Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Lots of Questions????

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Lots of Questions????

During March 2002, my wife and I plan a 3-week independent tour of Turkey visiting Istanbul and the Aegean and Mediterranean Coast areas. We'll travel by rental car and because we speak only English, do you experienced travelers to Turkey think we can do it without too much difficulty? Are there daily ferry connections from Marmaris to Rhodes, Greece? Will appreciate all the advise we can get.

Paul, we will be near Antalya from Mar 30 to Apr 6 and go to Rhodes on the 6th. If you would like to write to our friend Nejat he can help you with your questions and the ferry. [email protected].

Paul You will have no problems with your trip. I did the same trip by rental car last June and even in places where no english was spoken we managed to get by. This included getting lost in Izmir and getting directions at a shop using maps and sign language. If you have time try to visit Assos on the Aegean coast. It is a small village and the road to it is not for the faint hearted but well worth the trip. Have a look at www.assos.de I am returning to Turkey again this July it is such a wonderful place with warm friendly people. Good luck and enjoy! Just one bit of advice. Avoid driving in Istanbul. Taxis are cheap and better for the blood pressure.

Paul, You'll be fine. I did the same type of trip 2 years ago and was pleasantly surprised with how much English they speak and how willingly. Except in Istanbul, where even the taxi drivers don't speak much (but as John said - it is better to do taxis there). There are daily ferries (and maybe hydrofoils, too) from Marmaris. Rhodes is wonderful - a good hotel there is the Rodos Palace. Hope this helps.

Yes the ferries are stiill running from Marmaris to Rhodes but they are not daily as it is in the season. they are running 4 days a week. but you should book a day before. and the agent is called Yesil Marmaris Travel Agency They are located at the lowe end of Marina. I had booked for couple people cars during last january and it worked out perfect. renting car locally is cheaper. rgds Nejat Incedogan

I've done this a lot of times and have been all over the country. Don't worry about the language - I found it rare that someone didn't speak English. Info on driving in Turkey - driving is on the right, lights are on the ready(red)/set(yellow)/go(green) set up - drivers will be shifting gears on the red, starting to move on the yellow and moving through the green - take this into account if you rent a standard shift car (I'd recommend an automatic - much easier if you're not used to the standard) - if you're not moving when they are you'll hear a lot of honking. Driving at night is serious business - at all possible, plan your stops so you won't be on the road at night. In the cities they use the lights on the cars but farther out they turn them off-thinking was that they didn't want to use up their batteries. You don't want to take the chance of ending up on the side of a mountain (with no guard rails) and meet up with someone coming at you without lights on. (This is no joke.) They use the car lights during the day for "passing" on-coming cars will flash their lights at on-coming traffic to let them know they are passing. Roads within the cities will have lines - lines have just been added to roads in some of the major cities (like Ankara) in the last 5 years or so - but a lot of times the disregard them. You will see people driving between and over (using them as a guide) lines and on the medians - all at the same time. (We asked a taxi driver once not long after some lines were added what they were for...he said he had no idea!) Intersections are euro - everyone ques up at the lights - cars will fit themselves together like a puzzle until the light changes. Take this into account in Istanbul/Ankara/Konya and Izmir. If you're spending any time in the bigger cities-use taxis (as always take the taxi in front or you'll hear some interesting Turkish language). Stop signs and red lights are optional! (If there's no one coming why should I stop?- take this into account!)One way signs are taken the same way in some towns - I'm going going one way...right? Take this into account if your walking the streets too...you don't want to be hit by a car. Note that taxis can be bought on the showroom floor - so anyone and his brother are taxi drivers - don't give them a street address - they don't know them - give them a destination or area. Accidents (I'm told) are frequent in Turkey - I've been fortunate and haven't seen one - but when they do happen they are very serious ones - be careful on the road. I'll be over there again in April - before you... (my husband travels over every month)...if you want more "general" info let me know here - my e-mail is changing soon.

I know this is a petty issue - - and I see you are getting answers to your "Lots of questions" - - but can you imagine how impossible it would be to use this forum if EVERYONE used a header like "Lots of questions" or "Help" or "Does anybody know?" Best wishes, Rex

Rex - I don't think the issue you raise is petty at all - but your tenor is. Paul - You might want to try putting the names of the places you are traveling to in the title of you post, or even a specific question. It will help people who have been there zone in on your post. Good luck and have a great trip.

Someone teach me how to re-phrase my comment with the proper tenor.

Er.. time out guys.. I think part of the problem is that the Fodor travel message board has become so successful that with Fodors limited interference its limitations have now become more apparent. (I think it might be considered the most (serious) active travel messaging board on the web?) I for one, rebel at heart (and a english gal stuck in the US until work authorization comes through next century) am going to write an email to Fodors to try and CONVINCE them that it is in their best interest & for ECONOMIC reasons that they "slightly" redesign their search engine and try and put some basic guidelines down... citysearch.com I believe has the idea (no - I do not work for them) they have cottoned on and are using locals and vistors (statistics etc) to try and glean reviews from the internet folk of their experiences!!! My husband was allowed access to the US due to his database skills - I'm sure that Fodors could tweak their system to make it a tad more accommodating!! I just had to sneak that in... Any others that want to put a friendly word to Fodors and I emphasis friendly work - you never know it might help!!