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| Culinary and Cultural Tour of Turkey |
| Frequently Asked Questions About Our Tour In Turkey |
Q. What level of physical activity should I anticipate? A. There is a moderate amount of walking. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. The weather may be hot, pack accordingly. The hotel in Istanbul has an elevator; in Capadoccia a labyrinth of narrow passageways and curved stone stairways lead to unique rooms. Q. What is the food like? A. In general, we will be having three full meals each day. Breakfast will be buffet style including fruit, fruit juice, an assortment of bread and cakes, cheese, olives, figs, yogurt, coffee and tea.. The meat is typically lamb. Seafood , fruits and vegetables will depend on the season. No pork or pork products will be served. Q. Are the cooking classes hands-on? A. There is hands-on and demo in the classes. Q. Will I have a choice at meal-times? A. Yes, there is always a variety of food available. Q. I have food allergies or sensitivities? A. Please advise us in advance and we will let you know if the tour is appropriate for you. Q. I don't drink alcohol? A. Water and soft drinks are available. Alcoholic beverages are provided as listed on the itinerary. Tea is available as is Turkish coffee. Q. Turkey is an Islamic country, what should I expect? A. Yes, Turkey is over 95% of the Islamic faith. However, it is a republic with a history of religious tolerance. Our tour takes place during the holy month of Ramadan. The faithful will avoid eating and drinking during the hours between sunrise and sunset. After sunset the restaurants fill up with families breaking the fast, a festive atmosphere is apparent. However, restaurants, cafes, etc. are open all day. The call to prayer will be heard 5 times each day with the first at sunrise. When visiting a mosque a head covering and wrap type skirt is required for women (some mosques will provide these coverings); no bared shoulders for men or women, no short pants Q. Is there free time? A. . Yes, it depends on the day's schedule. Q. Is Turkey a safe place to visit? A. Yes, but one should take the usual precautions that you would take anywhere. Pickpocketing is the most common form of crime. Keep passport, money, credit cards, etc. in a secure carrier, not in a rear pocket. You may be approached on the street by overly friendly types who speak English and offer you various services; do not engage them, be firm and walk on. Shoe shine men have an unsavory reputation and should be avoided. Q. What is our transportation like? A. Transport will be by air-conditioned motor coach with fully licensed and insured drivers. Q. Who will be accompanying us? A. Sue Baldassano and Jeff Rickin of To Grandmother's House We Go and our Turkish host will accompany the group. For our visit to historic sights in Istanbul we will have a private, licensed guide. Our host is trilingual Turkish-English-French. Q. I am traveling alone, do you arrange for a roommate? A. We do not arrange for roommates. There is a single supplement charge. Q. I will be arriving early or staying on after the tour, can you help me with accommodation and airport transfer arrangements? A. We can assist you with these arrangements. Q. What is not included in the tour price? A. Airfare to and from Turkey, travel insurance, tips to B&B personnel and drivers and any meals or alcoholic beverages not specifically listed in the itinerary. Q. Is airfare included? What time should I plan to arrive on the first day? A. Airfare is not included. Arrive as close to noontime as possible on August 16th this will give you enough time to settle in before the tour begins. The tour will begin from the hotel at about 2pm. Q. What is the best way to get to Istanbul from the U.S.? A. There are non-stop flights from New York, JFK Airport. The flight is overnight, arriving about 9:30am Istanbul time. Many airlines serve Attaturk Airport from points in Europe with connections to the U.S. Q. Do you provide transfers to and from the airport in Istanbul? A. Yes, but only at 12Noon on Monday, August 16th from Attaturk Airport and to Attaturk on Monday, August 23rd (one run only, time to be determined). For arrivals at other times we will provide instructions for the best transfer method from airport to hotel, a trip of about one-half hour. Q. Should I purchase travel insurance? A. Yes, we advise you to protect your tour investment with insurance. Q. What is there to buy and bring back from Turkey? A. We have brought back spices, nuts, ceramics. Of course, there are rugs, leather goods, fabrics, jewelry and many other items in the bazaars. Q. What clothing should I bring? A. Casual dress is always appropriate. Bring good, broken in walking shoes and an all weather jacket. The sun is strong, protective hat and clothing is recommended. Q. What is the weather like in August? A. August Avg. High 82.6 °F Avg Low 65.3 °F Avg. Rainfall 1.00 in Q. What about phone and internet service? A. Hotel in Istanbul has wireless in rooms; in Cappadocia WI-fi is available in a separate room. Q. What is the electric service like in Turkey? A. The rooms have European style outlets. An adapter is necessary for U.S. style plugs. Q. How do I obtain Turkish lira? A. ATMs are the best way; traveler's checks are discouraged as they require a bank visit. Most shops will accept Euros and dollars but the exchange rate may not be the best. Q. What credit cards can I use? A. Visa is most widely accepted. Q. Do you accept credit cards for tour payment? A. No, a personal check is acceptable. Read the Terms and Conditions carefully before sending your deposit. |
| Click below for more information on our Tour to Turkey |
| Itinerary for August 16 - 23, 2010 |
| Accommodation in Turkey |
| Terms/Condtions |
| Our Teachers in Turkey |
| Frequently Asked Questions |
| Be sure to check out our Sicilian Treasures tours! |
| F o r more information: Phone: 718-768-4662 or 718-541-2091 e-mail: info@tograndmothershousewego.com |
