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Bodrum: Insider Tips, FAQs & Links |
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FAQ |
How do I get to Bodrum?
You can fly with Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to Bodrum MIlas Airport -- the 45 minute flight costs about $125 (one way). Then you can take a taxi to Bodrum. You can book the flight directly with Turkish Airlines - in the USA call toll free 1-800-874-8875. Or we recommend our travel agent "Fare Deals Travel" (Call Ritu at US Toll Free 1-800-878-2929). They have good experience in dealing with Turkish Airlines and they get special rates with them. Or take a bus! Here is all the web info we could find about the busses in Turkey... Varan- http://www.varan.com/ Fez Bus- This is a hop on - hop off service: http://www.feztravel.com/ |
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Airport Transportation |
The full name of the Bodrum
Airport is "Milas-Bodrum Airport." No minibuses are available from the airport. You must take a taxi. Taxi fare is $34 to Bodrum (40km) and $60 to Kusadasi (115km) |
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Local Transportation |
You can get a minibus to
just about anywhere from the Bus Depot - the beaches, Pamukkale,
Kusadasi, Didyma, and many other interesting day trips for a very
inexpensive price. It is also how most of the local Turks travel, so
it's fun for local color as well. |
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Market Days
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Market Days in Bodrum
If you have never been to a Street Market in Turkey - you must go. This is where most of the locals buy their clothing and food. The markets travel from town to town in the area on different days. In Bodrum all markets are held behind the Bus Depot. The word for the market is "Pazar" - in case you get lost - just ask. Tuesday is the Clothing market. You can buy everything from underwear to tea pots. Thursday & Friday is the food market. It's very colorful. Fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, fresh grape leaves (in season), flowers and all sorts of colorful characters, that will take you closer to the rural Turk. |
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Turkish Bath
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The best little Hamam in
Bodrum is opposite the Bus Depot. It is very clean and both the Women's
and Men's hamams are nice. For those of you who have never been to a
hamam, this is how it works: Go to the changing room and undress completely. Put on the slippers and wrap the "Pesdimal" cloth around your waste. Go into the hamam (downstairs). In the middle of the room there is a large marble stone. Lie on the stone for 15-20 minutes to allow your body temperature to rise. The Kesaci (male for the men and female for the ladies) will then summon you for your "Kese" and begin to scrub your body with a "Kesa", and ancient invention made of woven goat hair. You will be amazed to see your dead skin rolling off your body. (TIP: Do not wash your body or hair with soap before this procedure as the soap will coat your skin and the kese will not work as well).When this short procedure is complete, the Keseci lathers you body with rich olive oil soap while he/she massages your from head to toe. Then they usually say finished - but that does not mean you are finished - it means he/she is finished. You will then move to the "Kourna" (basin) where you can rinse yourself with warm fresh water. You won't believe how smooth your skin feels! You can stay as long as you like. Turkish women can socialize there for hours - and men can stay all day! When you are finished, you put on your new "Pedismal" and go back into the changing room (upstairs) and an attendant will wrap you in hamam towels. Here you can drink a tea or apple tea(hot beverage is recommended). (TIP: Bring your shampoo & toiletries to clean up afterwards.) The attendant at this hamam speaks English perfectly - so be relaxed - you will love it! The Bodrum Hamam is open 7 days a week from 6am to Midnight. You must arrive by 10pm to get full kese & massage. Bath & Sauna about $8.00 Kese & Massage about $15 Kese & Massage with Oil about $22 It is customary to tip your Kesaci 15% Best time to go is Tuesdays or Any Day after 5pm |
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Exchange Office |
Best exchange office is very
close to the Pazar & Bus Depot. Located on Neyzen Tevfik Cadaddesi
(the street that runs from the harbor to the bus station - past the PTT
(Post Office). The office is on the east side of the street and simply
says "Change Office". |
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Campgrounds
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Akyarlar / Bodrum,
