alantwo Posted 17 September , 2018 Share Posted 17 September , 2018 Presently thinking of putting together a trip to Gallipoli and I wondered if anyone has any opinions of the Hotel Caeli in Eceabat. A good location for exploring the peninsular etc? We'll want to visit Cape Helles, Anzac and Suvla/Lala Baba. We will probably already have a 4x4, and will approach from Canakkale, thus is there a suitable car ferry and, if so, any idea on present costs? My thanks in advance. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emrezmen Posted 17 September , 2018 Share Posted 17 September , 2018 (edited) I have no idea about that particular hotel but if you're talking about a hotel close to the battlefields, you can try Kum Hotel or Gallipoli Houses (I never stayed there). But, generally, accommodation in Eceabat will be more comfortable in terms of saving time before going to battlefields. You can easily find car ferries from Canakkale to Eceabat (or Kilitbahir) during the day and night (until 11:59 pm I think). There are continuous runs. A 4x4 will not be a problem. It's even possible to enter a car ferry with a bus. Costs won't be expensive at all. A Canakkale-Eceabat ferry will cost only 3,75 TL per person. If you want a round-trip ticket it will cost 52,50 TL, if I'm not mistaken. You can find a current price list here (Turkish): http://www.gdu.com.tr/Sefer/SeferUcretDetay?SeferId=2019# Edited 25 October , 2018 by emrezmen PM/AM confusion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alantwo Posted 18 September , 2018 Author Share Posted 18 September , 2018 On 17/09/2018 at 15:17, emrezmen said: I have no idea about that particular hotel but if you're talking about a hotel close to the battlefields, you can try Kum Hotel or Gallipoli Houses (I never stayed there). But, generally, accommodation in Eceabat will be more comfortable in terms of saving time before going to battlefields. You can easily find car ferries from Canakkale to Eceabat (or Kilitbahir) during the day and night (until 12 pm I think). There are continuous runs. A 4x4 will not be a problem. It's even possible to enter a car ferry with a bus. Costs won't be expensive at all. A Canakkale-Eceabat ferry will cost only 3,75 TL per person. If you want a round-trip ticket it will cost 52,50 TL, if I'm not mistaken. You can find a current price list here (Turkish): http://www.gdu.com.tr/Sefer/SeferUcretDetay?SeferId=2019# Thanks very much for taking the time to reply. We're still in the early stages of planning, thus I may need you help again. Kind regards Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnshep Posted 18 September , 2018 Share Posted 18 September , 2018 I would strongly recommend you consider Gallipoli Houses. It is run by Eric Goosens and his wife and he knows the battlefields like the back of his hand. A search on Google will bring up his website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alantwo Posted 19 September , 2018 Author Share Posted 19 September , 2018 10 hours ago, johnshep said: I would strongly recommend you consider Gallipoli Houses. It is run by Eric Goosens and his wife and he knows the battlefields like the back of his hand. A search on Google will bring up his website. Many thanks, we have looked at the website unfortunately it seems to be pretty much booked up at the times we could go next year. April perhaps understandably is busy but so is May and September. Hence my question as to whether anyone had any experience of the Hotel Caeli. It is quite expensive. The suggested Kum Hotel might be a possibility as they presently have rooms available. Thanks again Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Plummed Goose Posted 20 September , 2018 Share Posted 20 September , 2018 I don't think you have looked at the hotels' website as it not possible to see the occupancy there. Possibly you checked with booking.com where we haven't put any rooms for sale for 2019 yet. If interested you can contact us at talk2us@thegallipolihouses.com I understand this might be considered as advertising and against forum rules ... eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Ravine Posted 20 September , 2018 Share Posted 20 September , 2018 On 18/09/2018 at 21:23, johnshep said: I would strongly recommend you consider Gallipoli Houses. It is run by Eric Goosens and his wife and he knows the battlefields like the back of his hand. A search on Google will bring up his website. For our visits to Gallipoli (10+ ... ) we have stayed with Eric and Özlem at Gallipoli Houses. Highly recommended. Convenient location for all the battlefield areas, allowing more time to be spent there (as opposed to start / end of day commuting) and if you do fancy a visit to 'the other side', the ferry terminals at Eceabat and Kilitbahir are a short drive away. With the added advantage of Eric's excellent campaign and local knowledge, please do give it consideration. