All About Istanbul
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Let your self experience a great city where the Continents meet.


Latest News

New openings in 2024

The St. Saviour in Chora (Kariye) is re-opened after years of restorations as a mosque and a museum.

Entrance fees in 2024

As of 1st of March 2024, many State museums' fees are set in Euros, to be paid its equivalent in Turkish Liras.

Museum Pass

You can buy the "Museum Pass" for foreigners which is valid for 5 days in various museums of Istanbul.

Museums open 7 days

Many State museums in Istanbul operate 7 days a week, except Topkapi Palace.


More News

Curriculum Vitae

Burak Sansal Burak Sansal
Istanbul
TURKEY
info@allaboutturkey.com
Mobile: (+90) 532 – 314 53 24


EXPERIENCE:

08/1994 – Today
05/1991 – 11/1992

Professional National Tour Guide, working with Turkey's most prestigious travel agencies. Traveling extensively worldwide, I have a personal knowledge of touring and hotel facilities in the following countries: Turkey, England, France, Denmark, Iceland, Germany, Belgium, Nederlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria, Austria, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Lebanon, Morocco, Kenya, China, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Russia, USA, UK, UAE, and the Caribbean.

I currently work/worked with various travel agents: Viking (Istanbul), Dekon MICE (Istanbul), Medkom Forte (Istanbul), Intra Tourism (Istanbul, Antalya and Kusadasi), Euro Marmara (Istanbul), Setur (Istanbul headquarters), Alta Tours (Istanbul), Sunny Travel (Izmir head office), Aldo Tours (Istanbul), Baron's Travel Agency (Istanbul headquarter), ATC tourism (Marmaris), Manager Tours (Istanbul), LevanteMar Tourism (Izmir), Minerva Tourism (Izmir), Pacha Tours (Istanbul headquarters), Kizilca Tours (Marmaris), Pera Tourism (Istanbul), Bravo Tours (Izmir), Ekin Tourism (Antalya), 2000 Tours (Izmir and Marmaris branches), Za-Na Tourism (Izmir). During my tenure in these companies, I was responsible for leading various groups, providing information about archaeological sites and Turkish culture. The itineraries were mostly different from each group, but generally concerned visiting a range of sites throughout the country; from East to West and from North to South. These tours were generally limited from 2 to 21 days. I also escort daily sightseeing tours and work as an interpreter for businessman during their conventions. Some of the tours were on private driver/guide basis.

Besides guiding clients of incoming travel agents, I also work/worked with international pharmaceutical companies as a tour guide for their foreign corporate visitors to Turkey or as an interpreter and group leader for their medical doctors and staff attending international conventions abroad. Some of these companies are/were Pfizer, Actavis, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, IE Ulagay - Menarini, Novartis - Sandoz, Nutricia - Bebelac, Nestle Health.

08/1990 – 11/1990

Iber Art Hotel (Kemer-Beldibi, Antalya), five star hotel belonging to the Spanish Iber group. As part of my compulsory job training in order to finish my study at the University, I started as a reception clerk trainee and promoted to shift leader working in every department of the Front Office; cashier, reservationist and receptionist dealing with IBM AS/400-36 computers.

03/1990 – 05/1990

Sunny Travel (Izmir), A Grade Travel Agency working mostly with Dutch and British tour operators. As part of my compulsory job training during fourth semester of the University, I worked in this agency being responsible of coming reservations and proceeding operations.

11/1989 – 03/1990

Omega Tours (Izmir), A Grade Travel Agency working mostly with French tour operators. As a compulsory third semester job training I was employed as a reservation and office clerk.

08/1989 – 10/1989

Club Salima (Kemer-Beldibi, Antalya), first class holiday village. During the second part of my first year job training I worked there as a receptionist at the Front Desk helping also to the other departments like Accounting and Guest Relations.

05/1989 – 07/1989

May Hotel (Didim-Akbuk, Aydin), five star Deluxe-hotel. During the first part of my compulsory job training, I was assigned to the Front Office as a receptionist working with NCR UNIX computers.


MILITARY OBLIGATION:

11/1992–03/1993 — Turkish Navy, after basic training in Iskenderun assigned to Headquarters in Ankara and after passing some exams chosen for NATO (Belgium)

03/1993–02/1994 — posted in the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (S.H.A.P.E.) in Mons, Belgium as a Military Police.

02/1994–06/1994 — extension of four more months in the Service and re-assigned to Headquarters in Ankara and then posted in Mersin.

Total of 19 months compulsory military service completed in June 1994.


