Author Archives: tur

Telephone Calling in Turkey

Country Code of Turkey is 90. A call to Turkey would have the following dialing format: Your Access Code for international dial + 90 + area code (City-town code)+ telephone number. Example: incase you need to dial 664 78 98 in European side of Istanbul you dial ; Your Int Access code + 90 + 212 + 664 78 98

Calling International From Turkey:
The International Access code in Turkey is 00. To call your home town dial: 00 + your country code + your area code + telephone number. You also can call with operator assistance. By dialing 115 you can reach to Turk Telekom’s international operator. Register the call details to operator. The operator will provide the connection for you.

Calling Intercity In Turkey:
The Intercity Access code in turkey is 0. To call some one in another city dial 0 + the area code + telephone number. You also can call with operator assistance. The 3 digit number 131 will take you to Turk Telekom’s operator. Register the desired telephone number and other details. Operator will place the call for you and will connect you to the requested number.

Calling in the city:
Just dial the 7 digit number. The only exception is in Istanbul. The Asian side (216) and the European side (212) do have different area codes and in case you call from the European to the Asişan side of Istanbul (or visa versa) you should dial the area code also .

Free Numbers:
00-800- Home Country Direct Calls can be made from any private or public telephone.

Calling From Your Hotel:
As the telephone charge would be more expensive from normal , it is not much advised to call from hotels. we advice you to inform about the minute tariff before calling. Specially in deluxe five stars properties these tariffs may be above expectation. Most of the hotels do have direct call system. After a special access number (you could learn this from your reception, concierge or info kit in your room) you should dial the country code, area code and number. Incase there is no direct dial , the operator of the hotel would assist you for telephone calls.

Public Pay Phones:
Public telephones are conveniently located throughout the country. They do work with telephone cards of 30,60 and 100 counter. For a short international call one 30 counter card might be enough. You could buy these cards in yellow signed PTT (post) buroes, grocers or street sellers near the telephone and in some hotels from the concierge.

Calling: Lift the telephone, select the requested language using the put-ons on the screen. Some telephones may be locked for that moment, if you read on the screen “only for emergency calls” , than you could not make a call from that telephone, just look for another one. Place the card into the slot to the direction arrow mentioned on the card. When a beeping sound is heard, dial the number. During the conversation if you hear a beep, that is to remind you that your credits are about to run out. You will see the number of remaining units flashing and the message “Change Card” on the display. When you see this message press the “Card change” button and insert the new card. The charge will vary according the length of the call and the distance to the called number. During weekdays from 18:00 to 06:00 and on weekends calls are comparatively cheaper than the normal times as one can speak longer with the same amount of phone credit.

Cellular Phones:
In Turkey there are four GSM operators, Turkcell (12 millions), Telsim (5 millions), Aria (1 million) and Aycell (500 thousand) do share the market. You could use your own cellular by selecting a local net work (Telsim or Turkcell) or could rent a cellular phone. Please contact our assistance department for renting a cellular phone.

Emergency & Service Numbers

Emergency Numbers
Fire 110
Emergency 112
Police 155
Gendarme 156
Coast Security 158
Forest Fire 177

These numbers are valid anywhere in Turkey and put you immediately in contact with the Turkish emergency services. Calling these services are offered free of charge, 24 hours a day 365 days a year. If you use a card operated public phone, you can directly dial the emergency number without inserting the card.

Public and Social Services Numbers
Traffic 154 Psychological Depression 182
Tourism 170 Women & Social Services 183
Security 174 Health 184
Consumer 175 Water Breakdown 185
Labor Exchange 180 Electricity Breakdown 186
Environment 181 Gas Breakdown 187
Tax Information 189 Funeral Services 188
Some Useful Special Numbers
International Operator 115
Dial 115 and let the operator place the international call for you
Toll Operator 131
To place national calls between different areas via the operator, dial 131
Directory Assistance 118
In order to get phone number, call 118, and let the operator help you
Paging Operator 133
If you wish to send a message to someone who owns a pager, you can directly dial the pager and send your short notation message, or, you can call 133 and let the operator help you

Postal service: Turkey’s postal services are comparatively organized and efficient. All post offices bear the distinctive yellow PTT sign (Post, Telephone, Telegrams) and are open between 9:00 AM to 12:00 and 1:30 to 5:00 PM.in weekdays. Larger and central offices are open from 08:00-24:00.Letters, Post cards and open enveloped post cards do have different tariffs. You could post your cards and letters from the Post offices with machinery stamps or Euse regular stamps and send them via the reception of your hotel or post office mail boxes.

e-Mail:
The usage of electronic mail and internet is increasing rapidly in Turkey. The usage of internet is around 10 millions (1/6 of the population) . You could use the line in your room for your laptop connection, or use a computers which has internet access in your hotel. Five and fours stars properties do have a business center or computers with internet access, just ask assistance from the reception of your hotel. Another possibility is the Internet cafes where you would pay a hourly fee to use internet. As soon you have an internet accessed computer you could also send mails through Yahoo mail service.