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithmroberts Posted 20 September , 2018 Share Posted 20 September , 2018 7 hours ago, The Plummed Goose said: I understand this might be considered as advertising and against forum rules ... Under the circumstances we can just regard this as a factual correction. (I'm not setting a precedent here). Keith Roberts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alantwo Posted 21 September , 2018 Author Share Posted 21 September , 2018 On 20/09/2018 at 10:40, The Plummed Goose said: I don't think you have looked at the hotels' website as it not possible to see the occupancy there. Possibly you checked with booking.com where we haven't put any rooms for sale for 2019 yet. If interested you can contact us at talk2us@thegallipolihouses.com I understand this might be considered as advertising and against forum rules ... eric Eric Thanks very much for your post. I am advised by my travel consultant (Wife) that you are correct, it was the booking.com site that gave the impression that there were no vacancies for next year. At this preliminary stage we were just trying to see what accommodation might be available, where, at what times and how could we get there. Having said I would like to visit the area before I kick the bucket, we appear to be putting plans in place. I will be in touch shortly. My thanks again. Keith (Gully Ravine) - Thanks for your contribution, it definitely looks on the cards. Thanks again Alan 22 hours ago, keithmroberts said: Under the circumstances we can just regard this as a factual correction. (I'm not setting a precedent here). Keith Roberts Hi Keith As always I am happy to be corrected. Regards Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilly100 Posted 22 September , 2018 Share Posted 22 September , 2018 I hired a car from AVIS in Cannakale at a fair price and had it delivered over to Eceabat for a few extra dollars, picked it up, signed off and away. Very easy, or alternatively just pick it up yourself and hop the ferry. Their office is very close to ferry terminal so a simple drive, albeit on other side of car seat and road for me. That Plummed Goose bloke and his missus have a superb place and very good people to boot. Can't go wrong there mate. The ferry service is very efficient and easy to get your car on etc. After getting ferries in Indonesia between Java and Bali, it is first world paradise!! A pleasant and invigorating passage well worth it on its own aside from all the good stuff at the other end!!! Enjoy! Gilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alantwo Posted 23 September , 2018 Author Share Posted 23 September , 2018 On 22/09/2018 at 04:46, gilly100 said: I hired a car from AVIS in Cannakale at a fair price and had it delivered over to Eceabat for a few extra dollars, picked it up, signed off and away. Very easy, or alternatively just pick it up yourself and hop the ferry. Their office is very close to ferry terminal so a simple drive, albeit on other side of car seat and road for me. That Plummed Goose bloke and his missus have a superb place and very good people to boot. Can't go wrong there mate. The ferry service is very efficient and easy to get your car on etc. After getting ferries in Indonesia between Java and Bali, it is first world paradise!! A pleasant and invigorating passage well worth it on its own aside from all the good stuff at the other end!!! Enjoy! Gilly Thanks Ian One of the places I am hoping that we will be able to get to is Lala Baba. I have the impression from Stephen Chambers' and Mrs Holt's guidebooks, it is via a track from the main road, which will get us at least to the CWGC Lala Baba Cemetery. The track crosses Asmak Dere, hence the 4 x 4 I mentioned above, which we 'think' we will probably now get from an airport. Presently looking how to get to Gallipoli whether via Istanbul or possibly Izmir, though the latter has a stopover in Munich. Once we get an idea of the likely route and approximate times of year, I'll be in a position to annoy Eric and their check availability. Looks promising, though any other suggestions or experiences welcomed. Regards Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilly100 Posted 23 September , 2018 Share Posted 23 September , 2018 I personally found, even after flying from Perth to Istanbul, catching a Truva bus or coach from the Otogar or bus station just a dozen or less stops on light rail from airport, to be pretty good value. Good new buses, comfy and with wifi etc and good drivers on good roads. Only 5 or 6 hours to Eceabat. Then pick up hire car and go from there. Dunno about all the tracks up Suvla way but I did a few cemeteries there in our little conventional car no worries. Fuel is very expensive. That way worked for me. I found Avis very helpful and had it all booked well before by email. Eric or Bill will be able to comment on 4WD requirements better than myself. Cheers Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eceabat