Local and National News from Turkey
A Must Try in Altinkum
Every year, many tourists decide to explore the cultural delights of Turkey. Walks are a fantastic way to see all that the country has to offer, taking you through ancient ruins and bustling towns and along spectacular coastlines. Wherever your walk takes you, there are a few cultural experiences that you simply cannot help but encounter during your time in the country.
Here are three of the best, which will provide you with experiences you’ll be recounting to your friends back home for weeks to come.
Turkish Baths (Hamams)
Turkish baths, or hamams as they are known locally, are found all over Turkey. Walks are a great way to see the country, but they can leave you tired and in need of some rejuvenation. So what better way to get over your stiff joints than by a trip to a Turkish bath? In the hamam you can relax in the warm, steamy rooms and you can even experience a number of different massages. These can include a foam massage, an exfoliating massage and a luxurious oil massage. Hamams are part of the daily routine for many locals, and you may well find you get quite fond of them as well. Don’t miss out on visiting a hamam when on a walking holiday in Turkey. Walks may be the best way to see the country, but it’s just as important to treat yourself to a bit of luxury every once in a while.
Turkish Doner Kebabs
Turkey is, for some, the home of kebabs – and not the kind of kebabs that you are likely to find in some late-night joint in a town centre in England. Turkish kebabs are of the highest quality, and will provide you with a culinary treat to remember long after your trip to Turkey. Walks that lead through any town or city are certain to take you past a restaurant or bar serving kebabs. And even if you don’t spot them, just follow your nose; the wonderful spicy aroma wafting out into the street will lead you straight to them.
Kebabs are different all over the country, with most regions having their own specific style. Whether a SiÅ? (shish) kebab, Adana kebab or the well-known (but entirely different) Doner kebab, you are going to give your taste buds a treat when you try any kebab in Turkey.
Turkish Coffee Tea House
In Turkey, walks will allow you to experience both the countryside and the bustling cities alike. But wherever you decide to go, you will never find yourself far from a coffee house selling strong Turkish coffee. Coffee is an important part of daily life for Turkish people. It still plays a role in many rituals involving prayer and marriage, although not as much as it once did. It is made from a fine powder and the resulting drink is much stronger than you may be used to. Cardamom is sometimes added, and the distinctive taste is something you won’t forget in a hurry.
When you head to Turkey, walks of any type will lead you past one of these coffee houses sooner or later. And if you feel yourself getting tired during your walk, there is no better remedy than a shot of hot strong Turkish coffee to restore your energy levels.
Turkish Raki
Although Raki which is a distilled alcoholic beverage strongly aromatized with lots of anise, it can be consumed as a cocktail, but more commonly it goes best with cold hors d’oeuvres. For example; Russian salad, garlic sauce, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, cold-cuts, fried pastries, cold yogurt soup, brains, shrimp, mussels vinaigrette are followed by entrees such as shish kebab, mixed grilled meats, steak, fish (pan fried, grilled, in the oven) and finally fruit. The type of fruit does not meter. It can be any kind of fruit depending on the season. Especially in Turkey, melon and feta cheese are the best combination for accompanying raki..
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didimtoday
Rising Star Altinkum
Last month it was revealed that some 80% of the estimated 67,000 tourists to Altinkum and Wider Didim last year were British. It is therefore little wonder that Altinkum property has proven to be one of the hottest sellers with British buyers in the past 3 years, and that sales have continued even throughout the dark days for overseas property seen over the last 12-15 months.
Altinkum property has made quite a name for itself in the past few years for offering some of the best property in the low-price bracket. Altinkum properties for sale start from around £17,000 for a 1 bedroom apartment purchased off the plan, with 2 bedroom units in the top coastal resorts costing no more than £50-£70k -- again, off the plan.
Altinkum really shot to fame in mid-2008, when the first hints of a crisis became apparent in the UK, and, while people still wanted to buy a summer or winter holiday home with their savings, they were deciding to spend a much smaller chunk of those savings on the dream. This caused increasing demand for Altinkum property as people baulked at paying anything over £50k for a 2 bedroom unit.
The figures released by Didim Tourism Association last month revealed that 67,290 foreign tourists had stayed in Didim in the 2008/09 season, accommodated in the 5-star hotels and holiday villages with a total capacity of 5,829 beds, in the 1, 2 and 3-star hotels with a total capacity of one 1,652 beds and in the lodging houses with a total capacity of 11,253 beds.
Chairman of the Association Dennis Attaby said: "The majority were British. The rest were German, French, Dutch and a small number of Russians. "We will continue encouraging investments that will increase the number of tourists who visit the resort. Two more 5-star hotels and a golf course will open in 2011." Altinkum has then seen tourism from Britain increase so rapidly, because of the euro's magnificent rise against the pound.
This meant that Britons could no longer have a really cheap holiday in Spain, and Turkey saw tourism from Britain grow rapidly because of this. Of course the currency exchange reality only accelerated the growth that had been seen in previous years, from 20% to 25% according to Association for British Travel Agents' predictions.
