz's hearts, we'd like to thank you for organizing the best trip that our family has ever taken. Eric and I started bringing the girls traveling when they were little because we wanted them to see that our world is full of different people, different ideas and cultures, yet we are all the same. Turkey was the epitome of diversity of culture, geography, sophistication and tolerance. The people were so friendly and proud of their country. We had such a wonderful time.
Matiana Travel made the trip effortless and seamless. The drivers were great, the guides excellent. In Cappadocia, I could have listened to Ali for weeks - he was such a wealth of knowledge- an historian, linguist, and philosopher- it was like taking a university course. We all had a special love for Cem because he was so friendly, eager and knowledgable.
Your choice of hotels was impeccable- I am very choosy- and I am happy to say that we share the same taste in accommodation! The highlights were the Museum Hotel (of course), the Manastir Hotel (they were so friendly and hospitable and the pool in the courtyard was idyllic), and the charming place in Sirince.
I would have changed nothing (other than stay longer and see more parts of your country.....but that is for next time....and I promise there will be a next time). I passed on your name/email/website to others already, so hopefully more Canadians will be coming your way.
Best to you and everybody at Matiana.
Michele Fretz
September 2010
Hello Ilke,
I want to thank you and Ufuk for our wonderful family trip to Turkey. The guides were wonderful, the history and ruins are amazing, the Turkish people were friendly and we loved the food. We were fortunate to have found a wonderful Turkish folk music café that we returned to the following night. The musicians, the singer and the audience who danced Turkish folk dances were enchanting. Unfortunately, we did not have time to travel to other parts of the country. Maybe next time. Regards,
Gail Auster
August 2010
Ozlem,
Thank you so much for your help with our trip! We had a wonderful time and hope to return again.
Kind Regards,
Dayne
August 2010
Omer and Ali,
Thank you much for your wonderful hospitality. Between you (Matiana Travel & Museum Hotel) and the Four Seasons we were able to see what a wonderful country you have, what brilliant, intelligent, hard working and kind people you have and how Turkey is poised for great success as the bridge between east and west…
Thanks,
Lisa and Candace
July 2010
Ibrahim was our guide while in Cappadocia. To say the least, he was one of the most genuine, nicest and knowledgeable guide I have had in a long time. We learned a lot from him and our 3 year old son, Kai, was treated by Ibrahim almost like his own son, playing, and carrying him all around. To this day, he remembers Ibrahim and mentions him every time we talk about Turkey and our great time there. Thank you Ibrahim!
William, Nancy, Kai Gaultier
July 2010
Dear Ozlem,
We would like to give you a feedback of Matiana's service, specifically our tourguide (Ibrahim) and the driver (captain - sorry we don't remember his name, but Ibrahim called him like that).
We have already travelled some times with private tourguides, but this was by far the best tourguide we ever had. Ibrahim is very well prepared. He knows everything about the sights we visited, local habits, cultures and 100 other things we would never find on guidebooks. Besides that, he also knows how to entertain and please his clients. Always pleased to help and give instructions. (Not to mention his English is much better than ours).
Captain (our driver) was also very kind, driving us safely all over Capadocia, inclusively picking us up for one day (off his working hours).
We can't forget also to mention the Chef from Museum Hotel’s Restaurant and his staff. They were very nice and made huge efforts to teach us some traditional ottoman recipes. The food came out perfectly and was the best farewell lunch we could ever have had.
Finally, we also have to thank you for the great assistance you gave us. From the beginning to the last minute (we won't forget the Turkish delight).
Matiana is a great travel agency because of all of you!!!!!
Kind Regards,
Andrea & Fabio Tichauer
Dear Matiana agency,
Last May 17th, 18th and 19th, we took advantage of the services provided by your agency in Cappadocia.
The team taking care of us was exceptional. We regret to ignore the name of the driver, he was very safe but not slow, obviously highly experimented. He had a real personality but was quite accommodating and flexible. He knew pretty well the region, made relevant proposals and accepted our specific wishes with perfect flexibility and good mood. The car was perfect.
Our guide, Ramazan Kacar, was the ideal guide we ever had. His culture was large and brilliant, but he did not insisted in giving explanations when we wanted to meditate silently, even for long periods. He sensed perfectly, without needing directions, what were our expectations, our mood, our desires. He made exactly the proposals adjusted to our wishes, but was not too directive and accepted with real pleasure our comments and directions. Our tours have been a complete success and delight because we were not stuck to a rigid program but allowed to introduce lots of variations accorded to our wishes. This allowed us in particular to evade crowds and tourist attractions loosing their charm and authenticity, and to focus on natural and human wonders as fascinating and much more touching.
