{"id":177963,"date":"2017-08-28T23:38:44","date_gmt":"2017-08-28T22:38:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/?page_id=177963"},"modified":"2019-10-17T11:25:04","modified_gmt":"2019-10-17T10:25:04","slug":"turkey","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel guide to Turkey"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classictravel.com\/LuxTravelExpert\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"216820\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/hotels-in-africa\/algemeen-middle-east\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ALGEMEEN-MIDDLE-EAST.jpg?fit=1000%2C123&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1000,123\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ALGEMEEN-MIDDLE-EAST.jpg?fit=300%2C37&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ALGEMEEN-MIDDLE-EAST.jpg?fit=1000%2C123&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-216820 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ALGEMEEN-MIDDLE-EAST.jpg?resize=678%2C83&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"83\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ALGEMEEN-MIDDLE-EAST.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ALGEMEEN-MIDDLE-EAST.jpg?resize=200%2C25&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ALGEMEEN-MIDDLE-EAST.jpg?resize=300%2C37&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ALGEMEEN-MIDDLE-EAST.jpg?resize=768%2C94&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Turkey is strategically situated at the cross-roads of two continents, Europe and Asia. The country\u00a0is\u00a0bestowed with immense natural beauty, spectacular\u00a0sights, breathtaking architecture, and stunning cultural sites. \u00a0From the posh lifestyle at the\u00a0seaside resort of Bodrum to the magnificent mosques and exquisite museums in Istanbul, to the wide steppe landscapes of Cappadocia, there is something for everyone\u2019s taste.<\/p>\n<p>Get\u00a0the most\u00a0out\u00a0of your (luxury) trip to Turkey with my travel guide. Find out more about:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#time\">Best time to visit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how\">How to get there<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#requirements\">Travel requirements<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#getting\">Getting around<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#inspiration\">Inspiration, highlights, &amp; travel tips<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#itineraries\">Suggested itineraries<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#hotels\">Recommended luxury hotels (+ reviews)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/turkey-travel-guide.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"218956\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/turkey\/turkey-travel-guide\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/turkey-travel-guide.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"turkey travel guide\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;turkey travel guide&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;turkey travel guide&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/turkey-travel-guide.jpg?fit=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/turkey-travel-guide.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-218956\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/turkey-travel-guide.jpg?resize=678%2C381&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"turkey travel guide\" width=\"678\" height=\"381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/turkey-travel-guide.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/turkey-travel-guide.jpg?resize=200%2C113&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/turkey-travel-guide.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/turkey-travel-guide.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/turkey-travel-guide.jpg?resize=678%2C381&amp;ssl=1 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h5 id=\"time\"><strong>BEST TIME TO VISIT<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The\u00a0best time to visit Turkey\u00a0depends on where you&#8217;re going.:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Istanbul<\/strong> and the European part of Turkey experience hot, muggy\u00a0summers and cold, rainy (though seldom snowy) winters. Spring (from April to May) and autumn (from September to mid-November) sees delightful weather in Istanbul, with pleasant\u00a0temperatures and clear skies. Istanbul\u2019s location near the sea means it can be quite a windy city, especially in the winter, shutting down ferry service.<\/li>\n<li>Turkey&#8217;s <strong>Aegean and Mediterranean Riviera<\/strong> both enjoy a typical Mediterranean climate characterized by uncomfortably hot summers &#8211; perfect for topping up that tan &#8211; and mild winters. The majority of rainfall occurs in the months of January and February, but apart from that the weather remains fairly pleasant in winter.<\/li>\n<li>The Turkish <strong>Black Sea coast<\/strong> has\u00a0a temperate\u00a0Oceanic climate\u00a0with warm, wet summers and cool to cold, wet winters. The region\u00a0receives the greatest amount of precipitation and is the only region of Turkey that receives high precipitation throughout the nine coolest months, with mist and subtropical humidity lingering during summer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Central Anatolia<\/strong> &#8211; which is home to Cappadocia &#8211; features a steppe climate, with a great temperature difference between day and night. Although mostly a semi-arid steppe, the region receives its fair amount of snow, rain and hard winds during winter, resulting in frequent cancellations of its number one attraction of\u00a0hot air balloon trips.\u00a0The preferred time to visit Cappadocia is usually May to October.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In general, the best time to visit Turkey is during spring (from April to May) and autumn (from September to mid-November)\u00a0when temperatures are mild, the weather relatively dry, and the crowds thinner.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h5 id=\"how\"><strong>HOW TO GET THERE<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Most tourists enter Turkey via one of the two airports serving Istanbul (Istanbul Atat\u00fcrk and\u00a0Sabiha G\u00f6k\u00e7en) or one of the three major regional airports serving the\u00a0Aegean and Mediterranean coast (Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman). The latter see the bulk of their traffic during the\u00a0official summer season, when European tourists flock to Turkey&#8217;s beaches with charter flights.