Something to declare: Turkey via Cologne; terrorism; Turkey plus Greece
What's new in travel to Turkey?
By Simon Calder
Published: 30 July 2005 by Independent.co.uk
Bargain of the week: fly via Cologne to Turkey
Britain's no-frills airlines have, so far, ignored Turkey, mainly because the flight times of four hours or more don't fit the standard low-cost model. But the German city of Cologne has become a gateway to several coastal cities. And thanks to excellent links to Cologne from a range of UK airports, it is possible to put together a good-value itinerary using low-cost airlines.
You could, for example, fly to Cologne from Edinburgh, Stansted or Gatwick on Germanwings (www.germanwings.com); Manchester or Newcastle on Hapag-Lloyd Express (www.hlx.com); or Gatwick or Nottingham on easyJet (www.easyJet.com).
At Cologne-Bonn, flights are available to the Turkish capital Ankara and to Izmir on Germanwings or Antalya on Air Berlin (www.airberlin.com). An "open-jaw" itinerary, flying out to Ankara and back from Antalya, is possible, since journeys are priced on a one-way basis.
Many flights between Germany and Turkey are overnight, making connections with UK flights easy. But build in some time in Cologne: partly to allow for delays, and partly because it's worth a day's stopover.
Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, remains off the no-frills schedules, but last month a new low-cost route opened up. Turkish Airlines (020-7766 9300; www.turkishairlines.com) has launched flights from Stansted in parallel with its existing operation from Heathrow. Fares below £200 are available on off-peak flights.
Warning of the week: terrorism hits Turkey again
Following the bomb attack two weeks ago in Kusadasi in which a British tourist died, the Foreign Office has expanded its warning about the risk of terrorism in tourist resorts. But as with Egypt (see page 15) the official advice stops well short of urging travellers to steer clear of Turkey. So anyone who has booked a trip to Turkey will not be able to change or cancel without penalty. Some holiday companies may, as a gesture of good faith, permit date or destination changes.
The US State Department warns "The potential remains throughout Turkey for violence and terrorism".
Destination of the week: Turkey plus Greece
Relations between Turkey and Greece are thawing, making two-centre holidays across the two countries easier. This month a rail service began between Istanbul and the Greek city of Thessaloniki, and studies were announced for a new bridge over the Evros river, which marks the Greece-Turkey border.
Bargain of the week: fly via Cologne to Turkey
Britain's no-frills airlines have, so far, ignored Turkey, mainly because the flight times of four hours or more don't fit the standard low-cost model. But the German city of Cologne has become a gateway to several coastal cities. And thanks to excellent links to Cologne from a range of UK airports, it is possible to put together a good-value itinerary using low-cost airlines.
You could, for example, fly to Cologne from Edinburgh, Stansted or Gatwick on Germanwings (www.germanwings.com); Manchester or Newcastle on Hapag-Lloyd Express (www.hlx.com); or Gatwick or Nottingham on easyJet (www.easyJet.com).
At Cologne-Bonn, flights are available to the Turkish capital Ankara and to Izmir on Germanwings or Antalya on Air Berlin (www.airberlin.com). An "open-jaw" itinerary, flying out to Ankara and back from Antalya, is possible, since journeys are priced on a one-way basis.
Many flights between Germany and Turkey are overnight, making connections with UK flights easy. But build in some time in Cologne: partly to allow for delays, and partly because it's worth a day's stopover.
Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, remains off the no-frills schedules, but last month a new low-cost route opened up. Turkish Airlines (020-7766 9300; www.turkishairlines.com) has launched flights from Stansted in parallel with its existing operation from Heathrow. Fares below £200 are available on off-peak flights.
Warning of the week: terrorism hits Turkey again
Following the bomb attack two weeks ago in Kusadasi in which a British tourist died, the Foreign Office has expanded its warning about the risk of terrorism in tourist resorts. But as with Egypt (see page 15) the official advice stops well short of urging travellers to steer clear of Turkey. So anyone who has booked a trip to Turkey will not be able to change or cancel without penalty. Some holiday companies may, as a gesture of good faith, permit date or destination changes.
The US State Department warns "The potential remains throughout Turkey for violence and terrorism".
Destination of the week: Turkey plus Greece
Relations between Turkey and Greece are thawing, making two-centre holidays across the two countries easier. This month a rail service began between Istanbul and the Greek city of Thessaloniki, and studies were announced for a new bridge over the Evros river, which marks the Greece-Turkey border.
