Turkey

Welcome to Turkey Travel Guide

Turkey offers a multitude of spectacular attractions, natural landscapes, diverse cultures, along with fantastic food. Turkey is overflowing with historic sites and archeological wonders. Turkey is one of my favorite places globally, from the postcard-perfect beaches and breathtaking mountain ranges to its charming cobblestone streets.

Turkey is one of those countries; it is so beautiful it is difficult to believe it is real. Some believe Turkey is still a dangerous country to travel to, but we have found Turks to be the friendliest and most respectful people.

Turkey’s astounding natural wonders connect Asia and Europe continents. Turkey is located on the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia and the Balkan peninsula in Europe. Within the 81 provinces, you find many breathtaking sites and activities to experience. I am sure it will surprise you.

After visiting Turkey on three different trips, I decided to move to Antalya and become an expat. I have loved my experience, met many beautiful people, and have enjoyed traveling around the country.

TYPICAL COSTS WHEN TRAVELING IN TURKEY

Accommodation – Hostels and Pensiones are trendy in Turkey.  Hostels are about $5-$10 per night, which are dorm-like rooms with a shared bathroom and free WiFi. If you request a private room, expect to pay $15+ a night. Budget hotels with limited amenities can start around $20 – $50 per night. Airbnb is also available, typically like small apartments ranging between $25-$90 per night. You will find several great small boutique hotels that provide breakfast and free WiFi, along with excellent concierge services to help you make the best of your vacation.

(To locate the boutique hotel, search on www.Hotels.com.)

Food – Meals are unbelievably cheap, ranging between $3-$8 for local food. You will find street food around $1-$3. For a nice sit-down restaurant, you can expect to pay $6-$10 per person. You can shop at a neighborhood grocery store or market for snacks, drinks, or lunch food items and pay about $1 each.

(Use www.TripAdvisor.com when trying to locate a restaurant within your budget range)

Transportation – Turkey has an excellent transportation system. Most Turks use the public transportation system to move about the city. If you are short on time and want to visit cities throughout Turkey, air travel is inexpensive, ranging from around $40 per person. Traveling by bus from city to city is another option. On shorter road trips to towns around a major city, Dolmus (minibusses) offer a direct route with no stops in between. Depending on your location, you will need to check the bus service. For a 400-mile trip, the cost is about $15 per person. City buses are available to get you around to visit sites costing $1 for a round-trip ride, but you will need to obtain a local transportation card and use it as a debit card. Train travel (Metro trains) is an easy way to move about the city with fewer stops than riding the bus. Transportation cards allow you to ride buses or trains—high-speed trains in a few city locations. Renting a car is another option, but Turkey has some challenging drivers to deal with, so I recommend taking public transportation. If you plan to drive from city to city, be prepared to stop at random checkpoints. Tourist cities have yellow taxis and, by law, have digital-display meters. Fares are reasonable. Each town sets its rates, which include the minimum charge and unit charge for the distance covered. You will find taxi buttons posted on poles outside of restaurants, malls, or tourist attractions to call for a taxi when you need service throughout the city.