Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Credit & Debit Cards
trickier exchanging money or
finding an ATM in smaller
towns and villages.
Credit cards, such as Visa and
MasterCard, are generally
accepted in the larger town and
city shops and restaurants,
although cash is more usual in
smaller establishments. Always
use cash when bartering in a
bazaar or visiting remote villages
and craft centres. Not only is it
unlikely that credit cards will be
accepted, but you should also be
able to haggle for a better price
with cash. Always let your credit
card company know you are
travelling to Turkey before you
go so that they are not alerted to
an unusual spending pattern and
put a block on the card. Also be
sure to have the emergency con-
tact number for your credit and
debit cards with you for use in
the event of lost or stolen cards.
When to Go
The most popular family holiday
destinations are the Aegean and
Mediterranean, followed by the
Marmara and the Black Sea
regions. All have beaches and
waters for children to enjoy, but
their climates can vary enor-
mously. The south of the country,
for instance, will be much warmer
throughout the year than the
north. The Mediterranean and
the south Aegean regions enjoy
long, hot summers and mild win-
ters, while the north Aegean and
Marmara region have a similar cli-
mate, albeit with a slightly shorter
summer period. The Black Sea
region has warm summers and
mild winters with a high level of
rainfall that gives it its characteris-
tic green, lush look. Inland, sum-
mers can be exceptionally hot,
although cooler in mountainous
areas. Winters can get bitterly
cold, often with high levels of
snowfall. Istanbul tends to attract
'city breakers' and the climate is
usually temperate and pleasant
most of the year for sightseeing.
Traveller's Cheques & ATMs
If you are planning to carry trav-
eller's cheques with you, perhaps
as a back up if you can't find an
ATM, you will find that you can
only exchange them in banks or
major post offices. You will need
some form of identification with
you. Most major banks do have
ATMs so obtaining cash is rela-
tively straightforward. The
machines accept most credit and
debit cards and you will have the
option to request instructions in
English. The airports have banks
and ATMs too. If you are plan-
ning to venture further afield
into rural Turkey be sure to take
enough cash with you for any
likely expenditure, as it may be
Public Holidays
Public holidays are special events
in Turkey and most people will
take the day off to be with their
family. Some are determined by
the government while others are
religious. You may find a few
supermarkets open in tourist
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