Hotels in Turkey

Turkey or officially known as the Republic of Turkey is a transcontinental country which is located mainly in the Western Asia region, with the smaller portion of the Balkan peninsula located in Southeast Europe as well as East Thrace is in Europe and separated by Anatolia by the Marmara Sea, Bosphorus Strait and Dardanelles. The country bordered by Greece and Bulgaria to its northwest; Georgia to its northeast; Armenia, the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan and Iran to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the south.  

The capital of Turkey is Ankara. However, it is only the second largest city in the country with 4 million residents in the urban centre and 5 million residents in the province; the largest city is Istanbul with an estimated population of 15 million residents. Ankara has only been recently appointed as the capital with the rise of Turkey as a republic in 1923, now becoming an important commercial and industrial city of Turkey. It is also a very old city with various Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman archaeological sites that can be found in abundance here.

At various points in its history as a country, Turkey and its nearby regions have been inhabited by various civilisations. This would include the Assyrians, Greeks, Thracians, Phrygians, Urartians, and Armenians. During the Alexander the Great era, Hellenization would eventually start and continued into the Byzantine era. Around the 11th Century, The Seljuk Turks began migrating into the area, and their victory over the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 symbolises the start and foundation of Turkey we know as of today. The Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm would continue to rule over Anatolia until the Mongol invasion in 1243 when it disintegrated into small Turkish principalities.

However, from the late 13th-century, the Ottomans started a movement to unite these Turkish principalities. After Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in 1453, Ottoman expansion continued under Selim I. During the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Empire encompassed much of Southeast Europe, West Asia and North Africa and Turkey would go on to become a world power. In the following centuries, the state entered a period of decline with a gradual loss of territories and wars. To consolidate the weakening social and political foundations of the empire, Mahmut II started a period of modernisation in the early 19th century, bringing reforms in all areas of the state including the military and bureaucracy along with the emancipation of all citizens.

In 1913, a coup d'état effectively put the country under the control of the Three Pashas, namely Mehmed Talaat Pasha, the Grand Vizier and Minister of the Interior; Ismail Enver Pasha, the Minister of War; and Ahmed Djemal Pasha, the Minister of the Navy. They were largely responsible for the Empire’s entry into World War I. During World War I, the Ottoman government committed genocides against its Armenian, Assyrian and Pontic Greek subjects. Following the war, the territories and peoples that formerly comprised the Ottoman Empire was partitioned into several new states. The Turkish War of Independence, initiated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his colleagues against occupying Allied Powers, resulted in the abolition of monarchy in 1922 and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, with Atatürk as its first president. Atatürk would begin to commit to numerous reforms, many of which incorporated various aspects of Western thought, philosophy, and customs into the new form of the Turkish government.

The culture in Turkey is unique, rich and diverse, which is a product of blending various elements of the Turkic, Anatolian, Ottoman and Western culture and traditions, which started with the Westernisation of the Ottoman Empire and continues today. Turkish culture is then an amalgamation of efforts to be a "modern" Western state while retaining traditional religious and historical values along the way. This mix would begin as a result of the encounter of Turks and their culture with those of the peoples who were in their path as they proceed with their migration and conquest efforts from Central Asia to the West.

Following the founding of Turkey, the Turkish language would prevail to become the official language, being the only language belonging to the Turkic family that is widely spoken throughout the world. This is understandable since the 85.54% of the demography itself would identify the use of the language as their primary tongue. However, another 11.97% of the population demography speaks the Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish as their mother tongue. Meanwhile, Arabic and Zaza are spoken by 2.39% of the population. The Turkish language would enjoy extensive usage all over the country, being exclusively taught in educational institutions.

Throughout history, the cuisines of Turkey have been the descendant of dishes from the Ottoman era, which are strongly influenced by the Balkan, Arab, Byzantine, Kurdish, Persian and Armenian cuisines. The geographical situation of the country allows it to gain good control over major trade routes and making it conducive for plants and animals to flourish. Some of the Turkish staples would include yoghurt salads, fish in olive oil, sherbet and stuffed and wrapped vegetables. Starting from the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, French hollandaise sauce, as well as western fast food, would also lead its way into the modern diet of the Turkish people.

How to Get There

By Flight

The tourists who came from Singapore that wants to get to Turkey, they need travel there by plane. They need to take a flight from Changi International Airport and can choose for transit flights or straight flights to Turkey. The direct flights are typically offered by Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines. The ticket price per person will be around SGD600 to SGD800. However, the price of the ticket will be increased at the peak season which is during the public holiday and school holiday season. The main airport in Turkey will be at Istanbul Atatürk Airport. However, there are also other airports in other cities such as Antalya Airport in Antalya and Esenboğa International Airport in Ankara. The journey from Changi International Airport to Istanbul Atatürk Airport will be around 12 hours and 5 minutes.  Once they have arrived, they can grab a taxi and go straight to their place to stay.

