Greece and Turkey

19 March, 2008 at 1:54 pm

The Greece and Mediterranean Travel Centre Greek Luxury Experience.
Pamper Yourself in Greece and Turkey during 2008.

Kusadasi Sight Seeing Guide

19 March, 2008 at 1:51 pm

Kusadasi is one vibrant place. It teems with liveliness and vigor. It provides awe-inspiring sceneries and plenty of chances to bond with nature. There are also many adventures to take and many more breath-taking vistas to take in. This Kusadasi Sight Seeing Guide will provide you the important things you need to know when it comes to sight-seeing in Kusadasi. With this guide, your experience and visit to the town of loveliness will be more fulfilling!

Within categories are listings of related and useful information. Just click on any of them to find what you are looking for or to see what the options for sight-seeing are available to you. National resources, Kusadasi beaches, aqua parks, ancient sites, and more are listed here.

Kusadasi, Turkey is one place of adventure. You can enjoy yourself in this town by seeing all the beautiful things it possesses. You can also go shopping or food tripping. You can also enjoy the night life the Kusadasi town offers. Best of all though, you must experience the many adventures and thrills offered here in Kusadasi. If you are looking for activities to do in town aside from the common tourist activities, there are still plenty of that around.

This Kusadasi Sport and Activities Guide list plenty of information for you to freely use. Here listed are many sports, adventures, and thrills that can be found in the area. Listed here also are activity options and where to find them. Here you can find diving centers, fitness centers, and more.

Hotel Artic

13 March, 2008 at 11:57 pm

Phone : +90 224 224 55 05

Hotel Artic Hotels, Trip, Tour, Online Hotel Reservations, Rent a Car, Flight Tickets, Turkey Hotels, Turkey Tours …

Hotel Artic:  70 total rooms, 138 total beds, 1 suite, 69 standard rooms. City, historical views are available.
 
 Hotel Room Details:  Direct dial telephone, balcony, minibar, wireless internet, television, split air condition, shower, wc, hair dryer.  Hotel Facilities:  Central heating, tv room, wireless internet, laundry, ironing, dry cleaning, safety box at reception, 24 hrs room service, car parking with fee near facility.
 
 Breakfast and Restaurants:  Half board, breakfast lounge, cafeteria, american bar. 1 A la carte restaurant, 1 open buffet restaurant, 1 indoor restaurant (150 pax). Turkish Cuisine. Meeting & Congress: 1 meeting room (100 min. capacity). Screen, projector, video player, DVD player, television, light system.
 
 Hotel Location:  Uludag 40 km, Mudanya 30 km. Yenişehir Airport 20 km. In city center.

Is Turkey’s shining star getting dim

13 March, 2008 at 11:56 pm

Are alarms ringing in the Turkish economy? Given that two key institutions issued warnings one after the other on the same day, this could be the case

Gila BENMAYOR

  Are alarms ringing in the Turkish economy? Given that two key institutions issued warnings one after the other on the same day, this could be the case.

  The first warning came from the Turkey Trade Union Confederation (TİSK) and the second from the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSİAD) followed.

  First, let’s hear from TISK’s Tuğrul Kudatgobilik:

  “Despite the fact that seven months have passed since the elections, the government has made no move in the economy. 2008 will be difficult for Turkey facing high current deficit and serious debt burden. If the growth rate slows down any more, unemployment will rapidly go up. We are worried that we might lose in 2008,” he said in a TİSK meeting titled “Social Policy Agenda”.

  Elsewhere in Istanbul, TUSİAD was concurrently having a meeting titled “Turkey’s Communication on the Way to the EU Membership: The Case of TUSİAD”.

  The subject was not the economy but communicating Turkey to the European Union (EU). But Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, the TUSİAD chair, answered economy-related questions posed by reporters.

   “We are concerned about the economic data. Inflation figures and employment data are not looking good at all. Internal markets are shrinking and unemployment on rise. We have to wake up.”

  Should be ‘handled with care’:

  Yes, we hear pessimistic voices of economic circles that are getting louder everyday. This is exactly why we have to “handle” Turkish tourism “with care”, creating $18 billion annual revenue as the shining star of the economy.

  Tourism is a good source of income as it brings social and economic developments and opening Turkey to outside world. However, sector players are not happy, to the contrary of what is believed.

  I attended a conference last weekend organized by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) in the Mediterranean city of Antalya.

  Leading tourism agencies along with Culture and Tourism Undersecretary İsmet Yılmaz attended two-day sessions at Ela Quality Hotel. The targets, demands and deficiencies of the sector were discussed and a conclusion report was released

  The tourism sector aims to attract 50 million foreign and 20 million domestic tourists by 2023; jobs for 5 million people and $50 billion income. Why not?

  Sector representatives whom I talked with are men of vision. Especially the successes of the owners of luxurious hotels in Antalya are world-known.

