Are you thinking of making Turkey your next vacation destination? Turkey is a place worth visiting. While there are various concerns people put forth at traveling to middle east cities, Turkey is quite different. Over the years, Turkey has proven to be a safe place to visit.
Turkey has several breathtaking sceneries, beautiful architecture, excellent shopping experience, and other attractive features. It would be impossible to list it all, and even if we could, it’ll be best to experience it yourself. If you’ve made up your mind to visit Turkey, here are few tips on how to get there and how to conduct yourself within the cities in Turkey.
Tips for your First-time Visit to Turkey
It is not enough to pick your travel bag and jet off to Turkey. If you do, you might not be able to go beyond the walls of the airport. If you intend to go into the cities and enjoy every bit of fun that Turkey has to offer, follow these five essential tips;
1. Get a Turkey Visa
An ordinary passport holder will be refused entry into Turkey. It would be best if you had a Turkey Transit Visa, you can find further information here. If you are only connecting to another flight and you wouldn’t need to leave the airport, you don’t need a visa. However, if you intend to stay in Turkey for some days of vacation, getting a Turkey visa is not negotiable.
The following requirements must be in place to apply for the visa; a confirmed fight ticket, proof that you have enough money to cater to your needs throughout your stay and verified hotel bookings.
Note that Turkey offers a quick visa to individuals with valid Schengen, UK, US, or Ireland visa. If you already have any of these visas, you’ll get a Turkey visa in no time.
2. Choose your Accommodation
Remember, a confirmed accommodation is one of the requirements for securing a Turkey visa. In that case, you need to source accommodation before leaving. However, it would be best if you choose wisely.
Cities in Turkey have quality provision for accommodation. What do you think about homes built in rocks? Now you get the idea. You might get tempted to go beyond your budget, which is why you have to be wise.
3. Pack Clothes Fit for Western Europe
While East countries have a religious affiliation, meaning you tend to see a lot of women dressed in burkha-clad on the streets and even on the beach. However, Turkey is open to smart western-styled dresses. Therefore, feel free to bring along your western-styled dresses but travel as light as you can.
4. Stick with Public Transport across Turkey
If you are going to Turkey for a vacation, you should not give up the fun of going through the cities by public transport. It lets you absorb the beauty of the towns and mix with locals, getting to see into the culture and way of life of the people.
5. Beware of scams in Istanbul
Like any other city in the world, there are bad eggs among the good ones. However, the ones in Istanbul can be very tricky. They target foreigners, knowing most foreigners are naïve about their strategies.
Watch out for locals who tell you stories to play on your emotions. Most times, the stories are coined to get cash from you; they are not true. Act smart and be smart.
Final Thoughts
Want to book a vacation to Turkey? No doubt, there are several reasons to visit Turkey. However, it is essential to know how to enjoy your first visit. Read through this guide to understand how to get to Turkey and enjoy your stay.
