Guide to buying property in Turkey
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Turkey is a major tourist country and is well served by international flights. Antalya airport is the main International airport serving the Western Mediterranean while the new airport at Gazipasa also serves the same area and is only 30 minutes’ drive away from the centre of Alanya.
The airports of Bodrum, Izmir and Dalaman not only serve their own respective areas, but also the various other resorts on the Mediterranean/Aegean coasts.
Charter flights commence each year in the spring and operate through to November. Outside this main season there are direct scheduled services to some airports, with Antalya airport open all year round for direct international flights. Such flights are operated from the UK by Turkish Airlines, British Airways and Cyprus Turkish Airlines.
The alternative is to fly to Istanbul and make an internal flight direct to the other airports using Turkish Airlines. Internal flights in Turkey are relatively cheap.
DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM UK AIRPORTS TO MOST TURKISH AIRPORTS:
Heathrow, Stansted, Belfast, Manchester, Humberside, East Midlands, Luton, Birmingham, Glasgow, Bristol, Exeter, Newcastle
The most frequent and popular form of transport in Turkey is coach. These air-conditioned, intercity coach services are modern, comfortable, relatively inexpensive, and a quick way of travelling.
Even modest sized towns have a bus station with its own tickets office where you can also make reservations. Only one major coach operator offers an online reservations and information service, so it is something of a challenge to make advance reservations from the UK, unless you speak Turkish. www.varan.com.tr/english.
Local bus services, and the ‘Dolmus’ services, operate within every town, and between local villages. The ‘Dolmus’ service - usually a minibus, are shared taxis, and sometimes even a large car. These operate along set routes, setting down and picking up passengers along the route. You pay the driver a set fare, depending on how far you travel. Incidentally, the name ‘Dolmus’ actually means ‘ stuffed’ - as they wait until they are full before setting off!
Just like UK taxis, they have a meter, which you should ensure is turned on at the beginning of your journey. As they are bright yellow it is easy to spot a taxi in Turkey. If you wish to travel outside normal town or city boundaries it is best to agree a fixed rate in advance.
Whilst it is not a legal requirement, it is advisable to carry an International Driving Licence, or carry a translation of your UK licence. You should carry your licence with you in the car at all times, together with a translation of it, and your passport and insurance documents.
In Turkey you drive on the right, but care must be taken as some Turkish drivers tend to rely on their horn and may sometimes overtake on the inside. Many of the roads are not up to UK standards. However, outside the major cities traffic is very light and driving around can be a really pleasant experience.
The speed limit on highways is 120 km per hour, with 50 km per hour in built-up areas and 90 km per hour on country roads. You can bring your own car to Turkey for up to six months, but you will need an International Green Card from your insurance company, together with documentation proving you own your vehicle.
Whilst the majority of the population is Muslim, drinking and driving is not unknown here and there are drink and drive laws to be aware of.
Petrol stations are located on most main highways, are often open 24 hours a day and many have restaurants and other facilities attached. Unleaded petrol and diesel are normally available everywhere.