ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Holiday Houseboys 

To fully appreciate Istanbul you need to book a Holiday Houseboy, your local gay friendly tour guide. He will be able to show you around Ilike a local. Whether you want to see the tourist sites, places off the beaten track or discover the new experiences, the Holiday Houseboy is there to help you.

Antar is a graduate, having earned his BA from Al-Azhar University in Gaza. He is an artist at heart. He loves music, theatre and drama. Indeed Antar is a hip hop artist and has performed in a couple of European tours as well as one in Brazil. He currently works as an administrator for the Theater and Singing Department of the Union of Palestinian Artists in Istanbul. He has facilitated workshops, worked as a translator, tour guide and drama coach. In his spare time, Antar looks after his body by working out and swimming. Exercise over, he enjoys a good book. He also loves to explore the different and varied neighbourhoods of Istanbul. As Antar says, “but most important I love to be with other people, doing everything I can to make sure we all have good times we can remember together.” If you are into the arts, and like to explore the quirky side of Istanbul with a friendly guy, then book Antar.

Antar smokes occasionally, and speaks English and Arabic.

Total cost for the guide services of Antar for one day (8 hours) = a non refundable deposit of USD 45 by Paypal or major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) PLUS USD 100 in cash to Antar after his services.  This makes a total of 145 US dollars.

Similarly the total cost for the guide services of Antar for half a day (4 hours) = a non refundable deposit of USD 25 by Paypal or major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) PLUS USD 60 in cash to Antar after his services. Therefore total is 85 US dollars.

This does not include transport, entrance fees or any food & beverage costs.

Testimonials:-

“We LOVED Antar! He truly made our trip to Istanbul an experience that we’ll never forget. He was not only knowledgeable about the city, he was also extremely easy to talk to and he had a pleasant attitude the entire time we were together.“

“In looking back on our trip, he will be fondly remembered as being the main reason the trip was such a success. I recommend Antar to anyone who would like to have a fun, interesting and knowledgeable guide for their trip to Istanbul.” – Jeff, UK

“Antar was great company and showed us areas we never would have found on our own despite having been to Istanbul several times. He was considerate of our limitations climbing etc and paced the day accordingly . Highly recommend this good looking lad as your Istanbul guide.” – Robert, UK

<“Antar was a great guide – a very easy going personality he made the conversation flow naturally throughout the day. He showed me places in Istanbul that I doubt any other visitor would find. I feel I really got to know him as a friend and his very personal relationship with Istanbul and its people and sights. Don’t hesitate – book him and you will not regret it.” – James, Belgium

“I thought Antar did a good job. He knows the city well, including some off-the-beaten track places, despite the fact that he’s a relatively new resident of Istanbul. Therefore, he has a distinctive point of view. We visited parts of Beyoglu, Karaköy, Beşiktaş and Ortaköy. I learned a lot and enjoyed our conversations. Well worth the investment.” – Ted, Canada

“Travelling with Antar is very comfortable, just like travelling with my best friends. We travelled in Istanbul in a smart and romantic way. It was a great trip, thank you Antar” – Michael, Taiwan

“Antar arrived exactly on time for our evening outing to enjoy the Istanbul scene. He is polite, professional, and a pleasure to be with. His has a good knowledge of where to go. It was great to be with such easygoing and fun companion for the evening, I cannot recommend him enough.” – Naim

“Thank you so much for connecting me with Antar! He did an amazing job while I was in Istanbul. He was great with communication, and a pleasure to explore the city with. I would recommend him for anyone planning on visiting the city!” Ed, USA

“Antar was very helpful on my first day in Istanbul. He is very friendly and personable. It felt as if I had a good friend here showing me around the city. I highly recommend him and this service especially if you are travelling alone like myself.” – Andrew, Canada

“If you get to meet Antar, he is a lovely and cool guy. We had a great day together. I preferred a relaxed day with lots of stops at cafes and bars and that is what we did. I am sure he would also do intense sightseeing if asked”  – Olivia, Germany

“Antar is this amazing cultured handsome guy, he is smart funny and very good at communication. He showed so many good places.” – Morgan, China