Tel: (252) 393 62 33 Şafak Camping, Güvercinlik / Bodrum, Tel: (252) 374 51 18 Sun Camping, Güvercinlik / Bodrum, Tel: (252) 374 53 72 Pitos Camping, Güvercinlik / Bodrum, Tel: (252) 374 54 06 Zetaş Camping, Gümbet / Bodrum,Tel: (252) 316 22 30 |
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FAQ |
My husband and I are traveling from Australia to Greece and Turkey late this month. Can you please advise us how to get from Kos to Kusadasi and then from Kusadasi to Rhodes. Could you also please advise the approximate time to travel and cost. - Kim You are be able to get these ferries from Turkey. We suggest advance booking as they are pretty full in summer. Please note that prices below include Turkish Tax but Greek Port Tax of about $10 must be added in most cases (these prices may change).... Kusadasi to Samos - 90 min - April to October. Limited service in winter. About $30 One way, $35 Day Return, $65 Open Return. Bodrum to Kos - 45 min - May to October. Limited service in winter. About $20 One way, $46 Day Return, $50 small car, $54 for Hydrofoil Open Return. Cesme to Hios - 60 min -May to October. Limited service in winter About $30 One way, $35 Day Return, $40 Open Return, small car $70-90. Marmaris to Rhodes - 75 min - May to October. Limited service in winter About $45 One way, $75 Open Return, 150 for small car. Plus $10 Turkish Tax & $10 Greek Tax. Izmir to Venice, Italy - 67 hours - (1 weekly usually Wednesday) About $200 One way, $230 for small car One Way. Cesme to Brindisi, Italy -
31 hours - (1 weekly) |
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TIP |
"Dear Selma. I just got back from Bodrum. The toilets are better than when I went in 1988. Gumbet is great if you want lots of night-life. The beach is alright but I got a dolmus into Bodrum and then caught a dolmus to Torba Beach, which is a singles beach - but my favorite! Bitez, Turgutreis, and Camel Beach are all sandy beaches. Go on a boat trip - it's well worth the money - but don't go with the Holiday Reps as they over charge and its more fun to find things out for yourself. Market day is Tuesday,Thursday & Friday in Bodrum at the Bus station. On Saturday there is a brilliant market at Turgutreis. Also there is a another market at a place called Millas you will need to get a dolmus from Bodrum. There is a huge open air night club in Bodrum called Hallikarnos, open until 6am." Kim, U.K. | |
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FAQ |
"How would I
get from Dalaman Airport to Bodrum?" - Kevin If you are staying at a hotel, your best bet would be to contact the hotel to arrange transportation. Your other option would be to take a taxi - about $70 - $80 USD or find a minibus that runs from the airport. I will try to get this information for you. |
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FAQ
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"We want to drive
from Bodrum to Istanbul. How far is the drive? Can I rent a car in
Bodrum and leave it in Istanbul? Can you give me the names of car rental
companies in Bodrum?" - John, UK The drive from Bodrum to Istanbul can take 9-12 hours. The difference in time is due to the ferry that you must take you and your car across the Sea of Marmara to Istanbul. We could not find e mail addresses but here are the telephone numbers of rent a car companies: Avis: +90 252 316 2333 Hertz:+90 252 313 5366 De Car :+90 252 313 2151 Europcar:+90 252 316 5632 |
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FAQ
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"We
are traveling to Turkey and want to take a Blue Voyage. The problem is
that we only have 3-4 free days - and we are only 2 people. Is it
possible for 2 persons to charter a boat for 3 days?" - Barry, New
Jersey U.S.A. Frankly, I didn't think it was possible - but I did find a company out of Bodrum who offers individuals a chance to take the Blue Voyage for a minimum of 3 days. The cost is about $200 per person which includes your food and board. You can get more info at www.yachtdogan.com. |
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FAQ
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"Hi Selma, My name
is Cathy and I would like to visit Bodrum this summer. I would
like to a little about the cost of food and drink (including alcohol) in
Bodrum. Maybe you can help me ! Thanking you" -Cathy, Netherlands. You have made a great choice for vacation - Bodrum is one of my favorite places. If you haven't booked a hotel - check out the Dedeman Hotel on the site - the rates are VERY cheap for Bodrum. As for the price of food and drink - It ranges from very expensive to moderate. The fish restaurants on the harbor are very expensive - but the outside cafes along the marina side, like Denizhan, are very nice and moderate (full meal for $10 per person), and there are "Doner Kebap" cafes in town that are cheap - like $5 for a doner and a drink. The best doner shop in the world (in my opinion) is in Bodrum - they serve chicken doner - it is fabulous. Local beer and wine is about $1. Hope this helps. Have a great trip! |
