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In the last few years, Turkey has embarked on a building spree of 5-star all-inclusive hotels, sold at budget prices, over the internet and through travel agents. Appealing mostly to British, Bulgarian, Georgian and Russian clientele, they are scattered all over the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Admittedly, they do offer value for money with unlimited food and drink, mostly available around the clock, therefore explaining the popularity. In my days as a holiday rep, I worked in a few of … Read More

Note: This is a guest post by Saskia from Alaturka Turkey. Turkey is a unique country, situated between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The influence of all three can be seen throughout country – in the history, the culture, the architecture, the fashion and the food. Muslim Mosques sit alongside Christian churches and Catholic cathedrals, while ancient ruins of Greek, Roman, Ottoman, Hittite, Lycian civilizations and more can are scattered across all regions. Stunning beaches stretch across three seas … Read More

Preparing to go on holiday can be stressful. No doubt about it.On top of important things like work deadlines and getting your pet cat sorted, there are super-important things like choosing which factor sun cream to buy or constructing a witty “out of office” email. One thing that often gets left to the last minute is exchanging your foreign currency. It’s one of those jobs that we don’t think much about, but it can actually make a big difference to … Read More

One of the most common questions I get asked is what should women pack for a holiday in Turkey? What to take? What to leave? What do I need? What do the locals dress like? The task is even more daunting if you have not been to the country before, but three big tips will affect and help you decide when visiting Turkey. They are… The time of year you are travelling Whereabouts in the country you are going What … Read More

For most people, a major concern when they come to Turkey is how to stay connected to the Internet. We are addicted to it and most of our daily lives require it, whether this is to chat with friends on Facebook, upload photos online, use maps, or gain access to mobile apps. Many people activate roaming on their mobiles, but this can be costly. Just last month, a woman was handed a £12,500 bill by her supplier! She was using … 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 agree with it keep their thoughts to … Read More

Souvenir shopping in Turkey is as cheap or expensive as you want but great fun because you can buy everything and anything. Famous things to buy in Turkey vary depending on where you go. For example, in Cappadocia, the pottery from Avanos town sitting next to the red river is famous. In Ephesus, the Virgin Mary statues depict the ancient city’s Biblical connection. However, before we start looking at souvenirs to buy nationwide, be aware of fake souvenirs and antique … Read More

Most of us have read the horror stories of people who have incurred massive telephone bills while holidaying abroad. The culprit for bills that have sometimes run into five figures is data roaming charges, a tariff that automatically kicks in when you use your cell phone overseas. Even if you avoid telephone calls, receiving text messages or voice mails, still uses data roaming charges but the biggest culprits and where most charges clock up is Internet access. Every year, a … Read More

Update – July 2106 – Dear readers – If you have arrived here looking for information following the failed military coup in Turkey on the 15th of July 2016 , you should follow the advice of your government’s travel department. This is because holiday insurance policies can become invalid if your actions are in direct contrast to what your government is saying. As of the 18th July, the USA has updated their policy to say… “In light of the July … Read More

This summer, data was compiled by an airline passenger compensation website of the worst countries for delayed or cancelled flights and Turkey came in at number 4 with a massive 33% of flights departing from the UK recorded as failing to arrive at the designated destination on time. According to a follow up article by the Telegraph, this included Istanbul Ataturk and Sabiha Gocken airports as registering with a staggering 64 per cent of inbound flights delayed or cancelled. My … Read More

Turkey is one of the most popular holiday destinations for British travelers, and it truly has something to offer everyone’s tastes: white sand beaches; cosmopolitan holiday resorts; the ruins of ancient civilizations; delicious food and potent spirits. No matter when you visit, a great holiday is always possible because of the diversity in geographical landscapes, seasons and vast range of activities, but you might want to time your visit depending on your preferences for the weather and which places you … Read More

Update – July 2106 – If you have arrived here looking for information following the July 15th coup in Turkey, you should follow the advice of your government’s travel department. The reason being is that any holiday insurance policies can become invalid if your actions are in direct contrast to what your government is saying. As of the 18th July, the USA has updated their policy to say… “In light of the July 15 coup attempt and its aftermath, we … Read More

