This section is my Random Thoughts category. It includes readers questions, hints and tips, blog information and interviews with other bloggers who have traveled throughout Turkey.
Please leave a comment on any of the articles or if you have questions, email me and I will publish the answer as soon as I can. Contact me
During my time and travels in Turkey, I have met a lot of people. I count myself as being lucky in life as most of these people have been wonderful human beings. They have given me direction or advice which has proved to be fruitful or they are just naturally happy and positive people who give out good energy and vibes where ever they go. This is one of the reasons why I love meeting people … [Read more...]
So I am doing my goal setting regarding The Turkish Travel Blog and I figure that to do this, I have to review past results. While doing so, I happened to stumble across some amusing but weird search terms that were used in Google to find my blog. Taking an idea from Michael at Go see Write, I have decided to list those search terms here. Some of them may bring a smile to your face but I do give … [Read more...]
For the past five days, I have woken up to many emails, Facebook messages, and comments on this blog. All of them are asking the same question. Should I cancel my holiday to Turkey? Will my family be safe? The questions are all relating to the wave of demonstrations that have swept the country. Most images in the mainstream media show the Taksim area with demonstrators being tear-gassed or hit … [Read more...]
Turkey has changed dramatically in the last ten years. It is no longer the cheap destination it used to be. For visitors on a budget, this causes problems, especially when they compare the cost of travel in Turkey with other countries. If you aware of where the major costs occur though, it makes it easier to save money. The below are my experiences from my time spent in the country. If you have … [Read more...]
When I am travelling around Turkey, I don't normally pick up souvenirs. This is purely because it is easier not to. Carrying them around not only adds weight to the luggage but most of the time, I am also on a budget. The only souvenirs, I take back are the pictures on my camera. This doesn't mean I don't keep my eye out on what I could buy if I wanted to. From the tacky to the crude to the … [Read more...]
February 3rd 2013 : Hi Readers, please do not send messages or post comments asking for help to find a job in Turkey. I am not a recruitment centre. Please read the post below on how difficult it is for foreigners to work in Turkey and post a comment if you have a genuine question however I will not answer any emails / messages asking me to help you find a job. August 2012 - I have updated this … [Read more...]
This week has seen me living in cloud cuckoo land however, I have been thinking extensively about the Turkish Travel industry. The Turkish government wants to become one of the top five most visited destinations in the world. Can they do it? Turkish Hotels Turkeys most luxurious hotel Forgot to Pay Its 3 million dollars electric bill. Yes, the Marden palace in Antalya has a cool, … [Read more...]
Today's post is by Kerri Ware who is a seasoned traveller. Her favourite method of travel is road tripping across countries. She hates bad weather and suffers from Jet lag. When she is not traveling, she can often be found somewhere on the internet, planning her next stress free trip. Turkey is a treasure trove for travellers; it might sound clichéd, but it can’t be denied. From stunning … [Read more...]
Much of my travels plans have been centered on the coastal resorts so whenever I arrive in a destination, the first thing I do is check out is the beach. Some have impressed me. There have also been others that I turned my back on. For example Kemer beach. I don’t do crowds and I hate rows of sunbeds packed in with no personal space. I judge a beach on how busy it is, cleanliness and what … [Read more...]
I received an email from a reader who was asking where to stay in Cappadocia... D wrote... "I was wondering, which town should I make my base? Goreme, Urgup, Uchisar, or...? Which would be the most quaint (for lack of a better word) town to stay, although, I would love to see all 3 towns mentioned and/or more if possible. Having said that, I am also interested to see and experience the … [Read more...]
One look at Tristan and it is easy to see that he does not believe in conformity. The Mohawk hairstyle and a strong, determined look in his eyes makes me believe he is not just happy with avoiding normality but he is also ready to challenge it. This is proven by the 24 species of Turkish birds tattooed his arms and hands. People like that interest me. I am fascinated with people that stand … [Read more...]
I like helping people when possible. I often receive questions about travel in Turkey via Facebook and email. A lot of the time though, people ask the questions on Google and the mighty search engine displays my site as a possible source for answers. All the search terms that bring people to my site are displayed in my Google analytics account that I review monthly. This morning while looking … [Read more...]
The other day I came across a picture called the most beautiful horse in the world. It blew my mind. Look at the photo below and I am sure you will agree. Stunner isn’t it? The majestic stance and the golden coat is pure beauty. More to the point, my interest had spiked because the picture said the horse lived in Turkey! "Eh?" was my first response. I was quite surprised because Turkey … [Read more...]
One of the most popular travel bloggers on the internet is Dave Dean. He has a passion for wearing dresses and thinks nothing about acting as bait for a hungry leopard. Dave has spent over a decade backpacking around the world, visiting countries such as South Africa, Vietnam, and Croatia. He writes at http://www.whatsdavedoing.com and after ten years has finally decided to put Turkey on his … [Read more...]