Please accept this totally spontaneous comment, without any ulterior motive. You can make it public it if you wish, but please transmit our sincere thanks to the guide and driver who welcomed us so perfectly.
Best regards
Claude and Lucile CORNUAU
We'd like to thank you for all you did for us in Istanbul, for making the fabulous Cappadocia arrangements (booking our guide Ali, our stay at the Museum Hotel and the unforgettable balloon ride with the best pilot Lars), and for the helpful information you sent before we even arrived in Turkey. Your services were way beyond the call of duty - you made the city come alive for us in a very personal way. We especially appreciate how graciously you accommodated our minute-to-minute change of plans. We know this must have been a problem sometimes, but you never made us feel guilty! Thank you.
Julie Marshall
Dear Mr. Ali,
Now, we are back to Brazil again. Thank you so much for your attention and kindness to our group. You and your company are the best in Cappadocia. We hope see you soon.
Wilma e Andrea Turquino
Dear Ozlem,
We arrived home safely! Just wanted to drop a quick note to thank you (again) for the wonderfully arranged trip and the fantastic memories we now have of Turkey. Of course , who can forget the many friends we made along the way too!
Avon Neo
Dear Ufuk,
We want to take the opportunity to thank Matiana travel for the fine job they did with our organized tours in both Cappadocia and Kusadasi. Special thanks to our tour guide Ramadan and the driver who were both wonderful, my husband Nishith and I cannot thank them enough, they were extremely well informed, courteous and helpful throughout making our trip very memorable indeed.
Thank you
Suman Bhattacharyya
Dear Ufuk,
Istanbul is an amazing city, but it was you, Ufuk, that made our visit unforgettable. We were only there for a couple of days and yet somehow you managed to send us home with so many invaluable experiences, interesting stories and rich impressions of the city. You made a great program for us, combining the famous touristic sites with a more personal tour of the city. When we booked a guide for our stay in Turkey, we were expecting a "tourist guide". You were so much more for us, perhaps something like a very 'enthusiastic, professional, devoted, local friend'. Perfect!
Anneke & Asher ALTMAN
Dear Ufuk,
Thank you for your follow-up note. We did indeed have a wonderful time in your beautiful country. It was truly a pleasure working with the Matiana team. From our first contact with you, we felt we had the best advice possible. Matiana made arrangements for us that resulted in a visit we will remember always.
We especially appreciated the ways the Matiana team went the extra mile in helping us. These kinds of help with the unanticipated challenges of travel are what set your team apart from most travel companies. We really appreciated it. For example, when we encountered complications with the visa documents of one of our party, it was enormously reassuring to have an immediate response from your team about our options for addressing those problems. We felt like we had a friend in our corner when we were half-way around the world and needed help.
The accommodations were superb and it was very helpful to have the benefit of your experience in choosing them. We loved the Museum Hotel. It was spectacular. It is one of the finest and most distinctive hotels we have ever visited. Your teams help with flights and airport transfers, including transportation on our tours, made travel very pleasant. It also allowed our 92 year old with mobility problems to get the most out of the trip, including the special cruise--another case of your team going the extra mile..
The guides on the Matiana team were extraordinarily well-informed and personable. It added immeasurably to our enjoyment to have such excellent sources of information and insight. Again, we felt that we had made new friends that we will long remember.
Please know that we would love to return to Turkey and be assured that we will definitely call on the Matiana team to assist us.
Best regards,
Margaret Dise, Mikol and Rebecca Dise and Susan Wisely
Dear Matiana Travel,
Thank you for the wonderful trip I've just completed in Turkey. Your Operations Manager Ufuk helped me with kind advice from the beginning. Thank you Ufuk for the interesting itinerary. I feel that in a short time I was able to get to know some people, your rich culture and proud heritage. Ufuk and Ali provided excellent guiding and deeply felt personal insights to everyday Turkish life. Mr. Tosun it was a great pleasure meeting you, and thank you for your patient guidance with choosing a carpet that will always remind me of the great times I've spent in your wonderful country.
