Some important service numbers :
155 Police
112 Emergency
110 Fire
118 Unknown Numbers
Insurance
It is a good idea when traveling to any destination to purchase comprehensive travel insurance to cover any unexpected illness or accident.
Post Office
Turkish post-offices are easily recognized by their black PTT letters on a yellow background. Major post offices are open from 8:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m., Monday/Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m., Sunday.
Phones
The country code for Turkey is 90. Hotels charge a very high rate for international phone calls so it is best to use either a calling card or buy the prepaid cards from the post office and use the public phone system. You can access international operators from major US phone companies at the following numbers. AT&T 00-800-12277, Sprint 00-800-14477, and MCI 00-800-11177. International calls are very expensive in Turkey, if you can find a good deal with your long distance company that is generally the best and most economical thing to do.
Banks
Banking hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.. Some banks, especially in larger cities do not always close for lunch hour. Banks will change money, usually for a good rate, though they charge a commission of between 1 and 3 percent. The ATM machines provide you with the best rate, as it is a bank to bank exchange. Though there may be a charge for using a foreign ATM from your bank, you will need to check this before you leave.
Credit Cards
Most major credit cards are accepted in Turkey. Visa and Mater card are the most widely accepted. Also note that the amount you pay in Turkey will be in Turkish Lira, but it will be exchanged to your home currency on your bill. Please be sure to check exchange rates on large purchases.
Health
Turkey's health care can be state of the art in big cities to rather basic in some villages. For minor illnesses contact your, guide, tour provider or hotel reception for a doctor recommendation. To stay healthy while traveling, avoid drinking the water from the tap as it can contain bacteria you are not accustomed to, bottled water is both inexpensive and easily purchased in Turkey. Be aware of the food you are eating and if you are especially sensitive avoid salads and fruit you have not washed and dried yourself. There are no vaccinations required for entry into Turkey. Everyone should be sure there tetanus booster is up to date as well as any other normal vaccinations. |