“Considering Antar is not Turkish and does not speak Turkish, he knew enough about Istanbul to take me to some interesting places (both sides of the Horn and on the Asian side) I may not have got to by myself. I had an interesting and enjoyable day with him. He is quite charming.” – Dallas USA

“We enjoyed touring with Antar. He was great. He was on time, and helped us navigate the city tourist sites.” – John, USA

“ I appreciated appreciated Antar‘s outgoing personality. He was great. He had an in-depth knowledge of the history of the city and his excellent conversation skills. No hesitation recommending him to other worldly travellers!” – Neil, Canada

“Antar was a great guide. He really listened to what I was interested in and showed me the best places. He’s been checking up on me this week to see if I’m doing Ok on my own. Thank you for your help connecting people from around the world.” – Von, USA

“Antar did a great job. Certainly very knowledgeable about Istanbul. He’s very conscientious to his guests, courteous and always prompt. I have had several guides in various cities, and Antar was certainly one of the best.” – Christopher, USA

“I wanted a tour guide I felt safe with to be myself as a trans woman visiting from the USA during a short trip to Istanbul before getting a hair transplant. I am so fortunate that Holiday Houseboys was there for me when I reached out at the last minute, and Antar was there the following day as my tour guide. With only 4 hours to spare, we got to do everything I had hoped plus more. Experiencing Istanbul with Antar was a life-changing experience I can’t begin to express and fathom. My heart was open to new ideas and possibilities, which is why I love traveling and experiencing new cultures.” – Lana, NYC, USA

“I had a great day with Antar in Istanbul. I was traveling alone on a cruise ship and wanted someone to show me around for the day. Antar met me @ the cruise port and we hit everything on my must see list. He even found me a barber to get a shave!

Antar was very organized — we walked, took a tram, a ferry, and a bus!  We had a lovely breakfast with a perfect view of the city.  I recommend him!” – Rob, USA

“Antar was a great guide! He showed me the real Istanbul that tourists wouldn’t normally see so I got to see much more how ordinary people live. He was very thoughtful of my needs and took time plan out a great itinerary.” – Michael, USA

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ONDER

Onder works in a hotel close to Taksim Square. He has been in this job for 5 years. Being a night receptionist he is accustomed to customer service. His secret interest includes acting, which he does at an amateur level. He also likes opera, the cinema, football and swimming. He goes to the gym a few times a week to keep in good shape. A worldy guy, Onder looks forward to looking after you as your Istanbul guide.

Onder is a non smoker, and speaks Azeri, Turkish and English.

Cost for the guide services of Onder for one day (8 hours) = a non refundable deposit of USD 45 by Paypal or major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) PLUS USD 80 in cash to Onder after his services. Total 125 US dollars.

Cost for the guide services of Onder for half a day (4 hours) = a non refundable deposit of USD 25 by Paypal or major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) PLUS USD 50 in cash to Onder after his services. Total 75 US dollars.

This does not include transport, entrance fees or any food & beverage costs.

Testimonials:

“Onder was fantastic. An experienced guide and knowledgeable about everything Istanbul, what makes him successful is the pure joy he derives from showing off his hometown. He’s also one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet. Run don’t walk to have Onder as your guide.” – Fred, USA

“Onder my guide in Istanbul was fantastic. He was a great guide and a lovely person. Thanks for creating the connection which made for a perfect day touring!” – Steven, USA

“I have to say Onder was fantastic!! We had a terrific day together, one which I won’t soon forget. He was communicative, prompt, friendly, intelligent and spoke excellent English. His knowledge of the areas we visited was awesome, as well. We didn’t really plan much in advance, so the day just unfolded… we went to Balat, walked around Galata, had lunch at a mezes restaurant and he showed me how the subway system works, among other things. I can only give Onder my highest praise and recommendation. Many thanks and, if Onder is typical, I wouldn’t hesitate to book with Holiday Houseboys again.” – Thom, USA

