Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary

We used Karen to plan our Istanbul itinerary prior to embarking on a train trip from Istanbul. Our trip began seamlessly with an escort service in the Istanbul airport. We were grateful for the assistance complete with carts so we did not have to walk the distance required in the airport. Our accommodation was comfortable and in a good location. Our guide superb. We learned so much about the history of the area. We also got the added bonus of having lunch with Karen, which we greatly enjoyed as she and our guide introduced us to local flavors. All activities and meals planned were great choices. I highly recommend Karen even if you are just in Istanbul for a short time.

We have been on 5 WOW trips. Karen Fedorko is at the top of the list. Everything she plans is top-tier and well executed: hotels, guides, transportation, restaurants. After a lot of research I do not think there is anyone else in Turkey that can provide what her office does.

Trip highlights:
Istanbul. Our guide, Sinan, is a retired history teacher who loves Istanbul and its history. Our surprise highlight was the newly-reopened Chora Church with its mosaics of Virgin Mary’s childhood. The cruise along the Bosphorus was unique and memorable as the boat docks directly at the Peninsula Hotel. The cruise next to the mansions and to the Black Sea was very special and provided great insight into the history (particularly Ottoman portion).

Izmir. Our guide, Bill, is a retired archaeologist. We decided to use Izmir as our headquarters, and then to take 1- to 1.5-hour day trips to the important Christian sites around the city. This worked well. Our tour of Ephesus, given by Bill who did much of the digging there, was part of the most memorable day we have ever been on in a tour. That same day, he took us to the Virgin Mary’s home/church and arranged a Mass that we could attend at the Chapel next to her home. Bill is very smart, personable, and shares his love for Izmir and surroundings. He was a delight to be with. We wish we had spent a couple more days there to see the other 4 churches of Paul.

We stopped over in Istanbul on our way to Africa in May. We had been to Istanbul before and loved it and were excited about being there again. We had only a few days, a need to get over jet lag and a desire to see other parts of this fascinating city. Karen Fedorko made everything easy. She was always in quick contact despite our large time difference (+10 hours), very easy to communicate with and always ready to listen.

Karen had us met at the Istanbul airport (which is larger than you think possible) with a cart that whisked us thru passport control and into the car and driver. I swear we were on our way before everyone had gotten off the plane. She recommended The Bank Hotel, which is a charming, more boutique hotel in an interesting neighborhood. Rooms were quite nice, food was incredible, staff superb and on the rooftop was a bar overlooking the water and the bridge with great drinks and snacks.

I had always regretted not going to a hammam when I was in Istanbul before, so shortly after we had checked in, I was whisked away to one of the oldest hammams in the city. An amazing experience in a structure that is so beautiful it takes your breath away. What a wonderful way to deal with jet lag and a great introduction to Istanbul.

Over the next few days, our amazing guide, Esin Norris, showed us neighborhoods of Istanbul that we had not seen before. A leisurely trip down the Bosphorus was a gentle beginning to our trip, followed by an exploration of Kadıköy on the Asian side. Great food markets! My husband talked to Erin about cooking and the next day she brought him a bag of Tehana so he could make the soup properly.

All in all, Karen was a delight to work with and we are already thinking about a trip solely to Turkey. She made everything effortless and very enjoyable.

At the end of our trip to eastern Europe we had about a week to spend in Istanbul this past May. Without hesitation we went to Wendy’s site (as we have done many times before over the last 8 years), and got in touch with Karen, one of Wendy’s Turkey specialists. Dealing with Karen and her team, including Hakan, was a pleasure. We were dealing with certain health issues and Karen and her team were able to take that into account when determining the best locations we should be staying at in Istanbul and our daily itinerary.

The week in Istanbul was wonderful and our guide for the week, Anka Benli, was amazing. She was an expert with tons of knowledge and very respectful of our health needs. Also, all of the drivers and transfer staff were also outstanding. We had family staying in Istanbul at the same time and Karen’s team arranged a van to drive us to the Asia side and explore the residential area where our family lived. All the restaurants chosen by Karen were excellent, the restaurant that we loved most was the Sunset Bar and Grill. The view was amazing overlooking the city.

One of our highlights was the Bosporus Sea cruise. We had a large yacht that allowed family & friends to join us on the cruise. Seeing Istanbul from the Bosporus was truly special. Another highlight was the Turkish Bath. Getting scrubbed & soaked in a hammam built in the 1500s was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We will definitely recommend Karen and her team to any friends or family that want to go to Turkey.

The hotels were excellent too, and all meals perfect. It was a wonderful time. Thanks again so much for all your help in organizing our trip.

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