We bought excursions from Russia, they said payment is possible only on the website. Then it turned out that you can buy in Istanbul, at completely different prices in different places. The tours themselves are different, depending on the guide. We didn't really like the information as in the guidebook. They invite you to a meeting for an excursion early, then you stand for an hour or even more waiting for the start. We bought an excursion to Yalova. The guide with the bus was more than an hour late. There is zero information on the way. He slept the whole way there and back. Due to the delay, the time spent in Yalova was reduced, it was not possible to walk in the park. Istanbul on two continents does not match the description. It consists of two parts. The first one is really informative, the guide told everything in an interesting way, and the second one is just a boat trip along the Bosphorus, without leaving the ship. You can only see the Asian side from the ship. We advise you to go to the Princes' Islands without an excursion, money thrown away. They don't give any information. And the islands are limited in time. The Ancient Istanbul housing tour is also organized in a strange way. Headphones are constantly out of the network area, as you are constantly lagging behind the guide in the palace.
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наталья с.
Level 3 Local Expert
April 2
We purchased the Lights of Istanbul tour on 2.04.2024. We would like to thank our guide Ilmar for the excellent organization. They were picked up from the hotel at the appointed time. The tour was held at the highest level. We learned a lot of interesting and informative things about the history of the state, visited wonderful places that revealed all parts of Istanbul. It was a mesmerizing sight. Ilmar told both ancient historical facts and modern ones. He was attentive. The bus driver is just an acc. He showed the highest professionalism. Sincerely, Sidorova N. and Suleymanova R.
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Андрей Иванов
Level 2 Local Expert
July 31
The prices are very high. Turkish agencies are 2 times cheaper. Tours to the Bosphorus at night for $50 were a waste of time and money, nothing was visible through the windows. You need to know in advance what to sail on. A tour on two continents for $90 is expensive. I do not recommend such expensive tours. The quality is not very good
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Екатерина К.
Level 4 Local Expert
October 18
I was on a tour of 2 continents. It was a very boring $85 tour. The guide did not unite the group at all.He spoke the memorized text, not in his native language, without pauses, monotonously, quickly. I had to try very hard to understand the essence. But she was going somewhere anyway.
Excursion "to the dump".
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Юлия Ушакова
Level 2 Local Expert
April 2
By the will of fate, I found myself next to a wonderful guide and just a wonderful and sympathetic person, Evgenia Tsybina! I want to convey my gratitude to her! I received a large amount of not only interesting, informative information from a historical point of view, but also useful) Absolutely had a great time! She's doing a great job! Thank you so much, Evgenia! On our next visit to Istanbul, we are with you)))
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Кирилл Лобанов
Level 7 Local Expert
March 18
We bought a tour to Yalova. We were supposed to be picked up at 7.15 from the hotel, but they asked us to go out onto the main road so that it would be more convenient for them. As a result, after 1.5 hours of waiting on the street (every 15 minutes they said "we will arrive in 15 minutes for sure") at +4 degrees, they refused to go because the transfer never arrived. At first they talked about the delay due to a tourist, then an accident on the road (for some reason there were no traffic jams in our area). An unreliable company, they didn't even apologize. It was our last day of rest in Istanbul. Choose another guide!
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Анастасия Бабина
Level 2 Local Expert
April 22
The most terrible day and the tour took place with a Booth tour to the Prince Islands, costing $ 50 for 1 person.
If you are going to take such an excursion, I advise you to first read my review of what awaits you.
So, we booked a tour, we were told that they would pick us up at 8:00-8:30, they picked us up at 8:30, we had to walk (the weather was cold and windy) to the place where people were gathered, although others were picked up and taken by car. Later they explained to us that it was longer to drive by car, although we waited for the bus for another 25 minutes (!) and during this time we could have taken 3 blocks to our destination! Oh well, that's the lesser evil.
We waited for the bus for 25 minutes, no one explained anything to us, did not orient us by time, they just said "stay here" and we were left alone.
The bus arrived, they put us in, the bus drove 2 blocks and the driver came to bring the seat to their office. Another 10 minutes of waiting.
Then we did another lap along the same road, and stood for 20 minutes waiting for something. We didn't wait for anything and went.
The guide, Gulnara, came in, she seems to speak Russian, but through every word AAAAA (these words infuriated the parasites very much and made it impossible to want to listen to her at all).
Very rude, not friendly and not friendly. It feels like she was forced to lead this tour with a stick.
We reached the ferry by 10:00 (!). So that you understand, the distance to it from the point where we were picked up is a maximum of 10 minutes. But this waiting and walking, driving somewhere spent 1.5 hours for nothing!
