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Turkey: FAQs,
Insider Tips & Links
Here are some
useful links and information we thought would be useful when traveling
to Turkey. If you need more information, please contact Selma,
the Travel Advisor for Turkey. |
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National Holidays
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Official
holidays are:
January 1st - New Year's Day
April 23rd - Children's Day
May 19th - Day of youth and sport
MIA 27th - Day of constitution
August 30th Victory Day.
October 29th Republic Day
Please
note that the dates for Ramazan & Sacrifice Holiday change every
year.
"Sacrifice Holiday is 2 months after Ramazan.
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| Telephones |
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You
can buy phone cards at the PTT Office or – just about any giftshop.
This is the best and cheapest way to call home. Don’t call from the
hotel! It is MUCH CHEAPER sometimes – 10 times cheaper to call on a
phone card. Use any phone on the street and just insert the card and
make your call. It’s really easy.
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Turkish
Currency |
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Turkish currency is the Lira (TL).
The exchange rates change so quickly because of the high inflation rate.
Prices change so quickly that most merchants do not even put prices on their
merchandise!
My money tips are:
1) Don't change money at home! Change a few bucks worth at the Turkish airport to get
a cab. Then look around for a good rate from the hotel, a bank. or exchange
bureau. Only change what you will need for cabs, museum entrances, snacks,
etc. Keep the rest in dollars.
2) Bring money in denominations of $5, $10, and $20. Because of the high
inflation you will find that most smaller shops and restaurants will be happy
to take your dollars at a much better rate than you can get at the bank - a
"black market rate", but you will need smaller denominations to
get close to the exact amount.
3) The next best option is using your credit card. Again, because of the
quickly changing exchange rate, you can actually pay less using your credit
card because by the time your credit card company processes your purchase, the
exchange rate changed in your favor!
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| People |
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Turkish people are
some of the nicest, most helpful people we have ever met. They seem to
come out of nowhere to assist if you show the tiniest hint of confusion.
If you are lost, shopkeepers oftentimes will leave their shops
unattended to show you directions - or even take you to your
destination. A simple purchase of a carpet could lead to your spending
hours, sipping tea, chatting with your new found friends. My advice is
to take your time and enjoy these kind, generous people - after all, it
is the people that you will
remember.
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Visiting Mosques
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In order to enter most mosques in Turkey,
you must be properly dressed. At the entrance there will be an
attendant who will ask you to remove your shoes. He will either hold
them for you or give you a bag in which to carry them. Women must have
legs and head covered. Usually the attendant will have scarves which
you can borrow to cover your head and wrap around your waste to cover
you legs (if you are wearing shorts or short shirt). Men will also have
to cover their legs with a scarf if wearing shorts. You will
either claim back your shoes or return the bag upon exiting. It is
customary to give a small tip to the attendant. In general, no
objection is raised to the discreet use of a camera inside a mosque.
You will not be allowed in the mosque during services.
TIP: Ladies, keep a 'mosque kit' with you
to avoid embarrassment. This can easily be accomplished
with two large locally made shawls which can also be used as beach
wraps. One shawl tied sarong style over shorts will enable men to enter
a mosque without giving offence (with a shirt, obviously!).
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| Photographs |
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If you want to take photos
of 'cute, ethnic locals', ask permission first. Sign language
works fine, and means that you don't insult anyone unintentionally. Many
village ladies have strong objections to be photographed.
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Visiting a Turkish Bath
(Hamam)
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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.) Relax - you will love it!
This website will give you a list of Turkish Baths throughout
Turkey...http://www.turkishbaths.org
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Driving in Turkey |
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This is a very good site that offers area
maps for cities and towns all over Turkey, distance information
betweens, road condition, and general information. It is very useful if
you need a map for a specific city. But if you want to drive all around
Turkey it is a bit cumbersome - however I have found no better site. It
is a very informative site...
http://www.kgm.gov.tr
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Train Transportation |
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This website offers timetables,
prices and information on train service throughout Turkey. In English,
it is fairly easy to find the information you need. Please note that in
the timetable, "H.Pasa" is the name of the domestic Istanbul train
station (Haydarpasa).
The international station is called Sirkeci.
http://www.tcdd.gov.tr
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Bus
Transportation |
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Here is all the web info we
could find about the busses in Turkey. The bus system and the websites
are not very user friendly. If you want to travel around Turkey I
recommend that you check out Fez Bus. I haven't traveled with them, but
it looks like fun.
Varan-
http://www.varan.com.tr/
Ulusoy-
http://www.ulusoy.com.tr
Fez Bus- This is a hop on - hop off service that we highly
recommend. You can travel around Turkey all summer for a very low price. Visit
http://www.feztravel.com/
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Street Markets
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If you are lucky you will
be able to catch a street market. These are markets that travel
throughout most Turkish cities, much like our flea markets, but better! Fresh
figs and fruits, spices, clothes, teas, vegetables and household items
(including Turkish tea pots). The markets are very colorful and very
Turkish. You should try to bargain before buying anything. Locals do most of their weekly purchases at these markets.
