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GENERAL QUESTIONS
The World Health Organization web site, http://www.who.int/ , provides vaccination certificate requirements by country, geographic distributions of potential health hazards to travelers and information on health risks and their avoidance
Casual wear is appropriate for most tour excursions. Women wear pants or skirts, but when visiting mosques, it is recommended that they cover their heads with a scarf and both sexes should not wear shorts out of respects for religious customs.
Turkey is one of the safest countries in the world in which to travel, and its crime rate is low in comparison to many Western European countries. Interpol ranked Turkey as the safest holiday destination in Europe for travelers. Naturally, we recommend that travelers to Turkey exercise the same precautions they would elsewhere, and be aware of security concerns that affect all international travelers.
The Turkish Government takes air safety very seriously, and maintains strict oversight, particularly on international flights. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has places Turkey's civil aviation authority in Category 1-in full compliance with international aviation safety standards in overseeing Turkey's air carrier operations. In the days following the September 11 attacks, Turkish Airlines was one of the first international airlines cleared by the FAA to fly into the United States
Turkey practices safe sanitation standards, and tap water is suitable for bathing and regular tasks such as brushing teeth. However, as is customary in most Mediterranean countries, the majority of locals and visitors drink bottled water. We recommend that visitors follow local custom and drink bottled water, which is routinely served with any meal.
As a "general rule" tap water is suitable for bathing and regular tasks such as brushing teeth etc. However, it is recommended that visitors drink bottled water (there is a good selection and it is cheap) in general and with meals, as is customary in most Mediterranean countries.
The highly favorable exchange rate makes travel to Turkey extremely affordable. Most banks in the U.S. do not have Turkish Lira. However, Turkish currency is easily obtainable upon arrival in Turkey at any exchange office or bank. Daily exchange rates can be obtained from the Turkish Central Bank web site at http://www.tcmb.gov.tr/. This site is in both Turkish and English, and gives links to all Turkish Banks. Turkish daily newspapers also publish daily exchange rates.
There are ATM machines throughout Turkey, particularly in larger cities and tourist centers. Credit cards are accepted by hotels and most merchants.
There is no specific date! You can just pick-up your own dates to depart your package tour! In another word, our tours depart everyday all year-round. What are the most popular travel destinations in Turkey?
From the perfect beaches and ancient ruins of its coast to the pulse of its cosmopolitan cities, Turkey is a study in contrasts. Visitors can lose themselves in the magic of a historic palace before enjoying a world-class meal, or swim amidst Roman ruins before continuing their journey in the comfort of a state-of-the-art yacht.
Whatever your fancy, there are countless things to see and do in Turkey. Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, serves as the gateway for most travelers. Istanbul is the only city in the world that sits on two continents and it offers an abundance of fascinating attractions for visitors. Some of Istanbul's most popular sites include the Bosphorus Strait, the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, the Kariye Museum, the Underground Cistern, Galata Tower, the Tower of Leander, the Princes' Islands and the Grand Bazaar. From Canakkale Bogazi, also known as the Dardanelles, to the fairytale Crusader castle and sunny beaches of Bodrum, the Aegean shores of Turkey are among the loveliest landscapes in Turkey. The highlights of an Aegean tour are Troy, the site of the legendary Trojan War and its wooden horse; ancient Pergamon, once a great center of culture and now one of Turkey's finest archeological sites; Ephesus, the capital of Roman Asia Minor, dedicated to the goddess Artemis whose temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; Aphrodisias, the center of the greatest school of sculpture in antiquity; Pamukkale, a unique fairyland of dazzlingly white calcified castles; and Bodrum, a charming coastal town with a long, palm-lined waterfront and beautiful beaches.
Communal baths were used in Roman and Byzantine times, but as the name "Turkish Bath" suggests, they played a significant role in Ottoman culture. At a time when the concept of cleanliness was not yet accepted in Europe, the Turks were very fastidious due to Islam's emphasis on cleanliness. Countless baths were built in the typical Ottoman architectural style throughout the empire. Unfortunately, few have survived to the present. Cagaloglu Hamami and Cemberlitas Hamami, both in Istanbul, are very popular with tourists.
A classic bath usually has three sections: changing rooms, a hot room and a cold room. After entering the hamam and exchanging one's clothes for a "pestamal" or towel, you then proceed to the "gobek tasi", a large heated stone where you perspire and are rubbed down by a bath attendant. If the heat proves too much, you can retire to a cooler room. This method of bathing is the most refreshing.
Shopping is one of the great pleasures of a trip to Turkey and the rich variety of Turkish crafts makes it impossible to resist buying something. Fine apparel of silk, cotton, leather and wool; artful jewelry; leather accessories; brilliant faience (colored tiles); vessels of copper, brass, marble, meerschaum and alabaster worked by master artisans; and of course heirloom-quality Turkish carpets and kilims, are among the most popular purchases. Great value and an enjoyable shopping experience can be found everywhere, from small towns to big cities. Visit the "What to buy" section at http://www.kultur.gov.tr/ to discover shopping opportunities in each province.
Unique regional handicrafts make shopping that much more enjoyable. Traditional Turkish handicrafts crafts including carpets, ceramics and pottery, tiles, copper items, woodcarvings, decorative glass, and embroidery are a major component of Turkish culture. They are a stunning reflection of Turkey's diverse cultural heritage and thousands of years of history.
The high season for travel in Turkey generally runs between mid-April and late-October. During the off-season, temperatures are much cooler and snow is possible in mountainous areas. Many visitors enjoy the spring and fall, with their mild weather and small crowds.