“Onder is a handsome, charming guy. I really enjoyed his company. By telling a series of anecdotes and describing various neighbourhoods, he gave me an interesting perspective on life in Istanbul and how it relates to other parts of a multi-faceted country. He has a good sense of humour and an adventurous spirit. I would not hesitate to recommend Onder’s services if you’re looking for a courteous and attentive Istanbul guide. Particularly helpful for people who are travelling on their own” — Ted, Canada

“Just to let you know Onder provided excellent service as our Istanbul guide. Enjoyed a nice evening with him.” – Joe, China

“Onder turned out to be the best guide I’ve ever used. He showed me everything I wanted to see, eat, drink, go out and all I could have wished for in a guide. He was so friendly great to talk to. So relaxed and I saw all of Istanbul through his eyes which is what I wanted. Hopefully I will be returning late September and using him again.” – Paul, Australia

“Onder was super friendly and personable. He made us feel very comfortable from the beginning until the end of the day and made sure we were OK all the time. By the end of out time together, it felt like hanging out with a long time friend. He showed us his city at a casual and relaxed pace with lots of time to chat, drink coffee and enjoy the sights. We would strongly recommend Onder to anyone who wants to learn about day to day life in Istanbul and take respite from the main tourist attractions.” – Rafael, Canada

“Well Onder was an exceptional guide. When we met him, he gave each of us a hug as he introduced himself. This jester immediately put us at ease. Onder was very knowledgeable about the city. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with him and it was because of him, I will use Holidayhouseboys again. I will return to Istanbul again because of the tour with Onder. He will be my guide next time in Istanbul. I have told friends thinking of going to Istanbul to contact you for bookings with Onder. I salute you for having him as a guide. Thank you for such a wonderful guide.” – Dennis, USA

“Onder was the best guide we’ve had in years.  He asked what we were looking for in terms of tour expectations up front and he exceeded expectations.  His extensive background on Istanbul was evident, his passion to show off his city and country made the tour awesome.  The pace of his full day tour was exactly what we were looking for.   Honestly, by mid-day, it was as if we were visiting a great friend in his city and was showing us around. Onder was funny, had a great personality and super fun to explore with. We highly recommend Onder!” – Jeff, USA

“Onder was very personable, friendly , knowledgeable and professional.. I would definitely use his services again and will highly recommend him to friends..” – Stavros, Australia

How To Book A Holiday Houseboy

To book any of our Holiday Houseboys please go to the enquiry form.

Or send an email to info@holidayhouseboys.com.

Alternatively WhatsApp +94-76-630-1069.

Remember a Holiday Houseboy is your gay friendly tour guide who looks after your safety and welfare at all times.

Please note these are guide services and not sexual services.

 

Our other destinations in Turkey are Ankara, Bursa, Cappadocia, Cesme and Izmir.

Highlights of Istanbul

Istanbul, Turkey where Europe meets Asia. Indeed take a ferry from Europe across the Bosphorus Strait and you are in Asia.

Why not visit the Grand Bazaar. Buy your spices, trinkets or turkish delight here. However if nightlife is what you are after, then head towards Taksim Square. Moreover you can find many respectable hotels and restaurants in this area.

Alternatively another option is to explore the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia Museum or the Sultanahmet District.

On the other hand why not try a hamman. Refreshing and invigorating, it is a good way to meet the locals. Besides the intricate tiles and heated slabs, you see an amazing sunlight through the round skylights.

Another impressive sight is the the open-air Roman Hippodrome.  For centuries this was the site of chariot races. Egyptian obelisks also remain here.

Don’t forget to visit the Dolmabahce Palace in all its splendour and past grandeur. With an amazing view over the Bosphorus, this was the home for six sultans and  Ataturk in his latter years. Indeed you can see the bed in which Ataturk died. The palace is a peep into the opulence of the Turkish Empire. You can tour the palace with a free audio guide.

Another palace to visit is Topkapi Palace. Although not all the palace is open to the public, it is still an interesting place to visit especially the harem quarters. Many open spaces and a library too. Check out the kitchen with the kitchenware collection, glassware collection and ceramic collection. Another peek into the Ottoman Empire. This palace becomes crowded with tourists at noon so an early visit is recommended. You can see the best places without the crowds with a gay friendly Istanbul guide.

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