Turkey Handing Out Bargains to Lure Tourists Back

If there was any doubt about the current budget champion of Europe, it’s been resolved by a spate of new low-priced tours to Turkey. After a disastrous year--earthquakes, civil unrest, the spillover of fears about Kosovo--Turkey has responded with values so remarkable and bargains so pronounced that it’s hard to recommend a better economical holiday for the late summer and autumn.

The tours are offered by several long-established and even distinguished travel companies.

* Twelve-night tour: An escorted air-and-land package operated by Gate 1 (a member of the U.S. Tour Operators Assn.) costs as little as $1,329 per person.

After being flown across the Atlantic from New York, passengers will start in Izmir near the Mediterranean Sea, traveling then to ancient Ephesus and Pamukkale. Then three days will be spent at the underground cities of Cappadocia, followed by stops in the vibrant cities of Antalya and Ankara. The tour finishes with three days in Istanbul, where participants will see the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar and the venerable Aya Sophia.

Travelers will get round-trip air fare from New York to Turkey, lodging for 12 nights, 22 meals (12 breakfasts and 10 dinners), sightseeing, guides and transfers.

The cost: $1,899 per person from now through mid-September, then $1,699 from mid-September through October. After that, the price will drop to $1,329 for departures in November and January through March.

Information: Gate 1, telephone (800) 682-3333, Internet https://www.gate1travel.com.

*

A 17-night tour: As operated by the European-owned GoAhead Vacations, this alternative trip starts with Istanbul and moves on to even more ancient attractions, spending two nights in Canakkale on the Aegean, another two nights in Kusadasi (including a visit to Ephesus), two nights in Antalya then on to Cappadocia.

Much is included: daily breakfasts, 15 dinners, sightseeing tours and most entrance fees, a licensed Turkish guide, airport transfers, hotel porter fees and air fare.

Prices from Los Angeles dip as low as $1,929 per person in November 2000 and January 2001, and average $2,429 for October.

Information: GoAhead, tel. (800) 242-4686, Internet https://www.goaheadvacations.com.

*

Istanbul and Jerusalem: Here’s a fascinating combination of cultures and religious history on a low-cost tour that includes not only transatlantic transportation but also air between Istanbul and Tel Aviv. You receive first-class hotels in Jerusalem for four nights and in Istanbul for five nights, breakfast daily, one festive lunch, three full-day excursions in Jerusalem, one full-day tour in Istanbul and all taxes for $1,198 per person from New York, for the departures of Nov. 21, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5.

Contact Sunny Land Tours, tel. (800) 783-7839, Internet https://www.sunnylandtours.com.

*

Istanbul only: This autumn you’ll find prices as low as $870 from Los Angeles for round-trip air fare to Istanbul and five nights with daily breakfast in a tourist-class hotel. This is from PachaTours, tel. (800) 722-4288, Internet https://www.pachatours.com.