Coastal regions are particularly popular with tourists during the summer. These include resort areas along the Aegean and Mediterranean coast with beaches and yachting facilities. The coastline, especially between Izmir and Antalya, features numerous coves and bays and many nearby ancient cities and is perfect for yachting. A large number of international-quality marinas provide services for the yachtsman. For active travelers, swimming, fishing, water-skiing, surfing and diving are available.
Turkey also enjoys many spectacular rivers. They are ideal for canoeing, skiing and rafting. Mountaineering is also popular in mountain ranges throughout Turkey in spring and summer.
The high plateaus of the Eastern Black Sea Region are covered by colorful flowers and green pasture during spring and summer. Naturalists will enjoy the diversity of fauna and flora as well as the heart-stopping splendor of the surrounding landscape.
Central and Eastern Turkey can receive large accumulations of snow, and snow skiing is a favorite winter pastime. Turkey has several ski centers, which are generally open from December through April depending on snow conditions.
Yes. You can use whatever currency that you wish. Our guides will be able to provide you with a conversion rate at the time of your tour.
We will be pleased to pick you up at our scheduled time at your hotel, boat, rental property - or any other pre-arranged meeting place.
Yes, your guide will have a sign with your name on.
When entering Turkey some countries are required to have a visa, which is valid for 90 days . The cost for Australian and Canadian Residents is Euro 45 US$ 60 per person. For US citizens and most other countries it is Euro 15 or US20 and British citizens GBP10. Visas must now be purchased online through the link www.evisa.gov.tr If you don’t you can still buy it on arrival but they will be a higher price and the queue will be long. Print off your visa and put it in your passport and then you can go straight to passport kontrol. Note that you need to have at least 6 months current on your passport
The official currency in Turkey is Turk Lirasi. Euro and US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas but not so much in smaller towns and villages. There are ATMs cash withdrawal points ion Istanbul and other major towns. Money change offices are plentiful in Sultanahmet. Most do not charge commission. You can also change money at airports however the rates are sometimes less favourable.
Wi fi is generally available free of charge at nearly all hotels in Turkey (check that there is no cost before you use it). Passwords are usually available at reception on check in. Larger cafes will have wifi available and there are still some internet cafes around for those who need them.
It is safe to drive in Turkey and you will need a drivers license of course and also your passport. Roads are in very good condition around most of Turkey as there has been a lot of infra-structure done over the last few years. Once out of the big cities driving can be quite pleasant . Road signs are Turkish only but tourists sites are normally clearly marked except for the lesser known sites.
Istanbul can be very stressful to drive, with crowded and busy freeways and you should always expect the unexpected ! Trucks travel the roads of Turkey at night and it is not generally recommended to do night traveling. This also applies to Istanbul. Intercity bus travel is cheap and the buses are a good way to travel. A host is on board looking after you and sometimes it is more pleasant than vehicle travel!
In Turkey wages are quite a lot lower than in Western countries while it is not mandatory to tip during your tour it is appreciated that if you are happy with the service you have received you should provide a tip at the end of your day or travel with guides and drivers. Here is a guide as to what is an acceptable tip for services whilst you are traveling around Turkey.
Restaurants - if you are happy with service and food a tip of 10% is appreciated. Taxis - Round up to the nearest note - taxis should be metered or a price agreed on prior to beginning the trip. Beware of note swapping, this is more likely in Istanbul and not in villages. Generally people are very honest and it is unlikely that you would encounter any rip offs in other parts of Turkey! Regular Tours - On a group tour an acceptable tip is around 20 tl perhaps 10tl for the driver. Private Tours - On a private tour a daily tip of between 50-100 TL for a guide is an acceptable tip and you can vary that to the level of your satisfaction of the level of knowledge and guidance. For your driver during the time you are on tour a tip of between 25-50 TL per day is a reasonable tip, and again this should be for safe driving, assistance with baggage and generally looking after you. Transfer Drivers You can provide a tip to the driver of your transfers between places as long as you are happy with skills etc. Longer transfer journeys say 2-3 hours between 25-50 TL is sufficient.
Tourism carries on as normal during holidays and public events. Schools and banks close for holidays and weekends but restaurants, tours, hotels and bars all stay open. The two main holidays in Turkey are Seker Bayram which follows the holy month of Ramada and Korban Bayram where families who can sacrifice a lamb, cow or coat to be shared among family and needy people. weeks after the former. Dates change each year on the Muslim Calandar and in 2015 the dates for these holidays are 17th July and 23rd September. At both these times most Turkish people have 5-7 days holiday and there will be traffic chaos and busy times for airlines as people return to their villages to be with family. There are other special days on the Turkish calendar such as Independence Day, Childrens Day and Republic Day just as in other countries.
Yes bring an adaptor with you although they are available at some shops in Istanbul. The two pronged adaptor is for 240 volt plug. Bring you phone charger also.
Turkish is a language like no other – other than perhaps Korean or Finnish! Most people in tourism sector in the Old City speak some English and in other areas it is sometimes difficult to find anyone who speak English. Regardless people will always try to help you. It is nice to have a few basic words as it is always appreciated !
Here are a few words that you can try
Merhaba - Hello (mare ha bah)
Sag lun - Thanks (saaah lun)
Guniydin - Good morning (goon I den)
Iyi aksumlar - Good evening (eee uk shum larr)
Cok guzel - Nice, beautiful (choc goo zel)
Memnum oldum - Nice to meet you (mem num old um)
Tesekkur ederim - Thank you (tear share care ed erum)
SMILE – its amazing how a smile can cut across cultural boundaries!
And try a few Turkish greetings to break the ice!
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