FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about our trips and some answers that you may find helpful:

Why should we book with you?

Book with us because you will:

(1) Protect Yourself by booking with a legal fully licensed TURSAB operator.

(2) Save Money as travel agencies get better rates than the customer.

(3) Save Time by having us promptly organize all the hotels, tours, flights etc.

(4) Tailor your dream vacation with our tailormade itineraries

Are you a legitimate tour operator and TURSAB member?

Yes. Our website is operated under our registered tour operator name 'Byzas Tours' 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. 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.

How can we check your TURSAB License?

Please just enter our name 'Byzas Tours' in the search field called 'Name of Travel Agency' to see our company registered on their site at: http://www.tursab.org.tr/en/travel-agencies/search-travel-agency

How do we reserve one of your trips?

Please read about the steps to make a reservation and booking with us here.

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.

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 - just let us know your interests. We highly recommend this type of tour to all our guests.

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.

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.

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.

Is the international airfare to Turkey included?

No this is not included because we can only arrange the flights that originate in Turkey being a Turkish tour operator based in Istanbul-Turkey. So 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?

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. So we will arrange these also although they are usually priced separately. This is because domestic flight prices are subject availability at the time of booking. For some short 2-3 day minitrips, the domestic flights may already be included. 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 started any day of the year you like. Or 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 you can. 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.

Can we have non-smoking rooms?

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 new-model vehicles - these are new 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, the private yacht or boat cruise takes place rain or shine. Many of our boats have heated indoor areas so you can be comfortable whatever the weather all year around.

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.

Formula 1 time:
Please note that during Istanbul's Formula 1, availability at hotels is usually very limited. It is advisable to book in advance for availability or consider alternative dates before/after.

For any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.