Testimonials

(My husband) & I want to express our sincere appreciation for a wonderfully planned trip to Turkey. We had a fabulous experience. We came to refer to the Turkish drivers as Swiss-precision timepieces because they were so timely & reliable! The hotels were charming & the guides were kind, insightful, and a pleasure to add to our experience…”The House” Hotel was fabulous, especially because you booked us in a beautiful room with a “National Geographic” view of the Bosphorus Strait, the Bosphorus Bridge & the Mosque. The hotel bookings, the tour guides, the drivers, and the overall plan for our holidays was perfect! Every hotel greeted us with open arms fully aware of our arrival schedule. We came to refer to the drivers as “the Swiss watches of Turkey” because they were always 100% punctual. Our different guides along the way were very friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to accommodate our particular interests. Our holiday in Turkey was very memorable, and because of your careful attention to detail… all the memories are great ones! — Dr. Amado Padilla, Deborah Farrington-Padilla, Stanford, USA

… it surpassed all my expectations & more Everything was wonderful,especially the non-smoking drivers and Guides. Oh, and I loved all the different hotels … A special thank you Brenda for putting together a wonderful 1st trip of Turkey — D Ravelli, Vancouver, Canada

…I so enjoyed the trip. It so exceeded my expectations…I am at home with my gorgeous new Turkish towels, eating eggplant, craving Ayran and sinking into my memories of Turkey. Putting the photos on the website, reliving the experience with my journal entries and dreaming of the day I will return…that is a satisfying holiday! Thank you, Brenda, for all you did to make that possible. — JoAnn Hassler, Chicago USA

…there were so many totally enjoyable times and experiences that made up a thoroughly wonderful trip and that I’ll remember always… How (the Guides) remember thousands of years of history, and make it interesting, is very impressive…it’s hard going back to my little car after being chauffeured in new and sparkling clean Mercedes vans that were very, very easy to get in and out of and having an unending supply of cold (bottled) water available was a treat, too. Brenda, I already have recommended your services to several people and will continue to do so. Our trip was magic and I can’t wait to hear what else you have up your clever little sleeve for next time! You’re succeeding beautifully in exceeding expectations, as time-consuming and difficult as that is! — Patricia Mitchell, Vancouver, Canada

…we always speak about our trip to Turkey with awe and reverence about the experience of traveling with you … the opportunity to do that again….makes me just fill with desire for another such experience… — Jo Ann Hassler, Chicago, USA

…what an incredible trip to Turkey!!! It was beyond all expectations!!! While trying to condense my praises for you, the tour itself, the country,my traveling companions, I can only say I am now completely spoiled!!! You were a wealth of information, a fantastic accomodating guide/fellow traveler and so warm and friendly. The tour of Turkey was more than I ever expected. From the guides, the places we saw, the charming hotels we stayed at and of course the Turkish people we met, it was perfect!!! Our little group was so pleasant to be with. We were able to respect each other’s need for “me time” and enjoy each other’s company when we were together. I certainly feel a great sense of affection for each one of my cohorts!! If I had to choose a favorite place it would be most difficult. One of the wonderful things about our tour was the diverse places and the excitement of the city of Istabul, then the peace and quiet of the seaside and mountains and countryside!! There was a real balance of history, modern Turkey and playtime. Thank you Brenda for all your efforts and input!! I sing your praises everytime I talk about our trip (which is every chance I get!!) I can’t imagine Turkey without you — Adele Jensen, Chicago, USA

Allan and and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Turkey, largely because the preplanning was so well done. This was done mainly with your suggestions derived from carefully listening to our wishes and respecting our “style” of travel. Your experience in knowing Turkey was invaluable. All of the hotels you suggested were great. The guides were also excellent and importantly, spoke English well, were very knowledgeable and also flexible.

The trip was well -paced and included a variety of activities. Highlights included the hot air balloon ride, seeing the whirling dervishes and the visits to the grand bazaar and spice market..and importantly, the Turkish bath!

Thanks for helping to make it such a memorable experience.. — Roberta Beiser and Allan Black, Vancouver, Canada

Brenda created a memorable trip to a fantastic country. She made it a trip of a lifetime! — The Levins, USA

Brenda Farrell was an excellent choice in planning our trip to Turkey. She was skilful in assessing all of our needs during the planning process and extremely helpful in answering all of our questions. In advance of our trip, she provided us with detailed and extensive information of all of the areas we planned to visit including helpful information regarding the Turkish language and culture.
Brenda organized an itinerary which included a number of impressive and distinct geographical areas of Turkey which offered unique experiences in each of these areas. The accommodations were equally distinct and of a high quality.
Her contact with top quality service providers in Turkey ensured that our itinerary unfolded flawlessly. Any unexpected events were resolved expeditiously. The quality of the guides chosen for each of the areas we visited was outstanding. Their knowledge of Turkish history and culture far exceeded our expectations and their congenial manner made us feel welcomed at all times during our visit.
Based on our wonderful experience, we would highly recommend Brenda to other persons interested in visiting Turkey. Our friendly advice is that using Brenda Farrell to help plan a trip to Turkey is good value for money spent! — Marie and Wally Kerchum, Vancouver, Canada

Brenda,
Thank you for creating a richly memorable trip to Greece & Turkey, truly an adventure our family will treasure for years to come… not merely a memory, but a shared journey into new lands with fascinating people that now adds to our history as a family.