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Istanbul Atat\u00fcrk Airport<\/b>\u00a0(IST)\u00a0is the main\u00a0international airport serving\u00a0Istanbul, and the biggest airport in\u00a0Turkey. It&#8217;s located on the European side of the city. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Istanbul_Atat%C3%BCrk_Airport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a> for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Istanbul Atat\u00fcrk Airport.<\/li>\n<li><b>Sabiha G\u00f6k\u00e7en International Airport<\/b>\u00a0(SAW) is the second international serving Istanbul. Located 35 km (22\u00a0mi) southeast of Istanbul, Sabiha\u00a0G\u00f6k\u00e7en is on the\u00a0Asian\u00a0side of the bi-continental city. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sabiha_G%C3%B6k%C3%A7en_International_Airport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a> for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to\u00a0Sabiha G\u00f6k\u00e7en International Airport.<\/li>\n<li><b>Antalya Airport<\/b>\u00a0<strong>(AYT)<\/strong> is\u00a0located 13\u00a0km (8.1\u00a0mi) northeast\u00a0<sup id=\"cite_ref-AIP_1-1\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup>of the city center of\u00a0Antalya. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Antalya_Airport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a> for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Antalya.<\/li>\n<li><b>Milas\u2013Bodrum Airport<\/b>\u00a0(BJV) is a very modern airport that serves the\u00a0Turkish\u00a0resort towns of Bodrum\u00a0and Milas. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Milas%E2%80%93Bodrum_Airport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a> for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Bodrum.<\/li>\n<li><b>Dalaman Airport<\/b>\u00a0(DLM) serves the surrounding tourist areas and environs of\u00a0Dalaman.\u00a0Click <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dalaman_Airport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a> for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Dalaman.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before you buy a plane ticket, consider reading my\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/how-to-book-a-flight\/\">tips &amp; tricks for buying the cheapest plane ticket<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h5 id=\"requirements\"><strong>TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Requirements\u00a0for\u00a0entry\u00a0into\u00a0Turkey differ from country to country, and are subject to change. Prior to departure, always check with your government and your nearest Turkish embassy or consulate what documents you need for travel to Turkey.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You need a valid\u00a0<strong>passport<\/strong>. The Turkish government advises that your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Turkey.<\/li>\n<li>Travelers need a <strong>valid visa<\/strong>\u00a0to enter Turkey. You can get an e-Visa online before you travel through the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.evisa.gov.tr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\">official Republic of Turkey e-Visa website<\/a>. An e-visa costs $20 USD and you can pay using a credit or debit card. You can apply up to 3 months in advance of your travel date. Turkish visit visas issued on arrival are valid for multiple stays up to a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period. Please note that e-visa is only valid when the purpose of travel is tourism or commerce. For other purposes, such as work and study, visas are given by Turkish Embassies or Consulates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Make sure you read my <a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2014\/02\/28\/10-tips-to-start-preparing-your-trip\/\">10 tips to plan a worry-free trip<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h5 id=\"getting\"><strong>GETTING AROUND<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Despite its rather large size, it&#8217;s quite easy to travel around Turkey since the country is well covered by public transport:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Flying<\/strong> is a convenient way to cover some of Turkey\u2019s large distances, especially when you are on a tight schedule. There are several\u00a0domestic airlines\u00a0that serve all of Turkey&#8217;s larger cities in addition to the resort towns. There is stiff competition between carriers, meaning that great bargains are often available, especially if you book in advance. Tickets can be booked online via the airlines&#8217; websites:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/p.turkishairlines.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Turkish Airlines<\/a> (Turkey&#8217;s flag carrier, member of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.staralliance.com\/en\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Star Alliance<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flypgs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pegasus<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlasglb.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Atlasjet<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onurair.com\/en\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Onurair<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sunexpress.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SunExpress<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anadolujet.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ananadolujet<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Renting a car<\/strong> is a great and cheap way to travel independently in Turkey and visit off-the-beaten-track sites. This is even more the case now that the road conditions have improved dramatically in recent years. Car rental companies are present at major airports and central city locations.\u00a0But be warned: the standard of driving in Turkey is often both poor and aggressive and the country has a high\u00a0road accident rate.<\/li>\n<li>Although Turkey has an <strong>extensive train network<\/strong>, run by\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/tcdd.gov.tr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Turkish State Railways<\/a>, the train schedules are slightly unreliable.\u00a0Popular routes on Turkey\u2019s train network include a new high-speed line between Istanbul and Ankara, which takes three-and-a-half hours. There are also express trains and \u2018blue trains\u2019 which run between the different regions \u2013 for example, Izmir to Ankara \u2013 as well as regional trains.