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FAQ
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"Dear Selma, I wonder if I could rent a motorbike in
Bodrum for a reasonable price? I would like to travel with it for about
16 days." - Andrea Unfortunately I cannot find any motorcycle rentals in Bodrum. I just got back from there a week ago and I cannot recall seeing any either. So, my suggestion is for you to ask when you get there. If you do find something, please drop me a line and give me the info. I am sure others will be interested. I will be going back in September and I will look again, but this may be too late for you. Good luck! And have a great time! It is a wonderful place! Selma |
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FAQ |
"How would you
allocate six days after a visit to Istanbul? We do not go to the beach
areas to lie in the sun or swim - we are just going to get a sense of
the people, the culture, the stores, the food, the music, the museums,
the architecture, and anything that is interesting. I am not a history
buff. We are interested in some of the excavations but I would not want
to spend my time going from one excavation to another. For a break in
being in the "resort area", my wife has suggested that we take
a two day trip to Cappadocia. I am sure that would be interesting but I
am not sure that I will personally feel excited about spending that much
time underground. It is one of those things I would find interesting but
not exciting. I have not made up my mind about that.- Alvin, USA" How do you feel about sailing? I would suggest that you could spend your last week on a Blue Voyage. These are sailing yachts that generally leave from Bodrum and go along the Aegean coast. It is wonderful - My family does it 2 times a year! You see many ruins, small villages and are very pampered. If you want more information about the blue voyage go to www.thebluevoyage.com - I can help you find a yacht if you are interested. If you do not want to sail then I would do the following: From Istanbul fly to Antalya - Antalya (1 1/2 days) is a beautiful city on the southern coast. The Marina Hotel there is beautiful and I strongly suggest you stay there - it is right in Kaleici - the best part of Antalya. They have a beautiful museum, you can roam the streets and have a wonderful time at night. They also have some famous ruins there -but I would skip these - there are better. From Antalya - get a bus or driver to take you to Kas (1 day). This is a small beautiful town on the coast - nothing to do here but admire the beauty and enjoy the locals. Sleep at Club Capa in Kas. From Kas - get a bus or driver and go to Dalyan (1day). This is a beautiful place - you must go. You can g to Cuanos ruins (if you want), see the turtle habitat, drive through the bamboo, have lunch at the waterside restaurant, see the tombs on the rock cliff, go the the thermal mud bath. There is a lot to do - but it will be the highlight of your trip. Then hire a driver to go to Bodrum (1 - 2 days). Sleep in Bodrum. Bodrum has a wonderful underwater museum, windmills, and is the most alive summer town in Turkey. All the rich and famous flock there to play. It is fun. Then hire a car to Kusadasi. Stay at Blue Sky, see Ephesus - these are the only ruins I suggest you to see. They are well excavated and you will get a good sense of ancient times. Please you must get a guide - they are at the gate and you can hire them for about $20 - do it . It will make all the difference in your visit. Go back to Kusadasi and eat at one of the great seafood restaurants on the sea - go to the fort to see belly dancing - next day hire a driver to go to Izmir airport and your done. If you think this is rushing too much - then cut out Kas (but do visit for a few hours). When I say "hire a car" Just ask your hotel and he will get you a taxi that will be willing to take you around - it will not be expensive. Let me know if you have any questions, I hope this helps. Selma |
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Bodrum
Sights, Places of Interest and
Do-It-Yourself Tours Great Travel Tips Our Favorite Travel Links |
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For
More Tips About Turkey - Click Here |
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If you have any questions, comments or if you have comments you
would like to add, we would be very happy to share them with the
world! |
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