RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR TRIP TO TURKEY
Dear TOURCOM Guest,
Below you will find a few tips and general information on Turkey.
We hope they will be useful.
Have an enjoyable and safe trip!
1. VISA
USA passport holders need a visa, obtainable at the border for
$45. The visa situation
changes for the citizens of different countries so please ask
the Turkish consulate in the USA about your country status.
2. HEALTH
No immunization is required.
HEALTH INSURANCE . A travel insurance policy which covers medical
expenses as well as loses, delays and cancellations is strongly
recommended by TOURCOM. Travel insurance by Travel Guard International
is available via TOURCOM.
FOOD & WATER .The most common medical problem that a visitor may experience is the 'Travelers' Diarrhea. Please consult your physician beforehand and get prepared by taking an appropriate antibiotics especially for this condition with you. Please drink bottled water only because the compounds in tap water may be different in each country.
3. MONEY
The unit of currency is the Turkish lira (TL). The lira is divided
into 100 Kurus but because of inflation kurus is not used practically
any more. The smallest coin in use is 1000 TL. The other coins
are 10 000 & 25 000 liras. Bank notes are 50,000 - 100,000
- 250,000 - 500,000, 1,000,000 and 5,000,000 liras.
There is inflation in Turkey. It means that everyday the value
of foreign currency changes. For instance, as of 5/12/00, 1 USD
= 610,000TL(Turkish Lira).
You can exchange money in the branches of banks (Monday-Friday,
open from 8:30 am to noon & from 1:30 PM to 5 PM) which are
entitled to exchange money.
However they charge a commission. In the receptions of the hotels
you can do it, as well but they charge you even a higher commission.
There are also privately owned small exchange offices on the main
streets of the big cities. (** In Istanbul best rates are found
in the small offices on Beyoglu St. Taksim Area). They are open
at noon and usually do not charge a commission. The Turkish word
for exchange is 'Doviz'. Exchange rate changes from one bank to
another, from one office to another. Travelers' checks are seen
as a burden to change so only more expensive hotels and shops
accept them but not at good rates of exchange. There is no currency
black market in Turkey. So keep away any susceptible person who
says so.
Big hotels, the more expensive shops and car rental agencies accept
your credit card but make sure in advance because not all establishments
accept all cards. Shopkeepers may require you to pay the credit
card fee from 3 to 7%, or the charges for making credit card arrangements
with the bank. There are ATMs which pay out money from your account
when you insert your credit or cash card and secret password.
But these are the big city advantages and you must be certain
they will work. You would better show your card to the bank' s
officers first.
4. TELEPHONES
The international dialing code for Turkey is 90.
The prefix for international calls from Turkey is 00 and for national
local calls it is 0. So to call the States, please dial 00 +1+
the area code + the phone no. You can make your calls from your
hotel (in which case the there may be additional prefixes to be
dialed - and the rate will change depending on the hotel), from
the post offices and from the phone boots. All post offices bear
the yellow PTT sign. Central post offices are open from 8 am to
12 PM from Monday-Saturday and from 9 am-7 pm on Sunday. But the
local ones are open during the general work hours (like the banks).
For the long distance/international calls the telephone cards
which have varying numbers of units: 30, 60 & 100 are recommendable.
They can be purchased at the PTT offices (try the airport PTT
where the lines are short and you can find cards more easily).
You can send your mail from the reception of your hotel or from
the PTT.
If you intend to use your calling card at your hotel, check with
them whether they charge for it. Some hotels don't accept them
and you end up paying a double fee!
E-MAIL: Turkey is a paradise of Internet Cafes where you can use the computers and the access while you pay a fee charged per hour.
5. TIME
Turkish time is East European Time, two hours ahead of Coordinated
Universal Time. When it is 7 pm in Turkey, it is noon in NY.
6. ELECTRICITY
Electricity in Turkey is supplied at 220 volts, 50 cycles, as
in Europe. Plugs are of the European variety with two round prongs,
but there are two sizes in use. Most common is the small-diameter
prong. Take your adapter with you if you intend to take any electrical
appliances with you.
7. WEIGHTS
& MEASURES
Turkey uses the metric system.
Temperature: to convert F to C subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9
to convert C to F multiply 1.8 and add 32
Length, Distance & Area: in to cm multiply by 2.54
ft to m " " 0.30
yd to m " " 0.91
ml to km " " 1.61
acres to ha " " 0.40
Weight: ounces to grams multiply by 28.35
pounds to kilograms multiply by 0.45
tons to kilograms multiply by 907
Volume: gallons to liters multiply by 3.79.
8. TIPPING
Tipping is usual and expected. In the restaurants and hotels addition
of a service charge of 10 to 15% to your bill is recommended.
Sometimes service charge (servis ucreti) is added to your bill.
You can easily understand that from your check. Even in that case
an extra 5 % would be better handed directly to the waiter. Taxi
drivers are not tipped unless they do something special for you.
However, you round off the metered rate instead. For instance,
if the meter reads 243,500, 250,000 is given to the driver.
After your tour, tipping the guide and the driver is also appreciated.
The average tip for a group tour (20-30 people) is $6-7 per person
per day for the guide and $3-4 per person per day for the driver.
For individual travel arrangements it may be better to increase
this amount considerably.