The boat on which we were being transported is in TERRIBLE condition! The whole thing is falling apart, nails are sticking out of the benches on the 2nd floor, incomprehensible music is screaming from the speakers, the toilet is spit on, the door does not close, and it takes 1.5 hours to swim to the island!
There are dining tables and chairs on the 1st floor, the smell is unpleasant! It's dirty!
Gulnara disappeared from sight immediately! Without coordinating your group in any way!
Upon arrival on the island, we were given an earphone that was constantly buggy, which Gulnara said was not the first time they complained about it! So why not change them the first time?!
Okay, we went with her, along the way she didn't tell anything normally, some uninteresting and not exciting things, she just didn't need it herself!
We went to some Greek church to light a candle, Gulnara was talking about severed heads!
At that moment, we realized that we had already lost 30 minutes on the 1st island, but we really wanted to see it and take a walk, so we warned that we would go for a walk ourselves, and we did it very well on our own!
We were told to approach the ship at 12:00, we approached, waited. Another 20 minutes until Gulnara and her group deign to approach the ship!
A GREAT LUNCH was promised! Which we were given 15 minutes to do. On these dining tables.
We were forced to stand in line for food distribution, where we were offered: a tiny pile of salad, rice, meat and pasta!
Gulnara also continued to disappear and did not coordinate the group in any way or tell anything at all. I just got lost.
Upon arrival on the 2nd island, we went out, did not understand where to go, our group also scattered and did not find their guide, then we noticed that she was slowly getting off the ship! Again, without showing in any way that she is a guide.
For a moment, there were other guides on the ship and their work compared to this Gulnara, heaven and earth, it would be better if we were with them!
In short, we realized that we didn't want to waste time with Gulnara and it was all a complete circus and a divorce for money!
We have allocated 1.5 hours to the island! It's just unreal! At least we expected 2-3 hours! But because of their delays, the time has been shortened!
And what do people pay money for?!
As a result, we decided to leave this tour and walk on our own, and get back by ourselves.
So that you understand, we enjoyed the walk, and sailed back for 150 liras for three!!!! (Not $ 150) on a comfortable boat, with a good toilet, cozy sofas, benches! It was the best way back!
What about the payment? We had to pay $ 150, considering the tour, and the fact that in fact it DID NOT EXIST AND IT WAS THEIR FAULT THAT THERE WERE DELAYS, THE GUIDE WAS TERRIBLY UNORGANIZED AND NOT INTERESTED IN HER WORK IN ANY WAY! We decided to discuss this with our tour operator, and reimburse only the costs of transport and food, which this Russian representative of the tour operator yelled at us, and from their lordly shoulder we somehow got a discount of $ 15!
In short, we paid $ 135 for this circus, without actually getting ANYTHING! In rubles it is 13500t!!!
I do not recommend these excursions to anyone! Because it's just a rip-off and a deception!
It is better to get to the ferry yourself, pay 50 lira for the fare and enjoy the walk on your own!
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Елена
Level 10 Local Expert
January 5
I bought a night tour of the Bosphorus with dinner and a show program. Everything is perfectly organized, the hotel was picked up exactly at the appointed time. Thanks a lot to Kamran for the support and excellent knowledge of the Russian language.
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яна пичунова
Level 3 Local Expert
June 6
The bus was 1.5 hours late! We were standing outside waiting! We returned two hours later than promised, which is why we lost the money spent on another tour! The guide pretended not to hear our questions. The service is terrible! The attitude is the same. When we informed the manager about the problem, he wrote, "we are right, we did the service, have a nice evening." Of course, no one even apologized
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Оксана Б
Level 12 Local Expert
September 30, 2023
Nothing was taken out of the tour and the history of the city (this is the first time!((, tk the guide practically does not speak Russian. For several hours, the guide's speech consisted of fragments of words, there was not a single complete sentence, the content and text were therefore absolutely incomprehensible. Lunch was at a diner where tea wasn't even served 🫣🫣
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5
zhuzhechka
Level 8 Local Expert
September 17
They took money for a trip to Istanbul. The trip was canceled, the reasons were not given. The money is not refunded
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Вячеслав Р.
Level 4 Local Expert
February 24, 2023
Good day!
I would like to express my gratitude to the Buta Tur management for their help in organizing the tour. And special thanks for the guide Ephraim. Prosperity and all the best to the company.
Sincerely, Vyacheslav. Amra-Turistik LLC
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Ксения В.
Level 2 Local Expert
January 29, 2023
Thanks for the trip. We rested body and soul. An excellent lunch. Special thanks to the guide Efe.
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Надежда Долиновская
Level 6 Local Expert
April 13, 2023
No more, a comfortable room. The operators work fast.
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Петрова О.
Level 4 Local Expert
January 24, 2023
We recommend buying a tour to Yalova.
Efee is an excellent guide.