Welcome to the third instalment of the Packing Advice Column. For those of you who are new to the fold, this is where we give you an overview of what to expect on each leg of the fabulous 6 month world tour we’re giving away. This week, we’re looking at Turkey.
Turkey has seven separate climatic zones, so you can expect a little bit of everything while you’re there. But even though you’ll be there in winter, the days will be sunny and pleasant in the Western parts of the country.
History fanatics will love it here: the landscape is dotted with battlegrounds, palaces and ruins. Tales of famous Turkish battles involve legendary names like Alexander the Great, Helen of Troy, Achilles and of course the Ottoman Empire , whose fierce battles would go on to shape civilisation as we know it. But if you prefer to take it easy, you can do that too. Lose yourself in markets, bars and bazaars, enjoy the warm Mediterranean, or sample some of the world’s finest cuisine.
The unit of currency in Turkey is the Yeni Türk Lirası (New Turkish Lira; YTL). Remember though, you’ll get a much better exchange rate in Turkey than you will outside, so wait until you arrive to exchange currency, and try to spend all your Lira before you leave. US Dollars and Euros will be the easiest currencies to exchange. ATMs are widespread in major towns, and major credit cards (except Amex) are also widely accepted within tourist areas. One word of advice though: travellers cheques are usually seen as a burden to change. Vendors may try to get you to go elsewhere or charge a high rate for changing them.
Turkey is a wonderfully diverse country, and you’ll see some incredible sights during your 10 day stay. See more details of exactly what you’ll be up to here.
Good luck everyone!
Team GROM