\u00a0The standard of Turkey\u2019s trains ranges from very basic to modern and air-conditioned. Most trains can be booked online or at the train station, but if you\u2019re travelling during peak season, make a reservation to guarantee a seat. Online reservations are available up to 30 days in advance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coach and bus travel<\/strong> is an option when you are traveling on a budget. There are several categories of bus travel: municipal buses, the local &#8216;dolmus<i>&#8216;,<\/i>\u00a0long-distance buses, and short-distance minibuses. Long-distance coaches generally have air conditioning, reading lights, reclining seats, in-bus entertainment showing Turkish films. It is, however, the most time-consuming means of getting around.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h5 id=\"inspiration\"><strong>INSPIRATION, HIGHLIGHTS &amp; TRAVEL TIPS<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>There are several good reasons why you should put Turkey on your bucket list:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The cosmopolitan city of Istanbul, with its iconic monuments such as the Haghia Sophia<\/li>\n<li>Hot-air ballooning over\u00a0Cappadocia<\/li>\n<li>Magnificent coastal scenery in the country&#8217;s southwest<\/li>\n<li>Ruins of Ephesus<\/li>\n<li>Visiting a hamam<\/li>\n<li>The Byzantine monastery of Sumela<\/li>\n<li>A wide range of terrific luxury hotels &amp; resorts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The following, in-depth articles may also inspire you and help you plan your trip to Turkey:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2016\/01\/18\/top-10-best-luxury-hotels-in-turkey\/\">Top 10 most fabulous luxury resorts in Turkey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/09\/21\/top-10-best-luxury-hotels-in-istanbul\/\">Top 10 best hotels in Istanbul<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2016\/07\/11\/top-10-best-luxury-hotels-in-bodrum-turkey\/\">Top 10 most fabulous beach resorts in Bodrum<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/how-to-book-a-hotel\/\">Tips &amp; tricks for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/how-to-book-a-flight\/\">Tips &amp; tricks for buying the cheapest plane ticket<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h5 id=\"itineraries\"><strong>SUGGESTED ITINERARIES\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Because the country is so large and has so much to offer, it is impossible to suggest one itinerary for Turkey but I hereby share with you a convenient two week schedule, based on of my own holidays to Turkey.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Days 1-4<\/strong>: explore Istanbul (recommended hotels: <a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/09\/21\/top-10-best-luxury-hotels-in-istanbul\/\">top 10 best hotels in Istanbul<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Days 5-8<\/strong>: Cappadocia (recommended hotels: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.arianalodge.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ariana Sustainable Luxury Lodge<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.argosincappadocia.com\/EN\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Argos in Cappadocia<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Days 9-15<\/strong>: relax in a beach resort in the Bodrum area (recommended hotels:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2016\/07\/11\/top-10-best-luxury-hotels-in-bodrum-turkey\/\">top 10 most fabulous beach resorts in Bodrum<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more ideas, I suggest the excellent Turkish itineraries as provided by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.roughguides.com\/destinations\/europe\/turkey\/itineraries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Rough Guides<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.frommers.com\/destinations\/turkey\/suggested-itineraries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Frommers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h5 id=\"hotels\"><strong>RECOMMENDED LUXURY HOTELS (+ REVIEWS)<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Consider visiting my top 10 lists\u00a0if you are eager to know how I rank Turkey&#8217;s top hotels based on my own experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2016\/01\/18\/top-10-best-luxury-hotels-in-turkey\/\">Top 10 most fabulous luxury resorts in Turkey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/09\/21\/top-10-best-luxury-hotels-in-istanbul\/\">Top 10 best hotels in Istanbul<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2016\/07\/11\/top-10-best-luxury-hotels-in-bodrum-turkey\/\">Top 10 most fabulous beach resorts in Bodrum<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Below, you find my reviews of hotels in Turkey (with pros, cons, and tips to save money per property).<\/p>\n<ul class=\"display-posts-listing\"><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2016\/07\/13\/review-caresse-a-luxury-collection-resort-spa-bodrum-turkey\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"112\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/caresse-a-luxury-collection-resort-spa.jpg?fit=200%2C112&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"157754\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2016\/07\/11\/top-10-best-luxury-hotels-in-bodrum-turkey\/caresse-a-luxury-collection-resort-spa\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/caresse-a-luxury-collection-resort-spa.jpg?fit=1300%2C730&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1300,730\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"CARESSE, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT &amp;amp; SPA\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;7. CARESSE, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT &amp;amp; SPA&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/caresse-a-luxury-collection-resort-spa.jpg?fit=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/caresse-a-luxury-collection-resort-spa.jpg?fit=1024%2C575&amp;ssl=1\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2016\/07\/13\/review-caresse-a-luxury-collection-resort-spa-bodrum-turkey\/\">Review: Caresse, a Luxury Collection Resort (Bodrum)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/11\/05\/mandarin-oriental-bodrum\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/header-2.jpg?fit=200%2C113&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"mandarin oriental BODRUM\" data-attachment-id=\"78037\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/11\/05\/mandarin-oriental-bodrum\/header-2-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/header-2.jpg?fit=970%2C546&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"970,546\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"mandarin oriental BODRUM\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;v&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;mandarin oriental