Guide to Turkey: Useful Tips for Tourists
Turkey has long been one of the most popular destinations for those looking for a quality comfortable holiday. Today I would like to share with you the most important and useful facts that will allow you to have as much detailed information about this place. This article will also be useful for those who are going to go there on vacation. I hope that you will be really interesting, and you learn as much as possible about this beautiful country.
Hours of operation
Banks are open from 08:30 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 17:00 Monday to Friday. Some banks in areas where most tourists stay, open every day. On weekends, most organizations going. Museums are mostly closed on Mondays.
Currency
The New Turkish Lira was introduced into operation from 1 January 2005. The old Turkish Lira (TL) was withdrawn from circulation Jan. 1, 2006. And now the exchange is only one way from the old to the new, while it will be carried out only up to December 31, 2015 at the Central Bank. 1 YTL (New Turkish Lira, TRY) = 1,000,000 TL (old Turkish liras). Now in use in Turkey there are banknotes of 100 TRY, 50 TRY, 20 TRY, 10 TRY, TRY 5 and 1 TRY. Coin has a denomination of 50, 25, 10 and 5, and 1 new kurus.
Currency Exchange
In exchange offices, banks or hotels can be exchanged for free without the presence of any commissions. It is easiest to change U.S. dollars and euros. Also, many banks have the opportunity to exchange British pounds and Japanese yen. The hardest thing with the Australian and Canadian currency, but not in the banks and official exchange offices in major cities.
Traveler's checks can be exchanged in banks only. To avoid additional costs, it is better to hand over their feet in sterling or U.S. dollars.
ATMs are not uncommon in most areas, you can easily appeal Turkish lira if you have Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus, Maestro and Eurocard. Almost all ATMs have instructions in English, French and Turkish. Usually, you can take a day to $ 250 per day.
Card standards American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in Turkey, but with American Express still sometimes a problem (for example, Turkish Airlines do not accept such cards). You can easily take advantage of the loan on credit cards. Before you go to Turkey to find work environment with your card in another country with your bank, so you do not have any problems and for some new spending.
Exchange restrictions
On the import of local and foreign currency there are no restrictions, but if you really need to travel with a lot of money, you need to report it on arrival and enter that in the passport, to avoid problems on departure from the country. You can take a maximum of up to U.S. $ 5000, you will need to provide proof that you have removed the money in banks.
Travelers planning to change the money back into foreign, before fly from Turkey should keep all receipts and receipts obtained by this procedure to prove that the transaction is legally allowed and it was just an exchange.
Customs
Certain products require mandatory controls on an importation into the territory of Turkey, to avoid paying customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco and 200 g of tissue paper, 50 grams of chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, 200 grams or 200 grams of snuff; 5 bottles of 1 liter or 7 bottles of 0.7 liters of wine and / or spirits; coffee and tea within reasonable limits; 5 bottles of 120 ml each of spirits; gifts worth up to 255.65 euros; electronic products valued up to 255.65 euros.
400 cigarettes, 100 cigars and 500 grams of pipe tobacco may be imported if purchased in the duty free shop. The main list of goods that can be imported duty-free, you can get at the Turkish Embassy, in consultation in the office of financial and customs consultant.
Logical to assume that drugs, sharp objects, weapons, and more than one set of playing cards on the territory of Turkey can not be imported.
Export souvenirs such as carpets, subject to mandatory customs inspection, which will emerge the age and value of this product. It is strictly forbidden to export antiquities, with more than a century of history. Also banned the export of certain goods that fall under the class of antiques, the basic conditions of this baggage you can also learn the Turkish Embassy.
Electricity
For the most part you will find in Turkey European plug with round metal pins in 220 V and 50 Hz. Are not uncommon in the voltage jumps, so be careful. If you are traveling with a laptop, try to take a surge protector of the house.
Health
Overall, Turkey is safe enough to travel the country, although many here might be indigestion. Yet it is desirable to drink only bottled water and a standard hygiene measures and nutrition, especially in July and August. Try not to eat in suspicious places and make sure that the fish or meat is cooked, it was really fried. Best to avoid shellfish and oysters, as they may be stale. Drink only pasteurized milk.
When entering the country you do not need to place any vaccinations. However, no harm will update the standard set of vaccinations against tetanus, polio and typhoid. Talk to your doctor about what precautions you best take. About malaria Do not worry, in the main tourist areas in the west and south-west of the country there is no risk of infection. The most dangerous is the period from May to October in areas Ukorova / Amikova and south-east Anatolia, Adana and Antalya.
Health care is quite expensive and therefore not very popular, so it would be very good if you make a trip with confidence and travel insurance. It will cover the costs to provide any medical assistance. Most doctors and dentists are fluent in other languages, especially in large hospitals.
Turkey is well equipped pharmacies, however, you're still not worth the risk, so better stock up on everything you might need. Make sure that all medications for regular admission you have with yourself, and that you have permission from your doctor that you are using them legally.
Language
In Turkey, a Turkish official, owns 90% of the population. 6% speak Kurdish, Arab favor of 1.2% of the population and most of them are bilingual, ie speak both Arabic and Turkish. Other languages, which also include Circassian occupy about 0.09% nationwide. This also includes Greek, Armenian and Roman spoken by Jews. If you are working with officials, you may need before the entire documentation.
