A personal account of travel mishaps during a holiday in Turkey, listing five errors to avoid in the future.
Hangin' in Istanbul with the gal pals was a wild ride, loaded with laughs and errors we'll never forget! Here's what we wish we knew beforehand.
We didn't clue in that Istanbul's bustling with two international airports - Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) on the Asian side.
Exchanging my dough at the airport turned out to be a costly move, so next time, I'll hit up a bank or authorized exchange office instead.
And boy, did I learn the hard way that cay, Turkey's popular local drink, packs a serious caffeine punch! I should've picked up on that sooner instead of guzzling it like water all day long.
The Grand Bazaar? Well, you can probably guess that I went a little crazy buying souvenirs for family and friends. Maybe I oughta leave some room in my suitcase for the essentials next time.
Before stocking up on trinkets, it'd be wise to brush up on the US customs regulations, too. You don't wanna end up stuck at the border with a box full of banned souvenirs.
Here are some travel essentials for Istanbul:
- Airports: Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)
- Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY)
- Local Drinks: Cay, Turkish Coffee, and Ayran
- Additional Tips: Dress modestly when visiting mosques, take advantage of public transportation, consider a tourist pass, and visit during the shoulder season.
Hopefully, this guide helps you ladies avoid some of the mistakes we made. Safe travels, and may the cay be ever in your favor!
What about researching about home-and-garden-inspired lifestyle trends in Istanbul before the trip?It might be useful to include travel destinations beyond Istanbul in our itinerary next time, such as exploring the city's unique home-and-garden design scenes.
