See what the experts are saying about Turkey. Get expert advice on how to get there what to see and more.
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When to go
After more than 3 years of crushing silence, Turkey's tourism industry has recovered and is moving at a nice clip, thank you very much. If you're looking for bargains, the window of opportunity has passed. For the inconvenience of traveling o... Continue reading »
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Calendar of events
Islam follows the lunar calendar, which is shorter than the Gregorian calendar by 11 days. The result is that Muslim religious holidays fall on different dates each year. The dates for religious holidays listed here are accurate for 2006 and... Continue reading »
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Getting there
Partnerships among international airlines have blurred the lines of air travel, and changing market demands force airlines to continually adapt or change their services. Check with your travel agent or with the airlines directly for specific... Continue reading »
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Escorted & package tours
With so many options spread out over such large distances, the options for travel to Turkey seem to be limited only by your individual travel style. Independent travelers tend to prefer package tours that, while not necessarily spontaneous... Continue reading »
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Entry requirements & customs
Entry Requirements An entry visa is required for citizens of the U.S. (US$26 for a single entry for stays up to 3 months, or $87 for multiple entries valid for up to 5 years for stays as long as 3 months at a time), Canada (US$60 or 45€ on... Continue reading »
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Getting around
By Car Driving in Turkey can be extremely frustrating, if not downright fatal. Obviously the worst-case scenario is that you get hit by an oncoming bus (not as rare as you might think), while the minor inconvenience of getting stuck behind a... Continue reading »
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Money
On January 1, 2005, the Turkish Central Bank lopped six zeros off a currency that saw phenomenal inflation in the past decade or so. But those were the old days. With a national economic growth rate rivaling that of China's, Turkey's economy... Continue reading »
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Regions in brief
Turkey really is where it all began. Although Greece gets the credit for having sown the seeds of Western civilization, for the most part it did it (with a good bit of help, too) on what is now Turkish soil. In Turkey, not only do you bear wi... Continue reading »
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Tips on accommodations
Hotels in Turkey are classified by a government-designated star system that apparently was established in the Neolithic era, so booking a five-star hotel in Turkey doesn't necessarily guarantee the comfort and amenities of an equivalently rat... Continue reading »
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Health & safety
Staying Healthy There are no severe health risks in travel to Turkey, nor are vaccinations required. It's still a good idea to use common sense in traveling to less developed areas. Food poisoning and diarrhea are probably the most prevale... Continue reading »
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Insurance
Check your existing insurance policies and credit card coverage before you buy travel insurance. You may already be covered for lost luggage, canceled tickets or medical expenses. The cost of travel insurance varies widely; you can get estima... Continue reading »
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Tips for gay and lesbian travelers
The fact that homosexuality is legal in Turkey is an interesting result of centuries of segregation of the sexes, veneration of female virtue, and lazy afternoons spent in the hamam (Turkish bath). Nevertheless, we're talking about a fairly c... Continue reading »
Turkey Travel Experiences
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We are Millionaires!
One million Turkish lira equals about 60 cents!Istanbul is a spectacular and exhausting town. Imagine Turkish carpets on every available... Continue reading »
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Farewell Europe! UPDATED (sorry)
We have loved every European country that we have visited. Here are some highlights of some of our most memoriable experiences, as we... Continue reading »
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Tour'n Turkey
After a really good visit in Istanbul, we headed out on a tour of some interesting parts of Turkey. Our first stop, after our first overn... Continue reading »
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Turkey Under the Radar
"After five plus months on the road we decided to mix it up for the last phase of our trip. In an effort to get off the beaten path, give... Continue reading »