9. TRANSPORTATION
In especially big cities, there are many ways of transportation,
the public bus, the tram, shared taxis big (minibus) or small
(dolmus), and the taxis. As being a traveler with a limited time,
taxi is the more recommendable. In Turkey taxis are cheaper than
the ones in the States. Taxis have meters in them and they use
them. If yours does not, mention it right away by saying "Saatiniz"
( saa-AHT-EE-NEEZ), your meter. Because of the inflation the opening
fare changes very often. There are two separate opening fares
for the daytime (gunduz) and for between 12 PM and 6 am (gece).
This night fare is almost the 1.5 th of the daytime fare. You
do not have to pay a separate fee for the luggage but a tip is
expected if you use the luggage section at the back of the taxi.
For tipping please look at No. 8. They are yellow fiats and easily
seen.
10. WHAT
TO BRING
In summer (mid-June to mid-September) light cotton summer clothes,
and a light sweater or jacket for the evenings. If you plan to
go to Central and Eastern Regions of Anatolia, then a thicker
jacket will be necessary. If you plan to go to the Black Sea Region
a rain gear is a must. Otherwise a very simple raincoat will be
just fine. Do not forget to take your sunglasses, a hat and your
UV proof sun lotions, as well.
In spring and autumn, summer clothing will be still fine but get
more prepared for cooler days and evenings and also for the showers.
Again sun glasses and hats.
Winter wear is woolens and rain gear.
Sneakers will be comfortable if you are planning to walk a lot.
Special equipment can be thought beforehand according to the itinerary
you are planning. For instance, take a small torch with you if
you are going to an underground city in the Cappadocia Region.
If you are planning to dive, bring your personal ABC equipment
if you like.
11. TOILETS
The public toilets are usually not free. You have to pay a small
fee (10 000 to 50 000 TL) to the person who is taking care of
the toilet. When you pay the fee before you go in, ask for the
toilet paper because sometimes they do not put them inside. As
water is usually used for cleaning, the toilet paper is used for
drying and in small places they may be considered as luxury. You
would better carry a package of tissue in your pocket. There are
two kinds of toilets one being the ala turca style and the other
is the one you are familiar with. Actually if you do not have
problems with your knees, the previous one in a public toilet
is more recommendable for hygienic reasons.
12. THEFT
AND ROBBERY
Theft is not much of a problem, and robbery even less, but take
precautions. Besides having an insurance, put your wallet in a
safe place of which you can keep track. Do not carry your passports
with you instead use your hotel safety boxes for them and for
your valuables. Pay extra attention in crowded places such as
the Grand Bazaar and Beyoglu in Istanbul. Do not wander around
empty and dark side streets at night.
13. CIGARETTE
SMOKING
It is a national and social activity. There are very few restaurants
which have a separate nonsmoking area. If you are bothered by
cigarette smoke of a particular person, please tell him/her that
smoke is very hazardous for your health in a polite way because
objecting someone' s smoking may make that person offended.
14. PHOTOGRAPH
TAKING
Do not photograph anything military, whether or not you see signs
reading "Foto cekmek yasaktir" or "Fotograf cekilmez".
If you want to take close-ups of people, ask for their permission
beforehand. In the museums please look for the signs posted for
photography. In certain places like the rock carved churches of
Cappadocia Region photography is strictly forbidden.
15. DRIVING
Driving a rental car gives you freedom to enjoy the countryside
and coastline. But there are some details to know. First of all,
the cars in Turkey do not have automatic gear. Only the luxury
cars have ACs. The prices of the rentals are a little bit more
expensive than the ones here. Speed limits are 50 km/h in towns
and 90 km/h on highways unless otherwise posted.
You do not really need an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Your home driving license will be just fine. It is really very
hard to talk about the driving styles of Turkish drivers, but
at least we can say, to survive Turkish driving, drive very defensively,
avoid driving at night, and never let emotions affect what you
do. Gasoline is "benzin" in Turkish. It comes as "normal",
"super" and "kursunsuz" (unleaded). As most
of the cars are not designed for the last one you usually have
to choose from the first two. Nowadays one liter regular ( bir
litre benzin) is approximately 70 cents or $ 2.68 /gallon. However,
because of inflation it changes very often.
Fuel stations are everywhere but not on toll-highways. There are
few places on the toll-highways but do not risk it and get your
gas before you enter a toll-highway, if possible. And be sure
that you have a good road map with you. On the regular state highways,
you can find fuel stations almost everywhere.
16. WHAT
TO BUY
CARPETS AND KILIMS: Of course, hand-woven Turkish carpets and
kilims are worldwide famous. There are many varieties considering
material, region. Besides material (wool, cotton or silk), the
price changes depending on the number of knots per square inch.
LEATHER GOODS:As they have wool from the sheep for the carpets, they also have the leather. Turkish leather goods are of very high quality and design.
JEWELERY:Even though gold, silver and precious and semi precious gems come to Turkey from other countries, the workmanship is amazing in Turkey.
Other goods worth to buy are pottery in Cappadocia area, vases and many other items made of onyx, tiles, ceramic, and copper goods. Evil eye, the lucky charm which is made of blue glass, is a very good gift item for your friends back at home.
Textile goods are (t-shirts, Turkish towels) very reasonably priced and of high quality.
17. USA CONSULATE
IN ISTANBUL
ADDRESS: Mesrutiyet Cad. 106, Tepebasi, Beyoglu. Istanbul.
PHONE: (212) 251 3602
FAX: (212) 251 3218