Touring Turkey
When I first thought of Turkey I had an image in my mind of a rocky, relatively undeveloped country with large Turkish men that resemble Aladdin in his mid 50′s.
You can imagine my shock when I arrived into a very well-developed, clean city and experienced amazing coastline, beautiful mountains and very friendly Turkish people some of whom did look like an elderly Aladdin.
To make the most of our time in Turkey we booked a tour through Travel Talk and were lucky enough to get a two for one deal. While our tour leader was fantastic I would not recommend Travel Talk. I became extremely ill after eating food arranged by the company and, despite lodging a complaint, have received no more than a ‘thanks for your email’ from them.
Other members of our tour also became extremely ill from a meal that was arranged by Travel Talk. Not only this but some members of our tour were scheduled to go on a boat trip which they booked and paid for, this was cancelled on them with no explanation, no warning and no compensation.
I would definitely recommend going with a larger, well-known tour company and avoiding Travel Talk at all costs.
Tourist Time
There are a lot of things to see and do in Turkey. If you’re in Istanbul the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Museum are worthwhile visiting as are the spice market and Taxim Square, just beware of the back streets as young boys will approach you for money and become agitated if you refuse.
Of course for Aussie’s and Kiwi’s ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair and the Kabatepe Museum are all very moving and you gain a great appreciation for what our soldier’s faced, definitely a must see.
Troy is a place that you may like to visit just to say you’ve been there, but the large wooden replica horse gets very boring very quick and the ruins are also a little underwhelming if you’ve visited somewhere like Rome before.
Pergamum Asklepion and Ephesus are more ruin sites and out of the three of them I would recommend you visit Ephesus the most, it can become a little monotonous visiting similar looking sites over and over again.
Marmaris is a party town, if you’re familiar with the cheesy parts of Queensland’s Gold Coast then you’ll know what I mean. However a visit to the beautiful Itzuzu Beach to see the turtles and get down and dirty in the Dalyan Mud Bath is definitely well worth it, just don’t wear your good swimsuit and prepare to smell like eggs.
The highlights of my trip were Oludeniz, where you can lay on beautiful beaches, swim in the stunning Mediterranean or do what we did and enlist the help of a paragliding company to scale the mountain for some adrenalin fueled action, if the weather permits.
The other highlights being the Saklikent Gorge where you can do an amazing canyoning walk and the city of Heirapolis in Pammukkale built on top of white terraces formed by natural minerals and hot springs, this site has an amazing view that cannot be missed.
Accommodation
Romance Hotel was located near the main sites in Istanbul, there are some great food places nearby and it’s within walking distance of nearly everything. The hotel is a little on the tacky side, if the name Romance Hotel didn’t already give that away for you, but the breakfast is great and the rooms are clean.
Kolin Hotel in Canakkale is the only five-star hotel in the area. It’s right on the water which makes for a beautiful sunset, close to a supermarket and sports a delicious buffet with amazing savory and sweet options.
Ozcelik Hotel in Kusadasi is right on the water and if you get a room high up overlooking the water it could be quite nice. However, steer well clear of the food as I received a very nasty stomach infection after eating here. If you need one, there’s a hospital just up the road. Tell them I sent you.
Intermar Hotel in Marmaris is definitely a spot to avoid at all costs, not only will your shower take 15 minutes to get warm and leak everywhere you will also be able to hear every other person in the hotel talking, walking, sleeping, eating or snoring.
Dreamland Hotel is just outside of Fethiye and a long way from everything, but still a lovely hotel. It is quite a drive to get to the amazing beaches, in fact it is quite a drive to get anywhere of real importance around Fethiye. The hotel is quaint with a great dinner service and lovely staff, but I would recommend staying somewhere along the beach in Oludeniz instead.
Pam Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale has its own thermal spring which has been used to form a swimming pool for guests, though you’ll need to buy a swimming cap to go in or you can fill your bathtub up with water straight from the spring via some fancy plumbing! The hotel website boasts Nicolas Cage as one of its esteemed guests, this may or may not encourage you to book depending on how you felt about the Ghost Rider franchise.
Food, Drink & Culture
My expectations for Turkish food were very high given that I love Turkish Delight, hommus, kebabs and most bread products. I can’t say that there was one meal I had that was a standout and that I could highly recommend, but there were a few things that I did enjoy.
The Apple Tea made just for tourists is delicious, some of the Turkish Delight can be a little hit and miss but I found the pistachio to be really enjoyable. Turkish coffee is delicious, just be careful not to drink the thick stuff at the bottom and don’t fall victim to the fortune tellers.
In terms of culture, I wasn’t sure how to dress without offending anyone given the country is predominantly Muslim. Myself and the other girls on our tour spent most of our time in shorts and singlets and, with the exception of an accidentally exposed bra and cleavage, drew little unwanted attention to ourselves. The Turkish people are absolutely lovely and so friendly!
Little Grey Tips
My top five tips for visiting Turkey
1. Think before you eat – while a severe case of gastroenteritis can be just the kick-start your post-holiday diet needs, it’s not fun and at 700 euros per day in a hospital it’s not quite worth it, so choose your meals carefully.
2. Fly right – the Turkish government decided to put an airport in every major city in Turkey. Rather than sitting on a public bus for hours, check out Skyscanner and you may just find cheap flights direct to where you want to go.
3. Budget friendly food – the food wasn’t that cheap and if you’re on a tour you may find yourself very hungry in between stops. To avoid starving to death on your tour bus and getting stung for expensive pasta at a service station, visit local supermarkets near your hotel and stock up on snacks.
4. Spare change – always carry a few Turkish Lira coins on you and some tissues/wet wipes because you will have to pay to use the bathroom every time and they’re not always clean and well stocked with toilet paper.
5. Let your guard down – if you have any preconceived ideas about Turkish people, leave them at the passport control with your visa entry fee. All the Turkish people we met were incredibly friendly, helpful, welcoming and proud of their country. If you have any questions about the country or need directions, they’ll be happy to help.
littlegreybox.
11 Comments on “Touring Turkey”
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What is littlegreybox?
littlegreybox is a meeting point of humorous perspective, food and travel experiences and my life journey. It's my outlet, a source of inspiration and a way to share and connect with people around the world.
Great Post – Great Advice and Travel Tips – thanks for sharing!
Thank you!! Appreciated.
I’ve never had an opinion about Turkey but now you’ve made me want to go visit. Thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome :)
Currently living abroad in Turkey so enjoyed this post!
I have never been there, but many friends refer to it as a beautiful country that is definately worth going to at some point. Your blog supports that statement, which is just another confirmation. So thank you for sharing this all with us.
Thanks for your post on Turkey. It brought back fond memories of my trip to Turkey 3 years ago. I love the place and am surprised at how modern it is as well.
It is nice to hear such compliments about my country! :)
I absolutely love your country :)
If you decide to visit again try looking up http://www.gotourturkey.com. Customized tours; friendly staff; hopefully, no food poisoning–yuck! (I don’t work for them, but I do know the owner. :) Anyway, just a suggestion. Nice post.
I loved Turkey when I went there too (many years ago now). Sorry you got sick though.