One of the most exciting and intriguing places on Earth is Turkey, this fabulous land that forms part of two continents, Europe and Asia at the same time. The eastern part has got the name Anatolia, with the capital city Ankara. It is situated in the very heart of the country, which has got large plains, surrounded by lacy mountain-tops. Many peaks reach 10,000 feet; the highest point is Mount Ararat at 16,945 feet. The other main attraction of the area, besides the friendly people and good climate, is that is has got lesser tourists than the coastal parts, so the accommodation is cheaper, too – you can find a cheap hotel for £40 already.

Thanks to its central location, you can get everywhere using Ankara as a starting point: just need to rent a car, which costs approximately £39-40 a day, and which you can do right here on Liligo.com, besides searching for low cost flights and cheap hotel as well. You can get the visa at the airport, so don’t have to worry about that before, but it might be a god idea to ask for some vaccination against Hepatitis A and B, and maybe Typhoid as well. The currency in Turkey is Turkish Lira, 100 Lira costs around £40 in an exchange office.

It is also worth taking out a travelling insurance before you start your memorable journey into Ankara, a city with cheap hotels, awesome and beautiful sights. The culture here is based on the Islamic religion, rich in traditions, but it does not mean that European women can’t go walking on the streets without headscarf, or you couldn’t find any alcohol in the restaurants – just be always respectful to the customs and habits of the locals, and enjoy your holiday in this exciting city!

Some things to take care of when planning your trip

To have a holiday without setbacks, it helps a lot to take into consideration what simple measurements can be done that would save you many bad shots.
First of all, always check your documents that will be requested at the entrance of your destination country, consult the competent government agency, and even if you do not leave the country, keep in mind that it is obligatory to carry along your identification papers. Moreover, many accommodations request documents at registration. You may also want to rent a car, so you'll have to take your driver's license with you (get informed about the international driving license, too). Do not forget your travel insurance, your health insurance card (we strongly recommend you to take your health card). There are some countries where a visa is required to be allowed to enter the country at all. But do not worry, in most countries you can enter and stay without visas or special permits for some months (usually 90 days).
A good tactic is to photocopy important documents you might need, so in case they get lost or stolen, it will be really useful. Furthermore, it is also a good idea to carry along two extra passport photos.

Thanks to the Schengen agreement, one can freely cross the borders of ‘Schengen countries’, so EU travellers travelling within this area won’t be asked to identify themselves. Even so, you should always carry along identity documents, because police might ask for identity checks, any time. The following countries form part of the Schengen Agreement:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland (non-EU), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway (non-EU), Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland (non-EU).
EU countries that do not belong to this agreement are: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, UK and Romania. Citizens outside the EU will need to apply for visas and documents to enter the Schengen area. The maximum length of stay for travellers is 3 months.
Bear in mind that some documents and visas are not that easy to get, one has to wait for them. Therefore it is recommended that you plan the travel and learn about these documents well in advance.

In addition to paperwork, when travelling within or outside the borders of the EU or the Schengen area, don’t forget to be informed of the required or recommended vaccinations in certain countries. If you know exactly the health care situation of the country which you plan to travel to, you can avoid many unpleasant surprises.
Again, please note that some vaccines require more than one dose, sometimes with large temporary spaces between them, so it is advisable to act well in advance. Be cautious with consuming food, especially fruits, and for your security, drink bottled water only.
Also, the maximum weight of your luggage is usually around 20 kilos –depending on the airline-, so it might be a good idea to make a list of most necessary things before packing your suitcase. Your passport (and anything fragile) is best to be guarded in your hand luggage that you bring along into the cabin.
Note that you can’t have scissors (or any kind of cutting or stabbing tools) with you, nor liquids of any kind (water, tee, juices and all types of cosmetics), or at least only a small amount.

Unfortunately, sometimes it happens that your luggage gets lost. In this case it might be helpful to have some clothes with you in your hand bag, until your luggage is found.

Further information:

Foreign and Commonwealth office

European Health Insurance card

Healthcare abroad