EDUCATION:

Dokuz Eylul University English Education (Izmir-TR), unattended for military service, 1990-1992

Dokuz Eylul University Tourism and Hotel Management (Izmir-TR), AA degree, average of 76/100, 1988-1990

Italian High School (Istanbul-TR), average of 6.46/10, 1979-1988

Leonardo da Vinci High School (Lugano-CH), 1986-1987

Halil Vedat Firatli Primary School (Istanbul-TR), average of 5/5, 1974-1979


LANGUAGES:

Native Turkish, fluent in Italian and English, beginner German and French


EXECUTIVE COURSES:

Online seminar on Yedikule Dungeons of Istanbul by Dr. Hayri Fehmi Yilmaz, 02/2021

Online seminar on Istanbul Synagogues by Dr. Inci Turkoglu, 01/2021

Online program (20 courses) on Safeguarding Archaeological Assets of Turkey (SARAT) in association with ICOM England and Koc University, 12/2020

Online seminar on Hattusas site by archaeologist in charge Prof. Dr. Andreas Schachner, 11/2020

Online seminar on Earthquake Readiness by AKUT Search & Rescue organization, 11/2020

Online & Onsite seminars on Zerzevan Castle site by archaeologist in charge Dr. Aytac Coskun, 11/2020

Online Seminar on Covid-19 Pandemic in Tourism by TUREB, 10/2020

Seminar on History of Chora Church (Kariye) and Restorations by Dr. Olcay Aydemir, 12/2019

Seminar on General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), 11/2018

Seminar on Istanbul during Prehistoric Period by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ozdogan, 12/2016

Seminar on Christian Churches Iconography in Anatolia and Istanbul by Dr. Arzu Toraman, 12/2016

Seminar on Culinary Tourism and History of Gastronomy by Mr. Vedat Basaran, 12/2016

Seminar on Cultural Tourism by Mr. Faruk Pekin, 11/2016

Seminar on Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and its History, 03/2016

Seminar on Wine and Olive Oil in the Roman Empire by Sommelier Mr. Murat Yanki, 02/2016

Seminar on Gobeklitepe by Dr. Sema Gokcan, 12/2015

Seminar on Hagia Sophia by Prof. Dr. Robert Nelson from Yale University, 03/2015

Professional seminars on Edirne Selimiye Mosque, Cappadocia rock churches frescoes, New Tour Guide's Law, 11/2012

Professional seminars on Gallipoli National Park, Roman period Architecture, Future of Turkish Tourism and Tour Guides, 11/2011

Professional seminar for VIP and State Protocol guiding, 02/2011

Professional seminars on Ottoman Medresses, Neolithic findings at Gobeklitepe, Turkish baths, 11/2010

Professional seminars on Cultural Richness, Istanbul 2010 Cultural Capitol, New Historic Findings at Marmaray, 11/2009

Seminar on Carbon Dating and Related Techniques, 03/2009

Professional seminar on Nature and Alternative Tourism, 01/2009

Professional seminars on Monuments of the War of Liberation, Housing and Settlements in Anatolia, Technics of Tourism Advertisement, 11/2008

Professional seminars on Mevlana, Gallipoli, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar, 11/2007

Professional seminars on Armenian Dispute, Suleyman the Magnificent, Ethics of Guiding, 11/2006

Professional seminars on Silk Road, Ottoman Cuisine, EU Tourism Politics, 11/2005

Professional seminars on Mythology, Calligraphy, Folklore, 11/2004

Outgoing Tour Guide seminar to Italy, 01/2004

Professional seminars, 11/2003

Professional seminars on Armenian Dispute, Interior Disorder, Terrorism, 12/2002

Advanced Emergency Intervention & First Aid course, 01/2002

Professional seminars on Silk Road, Flora & Fauna, Armenian Dispute, Crusaders, 2001

Ministry of Tourism Professional Tourist Guide course, 18th period (Izmir), Italian and English, 11/1990 ­ 03/1991

Ministry of Tourism (Ankara) Travel Agencies Information Clerk, Italian, average of 98/100, 1989

Dokuz Eylul University (Izmir) Computer, average of 96/100, 10/1988 ­ 05/1989

Dokuz Eylul University (Izmir) Accounting, average of 90/100, 1988


SPECIAL SKILLS:

Driving License, B-A2 class, 1986 (Altdorf-CH), with national (TR) & international (D) professional courses on motor biking in 2003-2004

Yacht Captain License (ADB), 1990 (Izmir-TR), with national (TR) and international (cross Atlantic) race experience between 1990-2015

International Yacht Training (IYT) Bareboat Skipper license, 2021 (Istanbul-TR)

Scuba Diving License, CMAS 1 star, 1999 (Fethiye-TR)

VHF Marine Radio / Short Range Radio License (KMT), 1994 (Izmir-TR)

Olive Oil tasting master certificate, 2021 (Akhisar-TR)

Hunting License (1989) and Trap Shooting License (1990)

Parachuting, C class, 1991 (Izmir-TR)

Several international shooting awards, 1993 (BE, GE, DK)

Several 10 km. Running awards, 1984-85-86 & 2021 (Istanbul-TR)

4 km. Swimming award, 1987 (Lugano-CH)

Tennis award, doubles, 1988 (Istanbul-TR)

Best Travel Website award, 2008 (Istanbul-TR)

25th year of guiding honor badge, 2016 (Istanbul-TR)


REFERENCES:

Will be furnished upon request.

Hope to see you soon in Istanbul.