  We can achieve our goals, but Ankara has to lend an ear to some of the demands, deficiencies and flaws we are addressing, they say.

  ‘All inclusive’ system

  The tourism sector has concerns about the stagnant income against a declining number of tourists. Turkey is a country famous for the “all inclusive” system in hotel accommodations.

  In Antalya, specifically, an excessive number of hotels built randomly caused owners to lower prices thus narrowing the profit margin. One of the key conclusions reached at the conference suggests that tourism agencies and hotel owners unite under an “association”, but no legal infrastructure exists for that.

  At this point, all they want is to be heard in Ankara. But Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu as TOBB chair is cold to this suggestion.

  He believes the sector’s problems should be resolved under the TOBB’s roof.

   “If you have problems, I will fight for you,” he says. Why shouldn’t a sector bringing $18 billion annual income and polishing the image of the country have a voice of its own?

  That’s what I am having trouble understanding.

Turkish Riviera

13 March, 2008 at 11:51 pm

For most Europeans, Turkey is known for two things when it comes to holidays: the historical city of Istanbul and the Turkish Riviera, packed with **** and ***** hotels along the coast line. They’ve come to enjoy their mega-cheap holidays in Turkey, and I must admit, the value-for-money is great in Turkey. Together we’ll take a short look at what Turkey has to offer, limiting ourselves to the main attractions.

So, okay, most people either visit the beaches or this one great historical city called Istanbul. What’s so special about Istanbul? Well, quite a lot! First of all, this city is the only city in the world that’s actually located on two continents: Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus is the natural border. There’s also quite a lot of cultural sight-seeing to be done: if you visit this city you get to see some of the world’s most amazing mosks, and in the Grand Bazaar you can shop for great authentic carpets and jackets and less authentic branded clothing. A small hint: do not pay what they ask: it’s only worth half of what they start at!

The Turkish Riviera is famous for beaches and all-inclusive resorts, and that’s about it. Don’t go looking for something special, but it’s great fun for a week of relaxing by the sea…

Thursdays Turkey Special

9 March, 2008 at 1:24 am

Thursdays Turkey Special

Todays special deal is the Delta Beach Club in the small fishing village of Yalikavak just 17km from Bodrum.

This small town is becoming ever more popular as an alternative resort to Bodrum. It still supports a thriving fishing industry and the restaurants around the picturesque harbor display a wide selection of fresh fish every day.
There are many shops in the traffic free centre, and every week the town hosts one of the biggest fruit, vegetable and clothing markets on the Bodrum Peninsula.
The small harbor is surrounded by restaurants and bars, and while there is the occasional disco bar the general atmosphere is quiet, unhurried and relaxed.
Delta Beach Club Hotel is situated in the resort of Yalikavak. It consists of rooms designed to offer guests comfort and services. The hotel amenities include swimming pool, restaurants, bars, fitness centre and parking, among many others. It is a good choice for those looking for relaxing and joyful holidays, located approximately 45 km from the airport.

The deal we are looking at today is based on All Inclusive basis and 3 adults. Inc in the All Inclusive package is the following:
MEALS

Breakfast buffet (Main restaurant: 07:30-10:00)

Lunch buffet (Main restaurant: 12:30-14:00)

Dinner buffet (Main restaurant: 19:30-21:00)

SNACKS 14:00-17:00Afternoon tea: 17:00-18:00

DRINKS Pool bar: 10:00-24:00Beach bar: 10:00-18:00

For 3 adults travelling on the 14th June 2008 on an All Inclusive basis from £339 per person (subject to availability)

Fancy a spring break, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Pisa.

For 2 adults travelling on 5th April from Luton from £225 per person for 3nts you can stay at the Galilei Hotel,

The Galilei Hotel is ideally situated approximately 2 km from the centre of Pisa, 12 km from Lucca and 5 km from the airport. It is a prime location to visit all the historical and cultural sites the charming city has to offer. Guests can plan excursions, visits to the museums or modes of transportation through the hotels reception as well as request baby sitting and bike, car or scooter rental. The hotel also offers a gym, a restaurant and conference facilities that can accommodate up to 900 guests. The Galilei Hotel ensures utmost comfort and convenience. It is a wonderful choice for those wishing to experience the city of Pisa.

Come back tomorrow for our weekend specials.

Food Glorious

9 March, 2008 at 1:22 am

I never realised when I spent all my years out in Turkey how much I had become ‘used to’ the way of life out there. Styles of bread being limited’ very little ready made food. Even tinned beans were hard to find on a regular basis. In the season as there were more tourists and foreigners around in was a little easier but in the winter things just vanished.