From the gracious hospitality you extended day one by giving us a spectacular personal tour of Vancouver, to the surprise celebration you arranged for our daughter as we glided in for a hot air balloon landing on her 16th birthday in Cappadocia, you orchestrated the details of our nearly 3 week trip with the utmost precision. Drivers and guides were impressively friendly, reliable and knowledgeable– there with a smile and willing to incorporate our interests and schedule requests with easy-going flexibility. Hotel accommodations were a delight, with extravagant details like fragrant rose petals on silk linens, so welcome after long days of fun filled with adventures like riding camels and exploring underground caves!

All in all, I think the true beauty of the trip was the exquisite blend of learning about the Greek & Turkish cultures in a historical sense, while basking in the delights of the moment– your careful planning freed us up to enjoy the spontaneous moments that blossomed at every corner. Whether it was visiting a ceramic factory and actually sitting at a potter’s wheel with a slab of slippery red clay wobbling between our hands, or pulling off the road to savor the life altering taste of fresh peaches, warm from the fields nearby, or soaking up the breathtaking beauty of a Santorini sunset, clad in our thick terrycloth robes, or watching the magically lit birds circle the Blue Mosque against the night sky… every aspect of the learning was delightfully experiential. Thank you for the magnificence of it all! We have and will continue to recommend you with enthusiasm–
Until next time, with our most heartfelt appreciation, — The Reed family, California, USA

Brenda, as you’ve discovered, TV isn’t easy to make, especially on the road in foreign countries. But thanks to your advance work, we ended up with wonderful programs for WOW. What a great country. I can’t wait to go back. I do hope to return to Turkey one day, and I know you’ll be able to offer assistance in other amazing parts of that country.

www.genuinepictures.com
www.aworldofwonders.tv — Donna Leon, President & Executive Producer, Genuine Pictures Inc. Canada

Brenda, thank you for organizing the holiday to Turkey for my parents and me. Your recommendation of the tour organizer and activities to partake are spot on. With my parents residing in Vancouver and me in Singapore, I appreciate the preparation you’ve made to make our trip go smoothly. Dealing with an agent who is knowledgeable and passionate about Turkey was a pleasure. Our trip was tiring but we enjoyed it very much. I would happily recommend your services to others who are planning to visit Turkey. — V. Iskandar, Singapore

Dear Brenda, Thankyou SO much for arranging our stay t the Four Seasons in Sydney….we had a great time and the hotel was everything you said it was. We were upgraded to a Harbour View room on the 28th floor and the view was just amazing unlike the feeling when you go into a restaurant in Perth and it’s like you don’t exist!!!

The staff were very helpful and the service was excellent. — L and N Jacobs, Perth, WA

Dear Brenda, We had a fantastic trip!!!!! …I cannot thank you enough for arranging the rocks in the sand, the birthday cake delivered by camel….the musicians and the glorious sunrise (you did arrange that, too, eh?)….. It was magical and will be in my mind forever as the most special image. I loved the desert…the camel ride at sunrise….The guide, Youseff, was phenomenal! As was the driver….They really made each day a pleasure and joy. Youseff spent so much time explaining things to us….he was patient, listened and responded with intelligence, was informative and thoughtful and a real trooper. He reassured me in so many ways…in that, he had our backs the entire time. He anticipated and initiated. He was never pushy or impatient (at least he did not show it, if he was). We laughed so much and I felt we had a great meeting of the minds. He seemed to go above and beyond! I cannot thank you enough for all you did to make this THE BEST!!!!!! Thank you again for a remarkably amazing Moroccan birthday! — Ilo Milton, NYC, NYC

Hello Brenda

Gail and I would like to thank you for all your help and hints for our trip to Istanbul. As you know we stayed at the Hotel you recommended and we both loved the Hotel, the staff and especially the location. We had a wonderful time and did most of your suggestions, A boat up the Bosphorous, the Topkapi palace, Aya Sofya, Blue Mosque, A cistern near the Blue mosque (can’t remember the name), Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Fish market, walking, lunches, dinners and Whirling Dervishes. What a place, we would love to go back one day.