You can ask your hotel which day of the week the Street Market is in
your area. Try to make room in your schedule -it is well worth a visit!
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Health Tips
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Many of my friends have
visited me and they never get ill from the food or water - but always be
prepared. Take along some medicine like Pepto Bismol or Amodium AD.
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Tipping
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Gratuity is not usually
included on your restaurant bill. You should calculate 10 to
15%. Of course as
for every service, tipping is expected and the salaries are very low
in Turkey, so many people are dependent on this sort of extra income.
A tip is customary for cabs, porters, guides, waiters, and personal
services.
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Drinking
water
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Water from the tap is for
use, like for washing, you should not drink it. To have drinking water
- I recommend the bottled water that is securely closed. This water is
good quality and you can find it in any grocery shops and restaurants.
Always carry a bottle of water with you whenever you are sightseeing.
Do not drink the bottled water with tin foil tops (they are sometimes
filled with tap water). The Turkish word for water is "su".
Drinking water is "taze su", pronounced "ta-zey
sue"
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Public Toilets
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Now that we talked about
water lets talk about toilets. Good bladder control is often a great
thing in Turkey. Public toilets are few and far between. Your best bet
to find a clean rest room is in a restaurant or hotel. All mosques have public toilets
and you will find other public toilets around but beware - most of them
are "squaters" - a little shocking at first, but they are
usually clean. Toilet in Turkish is "Tuvalet".
"Bay" is man; "Bayan" means lady. The bottom line is
don't drink too much and go to the bathroom whenever you find a good one
even if you don't have to.
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FAQ
How
safe is Turkey?
Off-Season
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"I am interested in seeing some of the Jewish sites
(e.g. synagogues) in Izmir and the surrounding towns (Ephesus, Sardis.)
Can you recommend a website that can provide information regarding
sites, tours, etc. Thanks. Jessica"
You must visit this website. It offers tons of information. You will
find everything you need...
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com
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FAQ
How
safe is Turkey?
Off-Season
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"Hi Selma! How safe
is travel into Turkey for Americans? Is there an "off" season
where travel rates (flights) are lower? Thank you. - Karen, Arkansas,
USA"
Turkey is one of the safest places in the world and the Turkish people
love Americans. Turkey has the largest NATO force after America - and I
think that makes them feel a special closeness to us. You will be very respected and
loved. The Off-Season starts on October - and goes until May - but take
the weather into consideration - remember that Istanbul is not always
hot - the weather is similar to Washington DC so it does get cold and
sometimes snows - no camels and deserts. I hope this helps! Selma
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FAQ
How
safe is
the food?
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I have one question
which is troubling me and my wife a little bit - is Turkey and this
area/hotel safe enough, regarding health
risks, food/water etc.?
Thanks in advance -Dragan
The food is
delicious and nothing will happen unless you eat too much. Just in case,
we do recommend that you take some Pepto Bismol with you. The last thing
you want is to be feeling ill during your vacation. Please do not
hesitate to contact us if you need further information. Enjoy your holiday! Beti
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FAQ
Sacrifice Holiday
& Ramazan
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"I wanted to go to turkey on the 3rd march 2001. they told us that it s a public week. will the shops be closed and the clubs and bars will be open? thanks .
Do you suggest to go on the 3rd?-
Paul, Malta
This is the "Sacrifice Holiday" celebrating Abraham's sacrifice of
a sheep instead of his son (in the bible). It is like Christmas there - a family holiday. Everyone is on 10 day holiday. No one will work, so much will be closed (maybe even museums) - but shops, restaurants and resorts
will be open -but crowded. If you can, move your trip to after the
holiday. If you cannot - you will still have a wonderful time. -Selma
*Please note that the dates for
Ramazan & Sacrifice Holiday change every year. The "Sacrifice
Holiday is the last day of Ramazan.
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FAQ
A Vegetarian in Turkey |
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Hello Selma, Happened upon your
really useful site whilst looking for info on Turkey. I wonder if you
could let me know whether vegetarians get a reasonable choice of food -
either in the inclusive/full board type hotels or in more local
restaurants. Many thanks. -- Rebecca, UK
You will have no problem in Turkey. I am not a vegetarian, but I
don't like meat and am very sensitive to your issue - I cannot believe
how much I love to eat in Turkey! Lots of vegetables dishes of all
kinds. And it's just normal! You will love it. You will have no problem
even in restaurants or Full Board establishments. Promise. I would try
to avoid "Kebab" restaurants as this means meat. Other than that it is a
vegetarian paradise!
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LINKS |
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Check
out these links...
Find an Internet Cafe anywhere in the world at...
http://www.netcafeguide.com
Best hostels, reviews, travel tips...
http://www.eurotrip.com/index.html
Hostels in Turkey...
http://www.hostelseurope.com
Lots of
great information about Turkey ...
http://www.explore-turkey.com
Turkish Baths throughout Turkey...http://www.turkishbaths.org
More Useful Links for Travelers
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