Passport & Visa

A passport with at last 3 months validity left on it is required for entrance to Turkey.  Be sure that the name on your passport and your airline tickets are identical.  Return ticket required.  Visa can be obtained upon arrival for all EU countries at a cost of £10.00 or €15.00.  Requirements may be subject to change at short notice, contact the relevant authority to check before travelling.  A good site for information is Go To Turkey and click on their "tips for travellers" link.

Post Offices

Post offices are easily identified by their bright yellow facades and PTT signs.  The main post offices are open Monday-Saturday 8:30-17:30.  Postal fees fluctuate according to inflation rates, though the cost of mailing postcards and letters is minimal.  Post airmail to Europe takes 3 days.

Transportation

Road:  There is an extensive road development and maintenance programme. 

Car Hire:  Available in all main towns.  Two car hire companies in Kalkan are Adda Cars + 90 242 844 3610  and Xpress +90 242 844 2127.

Buses:  Local 'Dolmus' travel is inexpensive.

Taxis:  Recognised by their yellow colour.  The fare shown on the metre reads according to the distance travelled.

Rail:  Fares are comparatively inexpensive, although the rail network is limited.

Coach:  Many companies provide services between major cities.

Money

Currency:  New Turkish Lira (YTL)

Exchange:  Money can be exchanged at all post office branches and banks.  Major credit cards are accepted.  Travellers cheques can be easily exchanged.  There are two ATM machines in Kalkan, Denizbank & Koc Bank.

Phone System

Country code:  90

Public telephones are conveniently located throughout the country.  Pay phones are available operated with telephone cards.  Telephone cards of 30,60, 100 and 120 units are sold at the post offices, small markets and bookstores.  Click for more details of phone numbers for local services.

Dialling Information • if you call in the same area code as you, dial the 7-digit telephone number directly • if calling to another area code dial 0, followed by the 3-digit area code and then the 7-digit phone number • if calling internationally, dial 00, country code, area code and telephone number •

Time

Turkish standard time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2)

Electrical Appliances

Voltage:  220 volts AC, 50 Hz in all parts of Turkey.  A standard two-prong adaptor is required.

Inoculations

Please refer to your local GP.  If staying a resort area and not planning on extended travel, no inoculations are necessary.

Medicine & Health Services

Medical facilities are up to date and equipped to cope with the majority of medical problems.  Kalkan has a number of private doctors and dentists and Fethiye a variety of private hospitals. Health care is not covered under the E111 as in other countries and private health cover is necessary. However the standard of private care is excellent and generally significantly cheaper than European private hospitals.  Doctors in Kalkan and in Fethiye are used to dealing with foreign patients and some hospitals have a special foreigner liaison officer to help with any problems.

Food & Drink

Water is untreated and not safe to drink.  Drink only bottled water.

Shopping

Turkey is known by many as a shopper's paradise.  In virtually every instance, carpets, fine leather, jewellery, gold and silver are a better buy in Turkey than in other parts of Europe.

Photography

Do not take photographs of anything connected with the military.

Villa in Kalkan Turkey -  Click here for more about Turkey