Here are some links we used to do our advance hotel/air/train/visa reservations that might be helpful to others:

https://evisa.gov.az/en   = Azerbaijan online E-visa - cost $24 each

https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/  = Turkey online E-visa  - cost $20.70 each

https://ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/view/eybis/tnmGenel/tcddWebContent.jsf  = Turkish Trains - very cheap!

Since our train was departing Kayseri at 00:53, each couple booked a 2-bunk private cabin using our age 65+ (50% off discount). Cost was a total of  TRY129 ($38) per cabin. Nice sink & refrigerator in each cabin.

Then we  decided to book all 4-bunks in a 4-bunk Business Class cabin so we'd have a place to talk, early riser sit, etc. Again, booked all 4 bunks using Senior Citizen price of TRY29.50 each so 4-bunk cabin cost us a total of ($35).



https://p.turkishairlines.com/ = Turkish Airlines for flight IST-Kayseri. Total cost for both of us was TRY189.98 ($55)

http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/turkey/hampton-by-hilton-istanbul-zeytinburnu-ISTZEHX/index.html?WT.mc_id=zLMWA0TR1HP2NaturalSearch3Google_LGHotelListing4DGGeneric_Jul5LocalSearch6ISTZEHX7EN8i1   = Hampton Inn near IST airport. I liked this hotel as it $10 taxi to hotel, includes breakfast, close to various modes of transportation, location is great, luggage hold if we need it. Booked in advance, total cost for 1-night was TRY230.47 ($65).

We booked our Cappadocia hotel via Booking.com to stay 4 nights at the Goreme Anatolian Houses. Total cost with breakfast in a Cave Suite for the two of us, with breakfast, overlooking the Fairy Chimneys was $325. It was a non-refundable fee, however, on Sept. 10th I saw a price of $234 for an Arch Cave Suite. It's guide showed 2-single beds, but photos were of bigger beds? It was the cave concept & amenities that attracted us! No pre-payment so will pay when we stay there.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/tr/hekimoalu-otel.html  - Again used Booking.com to book rooms in Erzurum for us, and including breakfast cost $34 per room.

Exploring the Caucasus Countries

A dear TWA classmate of Pat's, Dorothy Stone, and her husband, Gordon, are planning on exploring some of the Caucasus countries with us. We agreed to let them explore Istanbul for a period without us, while we're visiting Jason's family in Ukraine.  We've been to IST many times and plan on departing back to the USA from IST and shopping at the Grand Bazaar in IST before returning home and don't want to carry souvenirs (Turkish glass lamps!) around the Caucasus for weeks!

We're going to rendezvous in Istanbul. In advance we:  procured our visas online in advance for Turkey & Azerbaijan, purchased medical/MedEvac insurance, made hotel reservations for our 1-night stay in IST the day before our flight to Cappadocia, bought Turkish Airline tickets IST-Kayseri Airport (Cappadocia), and made hotel reservations in Cappadocia in an awesome cave hotel. Dorothy & Gordon have booked a rental car for us at Kayseri airport. Also, have booked the train from Kayseri to Erzurum, Turkey and a hotel for one night in Erzurum when we arrive.

Dorothy & Gordon used their American Express points to fly from JFK-IST. We're flying from DC to Kiev standby and probably won't decide until the day before we go whether to take UAL to FRA and Lufthansa to Kiev OR just standby for Turkish DC-IST-Kiev. Will also be flying on a ZED standby ticket from Kiev-IST.

Game plan is to take a bus from Erzurum to Hopa, Turkey and then cross over into Georgia  However, we're winging this and have decided NOT to book accommodations/transportation in advance from that point forward. If we're bored, weather is crummy, etc. we'll catch a bus/train/marshrutka and continue. If the area/people are interesting...we'll linger. We have a vague idea of the cities where we want to base ourselves in while touring Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. Looks very doable to enjoy day trips and base ourselves and not lots of packing/unpacking and can "chill" longer in each country.

 We all have purchased 1-way tickets to the Caucasus and are retired.....Will keep you posted:-)