Holiday in Turkey / Package v. Independent

TURKEY

Full country name: Republic of Turkey

Area: 779,452 sq km

Population: 68.1 million

Capital City: Ankara

People: Turks (85%), Kurds (12%), 3% other Islamic peoples, Armenians, Jews

Language: Turkish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek, Kurdish

Religion: Muslim

Time Zone: GMT+2

Dialling Code: 90

Weights & measures: Metric

Member of EU: No

Holiday in Turkey / Package v. Independent

If you are looking for a reasonably priced and carefree holiday in Turkey, a package holiday is your best option. In the past few years, British tour operators have begun to recognize Turkey's great potential as a holiday destination, and package holidaymakers can choose now from a wide range of holidays for every type and every budget. The holidays on offer range from two weeks in a busy resort such as Antalya to an away-from-it-all break in an unspoilt spot in the Aladaglar Mountains. Tour operators are increasingly offering destinations in inland regions such as Cappadocia, so you mustn't assume that a package holiday automatically means a Majorca-type experience. And there is no reason why a package holiday should confine you to one resort, as many operators now offer two-centre packages, sailing holidays and touring holidays in Turkey.

The all-inclusive cost of a package holiday is hard to beat for an independent traveller, unless you are a student (under twenty-two), in which case you qualify for an incredible 60 per cent discount on international flights by Turkish Airlines (THY) on producing an International Student Identity Card. Even then, independent travel in Turkey requires a good deal of pre-planning to ensure that all runs smoothly, and you'll have to be prepared for certain discomforts and hassles when travelIing in the more remote regions. While accommodation is reasonably cheap outside the main resorts, it is of ten basic (at best), and good campsites and hostels are fairly thin on the ground.

There are, however, advantages to travelIing independently in Turkey, as in any country, particularly if you enjoy the challenge of going it alone. You will be your own boss and not one of a crowd of tourists, and you will have a far better chance of sampling Turkish life as it really is. Turkey has a comprehensive public transport system and you should have no problems gening around quickly and cheaply (except in some parts of eastern Anatolia). Eating is also very cheap and you can eat well even on the lowest budgel.