Judit Mandi
Ufuk,
Gaby and I can't thank you enough for all your planning and organization for our recent trip to Turkey. We surely got the most out of our 8 days in country. Starting with the wonderful hotels we stayed in, the sights we visited and the guides you provided made this trip very special. Based on your recommendation, I even took my first hot air balloon ride. Seeing the Cappadocia landscape from the air was amazing. Thanks for suggesting that.
We would not have seen so many wonderful historical places without your planning.
We would definitely recommend your services to others.
Thanks again for a great trip!
Rich Sulpizio
Dear Ufuk,
We are home again after our holiday. We've had a wonderful holiday in Turkey. We especially liked Cappadocia and Istanbul. We're sure we'll return to Cappadocia again. We want to thank you for your efforts to give us a wonderful holiday in Cappadocia. We really appreciated your phone call when we were sheltering in the thunder storm. Thank you again for your efforts regarding the gluten-free diet of my son. We found that the restaurants were very helpful.
I wish you all the best.
Kind regards,
Coby van Zaal
Dear Ufuk,
I should have written to you and Ibrahim to thank you very much for everything you did for us. It was one of my best vacations in my life. We loved the days in Istanbul and Cappadocia. We loved the Museum Hotel and made some friends in the neighborhood. I will be back soon, you can be sure of that.
Francisco Lima
Hello Ufuk
Hannah, Peter and Emily all say hello!!
Your excellent pre trip suggestions and customization allowed us to carefully coordinate and create a relevant and timely itinerary.
Traveling as a Dad with three inquisitive but of varied interests teenagers who have had passports since they were each six months old can be daunting at times.
You created the perfect daily mix of culture, religion, history, daily life, culinary delights and of course some shopping.
Your teaching through stories and anecdotes rather than mere fact telling made the history come alive for us and gave my kids a stronger basis of understanding.
You were a charismatic, knowledgeable, articulate and wonderful ambassador and guide of your country.
Regards
The Bozians
Dear Ufuk,
We really felt Matiana was so very professional, responded quickly to our correspondence via email and most of all - listened to our requests and supplied all the greatest guides one could hope for. The hotels were very satisfactory. The best was The Museum Hotel in Cappadocia which I found independently.
Lewis Clan
Dear Ufuk,
Overall a fantastic trip! We’d love to return to Turkey, largely because Matiana Travel made our experience so pleasant. We would highly recommend Matiana Travel services to anyone planning on going to Turkey. Ufuk demonstrated great patience, attentiveness, and thoughtfulness during the planning of our trip – especially with all our many changes. He made sure that our trip was everything we wanted – and more.
Warmest regards,
Lloyd and Darcy Campbell
Awh Ibo!!!!! We miss you already! Thank you so much for giving us 150% all day everyday! This trip was truly, the best ever, largely do to all of your efforts and wonderful attitude! Don’t ever change! We will never forget you or our wonderful experience there with you. I wish all the best for you.
MJ Day, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2009 Photo Shots Cappadocia
We traveled to Turkey in March 2009 with our 14 year old son. We wanted to experience the culture and history of Turkey during Spring Break. Matiana Travel put together an absolutely delightful and interesting tour for us. We experienced different types of hotels, the uniqueness of the culture, the wonderful history, and amazing topography. I would readily recommend Matiana Travel to anyone planning a tour of this beautiful country.
The Barker Family
I have been meaning to write to you and thank you for organizing such a tremendous holiday for us, but we enjoyed ourselves so much and came back in such a rested state that I have put a lot of things on a long to do it and just relaxed.
However our life is now returning to normal and we are catching up on our promises.
Firstly planning such a specialized holiday is very time consuming but with your expert help it was a very enjoyable one.
My wife Maire is an archaeologist and has a keen interest in Geology and so as a present for her special birthday I had the idea that a visit to Catalhoyuk, the oldest known city in the world be a fitting present and to find that it was so close to other great archaeological sites and the geology of Cappadocia, would be a great present.
We wonted an independent tour as there are no tours available that suited our needs and finding Matiana travel was a gift from the Gods.
You were very patient and helpful. It must have appeared strange to you that we kept changing our minds so often, we were so unsure of what we wanted. With your help it turned into one of the holidays of a lifetime.
Looking back there is only one thing that I would have organized differently, To have flown into Konya on day 1. instead of flying into Ankara, and visiting Geordon on the last day. That said it was great to see the fertile plain between Geordion and Konya.
You provided us with a great guide/driver in Ali. Such a helpful intelligent and knowledgeable guide we have rarely encountered. At ever stop he was able to strike up a rappore with the local caretakers and they gave us a guided tour which may magic with Ali's translation.