Security
Despite the fact that Turkey is considered a quiet country in the region, theft and robbery are not uncommon. You must be sure to take all precautions possible. For example, to carry money only under clothes somewhere in a safe place, for fear of pickpockets and other lovers of foreign wallets, especially in places that are characterized by a large crowd of people. For example, the main bazaar in Istanbul. Also be careful about ATM, beware of thieves.
If you are traveling alone, be careful when meeting with suspicious couples or even triples of people who are trying to make friends with you and offer a drink or a meal together. There are often offered drugs and rob foreigners. To distinguish a friendly Turk on anyone's mind that something was wrong, ask him to do it and keep the picture as a souvenir, and see how he reacts. Did not try out that offers you a stranger, since you simply can start allergy or poisoning. If he starts screaming that you hurt his generosity and hospitality, feel free to go to the police station or a bank where there is a guard to avoid anything serious.
As a result, the traditional gender segregation in Turkish men tends to believe that any woman, moves alone, may be subject to prosecution. But fortunately, in most cases to a "serious assault" is not reached. Of course, provided that you will behave and dress modestly, men will treat you very politely and with kindness. Wearing a wedding ring can be a serious reason for them not to touch you, will also help sunglasses that will not let you face looks a particularly arrogant and ill-mannered men. Unfortunately, many Turks are taking the standard polite smile for flirting, so be careful in the first place to themselves.
Pay attention to the labels on the restaurants, they have a special place reserved for relaxation and comfort women. Take care that they were written or Aile ailé Salonu - it means "family." In a society where some women run amok and booze is not recommended.
If you take a taxi, a woman in any case should not sit in the front passenger seat.
If you are traveling by bus, choose the empty space where no one. Often women have separate spaces in front of the cabin, you can notify about this. If no one shows you where you sit in any case do not sit at the end of the cabin. If it happened that you have faced harassment and molestation, Turkey is always about it will create the maximum amount of noise to attract public attention and embarrass therapist.
Social etiquette
Handshake is the normal form of greeting. Very rude to point a finger at anyone, poke someone in the toe or blow your nose in public. If you itch to clean your nose in public, try to leave the room and do it alone. In teeth can be picked only covering the whole thing by hand. Also, open displays of affection in public are discouraged.
It is very well developed hospitality, but visitors should respect Islamic traditions. Informal wear is acceptable, but the beach is only valid vestments at the beach or pool. Smoking is common, but not in the territory of cinemas, theaters, city buses or taxis.
Turks evince consent, that is, "yes» - Even, nod forward and down. Say "no» - Hahyur can nod up and back, lifting up his eyebrows at this or just nod without raising his eyebrows. Turks can also "tsyknut" to say "no." When you move your head from side to side, as if you say "I do not understand," "thank you" You can express lifted his hand to his heart and sometimes a little nod.
In big cities, you can take photos anywhere and anytime you wish. But in rural areas better to ask permission, especially if you want to take pictures of women who put on headscarves.
Taxes and gratuities
Turkey also has its own VAT, which is called KDV, it is usually already included in the price of most goods and services. This is evidenced by the relevant inscriptions on tablets places «Fiyatlarimizda KDV Dahildir» (KDV already included in price). Very rarely happens that KDV will add to the cost separately, be attentive to this. Many hotels and shops can offer you a good discount if you agree not to take a check or receipt.
Generally tourists can regain KDV when leaving the country, especially if committed serious shopping, for example, you bought a jacket or carpets. However, not all stores participate in this scheme, so you should ask the owners and their vendors. If the answer is yes, they take a special form, it will be converted into cash in the bank of international departure lounge at the airport or in other places on the border of Turkey.
The average tip here is 10% of the cost of meals in some of the more expensive restaurants you can take from 10-15% without fail, they will be included in the bill. In the cheap hotels and restaurants such as no one would expect a tip from you. The only thing that porters usually give 2% of the room.
Taxi drivers will be glad if you give them a little more, but a taxi with a fixed rate will not wait on you this. Be careful that what you're driving at, not to get into an awkward situation.
In the Turkish baths (Hamam) You can also leave a small tip.
Phones
Country Code: 90
Time zone
GMT / UTC +2
Daylight Saving Time begins on the last Sunday of March and ends on the last Sunday of September.
Documents for travel
Passport
It is important that your passport be valid for at least another six months of your stay in Turkey. Also, you will need to show it when traveling as there and back.
Visa
For some countries, there is a special visa regime for three months, their residents to travel here, of course, much easier. These are Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, Austria, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain, UK and USA. They issued a tourist visa for three months at the airport, as well as they need to make a certain amount at the airport, depending on nationality. This fee must be paid in cash, allowed the following currencies: Euro, Japanese yen, British pounds or U.S. dollars.
All others should contact the Turkish Embassy for a visa. But remember that the visa regime can always be changed, so before you go be sure to ask about this at a travel agency or at the Turkish Embassy.
I hope very much that you were interested in so many facts about Turkey. Maybe you have something to add? Leave your comments below!
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