ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CLIMATE

Climate of Turkey

Although Turkey is situated in a geographical location where climatic conditions are quite temperate, the diverse nature of the landscape, and the existence in particular of the mountains that run parallel to the coasts, result in significant differences in climatic conditions from one region to the other. While the coastal regions enjoy milder climates, the inland Anatolia plateau experiences hot summers and cold winters with limited rainfall. 

Because of Turkey's geographical conditions, one can not speak about a general overall climate. In Istanbul and around the sea of Marmara (Marmara region) the climate is moderate (winter 4 deg.C and summer 27 deg.C); in winter the temperature can drop below zero. In Western Anatolia (Aegean region) there is a mild Mediterranean climate with average temperatures of 9 deg.C in winter and 29 deg.C in summer. On the southern coast of Anatolia (Mediterranean region) the same climate can be found. The climate of the Anatolian Plateau (Central Anatolian region) is a steppe climate (there is a great temperature difference between day and night). Rainfall is low and there is more snow. The average temperature is 23 deg.C in summer and -2 deg.C in winter. The climate in the Black Sea area (Black Sea region) is wet, warm and humid (summer 23 deg.C, winter 7 deg.C). In Eastern Anatolia and South-Eastern Anatolia there is a long hard winter, where year after year snow lies on the ground from November until the end of April (the average temperature in winter is -13 deg.C and in summer 17 deg.C).Season and Climate in Turkey Turkey is a year-round destination depending on your itinerary. Although the tourist "high season" (with associated higher rates) is from mid-June through mid-September, Spring and Fall are the best seasons to travel. The sun is warm and skies are generally clear. You can expect mild to warm temperatures and some rain during this time. 

What is the best time for traveling to Turkey ...

Below a chart of the best time to travel is summarized based on climate(Swimming,Touring) and rates (High, Low season).

Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean Coasts: 

These coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The swimming season becomes shorter as one travels north. Because of the mountains, the east side of the Aegean and the North side of the Mediterranean could have regionally different climate...

  Average Temperatures for Major Regions (IN CELSIUS)

WHAT TO WEAR
Don't forget your swimming suits. A scarf for mosque visits will be handy,
also since we take our shoes when we enter the mosques and people's homes
and easy slip on and off type of a shoe will be more comfortable. The women
will need to wear a long skirt or long pants in the mosque .Through out the
tour shorts are O.K.

LAUNDRY
You can have laundry done in all the hotels where we have more than one
night stay. We generally arrange for a laundry for the group upon arrival to
Cappadocia .

MEALS
Turkish food has enough variety to meet every one's need. Vegetarian menus
are available. If special diet food is required we can arrange for that
easily.

EXTRA EXPENSES
Virtually everything on the tour is included except for your drinks. Your
daily average expenditure while on the tour will be about US $20 a day per
person (mostly for drinks and souvenirs), though your actual expenditure
could be far lower. People on shoe string budgets have spent as a little as
$100 during the entire tour, while others have spent thousands of dollars (
usually on carpets.)
 
PERSONAL CHECKS
If you want to make a purchase over $100 you can pay with your traveler's
checks . But cashing traveler's checks in a bank is expensive and not always
easy. Do not rely on traveler's checks for cash.
ATMs are available. US$ currency can be used through out the country. If you
need to change US$ to Turkish Lira, .you can do it at the airport very
easily. The rates almost all the same. Personal Checks are honored if you
should do a big purchase and are treated like cash.

CREDIT CARDS
Yes you can use your credit card in many places in Turkey but please remind
your bank or credit card organization that you are going to be in Turkey for
a while. Because for some reason the banks or credit card companies block
the card when they see purchase is made in Turkey

SHOPPING INFORMATION
This tour is quite hectic. So you will have very little time for shopping.
But amazingly people find enough time to shop .One of my groups had shopped
so much in the seconds that we had time for shopping we had a garage sale at
the end of the tour.
If you are interested in buying kilims and or carpets make sure you have
your dimentions and colors with you. Very few leave Turkey with out a Kilim
or a Carpet on these tours

KILIM, CARPET, TOWELS, FELT
However, the Turkish Carpets are so inviting it is very difficult to resist
the temptation. If you already have the bug for the Turkish,Kurdish and
Central Asian KILIMS you will find your self in heaven. If you have not yet
developed a taste ,this might be the place to get aquatinted with that
incurable bug.

PESTEMAL
In the Turkish Bath, the pestamal is used like a wrap around the body. We
will be able to buy the pestemals off from a loom
WOODWORK IMBEDDED WITH MOTHER OF PEARL
Gaziantep is known for this craft which used to be favorite art/craft of the
Ottoman Sultans. Mirrors,jewelery boxes, shelfs,chairs and many more
tempting and carriable pieces hand made in Gaziantep are available in the
souvenier shops.

BRASS WORKS
Very delicately carved trays, pots and shish kebab scewers and statuetts
will be nice Christmas gifts.
MINIATURE PAINTINGS
Replicas of Ottoman paintings are favorite shopping theme for most of
Melitour tour members. They are available only out side the Grand Bazaar in
Istanbul

SILVER JEWELERY
Authentic or replicas of old jewelery are available at few places along the
tour. Especially the jeweler at Ephesus has excellent examples of old
jewelry.
TEXTILES
Material with wood block prints, scarves with OYA,  lace, suzanis