I learned how to make typical Turkish meals as a lot of the time there was quite honestly no alternative. What a culture shock I had when I arrived back in the UK. In the ten years Id lived in Turkey Id only really been back once and that was with my husband when we were arranging to come back here.. that was all hotels and eating out so I still wasnt used to the uk.

WOW when I moved here I was so shocked when I went in a supermarket. I wandered around for what seemed like hours just looking at the vast range of products. How many breakfast cereals are there??? Turkey when I first moved out there was nothinbg and even now there are really only cornflakes, coco pops and museili, here wow thousands of them. How many different brands of sauces and mixes. The choice!!! After many months wandering around these shops at the weekend Id almost settled back into the English way of life again and wam my kids arrived for a stay at Christmas. They were three and six when we moved to Turkey so they cant remember anything. I took them into the Asda the second day they were here and it took me hours to get out again! So if you live here dont take things for granted and if youre planning to move across to Turkey then make sure you are armed with brown sauce, salad cream ( these are the two things my children can now not live without!) and all your favourite things which you will have little chance to find over there. Things are changing but slowly slowly…..

When I call my children on a weekend now they dont ask how I am anymore they add things to the list of ‘things I have to bring’ when I go out on holiday in April to see everyone..

Ive booked my ticket and my bag is already half full of tinned beans, brown sauce, salad cream, noodles etc etc etc…. I dont think any of my clothes will be travellin gwith me this time.. Theres no room my bag will be full of necessities!

Kartalkaya

9 March, 2008 at 1:20 am

By MELIH USLU

Kartalkaya is an important winter tourism spot that combines comfort with flawless natural beauty.

Who knows how may cities, towns and villages there are in the world that are named for the `eagle`? But among those in Turkey the most famous is Kartalkaya (`Eaglerock` ) in Bolu province. To be compared with the eagle, which has been a symbol of power, strength and remoteness throughout history, a place must, above all, be regarded as very exceptional. Just like Kartalkaya, which is deemed worthy of being the rocky habitat of eagles.

EASY ACCESS

Along with the ever popular Uludag and Kartepe, the highest peak on the shores of Lake Sapanca, Kartalkaya, which is the nearest to Istanbul of the three, is a major area for winter tourism that combines comfort with flawless natural beauty. With its well-equipped mechanical facilities, modern hotels, ski boutiques, ski trails suitable for winter sports of every kind, and colorful nightlife, Kartalkaya has given Uludag a run for its money in recent years.

Equidistant from Istanbul and Ankara, it is in great demand. This ski resort, located 192 km from Ankara and 262 km from Istanbul in Bolu province, was established on the gently rising slopes of the 2378 meter-high Koroglu Mountains, one of the highest ranges on the Black Sea. Harboring a total of 320 highland plateaus in their foothills, these mountains, whose summits have their heads in the clouds in all four seasons, are named for the legendary Koroglu, an Anatolian-style Robinhood who rebelled against the cruel Bolu Bey, robbing the rich to give to the poor. Home to rare species of flora and fauna, the Koroglu range, whose natural beauty is protected by national park status, plays host to ski buffs in winter and to travelers during the other three seasons of the year, extending its hospitality to botanists, zoologists, amateur fishermen and hang gliding enthusiasts.

SKI TRAILS TOTALLING 35 KM IN LENGTH

The peaks and snow-covered contours of the Bolu Mountains, forests veiled in white, solitary alpine cottages, vast plateaus, burbling springs and mind-boggling mountain vistas flit by in rapid succession on the window of the car that is taking me up to Kartalkaya. Situated to the south of Seben township, which is reminiscent of a miniature Cappadocia with its `fairy chimneys`, rock houses, caves, intriguing canyons and conical rock formations, it is 45 km from Bolu city center. The mountain road, which runs from Seben through Kizik and Sarialan up to the ski resorts, is painstakingly cleared all winter long despite heavy snowfall. Nonetheless, chains are a must if you`re driving up in your own car. If you don`t have a car, there`s no alternative but to hire a taxi, or use one of the shuttle services provided by the resort hotels. We arrive at Kartalkaya following a pleasant drive of about one hour from Bolu city center. It is not unusual to find a sizeable army of skiers all winter long at this ski resort, established in the 1970s as an alternative to Uludag which was hard pressed to meet the growing demand. For hordes of people flock to Kartalkaya, attracted by the prospect of gliding over pristine white snow only a few hours from Ankara and Istanbul.

This ski resort, whose ski trails total 35 km in length, is distinguished from the others by its ideal climate for winter sports, the quality of its snow, and its unblemished natural setting. At the ski resort, which is unaffected by the harsh north winds thanks to the pine forests that cover and protect its slopes, the snow stays dry for a long time, producing a cover eminently conducive to winter sports. And the exposure of the ski trails, at an elevation between 1800 and 2200 m, to direct sunlight is an added boon.