He also surprised us when he brought us to the museum in Corum. It is a hidden treasure housed in a beautiful building.
We got to visit the archaeological sites in Gordion, Catalhoyuk, Kultepe+ Karum and Hatusa-Yazilkaya. See the wonder Cappadocia , stay in the best hotel room that we have ever been in in the Museum Hotel actually in a cave room with windows looking over the wonderful landscape that is Cappadocia. We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary in the best honeymoon hotel room in the world. The food in the hotel was of the highest order.
Last night we saw a documentary on the television about the Hitites and their capital of Hattusas. It brought back memories of our visit and gave us a very warm feeling.
We hope to go back to Turkey in the next few years to visit the better known sites in the West.
We consider ourselves to have been extremely lucky to have seen such a beautiful part of the world before it becomes better known and full of tourists.
Again thanks for all your help.
David and Maire
I hope everything went fine at the weeding day.
I make Ana's words my words and I would add that you really WOW us as you propose on your website. Matiana really made the difference in our trip!!!
We got very much positively surprised with Turkey and moreover to the organization of every detail of our trip. We could experience different facets of the country and I hope I can go back soon to find some others and without any doubt I will contact Matiana.
With such a nice experience, the least we can think, like Ana said, is to partner with you here and foment the business in this niche.
Attached please find the form completed.
Kind regards,
Silvia
Should I begin this with my childhood song: "Anne, ma soeur Anne, ne vois-tu rien venir?" It would be fitting, as I am looking forward to you helping us prepare our next Turkey chapter.
The survey envelope came back with us, because the guy at the Nena Hotel Desk would not take it, and our transfer drivers that day did not speak any English. It is a good thing because it forces me to keep in touch.
*Should you ever need someone in the US to give you a reference, please do not hesitate to contact me or Patty at anytime.
*In the early 80s I was a Tour Operator, and we were really good. The quality of your pre trip services and your attention to details were the best I encountered in the industry. The best bar none.
*Our tickets for Bejart at the Ataturk Cultural Center in Istanbul could not have better if we had ordered ourselves.
*Your courteous approach to my demanding and exacting requests was met with grace and a helpful eye.
*Your knowledge of Turkey is primo.
*Ali, our guide was funny and helpful. We all enjoyed his company and would probably want to organize a tour of tour Ottoman era and Mosque and other purely Turkish historic sites, based on Ali being our guide.
*Our driver was excellent and patient. Too bad we did not know a rudiment of Turkish to communicate with him.
*Omer's brief review of carpet making and what to look for in acquiring a tapis or rug was so short. The man is so knowledgeable we wanted more, more and more time with him, and would have definitely drunk more tea just to learn. Together we purchase a few rugs. Patty and I got 2.
*The first night at the Nena was special, really special. I want 2 of their plush towels. And a permanent seat at the balcony to look at the Sultanahmet in the evening.
*The only hotel we found a tad bit too rustic was the hostel in Egirdir, but the view of the lake and an opportunity to watch the sun come up on the lake made up for the cold water shower. Brrr.
*Still need the name of the village up the road and would appreciate Ali telling us via email.
*Overall you get a momo (my nickname) SUPERBE, MAGNIFIQUE.
Now on a few things not related to the survey.
*The hotel in Izmir is on our list of place to return to. These ladies are absolutely graceful.
*The hotel in Bursa is on our return to list.
*Ilke was truly cute and helpful. Please tell him that I went to Ayan Ebru and purchased some natural pigments. Also tell him that his mother replied to my request and my response to her is my next email. I will be coming to Antalya to study with her in the next year 2008.
*The food in the villages was unequalled. We purchased seeds at the Spice Market to try growing the Turkish vegetables in our garden, particularly the tomatoes and the eggplants.. Unfortunately we cannot make yogurt like the one we purchased on the boat toward the last stop of the Bosphorus cruise. *I came to Turkey for: rugs, photography, and the fairy chimneys, I fell in love with the people and left too soon.
*Turkey is our 2010 vacation destination. Not sure you are interested, but when my photos are on flicker, I will send you a link. And I hope you are willing to help us with our next Turkey trip. Again, Merci d'avoir partagé votre connaissance de la Turquie avec nous et surtout merci de votre galanterie. Sincèrement;
Monique
I can't thank you enough for the wonderful vacation you planned for us. You are definitely five star. You understood what we wanted almost as if you knew us. There was no pressure and it was a pleasure dealing with you.
