Here are some frequently asked questions about our trips and some answers that you may find helpful:
Why should I choose ToursIstanbul.com?
Book with us because you will:
- Save Money – most of our online rates are better than other international platforms you’ll find online.
- Save Time – it’s quick and easy to find and book tours online with instant confirmation sent to your email.
- Secure Booking – book online securely using the latest 3D secure booking technology on this website.
- English-speaking Support – Enjoy 24/7 English-speaking support from our Istanbul office with all bookings.
- Local Expertise – Have your questions directly answered by our local travel experts on the ground in Istanbul.
- Licensed & Accredited – Protect yourself by booking with a legal fully licensed TURSAB operator.
Is it best to pre-purchase a tour or should I wait until I arrive at my destination?
All of our tours and activities are available for sale at any time online in advance or when you arrive to your destination. However, please bear in mind that there is limited availability and high demand for many tours so we may be sold out once you arrive. To avoid disappointment, we recommend booking well before you leave home to get the best possible deal.
How do we make a reservation?
Please read about the steps to make a reservation and booking with us here.
How will I receive my voucher/tickets?
Once you’ve completed the booking process, either online or via email, you will receive a ready-to-print confirmation voucher by email.
In case you do not recieve it, please check for it in your Junk/Spam email folder before contacting us.
Do I need to re-confirm my booking?
No, unless any information such as where you stay was missing/has changed since time of booking. Otherwise your booking is already confirmed instantly at time of booking by e-voucher to your email.
Please check that voucher for all pertaining information including pick-up time and our contact details.
In case any issues have arisen that would require alternate plans, such as national strikes, weather hazards, unexpected road closures, etc. we will contact you beforehand.
Once I have booked, can I change my booking?
Please refer to your Terms & Conditions at booking time which includes a section on changes.
We’re more than happy to accommodate you on a different date, or at a different time – where possible and if we have the availability. Please note that there are some tours and services that once booked, cannot be amended, particularly those that include a hotel stay, cruise, flight or rail tickets.
Changes may be subject to additional fees such as cancellation, change and rebooking fees.
To make a change, please send us a request in writing to info@toursistanbul.com. Contact information can be found on your electronic voucher.
What if I need to cancel?
Please refer to the Cancellation Policy contained within our Terms & Conditions at booking time, as some tours may have different cancellation policies. We recommend all travellers have travel trip insurance.
How do we contact you?
For any query please go to our contact us page for our telephone, email and address. Also our opening hours are shown there.
A 24/7 emergency contact number is also given to all our guests who book any service with us. If you have a question or concern that needs to be addressed outside of the regular office hours, please call us at that number for immediate assistance.
Tailor My Tour
To receive a quote for a tailormade tour, please just email us with your requirements, intended travel dates, number of adults/children (and children’s age at time of travel), destination/type of tour preferred. We will get back to you within one business day with a free no-obligation quote and suggested itinerary, or suggest a close alternative.
For special interests, families and groups/shore excursions, please also see the ‘private tours’ section of the website.
What does a ‘Private Tour’ mean?
In private tours, you will have your own private professional tour guide just for you and your chosen companions only for a more personalized experience of Turkey. (So you will NOT join any other people). This type of tour offers much flexibility and a more relaxed pace with greater opportunity for enjoying spontaneous moments and events and seeing more off the beaten track places. You can easily focus on specific interests of history, religion, culture, art, architecture and cuisine. We highly recommend this type of tour to families, groups of friends, individuals with a special interest/requirements or corporate groups.
What does a ‘Group Tour’ mean?
In group tours, you will be sharing the guide and vehicle with approx. 15-30 other people depending on the day. The sightseeing and route are fixed so there is no flexibility or personalization with this type of tour. This can be a nice way of meeting people if you are travelling alone or for those on a budget. Shopping stops may be included in group tours.
Do we need a visa for Turkey?
Depending on your nationality, you may or may not be able to buy a tourist entry visa stamp on arrival at Ataturk Airport on the day in Istanbul. Please check this with your nearest Turkish Consulate or at the Turkish Government’s visa site at http://www.konsolosluk.gov.tr/ for details by your nationality.
Do cruise-ship passengers need a visa for Turkey?
Cruise ship passengers arriving and departing by cruise ship do not need this visa, as a simple landing card valid for the day is given to everyone landing for the day by ship (or staying overnight on ship).
Is the international airfare to Turkey included?
No this is not included in any of our tours. You can book the international flights to Turkey yourself with any airline. We will arrange everything within Turkey after that for your trip including domestic flights necessary for your trip.
Are the domestic flight tickets included?
It depends on the tour – please check the ‘What’s Included’ list for your specific tour or activity. For some trips, the domestic flight may be quoted and arranged separately – Once we know your exact travel dates, we can quote you the exact price of all the domestic flight tickets necessary for your trip separately at the time of booking. This is because domestic flight prices are subject availability at the time of booking. Please check the ‘Included Services’ section of our quote to check this.
Can we choose our own start and finish dates for a trip?
Yes you can. All our tours can be taken/started any day of the year you like, subject to availability. For tailor made tours, just let us know your exact start and end travel dates and we can shorten/lengthen any trip to suit your dates.
Can we choose our own hotels?
Yes – Just let us know which hotels you would prefer from the hotels listed on our site and we can arrange the itinerary with these instead. You can see the list of hotels we work with on our website to choose from. For Istanbul, it is also possible to book your own hotel direct if you have hotel points you wish to spend – in this case we can just arrange the tours and transfers and everything else around that.
Can we have non-smoking rooms?
Yes. Until recently only the 5 star hotels had non-smoking rooms in Turkey, however recent no-smoking laws mean that it is now illegal to smoke in most hotels, so rooms are already non-smoking.
What kind of vehicles do you use?
The vehicles used are fully air-conditioned non-smoking modern vehicles – so that you can enjoying touring in comfort.
What if the weather is bad for our boat cruise?
Unless cancelled by the boat captain due to unacceptable weather conditions for cruising, cruises take place rain or shine. Many of our boats have heated indoor areas so you can be comfortable whatever the weather all year around.
What if the weather is bad for our tour/activity?
All tours and activities take place rain or shine unless cancelled by the provider due to unsuitable conditions, in which case it will be re-scheduled or refunded.
Can I use Traveller’s Checks in Turkey?
No, these are not accepted at almost any bank in Turkey. Instead you can use the many ATM machines if you need to replendish cash. Main credit cards like Visa and Mastercard are also widely accepted in Turkey.
What time of year is best to visit Turkey?
Peak season is from mid-April to late-October. Mid April-June and September- October tend to be the busiest and with the nicest weather. Spring and Fall tend to have milder weather and less visitors making. July and August are the hottest months in Turkey.
Peak Times/Holidays/Events:
Please note that during national holidays and special events/festivals, availability at hotels may be very limited. It is advisable to book in advance for availability or consider alternative dates before/after.
Are you a legitimate tour operator and TURSAB member?
Yes. Our website is operated under our registered tour operator name ‘Byzs Turizm’ with TURSAB License No: A-5339, which offers our clients the security of highest possible approval and recommendation from TURSAB – Turkey’s governing tourism body (A-type licenses are the highest possible grade of tourism license in Turkey). All legally licensed responsible tour companies in Turkey must be officially licensed under this authority.
Please beware of unlicensed operators and websites without registered company contact information at the TURSAB site.
Ask a Question:
For any other questions not answered here, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email at
info@toursistanbul.com