Fax:
Fax messages can be sent from major post offices, or from the hotel.

Cable TV, Satellite:
Most hotels do use satellite systems to view these channels , also the cable TV of the Turk telekom and Digiturk cable are two main cable systems that are widely used in city centers . There are also some coded pay TV systems like Stardigital Cine5 and Digiturk.

Vegetation in Turkey

The plant cover in Turkey is a mixture of Mediterranean, Southeastern and Eastern vegetation. Higher elevations were generally covered by oak, which were for firewood.

Erciyes Ski Resort, Turkey

erciyes ski center

Erciyes Ski center has suitable conditions for summer skiing, ski touring and heli skiing and is equipped with 2 chair lifts and 2 T-bars. Qualified skiing instructors and equipment for hire are available. The Resort has first aid facilities and a rural clinic. Erciyes Ski Center is located on the extinct volcanic mountain of Erciyes, which is east of Cappadocia and south of the town of Kayseri.

The distance from the center to Kayseri is 25 km and takes 30 minutes by car. The nearest airport is a 45-minute drive away. The duration of the skiing season is 150 days a year. The altitude in the skiing area of Erciyes is 2200 3100 m and the most suitable skiing conditions are between 20 November and 20 April. The average snowfall is 2 m in normal winter conditions. The type of snow is generally “powdery ” This center has suitable conditions for summer skiing, ski touring and heli skiing and is equipment with 2 chairlifts and 2 T-bars.

Qualified skiing instructors and equipment for hire are available. The Resort has first aid facilities and a rural clinic. The slopes and mechanical equipment are under surveillance of experts throughout the season. Accommodations can be booked directly
Note: In foggy conditions it is essential especially for amateur skiers not to wander outside the marked slopes.

Tourism in Turkey

Another considerably large sector of the Turkish economy is tourism. As a country of uniquely beautiful natural assets and vast historical treasures, Turkey constitutes a perfect center for touristy activities. There exists every kind of opportunity for every type of holiday maker, due to the richness of the land with respect to its geographical and climatic characteristics granted by nature. With its enormously diverse natural figures, ranging from high mountains to extensive coasts, from wide green forests to broad lakes, this country possesses great resources in the field of tourism.

Consequently, investments in modern and large capacity touristy establishments, are being made to put this potential into good use. Hotels, motels and holiday villages of high standards, offer services in all touristy areas with their high quality facilities.

The establishment of an infrastructure for the training of qualified tourism personnel constitutes another investment area, and training programs are carried out at the newly established tourism centers serving this purpose and increasing the number of professional personnel.

As a result of all these processes, Turkey has achieved the goal of providing the high level services suitable to the needs and wishes of foreign tourists. With the promotion policies being pursued and further arrangements in the sector, tourism will continue to rapidly increase its share in the Turkish economy.

Sarikamis Ski Resort, Turkey

sarikamis ski center

Sarikamis ski center is located near Sarikamis, 60 km, from Kars in Eastern Turkey The nearest airport is 50 km away. The duration of the skiing sea son is 120 days a year. The altitude in the skiing area of Sarikamis is 2200 2634 m and covered by pine forest. The most suitable skiing conditions are between 20 December and 20 March. The average snowfall is 1.5 m in normal winter conditions. Sarikamis and the surrounding area have suitable conditions for Alpine skiing, ski touring and cross country skiing.

This center is equipped with 2 chairlifts and I T bar. Qualified skiing instructors and equipment for hire are avail- able. The center has first aid facilities and medical facilities. The slopes and mechanical equipment are under surveillance of experts. Accommodations can be booked directly.

In the Eastern Anatolia Region and 55km southwest of Kars, the Sarikamis Ski Resort is on the Camurlu mountain at an altitude of 2634m, and is renowned for its good quality of snow. The Cibiltepe, with an altitude of 2500m, is an area of wonderful natural beauty and has five ski runs, the longest of which is 12 km long. It is covered with crystallised snow and therefore is very challenging.

Arrival: Sarikamis Ski Resort is 60km south-west of the centre of Kars, and 50km from the airport. It is also accessible from Erzurum airport, southwest. There are direct buses to the ski resort from Kars airport (40 mins) and Erzurum airport (90 mins). From the centre of Kars, there are no public vehicles.

Geography: The skiing area is between the altitudes of 2100 – 2634m, within the pine forests. There is an average depth of 1.5m and is quite typical of Alpine conditions, and the best ski season is between 20 December – 20 March. It has a terrestrial climate, with a dominant south-westerly wind direction.

Facilities: There are two government guest-houses, and other private accommodation. Ski instructors and equipment is available for rent, and there is first aid, security and health services available, more hotels and hospital in the Sarikamis area. There is a military zone which can be used for helicopter landings. There are two chairlifts and one T-bar, plus two 4-seater T-bars.