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Tag: Bodrum

  • Weak series of quakes make tourists feel uneasy at Bodrum, Turkey

    Weak series of quakes make tourists feel uneasy at Bodrum, Turkey

    Earthquake overview : Earthquake-Report.com received a few reports on weak shaking (more felt as a light shaking) from one of Turkey’s most important tourist destinations : Bodrum. Although the shocks caused NO damage or injuries, people asked themselves whether these shocks were the prelude of more and stronger to come.

    Recent small earthquakes below Bodrum, Turkey. - White lines are mapped seismic faults
    Recent small earthquakes below Bodrum, Turkey. – White lines are mapped seismic faults

    UPDATE : A couple of weeks ago, a Turkish seismologist told me during a seminar, that he had a discussion with the mayor of an important Turkish tourist destination with important faulting zones in the area. The mayor refused to inform tourists about potential earthquakes, as he feared a possible decrease in tourist visits. This example shows that we will probably need a few additional devastating earthquakes before the mindset will be changed to earthquake preparedness. This story is identical for a lot of Mediterranean destinations like Greece, Italy, Morocco, Croatia etc.

    via Weak series of quakes make tourists feel uneasy at Bodrum, Turkey.

  • Off-the-Path Adventures in Turkey

    Off-the-Path Adventures in Turkey

    By THOMAS RIVAS

    Q.

    A friend and I are heading to Turkey and are looking for some hidden highlights of the country and outdoor activities along the Turquoise/Aegean coast. There are ruins galore but what adventures lie off the beaten path?

    Victoria Kuhr, London

    Michael Owston/Photoshot, via Newscom
    Michael Owston/Photoshot, via Newscom

    A.

    Thanks to a boom in tourism throughout the region, finding coastal destinations off the beaten path can be difficult, but there are still a few areas that fit your interests, yet won’t be inundated with other travelers.

    For Katie Parla, a freelance writer based in Rome and a contributor to The Times Travel section, the first place that comes to mind is Ortakent (above), on the Bodrum Peninsula in southern Turkey. Ortakent, Ms. Parla said, is an ideal central location to begin an exploration of the region. The beach is long and wide, providing plenty of space to stretch out and sea breezes to cool you off during the bustle of the summer months. Between the beach and the village is a fertile valley with fig and olive trees along with “lovely citrus groves.” When you’re passing through, it’s worth taking a minor detour to view the remnants of the Mustafa Pasha Tower, a fortification that dates from the 17th century. Afterward, enjoy a relaxing meal or drink at one of the local bars or restaurants along the beachfront. You won’t have to worry about unruly crowds or dodging beer-pong balls, and the view is breathtaking.

    Another unspoiled destination that Ms. Parla suggested is Sovalye, a tiny island just 15 minutes from Fethiye, a tourist destination also on the southern coast. “The island is pedestrianized and surrounded by beautiful, clean water, through which fragments of buildings (ancient and medieval) are visible,” Ms. Parla wrote in an e-mail. Because the island is just a short distance from Fethiye, major tour-boat companies looking for longer trips tend to ignore the small island, making it a peaceful gem for those who get there via a short ride on a water taxi. Once the allure of solitude fades, the night life of the mainland is still just minutes away.

    Depending on when you travel, hotel prices in the area can fluctuate significantly so flexibility is important for finding the best deal. A four-night stay at the Medisun Hotel in Ortakent during July, for example, will cost about 300 euros, or about $420 at 1.40 euros to the dollar, but the same stay during October would be closer to 200 euros.

    via Off-the-Path Adventures in Turkey – NYTimes.com.

  • No compensation for Turkey holiday mix-up couple

    No compensation for Turkey holiday mix-up couple

    WISH you were here at the Bitezhan Beach Hotel in Turkey? Allen and Christine Lewins were there – but never got the chance to stay.

    The couple had booked and paid for their holiday with website mediatravel.co.uk

    But when they arrived at the hotel – at 4am – there was no record of their booking.

    They had to stay in the reception area until senior staff arrived at midday.

    And then they were shipped off to another hotel at the edge of the resort.

    Whose fault was it? Not Allen and Christine’s.

    gumbet kI wanted to hear what mediatravel.co.uk had to say but, first, Allen told me how the holiday turned into a nightmare when no one from the company was able to help when the couple turned up.

    He said: “I used the numbers in the terms and conditions, only to find recorded messages.

    “I had to ring my daughter in the UK asking her to contact someone from the travel company.

    “While all this was going on I was refused use of the hotel telephone, and refused a temporary room for the night, so we spent the whole time sitting in the hotel reception.”

