Turkey - last minute hints & tips?

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We're off to Turkey during half-term. It's been a while since I've been there so I was just wondering if anybody had any useful hints, tips, suggestions (other than "don't go, it's horrible and have i seen Midnight Cowboy?"

Passports and E-Visas are all sorted, I have about £500 in Lira. Luggage is all checked, will be parking at Jetparks 3 at Manchester, none of us needed vaccinations. Phonewise - I think Vodafone works fine in Turkey but not Virgin?

Anything else I've missed out?

All advice gratefully received

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valiant said:

What bit you visiting??

Exchange rate is good at the moment and decent food is pretty cheap. Stick to local brews (although I find Efes a bit ‘bloaty’).

Lovely country with lovely people.

Passport should be carried at All times when outside of your resort/hotel and you can be fined if you haven’t got it on you (whether they’ll bother an obvious tourist is another question...)

It is a bit knock-off central though but it can be fun haggling over obvious fakes.

Cheers valiant - never knew about the "Passport at all times" bit Isn't it a bit risky if we get mugged?

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Robertj21a said:

Don't criticize Erdogan, or praise his opponents. If we don't hear from you again at least we'll know that you ignored that advice.......

Got my Apple iWatch set to “record”

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Visiting Antalya (or Belek to be precise). Staying at the Susesi.

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gun12b said:

does it start closing down about now ??????

Not as far as I'm aware. Prefer it quiet to be honest

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had ham said:

Just stay away from any Russian guests - that part of Turkey can be fairly popular with them. They are hideous holiday companions, very rude, zero manners and typically very ignorant.

I've been going to Turkey for 25+ years, never taken my passport or e-visa out with me - even during the failed coup in 2016, and never had an issue.

Things are dirt cheap this year due to the exchange rate - most traders hadn't had a chance to re-price when I was out there in Aug/Sept, we really did struggle to spend meaningful money.

Cheers. Yes I'd heard that about the Russians. We were planning on going a few years ago when the Turks shot down the Russian bomber on the grounds that it would be a bit quieter, but we never got round to it.

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HOGEPH said:

Countdown said:

We're off to Turkey during half-term. It's been a while since I've been there so I was just wondering if anybody had any useful hints, tips, suggestions (other than "don't go, it's horrible and have i seen Midnight Cowboy?"

Passports and E-Visas are all sorted, I have about £500 in Lira. Luggage is all checked, will be parking at Jetparks 3 at Manchester, none of us needed vaccinations. Phonewise - I think Vodafone works fine in Turkey but not Virgin?

Anything else I've missed out?

All advice gratefully received

Er, Midnight Express?

D'oh!!!

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Noob question - is it better to get Lira now, or is it fairly easy to get some when we get to the Hotel?

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had ham said:

Easy, everyone is desperate for foreign currency, shops, traders, hotels, etc. Best rates typically in the most unusual places (jewellers, traders, rather than banks)...

Edited by had ham on Tuesday 16th October 10:05

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StevieBee said:

They are also very very good and not your usual tat.

I was told by a friend in N.Cyprus that most of the watches are made in Italy by companies commissioned by watchmakers to make working copies that are used for window displays in shops. The companies are commissioned to make only a set number of pieces but make a nice line in over-runs. Often the casings and straps are genuine Rolex, Omega or whatever but the workings are Casio or a job lot from China.

I have no way of verifying this but does seem plausible.

Don't let the PH Watch Mafia catch you saying that......

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Gareth1974 said:

MYOB said:

Gareth1974 said:

Go to a barbers and have a proper Turkish shave.

No need, plenty of them in the UK high streets.

True. It’s probably not worth having any Turkish cuisine either, you can get that here too.

Can’t believe I forgot the most important questions of all

(I) Where’s the best place to get a doner kebab?
(Ii) Do they do garlic mayo?
(Ii) Is the Nan bread soft and fluffy or is it quite hard and chewy?
(I’V) Do they do chilli sauce?