Sorry we missed catching up with you during your holiday in Perth for us to personally thank you. Thanks again — Regards, Dave and Gail, Western Australia

Hi Brenda
I was just looking at our Turkey photos this week and we have such great memories. The tours were wonderful and well organized and I would love to take my husband on this tour in the near future.
Best wishes… — Bev Friesen, Manitoba

It was a fantastic trip, Brenda. Thanks so much for organizing it. I enjoyed every minute and would have happily stayed longer… next time I will take at least three weeks… I want to go back, and I’m especially interested in the (new-to-you seaside town you recommended and a longer gulet cruise (as well as a return to Cappadocia)…The breakfast and the room in Bodrum was fantastic (very posh!) Also, the (cave) hotel in Cappadocia was just so interesting! Please keep me in mind for future trips to Turkey. I Will definitely go back. — Beverly Maxwell, Vancouver, Canada

My first journey with Brenda Farrell was to Turkey and it exceeded all my expectations. So, the following year I enjoyed la dolce vita when I joined a group that Brenda – who is fluent in that language – led through Italy. Always smiling, she generously shares per passions – food and travel – and her knowledge of each country’s history, food and culture adds considerable depth and warmth to any trip. No request is too big or too small and her constant standard of excellence guarantees a truly memorable experience. Thanks, Brenda, and I look forward to joining more of your escorted trips. — Joan Fradera, Vancouver, Canada

On behalf of my wife and myself, I would like to thank you very much for everything you did to arrange our accommodation on our recent trip to San Francisco. Your recommendation was exactly what suited our needs. Your care and attention to detail were greatly appreciated by us. From the prompt confirmation and follow up to the lovely gift we received from you in our room, the experience was amazing!

We look forward to booking our next vacation with you and would not hesitate to recommend our friends and family to you in the future. Being in the sales business myself, and someone who prides himself on perfection, I can see why you are a true success in your profession! — Haneef Virani, Vancouver, Canada

Our two weeks in Turkey were just perfect thanks to you. You put together a tour package based on what we wanted to see, on the kind of hotel we liked to stay in and on how we like to travel. Everything was perfect! It was a stress free holiday. We were transported to and from the airport in new vans and in a timely manner. I think the best part was having our own guides and transport to the different sights. The guides were very knowledgeable, professional, friendly and were there to answer all of our questions. And, because we were a small group we could always hear what they were saying. This is something that is not possible when you are with a large tour. The service was surprisingly attentive and kind. Rob left his camera in the van transporting us to Bodrum. We phoned (your travel partner) in Istanbul and the driver (or someone who worked with him) found the camera and had it delivered to our hotel. Turkey is an amazing country to visit. We definitely would recommend your services to others and we have already done so. It was a great, stress free trip. — Marie Crowther and Rob McCandless, Vancouver, BC. Canada

Visiting Turkey had been on my ‘bucket list’ for many years. It’s a place where Eastern culture meets the West, and the modern world rests upon thousands of years of history. Add to that some amazing geography, outstanding archeological sites, friendly locals and beautify ocean-side resorts, and one comes up with the perfect vacation destination.

I traveled to Turkey with five friends on a private tour organized by Brenda. It was exquisite in so many ways: professional guides who were thoroughly knowledgeable and took extra steps to make our tour special; new and meticulously clean Mercedes vans with qualified drivers who were never even a moment late; quaint and attractive local hotels (including a cave hotel!) conveniently located at all sites; a varied itinerary that included historic sites (Ephesus is amazing!), new adventures (a balloon ride and sailing on a gulet), and lots of opportunities for shopping and ‘down time’. In addition to arranging our official itinerary, Brenda passed along a lot of valuable tips – from airline options to restaurant recommendations to hints on dealing with currency. Thanks Brenda for making my trip to Turkey everything I had hoped it would be and more! — Marilyn Kerfoot, Vancouver, Canada

We have just returned from a marvelous tour of Turkey that was arranged by Brenda Farrell. We were thrilled with the entire experience but especially the VIP service she arranged for us. We have only kudos to say about Brenda. She listened carefully to our needs and nailed each and every one of them. This high quality of service began right from the start: we were met at the airport gate, whisked through security and customs and then handed off to an excellent guide (who remained with us for the whole of the tour), a luxurious car and capable driver. We received the same treatment when departing the country, which meant that our memories are of the sights, sounds and aromas of all that happened in between rather than the struggle of getting in and out of the country.

Brenda also found wonderful hotels in out-of-the way locations and recommended really good restaurants for those nights when we were on our own (although always accompanied by our car and driver).

We were delighted with the program that Brenda developed with us in this very fascinating country but it was the superb personal attention we received that made it truly memorable.

Brava to you Brenda! And we look forward to planning our next adventure with you. — Shirley Fitterman Natalie and Jack Austin, Vancouver, Canada

You sent us to paradise. The people were so wonderful, kind and honest and trusting. The houses and doors and arches so beautiful… it (a stay on Bozcaada Island) was one of the many highlights of the tour you arranged for us! Our painting that we purchased from a local talented artist will hang with fond memories in our home…you must have been a great nomad then because our trip was amazing!!! Popular tourists sights and off the beaten track secret gems. Ricard and I loved it all. Can’t wait to meet you tomorrow and show you our pictures. Thank you for the trip of a lifetime! — Susan Farrant, Vancouver, Canada