BODRUM&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/header-2.jpg?fit=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/header-2.jpg?fit=970%2C546&amp;ssl=1\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/11\/05\/mandarin-oriental-bodrum\/\">Hotel review: Mandarin Oriental Bodrum (Turkey)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/09\/30\/review-inside-the-st-regis-istanbuls-most-luxurious-hotel\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"112\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/st-regis-istanbul-turkey.jpg?fit=200%2C112&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"72744\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/09\/30\/review-inside-the-st-regis-istanbuls-most-luxurious-hotel\/st-regis-istanbul-turkey-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/st-regis-istanbul-turkey.jpg?fit=970%2C545&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"970,545\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"st-regis-istanbul-turkey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/st-regis-istanbul-turkey.jpg?fit=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/st-regis-istanbul-turkey.jpg?fit=970%2C545&amp;ssl=1\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/09\/30\/review-inside-the-st-regis-istanbuls-most-luxurious-hotel\/\">Review: St Regis Istanbul, the city&#8217;s most luxurious hotel<\/a><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/09\/23\/jumeirah-palace-bodrum\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/jumeirah-bodrum-palace-exterior10-hero.jpg?fit=200%2C113&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"72535\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/jumeirah-bodrum-palace-exterior10-hero\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/jumeirah-bodrum-palace-exterior10-hero.jpg?fit=970%2C546&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"970,546\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"RESORT OVERVIEW\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;RESORT OVERVIEW&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/jumeirah-bodrum-palace-exterior10-hero.jpg?fit=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/jumeirah-bodrum-palace-exterior10-hero.jpg?fit=970%2C546&amp;ssl=1\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/09\/23\/jumeirah-palace-bodrum\/\">Review: The Bodrum by Paramount Hotels (Turkey)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/01\/14\/kempinski-bodrum\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"112\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/pool.jpg?fit=200%2C112&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"25960\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/01\/14\/kempinski-bodrum\/pool-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/pool.jpg?fit=970%2C545&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"970,545\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"pool\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/pool.jpg?fit=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/pool.jpg?fit=970%2C545&amp;ssl=1\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2015\/01\/14\/kempinski-bodrum\/\">Hotel review: Kempinski Barbaros Bay (Turkey)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2014\/10\/29\/four-seasons-hotel-istanbul-at-the-bosphorus\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/header2.jpg?fit=200%2C113&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"6725\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2014\/10\/29\/four-seasons-hotel-istanbul-at-the-bosphorus\/olympus-digital-camera-782\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/header2.jpg?fit=816%2C459&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"816,459\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;8.7&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SZ-31MR&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1413794434&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.5&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;80&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/header2.jpg?fit=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/header2.jpg?fit=816%2C459&amp;ssl=1\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2014\/10\/29\/four-seasons-hotel-istanbul-at-the-bosphorus\/\">Hotel review: Four Seasons Bosphorus Istanbul (Turkey)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2014\/10\/22\/amanruya\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/amanruya.jpg?fit=200%2C113&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"6597\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2014\/10\/22\/amanruya\/amanruya-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/amanruya.jpg?fit=970%2C546&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"970,546\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"AMANRUYA\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/amanruya.jpg?fit=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/turkeyalwan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/amanruya.jpg?fit=970%2C546&amp;ssl=1\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2014\/10\/22\/amanruya\/\">Hotel Review: Amanruya, Bodrum (Turkey)<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>*** Follow me on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LuxTravelExpert\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/luxurytravelexpert\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LuxuryTravelExpert\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Facebook<\/a>\u00a0for a daily <\/em><em>moment of travel inspiration ***<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Get\u00a0the most\u00a0out\u00a0of your (luxury) trip to Turkey with my travel guide. <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2014\/10\/22\/amanruya\/\" title=\"Hotel Review: Amanruya, Bodrum (Turkey)\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":144981,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_starter_page_template":"","_wpcom_template_layout_category":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-177963","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail"],"yoast_head":"\n<title>A travel guide to Turkey - The Luxury Travel Expert<\/title>\n\n\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/turkey\/\" \/>\n\n\n\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Get the most out of your trip to Turkey with my travel guide: best time to visit, getting around, suggested itineraries, highlights &amp; recommended hotels.\" \/>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A travel guide to Turkey - The Luxury Travel Expert","description":"Get the most out of your trip to Turkey with my travel guide: best time to visit, getting around, 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