HOW TO TRAVEL ABOUT IN TURKEY

By Air

Passengers arriving at the international airports of Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Antalya will find connecting flights, operated by THY and some other companies, to the principal cities in Turkey. There is a free bus service between the international and domestic terminals at Istanbul airport. Turkish Airlines offers reductions on internal flights to students, families and sports groups of five or more. Details may be obtained from THY :
www.thy.com

By Sea

Turkish Maritime Lines operate passenger services to Trabzon and to Izmir from Istanbul. There are discounts available to children, students, journalists and groups. Details may be obtain from TML : www.tdi.com.tr/eng/denizyollari.shtml

By Long-Distance Bus

In Turkey most long-distance journeys are made by bus. The country is covered with a network of services, operated by private companies, which compete vigorously with each other for passengers. Most of the buses in use are modern vehicles of German manufacture; Mercedes and MAN predominate. The buses are clean and well-maintained. Ticket prices are very low. Almost all of buses have air-conditioning installed. Even if it is in working order, it is not unusual for some passengers, who claim to be sensitive to draughts, to ask to have it turned off and the roof vents closed. Journeys on these may cost a little more, but the additional comfort which they offer and the provision of light refreshrnents during the journey, more than justify the additional expense.

Throughout Turkey, long-distance services start from the otogar, which is usually located on the outskirts of the town. There is often a courtesy minibus which will take passengers from the company’s town office and, in some cases from the principal hotels, to the otogar. Ask your hotel receptionist about this service.

If you wish to avoid the frantic activity of the otogar, plan your bus journeys well in advance, particularly if long distances are involved. Having decided on the tlme you wish to travel, find out which companies operate suitable services. On main routes you will generally have a choice of four or five services. Select the most expensive - the additional cost will be negligible - as those buses are likely to be newer and more comfortable.

If you are travelling in daytime during the summer months, take the direction of your journey into account and ensure that you are seated on the shaded side of the bus. Do not rely on claims that the bus is air-conditioned (see above). If travelling at night, make sure that you have reserved accommodation at your destination- particularly if your bus arrives during the middie of the night or early in the morning.

All seats on long distance buses are numbered and, providing you make your reservation sufficiently far in advance, you should be able to choose where you want to sit. The best seats are 1 to 4. These are located just behind the driver and near the front entrance. The front seats also give the best views of the countryside.

Turkish bus music-sometimes called arabesque music-is definitely an acquired taste. Not even all Turks enjoy it ! If you think that you are likely to find it distracting, bring a personal stereo and a supply of tapes. Talking books are an excellent choice for long journeys. There is a high incidence of travel-sickness among passengers on some routes. You can get proprietary medicines without prescription, which help to combat travel sickness, from Turkish chemists shops (eczane). To keep the air fresh near you take a small bottle of eau-de-Cologne.

Long-distance buses stop about every two hours for approximately 30 minutes at a kahve or lokanta. On a night-journey from the Aegean or Mediterranean coast to the interior, take some warm clothing, as even during the summer months the temperature on the Anatolian plateau drops sharply after dark. The Turks are a gregarious and friendly people and your fellow passengers will almost certainly attempt to engage you in conversation. It is not unusual for them to offer tea or other refreshments at one of the stops. As the offer springs from the hospitality which the Turks are accustomed to display towards visitors to their country, it would be discourteous to refuse.

Long-distance bus journeys provide an opportunity to see Turkey and to experience an aspect of Turkish life which is denied to those travellers who stick to organised tours. The journeys are amusing and exasperating by turn. Though often tiring, they are always vastly rewarding and should on no account be missed by anyone who takes more than a superficial interest in the country.

Details may be obtained from VARAN : http://www.varan.com.tr/english/default.asp

By Rail

During recent years the Turkish Government has spent a consid­erable amount of money improving the rolling stock and equipment of the country’s 10,000km rail-network. This operates mainly in central, eastern and south-eastern Anatolia. Several trains are faster and as comfortable as the best of the long-distance coaches on the same routes. Frequent services, including an excellent night train with sleeping berths and reclining seats, link Istanbul and Ankara. Turkish Railways gives reductions to groups of 24 or more, to students and to purchasers of return tickets.

By Dolmus

The dolmus or shared taxi is a colourful feature of Turkish life. Vehicles carry a yellow band. Like a bus, it operates over a specified route, which is stated on a notice fixed to the windscreen or announced by the shrill cries of a small boy who hangs precariously out of the front passenger door. In cities and towns the dolmus may be a large, much-repaired American car. In country areas it will probably be a mini-bus. It does not operate to a timetable but leaves when it is full. Dolmus means ‘stuffed’ or ‘filled’ in Turkish and as more and more people pile in, you will begin to appreciate the apt choice of name.

By Taxi

Taxis in Turkey, which are easlly distinguished by their yellow colour, operate from ranks but will also pick up fares while cruising. All should have meters in working order. For long journeys try to agree on the fare before starting. Your hotel receptionist will give you an idea of how much to pay. He may also intervene in any dispute with the taxi driver.

By Private Transport

Turkey has an excellent network of approximately 50,000km well-maintained main roads. The crossing of the Bosphorus at Istanbul has been speeded up by the completion of a bypass and two toll bridges which lead to the Istanbul-Izmit and Gerede-Ankara express roads. ‘E’ indicates European Road Network, ‘A’ Asian Road Network and ‘M’ Middie East Road Network. Side roads to villages are usually asphalted, but are often very narrow. Be on the look-out for slow-moving tractors which can take up most of the road.

Access to the remoter archaeological sites is sometimes by rough tracks which may be impassable during bad weather. Road signs conform to international standards. Look out for the following warnings: DUR = Stop; DIKKAT = Caution. Archaeological and historical sites are indicated by distinctive yellow signs.

In the countryside, where it is possible to travel for long distances without seeing another vehicle, avoid being lulled into a false sense of security. Around the next corner there may be a slow-moving farm vehicle or a procession of overloaded lorries crawling along in low gear. Keep a sharp look out also for herds of sheep and goats which graze the verges and sometimes stray across the road. Garages undertaking repairs are usually grouped in one or more areas of a city or town. There are some also on the main routes. Spare parts for most cars are available and mechanics are trained to repair both Turkish and foreign makes. Petrol, which is slightly cheaper in Turkey than in most European coun­tries, may be bought from Petrol Ofisi, Turk Petrol, BP, Mobil or Shell. Super grade is widely available, though it may be difficult to obtain in some of the remoter areas. Unleaded petrol is sold at most stations; the price may vary. On the main roads filling stations often have adjoining service facillities, 24 hour restaurants and sometimes small motels.

There are car-rental offices in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and in most large towns and cities and in the popular holiday resorts. In addition to Hertz, Avis, and Europcar there are many local companies. In Turkey traffic circulates on the right. The speed lirnit is 50km in towns, 90km outside and 120km on the highways. To avoid problems with the traffic police, stick to these limits. In many tourist resorts motorcycles and mopeds are available for hire. Crash helmets are not usually provided, so bring your own protective headgear. Bicycles may be hired in some places.