ABOUT TURKEY
- Can I withdraw money from ATMs?
Visitors may withdraw money in Turkish Lira as well as Euro and U.S. Dollar with their debit cards from the ATMs in Turkey. The majority of ATMs offer English language or other language options for the convenience of foreigners.
- Can I use my credit cards for shopping?
Visitors may use their credit cards and debit cards for all kinds of purchases. It is advisable, however, to carry some cash with you in case you take trips away from the city center or travel to smaller towns or villages.
- What is the local currency in Turkey?
Turkish Lira is the local currency of the Republic of Turkey. Visitors can exchange their cash money for Turkish Lira at exchange offices and banks.
- Can I drive in Turkey with my driver's license?
Foreigners may drive in Turkey provided that they keep their passport, international driver's license and the vehicle license with them all the time. Turkey drives on the right side of the road and the advanced highway network allows easy access to different corners of the land.
- What kind of sockets are used in Turkey?
European two-pin sockets are widely used in Turkey as everywhere in continental Europe.
- Do I have to speak Turkish to interact with people during my visit?
English is the most spoken foreign language everywhere in Turkey. You should have no problem meeting people who can speak English and help you get around in all the big cities, shopping malls, restaurants and holiday resorts.
- Can I use my mobile phone in Turkey?
Many international GSM operators provide coverage in Turkey in addition to local GSM operators such as Turkcell, Avea and Vodafone. You may ask your GSM operator to activate the international roaming function of your mobile phone before travelling to Turkey or just obtain a new SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card from local operators in Turkey.
- What are the opening and closing times of museums in Turkey?
All of the museums in Turkey are closed on Monday and are open to visitation from 9:00 to 17.00 on the other days.
- What are the opening hours of pharmacies in Turkey?
Pharmacies are open across the country every day from 09.00 – 19.00 except for Sunday. One pharmacy, however, is open 24/7 in each neighborhood by the time the others are closed.
- What are the opening hours of shopping centers in turkey?
In Turkey, shopping centers are open every day offering a variety of trademarks and services from usually from 10.00 am until 22.00 pm.
- What are the opening hours of banks in Turkey?
In Turkey, banks are in service of their customers from 09.00 to 17.00 on weekdays but are closed on weekends.
- What is the time zone in Turkey?
The time zone in Turkey situated at the connecting point of Asia and Europe is GMT +2.
- Do I need any vaccinations before going to Turkey?
There are no mandatory vaccinations before traveling to Turkey.
ABOUT TOUR
- How do we contact you?
For any query please go to our contact us page for our telephone, email and address. Also our opening hours are shown there. A 24/7 emergency contact number is also given to all our guests who book any service with us. If you have a question or concern that needs to be addressed outside of the regular office hours, please call us at that number for immediate assistance.
- What does a ‘Private Tour’ mean?
In private tours, you will have your own private professional tour guide just for you and your chosen companions only for a more personalized experience of Turkey. (So you will NOT join any other people). This type of tour offers much flexibility and a more relaxed pace with greater opportunity for enjoying spontaneous moments and events and seeing more off the beaten track places, and the chance to learn more specifics about the history, religion, culture, art, architecture and cuisine.
- What does a ‘Small Group Tour’ mean?
In group tours, you will be sharing the guide and vehicle with approx. 5-20 other people depending on the day and location (usually up to 15 people in Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia and up to 30 people in Istanbul). The sightseeing and route are fixed so there is no flexibility or personalization with this type of tour. Shopping shops may also be included. Small Group tours may be a good way to travel and meet people if you are travelling alone or for those on a budget.
- Do we need a visa for Turkey?
Depending on your nationality, you may be able to buy a tourist entry visa stamp online in a simple process prior to arrival. Please check this with your nearest Turkish Consulate for the latest information or you may check the Turkish Government’s visa site at https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
- Do cruise-ship passengers need a visa for Turkey?
Cruise ship passengers arriving and departing by cruise ship usually do not need a visa, as a simple landing card valid for the day is given to everyone landing for the day by ship (or staying overnight on ship). Please check with your cruise company for the latest details.
- Is the international airfare to Turkey included?
No this is not included. We can only arrange the flights that originate in Turkey being a Turkish tour operator based in Istanbul-Turkey. So you can book the international flights to Turkey yourself with any airline. We can arrange all necessary domestic flights within Turkey if you wish. Please check the “What’s Included” and “What’s Not Included” on your emailed itinerary.
- Are the domestic flight tickets included?
Once we know your exact travel dates, we can quote you the exact price of all the domestic flight tickets necessary for your trip separately at the time of booking. We can arrange these also but they are priced separately. This is because domestic flight prices are subject to availability at the time of booking. For some short 2-3 day mini-trips, the domestic flights may already be included. Please check the “What’s Included” and “What’s Not Included” section of your emailed itinerary to check this.
- Can we choose our own start and finish dates for a trip?
Yes you can. All of our tours can be started any day of the year you like, in most cases, subject to availability. Or just let us know your exact start and end travel dates and we can shorten/lengthen any trip to suit your dates.
- Can we have non-smoking rooms?
Yes. Until recently only the 5 star hotels had non-smoking rooms in Turkey, however recent no-smoking laws mean that it is now illegal to smoke in most hotels, so rooms are already non-smoking.
- What kind of vehicles do you use?
Our company provides you with a late model, comfortable, air conditioned vehicle such as a Mercedes Vito,Mercedes Sprinter,Volkswagen Carevalla and Crafter with an experienced driver.
- What time of year is best to visit Turkey?
Peak season is from mid-April to late-October. Mid April-June and September- October tend to be the busiest and with the nicest weather. Spring and Fall tend to have milder weather and less visitors making. July and August are the hottest months in Turkey.
- Peak Times/Holidays/Events:
Please note that during national holidays and special events/festivals, availability at hotels may be very limited. It is advisable to book in advance for availability or consider alternative dates before/after.
- Closing Days for Sites in Turkey:
Most of the Museums in Turkey closed on Monday.
In Istanbul, the below listed sites are closed on the days shown below and are usually replaced with a visit to another nearby site instead on those days:
* Sundays: Grand Bazaar
* Mondays: St. Sophia, Beylerbeyi & Dolmabahce Palaces, most museums.
* Tuesdays: Topkapi Palace
* Wednesdays: Rumeli Fortress, Chora Church
* Thursdays: Beylerbeyi & Dolmabahce Palaces
For any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us by e-mail.