Welcome to my list of travel resources that I love and hopefully will help you plan a trip to Turkey. Why have I made this list? Quite often, I receive e-mails from readers asking numerous questions including how to organize a trip, methods of travel, finding places to stay etc. It is a great ego boost that people want my advice but unfortunately, I don’t have time to answer all emails. So, this is intended to be a complete list … Read More

Such is the diversity of Turkey; its general appearance to the outside world can differ in many ways, mainly depending on nationalities. I am no longer surprised to receive e-mails from readers in countries like Australia or America, who plan to visit Turkey  but are hesitant about travelling independently and question if they should they sign up to a guided tour instead? My Opinion – Independent Travel vs Guided Tours Having done both guided tours and independent travel in Turkey, … Read More

Over the years, Istanbul has lured many foreign film production teams, by offering them unique locations to create an orientalist atmosphere that Western audiences love to see on the big screen. This includes Ian Fleming’s, charismatic and dare-devil agent 007, who on his quest to fight evil is often led into the chaotic environment of Istanbul. His last film, Skyfall also featured scenes in the Mediterranean Turkish resort of Fethiye, and considering Skyfall was the highest grossing film in the … Read More

Ashley Howell is a cycling enthusiast. He does not do it professionally but takes his hobby seriously. Having cycled in various areas of Turkey on many occasions, he shared his tips with me on how to plan and complete a successful long-distance trip. I have to admit that it is not something I would attempt but beginners at cycling will find his methods for navigating Turkey handy. Biking in Turkey Ashley says… A biking trip in any area of Turkey … Read More

Whether you are a seasoned traveler or it is your first package holiday to Turkey, here are my top travel tips to help you. They have all come from my own experiences, when I  used to work as a holiday rep for British tourists and also of course, my own travel experiences over the last 14 years. Travel Tips for Turkey 1 – Turkey is slowing phasing out the old sticker visas given at the airport. They aim to implement … 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”. So read on and learn how … Read More

I have always admitted that I am not a person who does budget travel well. Where possible, I like to spend my cash in the most luxurious way possible. Unfortunately, I don’t have a budget for some of Turkey’s most expensive hotels. I can only dream of pampering myself, fine cuisine, and jumping up and down on the large king size beds covered with pure feather pillows. I dream about room service bringing me champagne for breakfast and open the … Read More

A couple of weeks ago, I was surfing the web reading other peoples blogs and realized that my love and appreciation for Turkey has only developed because of other people. I have met people in the summer time, who tell me their Turkish holiday tales with howls of laughter. I have read blog posts written by people who have visited the shores of Turkey and then wrote candidly about their personal thoughts and experiences. I have also stared in amazement … Read More

Turkey is fast emerging as one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Where once the Turkish tourism industry was struggling, it now flourishes and attracts thousands of visitors every year. As such a vast and constantly changing country, there is so much to discover while on holiday here and we present five aspects that will help you gain an idea of what Turkey is like for a holiday. What is Turkey Like for a Holiday? Turkey has Stunning … 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. Airline Websites for Domestic Flights in Turkey SunExpress http://www.sunexpress.com. … 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 Midnight Express happened exactly how it was told, then … 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? England. I do not want to return but needs must be and this forced me into … Read More

Over the winter,  I have been scrambling around the countryside taking pictures of everything and anything including the animals of Turkey.My friends are quite used to me and while the locals raise their eyebrows in amazement, they will  just claim they don’t know that crazy English women that can take up to 400 pictures a day just to get the one picture that makes her happy. Thank god for digital cameras because if we were still in the old days … 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 any to add, please list them at … 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 official  figures taken from the website of Turkish culture and … 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 coastlines, to the Eurasian city of Istanbul and the natural landmarks of … Read More

If you have arrived at this post, looking for the colours of Turkey’s flag, then it is a red background with a white moon crescent and star. This post is indeed not about the flag but more reflective of the surrounding landscapes and some of the most beautiful sights that I have come across during my travels around Turkey. We identify everything through colours, from flags to symbols but colours also evoke emotions in us. Emotions that can be good … 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 Turkey. Disclaimer – The weather … Read More