When I die and venture to the world above (or beneath), I want to be remembered as the crazy one, who did things no one else would do. My gravestone will take up more than one plot, to list everything I accomplish in life. I do not want to be that boring old fart who works 9 to 5 and then succumbs to the grim reaper the day after I retire. I want to live my life now and stick two fingers up at … [Read more...]
Read any mainstream publication that lists top honeymoon destinations in the world, and Turkey hardly ever gets mentioned, often overlooked in favour of more exotic locations such as Fiji, the Maldives or Barbados. With this in mind, I was rather intrigued when two passionate travelers decided to create their own itinerary for a honeymoon in Turkey. They shunned the luxurious suites, romantic … [Read more...]
Here at the Turkish Travel Blog, I normally spend copious amounts of time indulging in activities that have no productive results what so ever. So, while reviewing some stats of the tourism industry in Turkey, I decided to make a pretty picture so they would be easier to read, and I can say, that I do actually produce something in my spare time. Some very interesting results appear on the … [Read more...]
Turkey is set to be a popular destination for a lot of other travel bloggers in 2012. I really am excited to follow their blogs, read their tales and also marvel at the amazing photographs that they take. Everyone's tales of their time in Turkey, is completely different so when I learned that Dalene and Pete from Hecktic Travels were spending three months, house sitting in Turkey, I simply had to … [Read more...]
My absence from my blog for the last 12 days has not been intentional and I have certainly not decided to turn my back on the blogging world. On March 2, I left Turkey to return to the UK for a brief visit. It was my intention to carry on posting about Turkey during this period however life in the UK somewhat took over. Friends had already warned me that I would see a difference but I paid no … [Read more...]
One thing is looking certain for 2012. Plenty of Independent travel bloggers are putting a pin in the map and choosing Turkey to be a destination they visit in the next year. Hey, I cannot fault them. After all, Turkey just rocks when it comes to just about everything! Now, as much as I like to keep readers to myself, the more independent information that I can share about Turkish travel, the … [Read more...]
When the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, expat blogger Jack Scott enjoyed the celebrations with a big smile on his face. He had every reason to be cheerful and optimistic about 2012 as he could now officially boast about his new-found status in society as a published author. His book called Perking the Pansies was released just before Christmas and has already received rave … [Read more...]
Circumstances dictate that in two months, I must return briefly to the “Dear old Blighty”. The small and dark Island floating in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The island that provokes doom and gloom memories of miserable people who are incapable of muttering good morning without moaning about their daily lives and the poor performance of their government. Where am I talking about? … [Read more...]
The recent riots and looting in the UK have made me think a lot about crime in Turkey. I was mainly spurred on by listening to all the comments flowing from the lips of irate British ex-pats and holiday makers who were watching television to see their home towns descend into anarchy and chaos. I heard the following comments more than once… “The Turkish police would not put up with that … [Read more...]
I was out and about doing a bit of sightseeing. The heat of the mid-day sun was blaring down on me and I had walked many miles which made me develop a large appetite and extreme thirst As I was on my own, I felt self-conscious and was glad to find a café that was not crowded. I ordered a donor kebab, a can of coke and sat down to enjoy my meal which I believed that I thoroughly deserved. I … [Read more...]
The winter months in Turkey have been very kind to me. The fine dining, copious amounts of beer and my desk job have all combined to bless me with a spare tyre and a couple of extra chins. I don’t need people to tell me that I have put weight on. There are six pairs of trousers sitting in my wardrobe that I cannot pull over my hips. The English ex-pats have been diplomatic to me. They remember … [Read more...]
My post today is all about me. Yes, call me a narcissist if you want however there are reasons why I am putting pen to paper, so to speak. It is my birthday today. I am 35 years of age and I still feel young and energetic. However the fact that I am having problems answering simple questions about my travels around Turkey is alarming. It suggests to me that age is starting to creep up on me or … [Read more...]
All over Turkey are evident signs that summer is coming. For me, this is a welcome relief because for the last five months I have taken to wearing two jumpers and walking around like the Antarctic Circle landed in my living room. The signs of summer have put a huge smile on my face and with this in mind; I have put together a little guide of what you can expect from the weather of … [Read more...]
Update June 2013 - Taksim Square Riots June 6th 2013 : I have published a new post about the demonstrations in Turkey and whether you should cancel your holiday, you can read that here June 1st 2013 : In the last few days, there has been riots in the Taksim square area of Istanbul. I am not in that location, yet current news channels report that trouble is still ongoing so it is advisable to … [Read more...]
I first spotted him sitting two seats in front of me. My attention was drawn to him because he was nervous. He took his thick, bulky jacket off and then put it on again. His black leather cap was on his head and then disappeared, only to be placed back there two minutes later. He leaned his head against the window as if going to sleep and then he sat up straight and glanced around, taking in his … [Read more...]
When on the road, you expect something to go wrong and so far our road trip had been perfect. However our arrival into the resort of Yalikavak turned out to be the day when I would have to start assessing my expectations and what I was prepared to put up with. Even though, the day turned out well in the end, it also left me with a dilemma as to my responsibilities as a travel blogger. There were … [Read more...]
