If you're planning to go to Turkey for your holiday this year, you'll want all the right information to make sure that your holiday is a success and one to remember. Whether your destination is one of the popular resorts along the Turkish Riviera, a modern, safe resort like Marmaris, or the capital Istanbul, you'll need to be up to speed on the red tape, bureaucracy and the local customs. You can enjoy your holiday to the Turkish resort of Marmaris or Feithiye when you know what to expect.
Turkey is not in the EU, so you'll need a visa for your trip. But the good news is, visas are available only at the point of entry, so you don't have to do any extra preparation or wait at the Turkish embassy prior to your departure. For British and Irish citizens, the cost of the visa is 10 GBP more information can be found on the Consulate General of Turkey's website. Another important thing to arrange before you leave is travel insurance as the EU rules for healthcare won't apply in Turkey.
Once you're in Turkey, you'll find it a remarkable place with an amazing culture. The Turks are rightly famed for their friendliness. They will go out of their way to make you feel welcome. So if you're stopping off at a tiny shop to ask for directions and buy a soft drink, the owners are likely to offer you incredibly generous hospitality, so much so that they're likely to be out of pocket by the time you leave!
Much of the wonder of Turkey is its difference from Europe. In fact Istanbul City stands on the Bosphorus, the very border between Europe and Asia. But this also means that there are different customs to experience and be aware of. Turkey has a large Muslim population, and so it is good to be aware that you might be travelling there during the holy month of Ramadan, which is in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In 2010 it began on the 11th August and ended the 9th September, in 2011 it will be from the 1st to the 29th August. If you are travelling to Turkey during this time you may find that tours and attractions will close early in the afternoons but generally businesses, restaurants and hotels will operate as normal in obvious tourist resorts. When visiting mosques or religious shrines, remember to dress modestly, that means no legs, arms or midriffs showing and it is respectful for women to cover their hair. If you do some reading on your Turkey holiday you'll learn more about the culture, history and people of the country your visiting allowing you to truly make the most of your trip to Turkey.