A Guide to Going on Vacation to Turkey

Not a lot of Americans choose to vacation in Turkey. According to Turkey's Ministry of Tourism, of the almost 20 million tourists who did travel to Turkey in 2006, only 2% of them came from the United States. But if you're interested in traveling to a new vacation spot, Turkey is going to be easier on your wallet than Europe or Israel. In this article, I'll cover how you can get to Turkey, the best places you can stay, and something that hiking lovers can try when they want a break from sight-seeing the ruins or lounging around at the beach.

How to Get There

Despite the many Turkish companies who will offer guided tours to the country's historic and biblical areas, the infrastructure is so well-developed and easily navigable that independent travelers can easily see the sites on their own. But if you want to go with a tour company, one that specializes in guiding American visitors is tourguidesinturkey.com.

U.S. carriers like Delta Air Lines offer direct flights from New York to Instanbul. Turkish Air and Pegasus Air, Turkey's two leading airlines, offer connecting flights to Bodrum, Antalya, and Izmir. At these coastal cities, vacations can relax and splash around on the beach or easily reach historic and biblical sites.

You can also get rental cars at coastal airports in Turkey, and don't worry about the highway and street signs: they're in English. And you don't have to get used to driving on a different side of the road, either, because the Turks drive on the same side as we do in the U.S. You'll also have plenty of ATMs, gas stations, and Starbucks to choose from in case you need cash, gasoline, or a driver pick-me-up.

Places You Can Stay

Turkey's third largest city, Izmir, isn't as picturesque as the rest of the coast, but it's only an hour long driving distance from Ephesus (which is located north from Izmir). In Izmir, you can stay at the Hilton hotel or at one of the many locally run business hotels like Ege Palace.

If you want to stay at a summer resort for the nightclubs and beaches, Bodrum is the place to be. It's a two hour drive away from Ephesus (located south of Bodrum). You can get all-inclusive packages at the large hotel chains here, but smaller boutique inns are plentiful here too. The family-owned Antique Theater Hotel is highly recommended with it's lovely views of the harbor and a Crusades-era castle!

A Trail For Hikers

If you want to skip or take a break from investigating ruins or soaking up rays on the beach, you can try Turkey's St. Paul Trail. It's a 312 miles long hike that'll take you through the Turkish hinterlands and climbs to over 6,5000 feet through the Tarsus mountains. The trail starts at sea level near St. Paul's hometown of Tarsus. You'll pass the remains of Roman aqueducts and roads, mountain streams in forests, and sleep in village bed-and-breakfasts.

If you want to know more information about traveling to and touring Turkey, you can always visit the Turkey Ministry of Tourism site online.