I have always admitted that I am not a person who does budget travel well. Where possible, I like to spend my husband’s hard earned cash in the most luxurious way possible. One way I want do this is to stay in Turkey’s finest, luxury hotels. I want to pamper myself, indulge in fine cuisine, and jump up and down on the large king size beds while hitting my husband with the pure feather … [Read more...]
I want to travel now. Just pack a bag and get on the bus. I want to travel to all the places that I have read and heard about. I want to tick off some more goals on my bucket list. I want to experience days that are different and outside of my normal routine. My husband talks excitedly about our month long trip at the end of the year. I am dying to scream “why wait? Let’s just go now” I … [Read more...]
Every year, thousands of women rush to the beaches and swimming pools of Turkey. The first day is consumed with thoughts of getting a golden sun kissed tan. Towels are laid on sunbeds, the oil is rubbed into pearly white skin, then the bikini top comes off and they lie back to relax while the world passes them by. Sunbathing without a bikini top is rarely discussed in public. Women who do not … [Read more...]
Responsible tourism is not something new; it has been around for roughly the last fifteen years. Considering this, it is hard to imagine why many travelers, holiday makers, hoteliers and destination officials do not give it a second thought. I cannot speak on how Responsible Tourism has taken off in other countries; however I know that in Turkey it is unheard of by a majority of the key official … [Read more...]
In all tourist resorts of Turkey, from the months of April to October, you will note one similarity. Most of the restaurants will hold a Turkish night. I am not talking about the traditional Turkish lokantas but the restaurants that are aimed specifically for foreigners. The restaurants that serve English breakfast and Sunday dinners like they are going out of fashion. These Turkish nights can … [Read more...]
Most of the travel within Turkey is done by using the bus system however more and more people are latching onto the idea of domestic flights within Turkey. It is not often that it will work out cheaper however sometimes the cost can be as little as 20 dollars extra. If this enables you to get to your destination in half the time then it may be worth looking into to. Here is the list of sites to … [Read more...]
I have my next trip coming up soon. My destination is Goreme in Cappadocia and I need to decide on the method of transport that I will use to get there. Car and the railway system are definitely out as they are too expensive or not easily accessible. The two choices I have are internal domestic flights or the bus. I have been pondering over this choice for a few days now, so I decided to … [Read more...]
On October the fourth, Wandering Earl will be passing through Turkey on his way to a tour round the Middle East. For those of you that like to book vacation packages and plan everything right down to your daytime excursions, then Wandering Earl is a solo traveler that will amaze you. Wandering Earl has an unique way of traveling. He books his plane ticket and that is it. Accommodation or a hotel … [Read more...]
Turkish Men are once again causing heartache all over the globe. Every year, thousands of foreign women enter Turkey and strike up a holiday romance. For some, the holiday romance does not work out and they move on. Others however can not accept the holiday romance for what it was. They join Turkish Love Rats and make it the focus of their Facebook page. They start free blogs slating off every … [Read more...]
1 – Don’t assume Turkish people do not speak English. You will look very stupid standing there making wild hand gestures while drooling in a tone that resembles a Darlik. Most of the people that you come across will speak English especially the ones that works in the travel industry. 2 – Don’t upset the hotel receptionist. The western concept of the customer is always right does not apply … [Read more...]
Every country has myths that are believed by foreigners. In this post I am going to bust all those travel myths that you have heard about Turkey. I dare any reader to prove me wrong. 1 – Midnight Express. Many travelers who have announced their plans to visit Turkey, have heard the rather stern words of “have you never seen Midnight Express?” If you are one of those who believe that … [Read more...]
Many people have a pre-conceived idea of Turkey before they come here. I will admit that I did and it was not until I had visited Turkey that I fell in love with it. Every year that I stay here, there are more and more interesting facts about Turkey that I learn and some of them are quite astonishing. Top ten facts about Turkey 1 – Tulips originated from Turkey and not Holland. They were … [Read more...]
Changes to the Turkish tourist Visa system in the recent month, has left many people bewildered and confused. A quick clarification for you. It was recently announced that any English traveler could only stay for a period of 90 days out of 180 days. Anyone wanting to go over this allowance would have to apply for a residency visa. Then yesterday the Turkish Government announced that this change … [Read more...]
Driving in Turkey has got a colourful reputation and foreigners gasp at the total disregard for safety. Many first time visitors to Turkey will stand on the pavement( if there is one) for about five minutes just staring at the traffic. Their mouths fall open and they seem to think their eyes are playing a trick on them. They are not. No doubt you've heard of "when in Rome do as the Romans do". … [Read more...]
Whether you are a seasoned traveler or it is your first package holiday to Turkey, here are my Turkey travel tips to remember when traveling. All my travel tips for Turkey have either come from my own experiences, or that of my customers, when I used to work as a holiday rep. (Later on in my blog I will tell you some really funny stories about my days as a holiday rep.) My Top Ten Turkey … [Read more...]
