PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION & TRAVEL TIPS FOR TURKEY

What is Travelatelier? What is Turkeyweddings? And what is Propertravel?

Travel Atelier is the name of our travel agency and it is registered with Propertravel Consulting Ltd. Company.

Travel Atelier holds the A5328 license from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and is a member of Tursab – The Turkish Travel Agencies Organization while being a member of ASTA – American Society of Travel Agents.

Travel Atelier is the name of our travel agency holding the A5328 license from the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism and is a member of Tursab – The Turkish Travel Agencies Organization while being a member of ASTA – American Society of Travel Agents.

Turkey Weddings is the Wedding & Events Department of Travel Atelier Travel Agency.
Both ''Travelatelier'' and ''Turkeyweddings'' brands are registered to Propertravel Sey. Dan. Tur. Tic. Ltd. Sti.

Please note that all credit card charges will be showing Propertravel Ltd. Sti & so as the bank account names.

How to reach us?

If you are reading this pre-departure information; you have confirmed an itinerary with us and we have been corresponding with e-mails. In case you don’t have our office numbers saved yet;

Travel Atelier Office landline: +90.384.341.6520

We are available in the office from 9:00 to 18:00 between Monday to Saturday. If you need to contact us on Sunday in the case of an emergency, please call your dedicated travel consultant whose number should be provided by e-mail. Otherwise, please ask for an emergency number by e-mail.

Master Checklist – Travel DOCUMENTS - General Information

For your trip you must have:

A valid passport - Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your date of exit from your country. (For Americans it is 8 months) You should carry a second form of photo identification, such as a driver's license or a photocopy of the first page of your passport (the page with your signature).

• A Valid Visa
• Entrance form for Turkey - https://register.health.gov.tr/  - to be completed within 72 hours before arrival
• One other picture ID (such as driver's license)
• Photocopy of passport's signature page to carry in your wallet
• Air tickets and expense money
• Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance from your home country before you travel. If you're covered by medical insurance at home, you may also be covered while you're traveling abroad. But check to be sure that you're covered for travel.

VISA

A visa is required and it can easily be obtained upon arrival at the airport when you pass through customs formalities. However, it is much easier now online. Here is how to get your Turkish e-Visa online and avoid the queue. https://travelatelier.com/destination/turkey/visa-information/

*For the main border gates, we also offer a fast-track service! Please ask for information.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Banking Hours

Monday to Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturdays, Sundays, and on Public Holidays: All banks are closed.

Caution

It is illegal to buy, sell, possess, or export antiquities. The Turkish government takes vigorous measures to defend its treasures against theft. Imitations are allowed, but be sure you know what you’re buying.

Climate in Turkey

For the climate in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Southern Marmara regions, the general Mediterranean climate is dominant; summers are hot and dry, winters are mild and rainy. Frosts are rare and snowfall is almost unknown. The rainy season lasts from November to March. The best times to visit the region are in April, May, June, early July, September and October. You can check the weather forecast for Turkey before arrival also at www.meteor.gov.tr by searching for the city names (Istanbul, Nevsehir (for Cappadocia), Izmir (for Ephesus), etc.

The average temperatures of day & night in Celsius (Fahrenheit) by 7 geographical regions. The country enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate that features a hot and dry summer and a cold winter. Summer remains hot and dry with an average high temperature of 30°C. The Northern region, however, remains moderately hot as the maximum temperature in the regions hardly climbs to 28°C. Winter in the northwest region like Istanbul comes in late December and lasts until March. The average high temperature in winter fluctuates between 11°C and 14°C while the low may fall below 5°C. During the winter months, it gets snow on the coastal regions of the Sea of Marmara for a few days. It receives a great level of precipitation, especially at the Black Seas coast, throughout the year. Generally speaking, rainfall is less to the east. The Black Sea coast receives the greatest amount of rainfall and the eastern part of that coast is the only region that receives rainfall throughout the year.

Alcoholic Beverages

The local drink in Turkey is usually Raki; a liqueur made with grapes and aniseed. It is clear, but turns white when mixed with water or ice, and has a sweet liquor taste. Selection of local wines, beers, and international alcoholic beverages can be easily found in stores & bars.