We have wonderful memories of every destination. All of the hotels have a special flavor in their own way.
The Sultanhan was very hospitable; the staff could not do enough to keep us happy. We had a wonderful brunch there even though it was between hours; they fixed up a special meal with tea on our arrival. Our dinner there was exceptional. Food and service as well as ambiance was wonderful.
Kalkan was amazing, what a beautiful village. The sea was exceptional. Villa Mahal was definitely 5 stars. Beautiful room and grounds, great food, breathtaking views. It was a very relaxing place. Good way to start the vacation as we were very tired. We fully charged the batteries there.
Fethiye was another beautiful village, almost a city really. We loved the marina area as well as the sights and ruins we visited. Paradise Garden was warm, friendly and very accommodating. Grounds were beautiful and the view of Oludeniz was spectacular we felt as if we were guests at a relatives home.
They learned that we loved Latino music and prepared a special Latino theme evening of dancing starting at 9:30 PM at the pool bar. Music and much guest mingling proved to be a party till 4:00 AM! Our first day there, the chef drove us to the Oludeniz lagoon and later picked us up. It was as if our uncle was taking us! Our last night we ate in Fethiye because we had shopping to do and were running late. We got back to Paradise Garden around midnight to find our friends waiting for us to have a night cap and mingle. Although we had not packed and were leaving early in the morning we stayed and of course got to sleep at 3:00 AM, but it was worth it. Robert was crowned "Eniste" in Fethiye!
Istanbul, my favorite city in the world never disappointed us. Ciragan Palace was excellent. The room was beautiful and it was hard to leave the terrace with the views of the Bosphorus. Beautiful ships, boats, sail boats, ferries all added to decorating the magnificent Strait. Our only disappointment was the Tugra restaurant. Food and service did not hold up to what it was 13 years ago. It seemed rushed and the taste of the food was not the excellent Turkish food we had had there.
The transfers you provided us with were always on time and professional, thank you.
Korfez was excellent.
Feriye restaurant was amazing. I went there 3 times with my aunt and niece; each night was more enchanting than the one before.
My only regret is that I did not get a chance to meet you. I was really rushed with visiting family I had not seen in 13 years.
Hopefully the next trip. I am attaching a picture taken in Kalkan (Trio Restaurant); we can sort of meet this way!
Thank You So Much. From beginning to end you and your staff were so pleasant to work with and you made possible a vacation that we will remember forever. It was perfect!
I'll keep the Boutique Style reference, although I can't imagine anyone coming close to the experience we had with you.
Sag ol, we will keep in touch. Best regards to Ufuk and Ilke as well.
Fulya Ziegler
We returned to India last night.
I must thank you for your planning and assistance for our stay in Turkey. Everything went off well and we had a very enjoyable trip.
I must compliment you on your quick responses and attention to every detail and query. Both the tour leaders were very good, especially Fatih in Istanbul. Finally the itinerary and hotels worked out very well.
Thanks again
Vivek
Thank you all very much for our recent trip to Turkey. This was our second trip to Turkey within a year. Our first trip was a general and wide ranging tour of a large area. On this trip we went back to the areas we enjoyed the most. Those areas were Istanbul and Cappadocia.
All of our travel arrangements were executed on time and professionally. You did not miss any details.
Our guides were excellent. We enjoyed Cem in Istanbul. He was knowledgeable and fun to be with. He took us shopping for some household items such as a Turkish double boiler tea pot on the street in Istanbul that sells tea pots to locals. We can't buy that type of tea pot in the US and the online shops wanted three times as much. Ali in Uchisar was excellent. He is very "laid back" which was perfect for this trip where we were visiting the areas that we did not see on our first trip. I particularly enjoyed the walk down the Ihlara valley. We wanted to obtain some kitchen items and Ali took us back to the pottery shop we went to last time in Avanos. We compared prices before we left and found that we could purchase items hand crafted in Avanos for less that factory patterned in the US.
The hotels were very good. The Museum Hotel was excellent again in both service and atmosphere.
We visited Omer and the Indigo Gallery. Omer is much more pleasant to deal with than the carpet dealers in the standard tourist stops. The quality of the inventory is better as well.
Our second trip was different in that we knew the country and the people a little better. We knew what to expect. We knew at least a few of the tourist scam vendors and avoided them. Once again the best part of Turkey is the people. Those who have ever traveled in Europe will be astounded to find a country where the people seem to actually want visitors. I don't just mean those in the tourist industry, I mean the general population.
