All tagged Turkey
The hamam is the Turkish version of a Roman bathhouse, but the modern-day hamam offers so much more than bathing for both men and woman. It provides the opportunity to enjoy a unique cleansing ritual in beautiful historic buildings. With massages available to supplement the traditional services, a session in a hamam might well be the most relaxing experience you can enjoy on a visit to Turkey. The pampering you will receive is guaranteed to sooth the soul.
Booking train, bus and ferry tickets in Asia can be difficult if you are not familiar with the routes and transport operators, but online booking apps and websites can make the task much easier. But with hundreds of such online ticketing platforms vying for your business, how can you tell which are the best ones to use. We take a look at reviews of these sites to determine which are the most reliable.
In a recent awards list of the top 100 sustainable tourist destinations in the world, 22 in Asia were recognised for their efforts in providing tourism experiences that had a positive impact on the local environment or culture. Many of these will appeal to older travellers seeking destinations that are off-the-beaten-track and travel experiences that are supporting local communities.
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Hierapolis – Pamukkale in south-west Turkey is an outstanding historical and photogenic landscape. The magical sight of dazzling white travertine terraces filled with mineralized waters, close to the ruins of the ancient holy city of Hierapolis, make this a fascinating destination to visit for older travellers.
Asian airports have always ranked well in the annual Skytrax awards, but this year Singapore’s Changi has been knocked from its top perch by two others in the region. Here’s a rundown of where the top Asian airports have ranked in the 2021 awards, so if you have to spend time at any of these Asian airports, at least you know you’ll be staying amongst the world’s best.
Travelling solo in Asia may not be for everyone – especially for older females – but for those who enjoy time on their own, it can be liberating and rewarding. It enables you to travel at your own pace, do what you want to do, when you want, and change your schedule whenever you feel like it. With a few sensible safety precautions, solo travel in Asia can be a safe and enjoyable experience for anyone.
Home exchanges are a wonderful way to experience different cultures. More so if it can be combined with sightseeing in the destination country. This story describes how one couple travelled overland from Istanbul, using ferry, train and buses, to visit some of Turkey’s great UNESCO World Heritage sites on their way to a home exchange in Sarigerme on the Mediterranean coast.
Asia has a surprisingly good number of locations where it is possible to take hot air balloon flights. Drifting over a scenic landscape as the sun rises is both exciting and relaxing, and many travellers who are nervous about flying or suffer vertigo in tall buildings have said that flying in a hot air balloon was one of their most exhilarating experiences ever. It’s a wonderful way to see places from a new perspective.
Turkey attracts more overseas visitors than any other country in Asia, aside from China. For older travellers interested in the history and culture of Asia Minor, Turkey is a country not to be missed. But there’s more than places of historic interest within the borders of this culturally diverse country. There are affordable beach resorts, great shopping and culinary destinations, and natural attractions that are unique to Turkey.
Paintings make great souvenirs to bring home from a trip to Asia. They not only serve as a reminder of places that you’ve visited, but will look great on the walls of your home. Original paintings may appreciate in value and are a better buy than reproductions. Our guide to buying art in Asia tells you where the best places are to buy original paintings, how to transport your paintings home, and where to see the best art if you aren’t in the mood to buy yet.
There are only 10 countries in Asia that allow travellers to use camera drones without a permit. In about 20 others, the process of acquiring permits ranges from relatively easy to extremely hard. In many others, recreational flying of drones is banned. Even in countries where drones are permitted, there are many no-fly zones and regulations that have to be followed. Penalties for breaching drone laws can be heavy fines or even imprisonment. This article summarises where you can and cannot fly drones in Asia.
TripAdvisor has unveiled its 25 top destinations for 2019 and, not surprisingly, they include many places in Asia. Its annual Travellers' Choice Awards are based on the reviews and ratings of TripAdvisor users around the world. Here’s a look at the 10 Asian destinations that made the list and what they have to offer older travellers.
House sitting offers retirees without time constraints the opportunity to visit other countries and save on accommodation costs. It enables travellers to enjoy new cultural experiences and live like a local. House sitting has been popular in the US, UK and Australia/New Zealand for many years, but is now taking off in Asia.
When you’re travelling in Asia, you’ll probably want to see some of its famous festivals. Each country has its own, religious or cultural, traditional or modern. Some of the biggest festivals, especially religious ones, reach beyond national borders and are celebrated by huge numbers of people across the continent. Here’s a concise guide to six of Asia’s top international festivals.