HOTEL OR MOUNTAIN COTTAGE: YOUR CHOICE

Kartalkaya boasts a total of 28 ski trails, 13 of which are suitable for skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, paintball and motor safaris. The longest of the ski trails meeting international standards is 1.5 km. There are ski trails for skiers at every level. Apart from a few, almost all the ski trails face the hotels, enabling you to keep an eye on your loved ones from some of their windows. Kartalkaya has three hotels: two first-class resort villages, the Grand Kartal and the Kartal Otel, and one four-star hotel, the Dorukkaya.

For more modest accommodation, you may choose between the Baysal Motel on Sarialan Plateau 8 km from Kartalkaya, and the Sarialan Dag Evi, a mountain cottage serving tourists on Tatlar Plateau 6 km away. This ski resort is equipped with two international- standard ski-lifts and eight chair-lifts capable of transporting 6000 persons per hour. The longest of them is the 1200 meter-long Koroglu ski-lift for more advanced skiers. Narin ski-lift, which is shorter by 100 meters, serves the ski trails of medium difficulty, while the 1050-meter Doruk ski-lift provides access to the less crowded and easier ski trails.

Several alternative ski trails are available for skiers of every level at the 900-meter Great Chair-lift, which is popular for its impressive views. The Grand Kartal and Kartal Hotel use these ski trails in common and guests of each hotel are entitled to ski here at no extra charge.

Guests of the Dorukkaya may use the hotel`s own ski trails. Kartalkaya, which is bathed throughout the day in brilliant sunshine reflecting off the snow, takes on a more romantic mood in the evening. Following a long, relaxing walk at dusk, I commend myself into the arms of Kartalkaya`s colorful nightlife for the evening.

The discotheques of the Dorukkaya and Kartal Hotels buzz with activity right up to the first light of dawn. And at the Spy Bar, a favorite with young people, dance parties are organized around the fireplace.

Following a rousing night I realize why I am so fond of Kartalkaya, a land of pure white midway between Istanbul and Ankara.

Movenpick Hotel opens in Izmir

4 March, 2008 at 4:02 pm

Mövenpick Hotel opens in Izmir
13 February 2008

An upscale Mövenpick Hotel has officially opened its doors in the vibrant Turkish city of Izmir. The Mövenpick Hotel Izmir is now the Swiss premium group’s third hotel in Turkey, after Istanbul and Bodrum.

The 5-star business hotel, which has been extensively refurbished over the past two years, offers 185 rooms and suites, all perfectly tailored to the needs of business travellers.

The Mövenpick Hotel Izmir is located in the heart of the city of Izmir close to the Aegean Sea. The business and shopping district and the trade fair grounds are within walking distance, with Adnan Menderes International Airport only 18 km away. It is also the ideal starting point for visiting local attractions such as Ephesus and the popular Turkish destinations of Kusadasi, Cesme and Foca.

“Izmir is an increasingly trendy destination and we’re delighted with our hotel’s prime location,” says Alain Rigazzi, General Manager of the Mövenpick Hotel Izmir. “What’s more, the prospect of Universal Expo 2015 will certainly give the city an additional boost.”

The 185 modern rooms, which include 38 executive rooms, 17 junior suites and a royal suite, offer the highest levels of comfort and some captivating views of the square in the front of the hotel and the Aegean Sea. Guests residing on the Executive Floor are able to enjoy additional amenities and access to the Executive Lounge, where free beverages and snacks are served around the clock.

The first-class culinary offer will delight the palate of even the most discerning gourmets. International and Turkish specialities as well as trademark Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts dishes are served under the watchful eye of Swiss Head Chef Andreas Erni. The Margaux Restaurant has a wide range of buffets and meat specialities while the menus of the Breeze Bar and the Swiss Cake Restaurant feature Mövenpick coffee, Swiss chocolate, home-made cakes and the ever popular Mövenpick Ice Cream.

A total of nine modular banquet and conference premises are equipped with the latest audiovisual technology, providing the ideal setting for events of all kind.

The Coral Health Club is the perfect place for sporting activities and relaxation, with an indoor pool, a fitness centre, sauna and steam room. Under professional management the Health Club offers a selection of massages or lessons such as yoga. Guests can then recharge their energy levels at the Vitamin Bar.

“Alain Rigazzi and his team will be most adept at blending Turkish and Swiss hospitality,” says Frank Reichenbach, Regional Manager for Turkey. “We are proud to have a presence here in Izmir with another upscale hotel, alongside those in Istanbul and Bodrum, and to have the opportunity of offering our guests such high standards of quality and service also here.”

“After Istanbul and Bodrum, this is now our third successful opening in Turkey,” says Jean Gabriel Pérès, President & CEO Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. “Turkey remains an extremely attractive expansion objective for us. And besides our project in Ankara, we will no doubt be announcing more hotels soon.”