We just returned from an 8 day quick trip to Turkey. <BR><BR>- 3 nights Istanbul (Ritz-Carlton)<BR>- 1 night Selcuk (Kale Han Hotel)<BR>- 3 nights Sheraton Cesme<BR>- 1 night Istanbul (Radisson airport)<BR><BR>Feel free to email me for more details. Just a few quick tips on Turkey:<BR><BR>1. Wait until you get to Turkey to exchange $. The rate is always dropping. Be careful with the money - it is easy to mistake the 100000 bill for the 1,000,000!<BR><BR>2. We enjoyed staying on the Taksim side of istanbul - not Sultanhamet. We felt hassled a lot in Sultanahmet, not to mention that you miss the 4:00 am call to prayer that is called over the megaphones!<BR><BR>3. Don't bother trying to change Canadian money - the rate is much better to change to U.S. and then switch.<BR>

Lisa,<BR><BR>What did you think of the Ritz Carlton? Were you able to walk from that hotel to the Sultanahmet area or did it require a cab ride? We would like to avoid the 4am wake up call, too, but want to be in walking distance of the major sites. Thanks for any information.

I stayed in Sultahnamet and never heard the early morning call to prayer but I guess it depends on how good the windows are at your hotel. It is about at 20 minute cab ride from Taxsim to Sultanhmet where the sites are but the cost is only about $4 because taxis are so cheap there. I liked the restaurants better in Taxsim and there was less people to hassle you there so I wish I would have stayed in that area.

I stayed in Sultanahment (Blue House hotel) and definitely did hear the early morning call to prayer! The windows are good, but we were right across from the Blue Mosque. We got adjusted to it, and after a while, we just didn't hear it anymore, but it's definitely part of the fabric of life. <BR><BR>Personally, I still preferred staying in Sultanahmet, since it's right there in the middle of most of the main sights, and has such a wonderful flavor. I think after a short while, one also learns how to deal with the hussle. But I can see staying in Taksim, too, since it is more contemporary and sounds like it's quieter, too!<BR><BR>So, Lisa, did you have a good trip?

Dear Lisa,<BR>My husband and I are leaving for Greece and Turkey on July 18. Did you find alot of mosquitoes in Turkey? Did you ever wear shorts?<BR><BR>Karen

Dear Karen -<BR>Mosquitoes - no; mosques - yes.<BR><BR>And shorts?? - NO, NO, A THOUSAND TIMES NO.

TO:KAREN<BR><BR>Some place where the river has mosquitoes but if you stay outside of these area you will be OK.<BR>Wearing shorts Of course you can wear. When you go to Turkey you will see many women wearing shorts. <BR><BR><BR>ABC

Shorts are OK in some areas. I felt perfectly comfortable wearing them in Cappadocia while hiking and on the Med. coast near Antalya. It was cool enough in Istanbul that long pants were comfortable and I did not see anyone wearing shorts. But July might be different. In Konya (very conservative) and regions outside tourist areas I think you will find not a lot of shorts and a lot of people staring at your legs if you wear them.

i was just in istanbul from april until june and i wore shorts so did my husband who is turkish. also saw a few tourists wearing them. wear what you feel is comfortable. but remember you can not wear shorts in the mosques.