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didimtoday
Turkish Delight For Manchester United
Manchester United today launched it’s new partnership with Turkish Airlines, the club's official airline partner… United players Wayne Rooney, Edwin van der Sar, Nani, Ji Sung Park and Darren Fletcher were at Old Trafford alongside the Club's Chief Executive David Gill, Director of Commercial Richard Arnold, Turkish Airlines Chairman Hamdi Topcu, and Co – Chairman Cemal Sanli to reveal details of the sponsorship.
The three-and-a-half year deal will see the airline's fleet livery carry the Manchester United crest as well as other iconic club and player imagery on the airline's fuselage. Turkish Airlines, Europe's fourth-largest Airline will transport the Manchester United team and officials on their travels for Champions League matches and other tournaments and training camps throughout Europe and the World.
The airline will receive a number of rights from the deal including perimeter board advertising at Old Trafford and consumer promotions using the club's intellectual properties.
David Gill said: "The deal with Turkish Airlines is yet another example of the global appeal of Manchester United and we welcome them to the Club, already they are proving to be a dynamic and committed partner which will no doubt allow us to further develop the reach of Manchester United and for Turkish Airlines to grow their customer base in Manchester and around the World."
Richard Arnold said: "We have been impressed with Turkish Airlines, who are a creative and ambitious company, they have very exciting plans to make the most of the comprehensive sponsorship rights their partnership with the Club brings and we are looking forward to working closely with them.
Hamdi Topcu said: "It is a great honour for Turkish Airlines to be associated with Manchester United as the team's official airline sponsor and I am confident the partnership will make an excellent contribution to our brand value.
Like Manchester United we aim to be the very best in everything we do with first class quality of service in all aspects of our business. We are very excited about the commercial opportunities that the sponsorship will offer the airline working alongside one of the most famous football clubs in the world." Turkish Airlines was formed in 1933 and today flies to 120 destinations worldwide, transporting over 25 million passengers.
The airline, which is a Star Alliance Member and operates the four star cabin service in all classes within Europe, has recently announced plans to grow its fleet to 196 aircraft within the next five years.
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didimtoday
Flights To Turkey On The Increase
While many operators are cutting flights due to the credit crunch the number of airlines flying to Turkey is increasing.
If you want to buy a second home abroad you need to make sure you can visit regularly and the closest airport is not likely to close or cut the number of flights operating from the UK.
As several airlines feel the effects of the credit crunch they are cutting the number of flights and some are going out of business altogether as fuel costs rise, making it harder for people from the UK to reach their second homes abroad.
However, Turkey is one destination which seems to have benefited from an increase in flights this year.
Pegasus Airlines, Turkey's second largest airline, is currently in talks to buy more Boeing aircraft. They are currently flying five days a week between the UK and Turkey, but with the purchase of 24 new aircraft they are increasing the frequency of flights and planning new routes for the airline.
Roberts Nixon, operations director UK for Turkey property specialists Nirvana International, said: "In Turkey we are extremely lucky that flights are increasing. However it is essential properties are close to well-served, established routes into international airports. Companies who build large conurbations in remote locations tend to draw airlines if there is a good holiday and rental business in operation but that is often not sufficient for them to keep the services going year-round. In Turkey we have a lot of people who need to visit throughout the year as the summers are hot and the mountains provide excellent skiing in the winter."
easyJet is also launching flights from Gatwick to Istanbul on December 12 and several airlines already run flights to airports in established holiday hotspots such as Dalaman, Bodrum and Antalya. There are also flights from Istanbul to several regional airports.
The strong Euro is currently working in Turkey's favour and many Brits are now choosing to take holidays or buy homes there. They are attracted by the beautiful coastline, friendly locals, and superb mix of eastern and western cultures.
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Homesworld
Property Hotspots- Altinkum and Didyma
The main attraction in Didyma is the ancient ruin of the oracular sanctuary of Apollo.A shrine has stood on this site since the 8th century BC. In 300BC, work began on constructing the biggest temple in the Greek world. Building continued well into the 2nd century AD, but it was never completed. Even so, just walking around the ruins gives you a real sense of the sheer scale of the place.
Just five kilometres to the south lies the busy resort of Altinkum. Up until a couple of years ago,Altinkum was a small town, but it’s fast gaining in popularity, particularly among British package holidaymakers. The length of its golden sandy beach is jam-packed with hotels, and with restaurants offering rather dubious ‘English’ cuisine.
It has only recently become possible to buy property in Altinkum, and although relatively cheap properties are easy to come by at the moment, prices are booming to meet demand. Some homes have risen in value by as much as 50% in the last year. A top-notch, three-bedroom semi-detached property in Altinkum costs around TRY195,500, while a decent sized two-bedroom apartment could be yours for as little as TRY90,000.
Altinkum is a favourite with British, Dutch and Turkish tourists looking for a beach holiday, and rentals are guaranteed during the summer months. This is an excellent area for investment, with a large amount of development and prices expected to rise.
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Homesworld