    Allen finally spoke to someone from mediatravel on his mobile.

    He says the company admitted over the phone they had received an email from the hotel saying they could not take the booking.

    The company, however, said they did not know this at the time of departure.

    The couple were eventually sent to another hotel but claim the facilities were not as good and it was on the outskirts of the resort.

    He said: “It was located on the very outskirts of Gumbet, next to a sewerage plant, it had no private beach, no mini-market, no entertainment at any time of the day or night.”

    Allen, of Blyth, Northumberland, complained to his rep and completed a customer feedback form.

    I thought I would copy what the highly-educated rep had to say: “Mr Lewins was booked to stay at the Bitez but woz not accepted and woz moved to Club Flora.”

    Woz? Nice to see such an understanding of spelling and concern to do things right.

    It woz time to find out what mediatravel haz to say.

    They said they woz – sorry, last time I’ll do that – unaware of the booking mix-up before departure.

    Spokesman Nav Rig told me: “I can confirm the clients were located in alternative accommodation of the same standard and within the same resort with the same room type and board basis.”

    Mediatravel said there would be no compensation and hoped the experience would not put Allen off travelling with them again.

    Shall I tell them, Allen, or shall you?

    via No compensation for Turkey holiday mix-up couple – Sunday Sun.

  • Another Russian tourist dies of alcohol poisoning in Turkey

    Another Russian tourist dies of alcohol poisoning in Turkey

    Another Russian tourist died of alcohol poisoning in Turkey on Tuesday, the spokesman for Russia’s state tourism watchdog said on Tuesday.

    Turkish Aegean resort of Bodrum
    Turkish Aegean resort of Bodrum

    A group of Russian tourists in the popular Turkish Aegean resort of Bodrum were reported to have been hospitalized over the weekend with symptoms of severe alcohol poisoning after a yacht tour organized by a local company.

    One woman, Maria Shalyapina, born in 1983, died on Monday as doctors were unable to stabilize her condition. Another one, Aigul Zalayeva, born in 1991, died on Tuesday in a hospital in Antalya, Oleg Moseyev of Rosturism said.

    Two of the five people hospitalized in Turkey remain in critical condition, Moseyev said, quoting Russia’s consul general in Antanya, Alexander Tolstopyatenko. The three others are expected to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday.

    Two female Russian tourists who returned home on May 27 were reported to have been admitted to a hospital in Moscow. One of them is in satisfactory condition and the other in a more serious condition.

    Tourists began registering symptoms of poisoning such as nausea and vomiting soon after returning from a yacht cruise organized for a group of more than 70 Russians. Some of the tourists were reported to have been losing consciousness.

    Turkish prosecutors are considering initiating a criminal case against the owners of the yacht where the tourists were poisoned, Russian diplomats in Antalya said.

    On Tuesday, during a meeting of the Russian-Turkish working group, representatives of the Turkish Ministry for Culture and Tourism announced that the ministry will take additional steps to assure tourist security at Turkish resorts. For instance, local tourism companies will be obligated to inform tourists about places where they can buy quality alcohol and food.

    The Turkish alcohol and tobacco watchdog will also carry out checks at all hotels and shops selling alcohol.

    MOSCOW, May 31 (RIA Novosti)

    via Another Russian tourist dies of alcohol poisoning in Turkey | World | RIA Novosti.

  • Bodrum airport increasingly appealing to UK LCCs; easyJet, Jet2.com and Monarch have all added routes recently

    Bodrum airport increasingly appealing to UK LCCs; easyJet, Jet2.com and Monarch have all added routes recently

    Bodrum likes families and families like Bodrum – traffic rose 11% last year to 3.1 million. 

    Milas-Bodrum airport on Turkey’s south-west coast serves a major tourist resort area during the summer months. Last year, the airport served almost 3.1 million passengers, up almost 11% on the previous year. This made it Turkey’s seventh busiest airport behind both Istanbul airports (Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen), Antalya, Ankara, Izmir and Dalaman. Domestic traffic accounted for 38% of the airport’s total demand in 2010, and this segment grew by 20%. International traffic, which accounted for just over 1.9 million passengers, grew by a more modest 6%. Flights from the UK contributed with 45% of all international passengers (880,000), whereas flights from German airports represented just 5% of the international total (100,000).

    Source: DHMI 

    The airport’s seasonality profile is one of the more extreme in Europe with the airport handling over 600,000 passengers during the peak summer months of July and August, but only 50,000 per month during the winter season from November through to March. This suggests that the region also is a popular destination for Turkish holidaymakers.