Electric Current

The electrical system is 220/230 volts. Most hotels have hairdryers and plug adaptors in the bedrooms.

Mobile Phones & Wi-Fi

The best way is to use data roaming that your GSM company will be contracted either with Turkcell,  Vodafone, or Avea which work perfectly throughout the country. If you are planning to stay longer than a usual trip; then it might be better to register your phone by buying a Turkish Sim Card or buy a phone on arrival and still use a local sim. Wi-Fi is accessible for most around for free of charge and once in a million, you would be asked to be charged for use of the internet.

Food and Drinking Water

This is an important subject that is of great concern to everyone who travels abroad. While we do our best to ensure that the strictest norms of hygiene are maintained by all hotels we stay at and all the restaurants we use, it pays to be prudent.

DON’T drink tap water and DON’T eat street food. Bottled water, soft drinks, beer, coffee, and tea are fine.

Local Time

GMT+3 hours (year-round)

The same time zone for the whole country.

Money Matters

The currency of Turkey is the TL, with coins of 1 Kr, 5 Kr, 10Kr, 25 Kr, 50 Kr, 1 TL. Banknotes in circulation are;

200 TL, 100 TL, 50 TL, 20 TL, 10 TL, and 5 TL

Please check the accurate conversions of The Central Bank of Turkey for more.

Most major credit cards (VISA and MasterCard are the most widely accepted) are recognized and accepted in Istanbul and in larger towns while Amex might be an issue at some places. ATM cash machines are available in many towns, with access to the Cirrus, Plus, and Maestro systems.

Changing money upon arrival in Turkey, rather than in the US is recommended.

There is a banking counter at the airport in Istanbul.

Newspapers and Magazines:

Foreign newspapers and magazines are available in big cities and tourist areas. Also, there is a daily newspaper called "Turkish Daily News" published in English.

Note on Dress for Men and Women

For church and mosque visits, neither men nor women should wear shorts or sleeveless shirts. Even though you may see other foreign tourists who are not aware of this tradition, women should wear long pants or a below-the-knee skirt, a long-sleeved shirt, and a headscarf. All visitors to mosques must take off their shoes before entering the mosque. Your guides will brief you regarding appropriate dress.

Observance

Apart from the official and religious holidays banks and post offices in Turkey are closed on Sundays. Under normal conditions, the Travel Atelier office is also closed on the mentioned dates. Please make sure that you have our emergency contact gsm numbers with you; if you will be arriving on Sunday, in case you would need to contact us for any reason.

Souvenirs

Thanks to its being a big colorful mosaic with different cultures; the country offers low prices and a great variety of goods. Anatolian rugs and carpets, especially in Cappadocia, kilims, hand-beaten copper and brass, embroidery, pottery, harem rings, genie lanterns, leather goods, traditional Ottoman costumes, gold and silver, hand-painted miniature plates, meerschaum pipes, and onyx, are good buys. Bargaining is appropriate, although in some of the most modern shops, prices are fixed and bargaining may insult the shopkeeper. When in doubt, please ask your tour guide for assistance.

TIPPING

Tipping is all a custom in Turkey to show how satisfied you are. If you don’t tip someone, it is not an offense, but it is nice to tip when you are happy with the service.
More or less of these amounts are all up to your judgment. Please ask your guide or operator for assistance when in doubt.

*If you are on a tour it’s a nice gesture to tip the guide and the driver if you were satisfied.

Here is the recommended tipping while in Turkey:

Driver daily: From 10 to 15 EUR

Guide daily: From 30 to 40 EUR (up to 4 guests traveling together)

Bellboy: 1 to 3 EUR per luggage

Housekeeper at the hotel: 1 to 3 EUR per night

Restaurants: %10 of the bill is if satisfied (Feel free not to tip if you did not like the service/food)

Hot-air Balloons: while it is not common, the crew will have a tip box. Feel free to tip 5 EUR to 10 EUR if you love the service.

Gulet, motor-yacht, etc.: %8 to %15 of the total cost

Taxis, vendors on streets, cafes, etc. don’t expect a tip mostly.

Restroom attendants will have a sign showing what they expect.