Overall our trip was a ten. All of our trips are tens, we make them so.
TENS – ratings and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Medical tourism, ancient ancestors travel, 2,000-year-old magicians selling religions, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and yet left longing for more history beyond the ancient Greeks and modern Roman agents. Mineral Hot Springs with as much ancient history as their surrounding marble columns, resorts elevating the daily routine to all-inclusive delights Türkiye style. Springs and spas and Hammams and steam baths and travertines and last but not least, the room with a view in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet – and with magnificent, expert, professional guides and coordinator!
We saved and worked and collected airmiles for this trip for ages and we were thrilled every step of the way. This trip was a two- or three-dozen-blog trip – but this note offers the overview of what is to come – what came. Check back for links updating the individual hot springs spas and resorts as their blogs are added – click to follow us in your email. Note: several photos below are slide shows, see the numbers on their side and click to view more – if you like.
Our practice for many of our trips has been to visit mineral hot springs and archaeological sites – this trip had both and more.
Visiting mineral hot springs has been a pastime of humans, a goal of travelers since time before time. I grew up in the region of hot springs of North Carolina that are along the French Broad River. Near the springs and the river are thousands of years-old petroglyphs left for us by some of the earliest peoples of North America. The ancient springs, worldwide, often have had visitors for thousands, even tens of thousands of years who left their marks for us to follow.
Today we follow the springs wherever they are — North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, Ontario, Spain, France, and now Türkiye.
I asked Google to tell me the hot springs and with the help of their partners, the blue dots on the page show what we could see to begin planning our trip. Google has been a part of every one of our trips these last years. See below for other Google stories.
Over the next weeks I am going to write about the places we stayed on our trip – going and coming. from a French hotel chain in Heathrow to an Ottoman the Magnificent hotel that we called home for three days – Imperial splendor!
We did not get any discounts and no one knew until we were leaving, if then, that I write about tourism, and most of them will only learn after I publish.
What is it about DNA for genealogy and tourism?
Soonest I will add about Dai’s y-DNA beginning in near Asia, working through Turkey over the last few thousands of years before getting to Wales. He is a y-DNA G2a parent haplogroup, specifically – G-BY187064 – But today its about me; this is my story – sort of. I say sort of because depending on which company you test with and which people they each have in their database to compare you to, then you will see different versions of yourself. Below I have a link to other DNA admixture stories – but in-between I always say…
I love my admixture – ALL my many admixtures and this one has always been one of my favorites. See my 6 percent Türkiye!
A little bit here of what’s to come:
The latest in luggage, travel goodies and our much beloved British Airways. Apple Air Tags, International e-Sims, RFID bags, and Ring cameras to see inside and outside of home, turn on and off lights and set off alarms if needed.
Sofitel Heathrow – 1 night of layover at Heathrow
The location: Terminal 5
Very, very convenient if you are flying from Terminal 5
British Airways – Their First Direct Flight to Izmir, Türkiye from Heathrow
There were announcements and refreshments that we were on their first direct flight from Heathrow. I shared some of our photos with them. I got the great shots of another plane flying just below us, off our port side.
Thanks to Reyan Tuvi – guide extraordinaire…
– coordinator, hand holder and vacation saver, we were picked up at the airport in Izmir by the fabulous driver and local coordinator Vedat.
We were about a week away from our trip and needed some fining tuning – turned out we needed lots and we made the great contact before we were packed. Reyan knows someone, who knew someone, who knows us, and she helped us every step of the way.
More about Reyan in each of the blogs for each resort and hot spring. Google, Glimmer, Context Travel, Archaeologous and other sites all have her found in their cyberspace and she made our little vacation so much better. Link Below
Specializing in Istanbul and was able to coordinate guides and transportation for us all over Türkiye including the Izmir region where we also visited!
Balcova Termal Otel A. S. – 6 Glorious Nights
https://www.balcovatermal.com/
Located in: Spa Therapy Centers
Address: Korutürk, 35330 Balçova/İzmir, Türkiye
Phone: +90 232 259 01 02
Balcova spa is built on and around the ancient Agamemnon Springs – a half dozen magnificent mineral spring pools and every spa and orthopedic treatment you can want from a spa. Much more about the facility in its own blog coming soonest, in-between lots of pictures to hint at the stories and information.
We had two nights to rest from the travel, begin to bathe and swim in all of the 6 mineral hot springs pools and saw the orthopedic doctor first thing Monday. We then enjoyed three days of wonderful treatments – TENS transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Ultra Sound; Paraffin; manipulation and massage of muscles and joints; Whirlpools, Jacuzzis, multiple mineral baths of varying temperatures (40 degrees C for some), massage, facials and with our own jacuzzi in our room with a balcony. We got a suite with a large living and dining space with large TV – limited English TV but we watched a few things via our laptop with a HDMI cable we brought with us.
We watched a bit of the travel pieces about the places we were visiting and made the final decisions of what to visit and which ones were good enough on YouTube. Later it is was great to see the museums and sites that we missed.