Cheers

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Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Kebab Hospital - Gocek.

HTH


https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g2...

Edited by Paddy_N_Murphy on Wednesday 17th October 11:46

Cheers was hoping for one closer to Belek.

Kind regards

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Thanks GreatGranny - good to hear about the passports.

I'm generally fine with people - but not bad mannered ones and I gather the Russians can be a bit nekulturny

Mrs C and the daughters love shopping so the fakey stuff sounds good

If i run out of Lira I assume I can use my Visa debit card in an ATM somewhere?

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Thanks folks

Can anybody confirm if Vodafone works ok over there? Both my works phone and Ipad are on VF. Their website says "Yes" but I don't want to lumber my employer a bill for £000s

Tomo1971 said:

The locals are nice but do remember you are in a Muslim country and respect that.

That won't be a problem - part of the reason we're going is because the food should all be halal.

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Tomo1971 said:

Apologies if any offence taken, not meant.... just on our visits have seen topless sunbathing on public beaches etc and believe that can be frowned upon by some.

Thanks and no offence taken whilst we’re Muslim we completely realise that everybody is free to do what they want, subject to the laws of the land etc.

I don’t think the Turks are fundamentalists either given that it’s all-you-can-drink alcohol in the hotel

Tomo1971 said:

Re VF, they did take turkey off the free roaming but recently reinstated it.

Yes, checked with them today and it’s all good

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Ok - some work colleagues have asked me to bring back cigarettes.

Am I best buying them at duty free on the way out or in Turkey on the way in?

Never bought cigarettes in my life

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keith333 said:

Coutdown, we were just at the Susesi last week and had a great time. 29 degrees centigrade, scorchio :-)

We got a bit fed up with the food towards the end of the week, but its a fabulous hotel and location. Playing some of the activities (boules, water polo, darts, etc) was a great way of meeting other people at the hotel.

We hired a car and went to some ruins in Perges which was fascinating and visited Side too. A trip into Belek town is worth doing too, don't forget to haggle ;-)

We’re halfway through ours and really enjoying it. It’s a fantastic place. the bedroom are massive and the bathrooms are a PH Director size

Completely agree food wise, I’m quite a picky eater and like my food very spicy, whereas its very bland here. Although if you like salads you’ll be in heaven We played water polo but the kids just want to laze by the pool so I tend to say there with them. The pool is freezing cold but you get used to it after a few minutes. All in all I’d give it 4 stars - would book again

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BrabusMog said:

it was £1.70ish for 20 Marlboro lights in a supermarket, I brought some back for a colleague last month. Not sure of airport prices, but £17ish for 200 Marlboro Lights is less than you'd pay for 2 packs in the UK. This was at a Carrefour though, the little looky looky shops will always charge a bit more, but not much in my experience.

We went into Belek yesterday - 20 Lira for a pack /200 Lira for a carton of Marlboro red. Seems reasonable I suppose. There was a Carrefour on the drive in from Antalya but not sure whereabouts it is so I might just get it from the market.

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Fluffsri said:

Countdown - Its all your fault! We have been looking for a week somewhere nice and quiet to recharge the batteries. Turkey wasn't on the list until I saw this post and thought, not been there in years. All booked for 1st week in Nov, we know its going to be dead but we aren't worried.

Enjoy your hols!

I can highly recommend Susesi. Was worried about the Russians but to be honest it’s no worse than a lot of Asian weddings Ive been to. Even though its “all you can drink” alcohol any football lads-type behaviour been hardly noticeable. The clientele seems a mix of old and young.

Having said that the outside of the Land of Legends hotel looked amazing on the drive in. It was like something out of “Lord of the Rings”. If my kids were younger I’d probably book that next time.

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dc2rr07 said:

Which is a good reason not to start now, do you really wanting to be lugging around gear for someone else concentrate on buying for yourself not work colleagues.

It’s only one 200 pack each - no big deal really and i think it saves my colleagues £30 each. Seems a bit harsh not to get them wen it doesn’t cost me anything.