    The start of London/Stansted-Bodrum services exactly a year ago.The start of London/Stansted-Bodrum services exactly a year ago. 

    New UK services in 2011 with Jet2.com and Monarch

    While UK traffic to Bodrum increased by a modest 3.4% in 2010, this week sees the launch of new scheduled services from Birmingham and London Gatwick operated by Monarch, which complement the airline’s London Luton services that began last May and Manchester services which began earlier this month.

    Another UK low-cost airline, Jet2.com, began flights from Manchester last week and is starting seasonal East Midlands and Leeds/Bradford services from the middle of June. easyJet began flights from London Gatwick in April 2009, London Stansted in May 2010, from Liverpool in June 2010, and Bristol in July 2010.

    However, while the growing number of services from LCCs is noteworthy, the two biggest airlines serving the UK market remain Thomas Cook Airlines and Thomson Airways that provide a predominantly all-inclusive holiday experience including accommodation and transport to and from the airport.

    Domestic flights dominated by Istanbul routes

    According to OAG data for August, Turkish Airlines and Atlasjet offer over 80 weekly flights to Istanbul Atatürk Airport, while Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines offer a further 36 weekly departures to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport. These two airlines also compete on the route to Ankara. Next month, Pegasus Airlines is starting non-stop flights to Adana, with service operating on Monday, Thursday and Sunday.

    The word mausoleum derives from after the tomb of King Mausolus which was built at Bodrum in 350 BC and was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was eventually destroyed by earthquakes in 1404 although remnants of the marble four-horse chariot that crowned the roof can be seen in the British Museum (where only a few select Brits ever venture; preferring the unspoilt beaches of Bodrum).The word mausoleum derives from the tomb of King Mausolus which was built at Bodrum in 350 BC and was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was eventually destroyed by earthquakes in 1404 although remnants of the marble four-horse chariot that crowned the roof can be seen in the British Museum (where only a few select Brits ever venture; preferring the unspoilt beaches of Bodrum). 

  • Bodrum, Turkey – Small Tourist Guide

    Bodrum, Turkey – Small Tourist Guide

    Bodrum is one of many Turkish ports on the Aegean Sea. With a great ancient history and host to one of the Ancient Wonders of the World, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, today this city is one of the top places to visit if you travel to Turkey.

    The ancient name of the town is Halicarnassus and the renowned ancient wonder, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, was built in the year 353 by King Mausolous. The Mausoleum used to be about 150 feet tall and was an architectural and engineering wonder at the time. Crusaders then arrived and demolished it using the building materials to strengthen one of their forts. Today a museum tells the history of this amazing site which you can visit each day from 8 o’clock in the morning to 6 o’clock in the afternoon.

    Even today water sports and water activities are quite popular among locals and tourists. You can visit the Kos Island by taking one of many boat rides, thus allowing yourself a small trip to Greece and back. You will need to dedicate an entire day to this trip as the journey by boat and visiting the island can take many hours. The island is a small paradise for tourists that features ancient Greek ruins, orthodox churches and beautiful beaches.

    While in Turkey do not hesitate to visit one of the local Turkish Baths, an excellent mix of steam rooms and saunas that will work wonders on your skin and muscles. Both refreshing and rejuvenating, Turkish baths are known to cleanse the body from toxins while relaxing your muscles in the same time. This is the perfect opportunity to have a local traditional experience and to start your holiday in a relaxing and comforting environment.

    Bodrum features many traditional Turkish baths, so make sure to visit them at least once.

    Bodrum is also a water sport hub. Rent a yacht and take a small cruise to the nearby Greek islands or go for an exciting scuba diving experience. You can also try out wind surfing. All of these activities are great ways to have hours of fun by the sea. Make the best of the water and sun during the daytime and relax so that you can properly enjoy the city life during the night.

    This location offers great nightlife with plenty of all-night bars and discos located in the center of the city. Book a guest room in one of the secluded hotels for a more relaxing night with the entire family or check in one of the large central hotels if you intend to relax more in the daytime and keep your nights busy with clubbing and partying.

    From Bodrum you can make short trips to the salt terraces of Pamukkale, visit the ancient ruins of the Aphrodite’s city of Aphrodisias, or take a health trip to the thermal baths of Hierapolis. All of these tourist destinations are close to Bodrum, so make sure to check with the local travel agencies and book a trip to at least one of them.

    Article Source:

    via Bodrum, Turkey – Small Tourist Guide.