The location:
From a Google search – “…Balçova
Balçova is one of the most adorable districts of İzmir with green hills, healing thermal springs, historical and natural beauties, routes where you can go hiking, a cable car facility, and business and shopping centers. It has an estimated past of 3.000 years. Just 8 km away from the city center, you can go and see Balçova without any bother.
Thermal springs in Balçova
Agamemnon Thermal Springs which was mentioned through the epic stories of Homer and the works of Strabon the geographer has been used as a healing home from ancient times up to today. These thermal springs where the wounds of the soldiers of Alexander the Great were cured were the most famous during those ages. There are opportunities for hot water, mud bath, and potable water within this district which is now known as Balçova Kaplıcaları (Thermal Springs). Over the springs, rises the thermal spring resort that offers a cure to thousands of sick people…”
https://www.visitizmir.org/en/Content/117
Doubletree Kusadasi by the Marina – 1 night
The room we saw and booked from their website was not what we were given.
Heartbreaking – nothing about the room or hotel was as described. Marina view, yes, but from a little balcony overlooking the busy main road, in-between the hotel and the marina. It just held two chairs where we could sit with constant, loud traffic noise and exhaust fumes from the road below.
They said they would only refund our remaining week’s stay via cash to our bank account and gave us a form asking us for our personal banking information. But the normal and correct thing to do would have been to just refund the portion to us via our credit card that we paid with. It felt like we were being held up for additional personal information. We were advised by the bank not to give them the personal information since they had deceived about the room and didn’t seem to care that their website was wrong.
Our booked and paid room was the advertised King Deluxe Room with Marina View Non Smoking – see the pictures.
As of today – this “other” room still shows… see the date and time screen captured when I add this photo
They only offered that maybe if the other guest checked out of the pictured room, they might move us, at no extra charge, to that room on either the coming Saturday or the Sunday, but with no guarantees we could change room. They kept the full six nights of money but we left after one.
Of course we did not stay – fly over 6,000 miles to spend 6 nights in a sardine room full of exhaust fumes and loud traffic noise? The pictured email address on the form for filling in banking information was handwritten by a hotel clerk who came to the front desk when we began the check out, telling us that if we emailed them our personal banking info they would refund. I even contacted the hotel parent and after review, they wrote to me they were writing to the hotel and suggesting to them they refund the extra nights to the credit card. But this has not happened and the hotel did not respond to my emails.
Liberty Resorts Kusadasi – 5 Fabulous Nights
https://www.libertyhotels.com/oteller/
Address: Yavansu, Hüseyin Can Cd. No:40, 09400 Kuşadası/Aydın, Türkiye
Phone: +90 256 611 22 22
A fabulous all-inclusive, wonderful rooms, amazing views, sumptuous food and all drinks included. Just a place to enjoy, from swimming pools to spas and exercise rooms – not to mention the beach on the Aegean and the really fun entertainment at night. Bring the family – kids and grannies and pops.
The location: The Aegean coast of Turkey’s western provinces offers ancient wonders, sparkling beaches and welcoming hosts and hostesses to make your stay perfect.
Day Trips to Ephesus, The House of the Virgin Mary and skipped the rest – the hotel was too great with too much wonderful to do. Their spa was just fabulous and I will write all about it in the separate Liberty blog. A magnificent pedicure with special shoes to protect the toes and do NOT miss the hair stylist and massage and facial! I am so sorry I don’t have spa photos. Please send me some and I will place them!
Denizli
Richmond Pamukkale Termal Otel Denizli – 5 Amazing Nights
https://www.richmondhotels.com.tr/richmond-pamukkale-termal-otel-denizli
Address: Karahayıt, 20290 Pamukkale/Denizli, Türkiye
Phone: +90 258 271 42 94
Much thanks to Richmond Resorts for the added pictures of their room, from them, to show off the fabulous accommodation we had with them. Most amazing staff – I carried my flowers from them for my trip, I have my scarf and handmade house shoes from the most wonderful people anywhere on earth who took amazingly good care of us.
The Richmond has wonderful indoor and outdoor mineral springs and spa on lovely grounds and great added swimming pools. Day trips to Pamukkale Terraces which had the travertines and Cleopatra’s Pool and ancient ruins. Ladocia was nearby to enjoy and the most wonderful restaurant alongside an old mill with a waterfall under the shade in nearby Honaz.
The Capitol suite was wonderful with a view of the valley from the amazing balcony. It had a comfortable sitting and dining room to enjoy a quiet meal and a convenient half toilet by the front door. There was a large bed and dressing room with master shower and toilet.
The location: From the hotel we visited ancient sites and wonderful restaurants and the healing and amazing red springs – Karahayit Springs. And also visited the Pamukkale Terraces, Hierapolis, Ladocia and more. Reyan Tuvi arranged our great guide and driver and we had the brunch that fulfilled the age old phrase – enough food to feed the Turkish army! Yasemin YiGiter our extraordinary guide and Ufuk Edik the driver who was great and both joined us for lunch. Top recommendations for both and thanks to Reyan for arranging them.