At the current time we are mapping out some ideas for our next trip which will most likely be to the Black Sea and eastern Turkey region. We will spend some time doing research and when we have a general idea of what we want to do and when we will contact you again.
Thank you all
John and Karen Le Neve
Hope you are both doing well. I would like to thank you for helping me arrange a wonderful & a very memorable trip. It was nice meeting you.
Ali – we had a wonderful time with you in Cappadocia, thank you for an entertaining tour & the interesting conversations that we had during our stay there. It was nice meeting you.
Thank you once again for making our trip very special and enjoyable.
Sincerely,
Pinakin & Karishma
I would like to thank you very very much for your PERFECT organization!! Everything of our beautiful holiday in Istanbul has been absolutely perfect! The driver was very kind and polite; Mr. Ufuk was very precise and very polite and the guide was very well prepared and professional.
Should other of my friends decide to come to Istanbul, I will recommend them to contact you!! Thank you again for everything and many compliments for your professionalism!!!
Kind regards.
Laura Mucci
Words cannot describe the holiday that my mother and I had in Turkey. We both had a magnificent time and it was all thanks to you and your professionalism with putting the whole trip together which left us to enjoy a hassle free holiday. My favorite part of the trip was the cruise. The food was to die for and the staffs were amazing. Most importantly though; my mother had the holiday of a lifetime. I told her on our last night that I had bought the trip as a present for her and she was thrilled (and a bit cross that I had kept it from her). I wouldn't have changed a thing about the trip and return with NO complaints! I am indeed singing your praises. Thank you once again for a memorable journey through Turkey.
Kate Harrod
We just got home and we are still recovering from the long trip home. We can say without hesitation that our visit to Cappadocia was a wonderful and a most enjoyable experience. We were delighted with the style and comfort of our stay there. Our guide’s knowledge about the area and all the information that he conveyed to us made for a very memorable trip. We were very pleased with both the driver and the guide. We thank you and your team for taking such good care of us. Many thanks again to all of you.
Best regards,
Lynn and Meir
The service provided by you and your colleagues at Matiana Travel and the Museum Hotel was exemplary. The highlight to our trip to Turkey was most definitely in the Cappadocia region. A special thanks to our guide and the tours organized by Matiana Travel, with your assistance. I will recommend your services to anyone who asks.
Best regards and happy holidays,
Adam Schmidt
It does feel good to be home. However, my trip was extraordinarily successful. I loved Turkey. Cappadocia was a fascinating and unique experience. I think your services were perfect, exactly what I expected. We were treated very well. If your guide and/or driver felt there was any problem, it was not in any way under their control. I was extremely tired on Thursday and suffering from a sudden allergy attack. If I seemed less than enthusiastic about the day's activities, it was because of that and not anything else.
Emily Tannen
First I would like to thank you again for handling all of my requests so swiftly. I absolutely loved Istanbul! It was such a wonderful trip and I feel like you are partly responsible for that. I didn't even think to request a female guide and I thought it was extremely considerate of you to think of this. I had no real knowledge of Istanbul or Turkish history or architecture before this trip and I cannot believe how much I learned. Her English was amazing and she was so nice... I really felt like I was sightseeing with a friend! The trip was truly wonderful and I felt very safe and well looked after the entire time. I will most definitely pass your name along to friends who are visiting Turkey because I felt you provided such a good service. Many thanks again... I look forward to my next visit!
Tesekkur ederim,
Kristina Sekula
I wanted to pass my traveling experience on to other travelers about the wonderful time we had under Matiana Travel’s care while in Turkey. It was truly a special experience and it wouldn't have been possible without the Matiana team working so hard for us! Every person we came in contact with was friendly, professional and very helpful. They have an excellent network!
Joe De Lise
I wanted to say hello and thank you for all your help. We were very pleased with the whole arrangement- the hotels were nice, the service was excellent and we were happy to be in Turkey for a week.
Janet Nenkova
Thank you for arranging a lovely holiday for us we really appreciated it very much, We especially thank you for putting us into the lovely little hotels that we so like home, the people were so friendly and kind to us and pampered us to the extreme.
Mary Owen
Excellent service, great guides, wonderful hotels. The tailored itinerary was perfect, Matiana arranged for us to see everything we asked for. Definitely a wonderful experience.
Pam Harris
http://www.matiana.com/travel_testimonials.htm
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