Job Discussion Forums

samet · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 12 Location: Japan

There is a conference in Ankara at Bilkent university in March, which I was planning to attend prior to heading to TESOL Arabia. I am having trouble getting a flight direct to Ankara so if I decide to go to Turkey it seems as though I will have to go via Istanbul.

I figured that while I was there I'd like to check out Cappadoccia, hence my questions about the weather.

gelin · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 144 Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul isn't close to Cappadocia, my friend. It's much nearer to Ankara. From Istanbul it's about 13 hours by bus, from Ankara about 4 or 5. The closest airport you'll find is Kayseri, I believe, unless Nevsehir has an airport now.

samet · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 12 Location: Japan

Thanks Gelin for the advice but have my Turkey geography in hand. The problem is that from Japan, where I live, I cant easily fly to to Ankara (which, as you point out is much closer to Cappadoccia than Istanbul), and I SO want to see Capadoccia as I missed it on my first trip.

Mike_2003 · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania

I believe (but do check) that an airport opened at Nevsehir a couple of years ago. If you don't fancy the bus ride, Japan - Istanbul - Nevsehir is probably the best route. Sometimes you can get a decent price on the internal transfer if you book it with the main flight. If you book them separately it could be quite costly.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Are internal flights within Turkey still cheap? I remember flying from an airport near Cappadocia (forgotten the name) to Istanbul for about $60 CDN (9 yrs ago). At the time, I thought it was a little steep as the bus trip was a fraction of the price. Man how we get a warped sense of the value of money when we're backpacking.

Mike_2003 · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania

Last time I took one (about 4 years ago) it was ridiculously expensive. I flew from Ist to meet a friend near Antalya. I stayed in the same hotel as he had booked into with his package deal from the UK. Taking into account the Ist-Ant-Ist flight, the transport to and from the airport and the cost of the hotel, his deal from the UK was much cheaper.

I don't remember exactly, but I think it worked out about 100USD for the return ticket. Prices may have changed since then as this was just before the crisis.

Someone I knew took a flight from the UK to Ist with the intention of moving on to Bodrum. The airline offered a deal whereby the return connection from Ist to Bodrum was included for only an extra 20 GBP, with the option to stopover in Ist for a few days.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

In the summer I flew from Istanbul to Bodrum(return) and it cost 130 dollars (US)

yaramaz · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 1:49 pm Post subject:

A flight from Kayseri to Istanbul costs $100 US one way if bought separately from a Turkish Airlines INt'l flight, and $50 Us one way if bought as part of a longer flight. A bus costs 30 million. That's $20. I tend to grin and bear it and take the bus.

Actually, I heard rumours the Onur Air, a budget airline, is branching out into kayseri/ Cappadocia starting in Dec and will cost 60 million each way. Check them out if you can.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Prices have gone up. I also recall that some of the passengers didn't have seats and stood for the flight. There were also some small farm animals in cages in the cabin.

FGT · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Turkey

Internal flights in Turkey are much over-priced if booked locally. An alternative (for SOME routes) is the Mavi Tren - Book a "Yatakli" ticket (single room with bed and mod. cons.) from eg Istanbul-Ankara, Ankara-Diyarbakir, Izmir-Ankara etc and you have good accommodation for the journey, with a view and an adjacent dining car, for a fraction of the price. And they give discount to teachers! I can't recommend it enough.
Most trains in Turkey are a joke but this is superb!