Meet Erol, Your Layla Travel Advisor

Trips shaped around you, honest advice, and the details taken care of.

Ask me about

Honeymoons
Road trips
Multi-stop journeys
Turkey
Ireland
Brazil
Mexico
Namibia

My travel story

The perfect trip for you is not necessarily the perfect trip for me.

I'm Erol, a Layla Travel Expert based in Germany and part of Layla's leadership team since September 2026. With six to seven years experience in hospitality and tourism, I start every trip the same way: by listening. I ask the questions that help me understand what you really want, and then I build a trip you'll recognise as yours the moment you open your itinerary.

I grew up between two cultures. My father is Turkish, my mother is German, and I was raised in the countryside of North Rhine-Westphalia, near the Dutch border. I took my first flight to Istanbul when I was just a few months old, and every summer after that was spent in Istanbul and at our family's holiday home on the Sea of Marmara. Turkey was never an exotic destination for me. It was a second home.

At 13, I went to Hastings for an English course. At 16, I spent three months on a student exchange just outside Montreal. Later I organised my own 15-month service placement in Brazil. Since then I've lived in Ireland, Amsterdam, Brighton and Turkey, and I've moved more than 25 times. Along the way I've road-tripped through Namibia, fallen for Tasmania and found hidden gems in Australia's Tamborine Mountain.

When I'm not planning trips for Layla travellers, you'll find me out walking my dogs, just as I used to along the Howth Cliff Walk above Dublin Bay.

What travellers say

MMelissa, UKPlanned with Aleks · Trustpilot

[Aleks] gave us great advice about experiences, restaurants and stuff like buses from the sites into towns. A very good experience all round with the AI and especially the nice human!!

GGraham, UKPlanned with Aleks · Trustpilot

Not only did they find us the exact requirements we asked for they provided us with multiple options to select from. We arranged a quick call to confirm our selection and we honestly had the best day.

NNeil, United StatesPlanned with Ricardo · Trustpilot

What I liked most about Layla.ai is that I was able to build a wonderful trip without having a clear idea about where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. I posed several concepts based on my interests, and Layla.ai created multiple itineraries for me to choose from. I'm glad to report my trust was rewarded. Beyond describing my interests and having a call, I didn't have to do much and everything about my trip worked perfectly.

JJaime, AustraliaPlanned with Aleks · Message after her trip

The trip has been amazing!

RRoderick, United StatesPlanned with Carla · September 2026

Carla was amazing. I would use her for any future booking. She was always available to take my calls.

LLayla travellerPlanned with Carla · Message after their trip

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you personally. Thank you for the straightforward, fast, and personal support. It was a lot of fun, and I really like your approach. You can feel the interest, readiness, and commitment at every step of the way from the initial idea to the booking. Top!

Where I can help you travel

I know Turkey, Ireland, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Namibia, Australia, the UK and Canada first-hand, and I frequently plan trips to the United States and Tanzania.

I can also plan your trip with you in English, German, Dutch, French, Spanish, Portuguese or Turkish. Whether you're dreaming of a honeymoon, a safari, a road trip or a once-in-a-lifetime journey, I'll help you find the destinations and experiences that fit you, and your budget.

My specialities

Honeymoons & romantic escapes. A honeymoon should feel like it was made for the two of you. I'll balance city time, beach time and shared adventures, and find the special touches that make it unforgettable, even on a budget.

Multi-stop journeys. When you're visiting several places, I make sure the route flows naturally. I also like to build in a "highlight stop": one exceptional hotel in a beautiful location where you can celebrate being somewhere special.

Self-drive road trips. Driving yourself through Mexico's Yucatán, South Africa or Namibia can feel daunting. I've done these road trips myself, so I can give you honest, practical advice on routes, timing and what to expect, and you'll travel with confidence.

Trips I've curated

Tanzania and Zanzibar: a family adventure beyond the usual safari season

A university professor from northern Germany bringing her extended family together: older children with their partners, and younger ones still at school.

A treetop walk and walking safari in Lake Manyara National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, then Mwezi Boutique Resort in Jambiani on Zanzibar, with a food and spice tour in Stone Town.

April is the rainy season in Tanzania, so I explained the trade-offs and showed them another side of the Serengeti: lush green landscapes, dramatic skies and fewer visitors.

With a private safari vehicle and driver-guide, they could adapt their game drives to the weather and wildlife. The family returned delighted.

A Hawaiian honeymoon with a touch of Magnum P.I.

A young couple from Berlin who had just decided to get married, and wanted their budget to go towards the experiences that mattered most.

An affordable hotel near Waikiki Beach on Oahu, Big Island by open-top Jeep, and a Hawaiian-style resort on Maui for the final four nights.

I remembered a small detail from our first conversation: they wanted to cruise around Hawaii in an open-top car, just like Magnum P.I. I found them a great-value open-top Jeep.

I presented the itinerary two days after our first conversation and they booked the following morning. A year later, they came back to plan another trip.

Istanbul and the Princes' Islands

Travellers who want Turkey the way a local knows it.

Istanbul's old town and the Bosphorus, then a ferry out to the islands.

Take the 45-minute ferry from Beşiktaş and you're in a different world: wooden mansions, horse carriages, no cars. You feel like you've stepped into another century.

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