Posted 30 September , 2018 Share Posted 30 September , 2018 Hi Alan, while not being able to comment on the quality of Hotel Caeli, not having stayed there, I have only heard good things about it. However, it is much further away from the battlefields than any of the other options mentioned here, being well to the north of Suvla. While websites will say it is in Eceabat, that refers to the administrative district of that name, not the town itself. Having stayed at Eric and Ozlem's I too can join the chorus and recommend it as a very good and centrally located place to camp. There are a number of tracks heading out towards Lala Baba, the coastal one referred to above and another that starts a couple of hundred meters along the road leading to Green Hill and beyond, sign posted by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The latter is probably better at this time of year, as most of the way has been stabilized, with broken gravel packed in. The coastal road can get very heavy after rain, while Azmak Dere can flood after storms. It depends on the time of year you come, late spring and summer, and into autumn most tracks should be viable. Hope this is of some small help. Cheers Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 30 September , 2018 Share Posted 30 September , 2018 (edited) Alan, I'm just catching up here after being off-line for a couple of weeks (all in a good cause [Chianti ]) I don't think that I have anything new to add to the excellent advice given so far; just reinforcement The Gallipoli Houses offer great accommodation, to a high modern standard, and they are ideally placed for access to all the three main battlefield areas. I've stayed there twice and been v. impressed each time. Getting down to the peninsula from Istanbul is not a problem. As Ian has described, Truva offer a great, and economical service, on very comfortable coaches, some of which are spaciously designed with seating in a one/two format (only three seats across the width of the bus). They're as good or better seats than on many airlines today. There's a comfort/refreshment stop halfway and a steward also serves light drinks on board. If you choose to drive however, modern navigational aids (eg Waze) make getting out of/into Istanbul 'no problem'; likewise getting down to the peninsula The roads on the peninsula have improved in recent years and that out to Lala Baba should not present any difficulties, but you will need to keep an eye on the weather (see Bill's comment about the Azmak Dere [I remember years back there was a bit of a ford to cross there, but in May this year it gave us no trouble]) If you decide stay in Çanakkale, or go there in the evening, or visit the Naval Museum etc, the ferry service is quick, efficient and economical (though you should always double check that it's the one to your particular destination) Gallipoli is a very special place - enjoy your visit and make it memorable for all the right reasons Michael Edited 30 September , 2018 by michaeldr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alantwo Posted 30 September , 2018 Author Share Posted 30 September , 2018 Bill and Michael Thanks very much for your comments. Our planning has taken a slight curve in that my daughter has decided to come along with us, to see what I've been going on about for these past few years. As such a slightly longer, two centre holiday is on the cards. I'd like to see something of Istanbul and visit Troy, thus we may end up on the Asia side of the Dardanelles for a few days rest. Assuming Eric has vacancies for the dates we are thinking of, we'll be staying there, it's sound too good to miss. It looks as though it could be August (at the moment!), albeit I'm still awaiting confirmation from the travel consultant, my wife. Thanks also to Ian, the coach travel sounds okay, but with the idea of us going elsewhere I think a car is going to suit ourselves best and provide flexibility. Mind you with all the extra luggage (yes, we do take the kitchen sink), I'm probably going to need a truck Michael - See you on 3rd November. Thanks again. Kind regards Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 1 October , 2018 Share Posted 1 October , 2018 21 hours ago, alantwo said: Michael - See you on 3rd November. Looking forward to seeing you at the RAF Club for the Gallipoli Association Conference which incidentally, will also provide an excellent opportunity for you to quiz the experts for further tips/suggestions re your trip best regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alantwo Posted 24 October , 2018 Author Share Posted 24 October , 2018 Blimey, all booked, going June next year. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 25 October , 2018 Share Posted 25 October , 2018 Great to hear Alan Looking forward to seeing you and to hearing the details Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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