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Article: Turkey's coast line covers a vast area from the Black Sea, The Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea giving over eight thousand miles of varied coastline and very different views from one place to the next. 

One of the prettiest parts of turkey is the Turquoise Coast in an area known as Fethiye.  Located on the Mediterranean coast in Anatolia, lying in the south western region of Turkey it is set in the hillside Mountain of Mendos.  With stunning views of the deep blue sea and the Turquoise shore and the almost white sand beach you certainly seem to be looking directly into paradise. 

All year round this area offers an eclectic mix of ancient and modern.  The summer sees Fethiye busy with tourists from far and wide and a quiet market town in the winter.

The nearest airports are Dalaman and Bodrum although Dalaman is the closest and preferred. 

The cost of living in Turkey is about one fifth of the UK so you know you can grab a bargain or just spend less on your holiday.  The Turkish summer lasts from March to November so you have a very wide choice of months compared with other destinations in the Med.

Throughout its long history, Turkey has been a meeting point of East and West. Countless civilisations—including Hittites, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Turks—have left Turkey with an historic legacy of astonishing wealth. The land contains more traces of classical antiquity (the imposing ruins of Ephesus, Didyma, Pergamum, and Aphrodisias) than any other country in the Mediterranean world. The landscape, too, is immensely varied, ranging from some of the Mediterranean's best beaches along the sunny southern shores to the bleak, treeless highlands of the east and the rainforests of the Black Sea mountains. A fascinating cultural mix is also to be discovered in Turkey. Many major sites of early Christian history (Antioch, now called Antakya, and the church of Hagia Sophia) exist alongside the oriental mosques, palaces, bazaars, and caravanserais (large inns enclosing a courtyard, formerly used by merchants) of the Seljuk and Ottoman Turks.

Modern Turkey was born after World War I from the wreckage of the defunct Ottoman empire, and a republic was declared in 1923 under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. A multi-party democracy has been in operation since 1950, although there have been short periods of military rule and the armed forces remain influential in politics. A bloody conflict involving the country's Kurdish-speaking minority has affected Turkey's south-eastern border regions since the 1980s, but it has caused no noticeable strain in the rest of the country. Turkey is a member of NATO, but its aim of becoming a full member of the EU is so far unfulfilled. Agriculture is still an important part of the economy, but textiles have replaced cotton and tobacco as the country's main export goods. Although large parts of Turkey remain virtually untouched by commercial tourism, it is a significant source of revenue along the south-western coast, in Istanbul, and in the central region of Cappadocia.

Many visitors leave Turkey with an enduring admiration for the Turkish people. They are proud and hospitable as a nation, regarding themselves as the most westernised of all Muslims—others would call them the most oriental of all Europeans. Either label reflects the pivotal role that this country has always played as the proverbial bridge between East and West.

Entry Requirements

Citizens of the European Union (EU) can enter Turkey with a valid passport for a period of 90 days. US, UK and Irish nationals are required to obtain a visa on entering Turkey; visas are obtainable for cash at the point of arrival. Payment must be in UK pounds sterling (GBP).

Emergency phone numbers

Ambulance: 112
Fire brigade: 110
Police: 155
Ambulance: 112
Gendarmarie emergency: 156

Time zones

Central European Time plus one hour (Greenwich Mean Time plus two hours). Clocks are put forward another hour for summertime from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the end of October.

Driving

Vehicle documents

Check with your motor vehicle insurance company regarding any documents you will need and whether additional motor insurance is required. Proof of basic third-party liability insurance is sufficient in the case of nationals from European Union countries, but a Green Card may be required by visitors from other countries. Foreign nationals may drive in Turkey with their own driving licences.

Rules of the road

Always carry your full driving licence, vehicle registration documents, and insurance documents with you at all times. Traffic drives on the right. Seat belts are compulsory in the front seats. The highest level of alcohol permitted in the bloodstream when driving is 0.05 percent.

Roads, tolls and speed limits

Virtually all roads are paved in the western half of the country, although gravel or earth roads of varying quality are common in remoter areas and in the east. An excellent motorway (toll) runs from the Bulgarian border entry near Edirne to Istanbul and Ankara. Speed limits are 130 kilometres (81 miles) per hour on motorways, 90 kilometres (55 miles) per hour outside built-up areas, and 30 kilometres (18 miles) per hour in towns, unless otherwise signposted.

Driving tips

Night driving is not recommended on account of ill-lit trucks, tractors, and other hazards.

Assistance

It may be possible to arrange free repairs through the Turkish Touring and Automobile Club (TTOK), tel: +90 212 280 44 49 or 282 81 40. However, arranging for commercial repairs locally tends to be a more practical solution. Large numbers of repair shops (tamirci) are usually concentrated in industrial parks (sanayi çarêÍsÍ) outside each town. They are often efficient, fast, and very inexpensive by European standards. Contact your consulate in case of major emergencies.

Electrical devices

The electrical current in Turkey is 220 volts AC. Round, two-pin plugs are used. An adapter is essential for UK and Irish appliances.

Money

Notes and coins

The Turkish Lira (TL) is Turkey's official monetary unit. Notes are issued in denominations of 5,000,000TL, 1,000,000, 500,000, 250,000, 100,000, 50,000, and 20,000. Coins are issued in 25,000TL, 10,000, 5,000 and 2,500.

Currency exchange

Major western currencies are widely accepted by hotels, shops, and individuals (but not government offices) throughout Turkey. Travellers cheques are the safest way to carry cash. Major credit cards, especially Visa and Access, are widely accepted in cities and tourist resorts. Cash advances are available through several banks and some ATM machines. Eurocheques are becoming increasingly common. Foreign exchange rates are listed in most newspapers, post offices and banks. In major cities, currency and travellers cheques can be exchanged at post offices, which usually offer slightly better rates than banks. Private licensed exchange dealers (döviz bürosu) offer even better rates, but these are not very common outside the big cities and tourist resorts. Most banks are open from 09.00 to 12.30 and 13.30 to 17.00 Monday to Friday; some stay open through midday and on Saturdays.

Tipping

Service charges are usually included in hotels and restaurant bills. However, most service establishments will appreciate a small tip.

Public holidays

1 January: New Year's Day
Ramazan (Ÿeker and BayramÍ): variable date
Kurban BayramÍ: variable date
23 April: National Sovereignty Day
19 May: Youth and Sports Day
30 August: Victory Day
29 October: Republic Day

Travellers with disabilities

All five-star hotels are required by law to have facilities for travellers with disabilities. Elsewhere, such facilities are unusual.

Transport

Metro, buses and trams

Buses in Istanbul and Ankara run on many different routes. You must buy tickets before boarding the bus; tickets are available at bus stations and newspaper stands. Shared taxis, (dolmuê), which travel along predetermined routes displayed on the windscreen, can be flagged down like taxis anywhere along the route. In Istanbul trams run on two routes through the city; buy tickets on the platform before boarding. There is no metro but an urban railway in Istanbul runs on street level from the Sirkeci train/ferry terminal across the Old City. It uses a single-rate ticket, which is sold at ticket booths located near the station entrance. The tünel (funicular) runs between the north end of the Galata Bridge and Istiklal Caddesi.

Ferries

Passenger ferries connect various points on the Asian and European parts of Istanbul and the nearby Prince's Islands. Hydrofoil service (deniz otobüsü) exists between several points in the city and the suburb of BakÍrköy. It is a fast way of getting to and from the Yeêilköy airport. Ferries are also available from Istanbul to Izmir and to Black Sea ports.

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