Every springs and rock river bed worldwide are seriously slippery. Because of the precious care taken we all must go barefoot to wade in the waters. I believe this is more stable anyway. But always remember to be careful. We have various water shoes for the places that allow shoes – but these are UNESCO heritage sites and we are blessed to be allowed to visit these springs that have been enjoyed for pleasure and healing for thousands of years.
Brunch was all delicious and the Kasa Cinaralti restaurant at Honaz was the definition of universe of stars (more than 5 star 🙂 ) restaurant with great food and delightful charm. Located along side an old mill the restaurant has this main dining room, another enclosed large wonderful dining room and individual small house private dining rooms all scattered around the waterfall and hillside.
Ottoman Hotel Imperial Istanbul Sultanahmet – 3 Magnificent Nights
https://www.ottomanhotelimperial.com/
Address: Cankurtaran, Sultanahmet, Caferiye Sk. No:6/1, 34122 İstanbul, Türkiye
Phone: +90 212 513 61 51
The only place to stay – only. You go to Istanbul and you must plan to visit the Mosque and the surroundings so you must stay in sight and earshot of the Hagia Sophia. From this magnificent balcony we had at the Ottoman Hotel Imperial we had sight of the mosque across the way and could hear the calls to prayer from the minaret — all just across the rooftops.
I have added two of the hotel’s photos – one of our actual room – and the other has the location of Ottoman Hotel Imperial in relation to the mosque. I did not get a single picture inside the room – I did think I got the Hammam but I can’t find them on either phone. But we got loads of pictures and videos on the balcony. Magnificent view across roof tops and besides the mosque – a view into the summer room dining room where we ate most of the stay and from the dining room you can look up and see the balcony.
I can’t believe I did not get photos of the hotel front from the street with all its charm and unforgivable that I did not get photos of the amazing and wonderful staff at the beautiful reception of this historical hotel.
The location: Sultanahmet, Istanbul with Reyan Tuvi co-ordinator and guide.
We took the drive as opposed to flying from Denizli to Istanbul – the views were wonderful more on that trip later. Arriving in the drop off lot in Sultanahmet (The hotel comes for you in a golf cart) we were met by our great guide Reyan. We checked into our amazing home for three days and Reyan took us straight away for a lovely walkabout to the perfect restaurant.
Sultanahmet Koftecisi Restaurant had the perfect dinner – a warm, soothing, comforting bowl of lentil soup and it was just what we needed! We were about to begin three amazing days.
As mentioned, I will be writing a blog on each of the places we visited – Izmir, Balcova; Kusadasi, Ephesus; Karahayit, Denezli, Pamukkale; and Istanbul. For my travel reader followers, you know I use Google and that is that, but a great friend got us in touch with professional expert guide Reyan Tuvi just days before we left. She was and remains to be a great source of history and herstory for all things travel and Türkiye. So as I write each added blog, all will hear more about her great advice once we were there and deciding where to go.
Long before we got to Istanbul, we were thrilled for her to use her expertise to have us picked up at the Izmir airport when we arrived, transported in air conditioned vans from one city to the next and guided by the best of the best all over Izmir region in a way that took care of two seniors like we were helpless. By the time we arrived in Istanbul and met her in person for the first time – we felt like old friends and truly welcome. More soonest!
Description
I will let Google describe it: “Sultanahmet is a neighborhood known for being home to the striking Ottoman-era Blue Mosque with its iconic minarets, along with the famed, mosaic-filled Hagia Sophia mosque. Adjacent Sultanahmet Square has a park, gardens and fountains, along with the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius and the nearby 4th-century Stone of Million pillar ruin. The popular district is home to many shops, hotels and traditional eateries.”
In Istanbul of course one cannot miss the Hagia Sophia.
We also had a drive around Istanbul and then a boat ride to see Istanbul from the water.
Sofitel Terminal 5 Heathrow – again for the trip home
The Hilton in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia – 1 healing restful wonderful night
It was magnificent for a rest from our 8 hour flight, my fall coming off the airplane, time difference, no hotel waiting- and we had a three hour drive to our home from the airport which we did not need to do without enjoying a night’s sleep so we stayed in town.
But we were back – home – almost – and the bed – oh the bed was just like the Hilton is supposed to be – healing sleep – and there was Cherry Bread Pudding on the breakfast brunch buffet the next morning!
Home
We caught Covid somewhere on the way home. We arrived late Sunday afternoon to home but when we woke on Monday we were both unwell.
What we missed:
Türkiye ~ Anatolian Mirage of Fantasy
coming soon the next plan – The south east and the north east.
https://kulasalihligeopark.com/
Guide: Reyan Tuvi – use a boolean google and you find lots about Reyan
Google gets credit for the maps and the great searches!
Besides this Virginia visit – search in the slot for the other travels
Cherie Lynn's Herstory 
Pingback: Denizli, Türkiye – Hierapolis – Paul who? | Cherie Lynn's Herstory
Pingback: give me Liberty! or give me New Shoes… and everything else… | Cherie Lynn's Herstory
Pingback: Ancestor Tours ~ World Travel with Genetic Genealogy – The Great Philadelphia Wagon Road