What to Do There

Topkapı Palace

The Topkapı Palace takes you into the fantastical, opulent world of the sultans, being the palace where the sultans of the Ottoman Era carved out an empire that would extend up into Europe and down through the Middle East and into Africa. The highlight here would be the interiors, with their decadently exuberant tiling and lavish jewelled decor, which is simply an unforgettable insight into the Ottoman's power base.

Ephesus

The ruins of Ephesus is a city of colossal monuments and marble-columned roads, being one of the most complete, still-standing Roman cities in the Mediterranean region. As such, this is certainly the place to experience what life must have been like during the golden age of the Roman Empire. A sightseeing trip here will take at least half a day to cover the major highlights and longer. Therefore, if you want to explore this place, so make sure that you plan your visit, so you don't feel as if you are rushing through the site.

Cappadocia

It is every photographer’s dream to be able to snap the surreal scene of rock valleys of Cappadocia. Cliff ridges and hill crests are home to rippling panoramas of wave-like rock or wacky-shaped pinnacles that have been formed by millennia of wind and water action. You can choose to go hiking for the views, or if that is not your interest, this place is also one of the world's top destinations to take a hot air balloon ride. Within these valleys as well, are the frescoed rock-cut churches of the Byzantine Era nestled in abundance here, when this area was an important early Christian site.

Hagia Sophia

Renowned as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the spellbinding Byzantine glory of the Aya Sofya Museum is not only one of the top things to do in Istanbul, but also in Turkey. The staggering bulk of its exterior is rimmed by the delicate minarets added after the Ottoman conquest, while the sumptuous and cavernous frescoed interior is a grand reminder of old Constantinople's might and power. This famed monument is a must-visit for everyone coming over to Turkey.

Where to Stay

Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel, Istanbul

Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel, Istanbul has located in the city area of Kucukcekmece, Istanbul. This hotel is situated 12 minutes away from Istanbul Atatürk Airport. As a five-star hotel, it offers luxurious and elaborate accommodation in the city of Istanbul. All of the rooms are well equipped with lavish amenities such as flat-screen television with cable channels and on-demand movies, a minibar which will be stocked with a free water bottle and some other free items, beddings with blackout drapes, slippers, a private bathroom, and a tub. Besides that, the rooms are fully air-conditioned and the hotel has provided free cribs and the guests can request extra beds or infant beds when needed.

Moreover, the guests can enjoy a free Wi-Fi connection which is crucial to be connected. The hotel would work to ensure the rooms are clean since they offer a daily housekeeping service. For those want to keep fit, there are a fitness centre and health club available in this hotel. After a long day trip to a few places in Belgrade, the guests can relax their mind and body at the spa centre and the garden.

Star Holiday Hotel

Located 25 minutes away from Istanbul Atatürk Airport, Star Holiday Hotel offers affordable accommodation in Istanbul. Every room in this hotel has been properly equipped with basic amenities which include television, minibar, air conditioning and blackout drapes among others. Besides that, the hotel provides decent facilities and services to make their guests feel more comfortable during their stays at this hotel. The guests can access free Wi-Fi from their room and also in the public area of the hotel. Other than that, the guests can have a free breakfast provided by the hotel depending on the booked room. For those who want to have a light snack and drink, there is a bar available in the hotel.  

Sultanahmet Suites – Apartments

For those who want to stay in an apartment rather than a hotel, it is without a doubt that the ideal choice of an apartment to stay is at Sultanahmet Suites - Apartments. It is a great accommodation for visitors coming in groups or with the intention to stay longer in Istanbul. The guests can freely use a few facilities that provided by the apartment such as the laundry service, luggage storage, computer station and many more.  Every room in this apartment is cosy and have been completely equipped with amenities such as a hairdryer, a television, a safety box, an air conditioner, kitchen, microwave and refrigerator. The beds are of Tempur-Pedic with Frette Italian linens as well as sofa beds. There will be a 24-hour receptionist to handle the process of check-in and out of the rooms. They are also available to help the guests in case if the guests need any assistance from them. Moreover, there are car rental services as well as an area shuttle and cruise shuttle. The visitors also can look forward to staying connected with their family and friends because there is a free Wi-Fi available in public area.