Story: Turkey Travelers' Tips

"How much for this leather jacket?"

"$200"

"How about $100?"

"Oh come on, you're killing me here! That's below cost."

"Sorry, but that's all I have now."

...after a pause that seemed to last forever and a surprisingly loud bang on the table, my then hosteling room mate was now the (proud?) owner of a leather bomber jacket. I looked at him in surprise and saw in his eyes the victim of a deal that only a Turkish salesman could have executed so smoothly.

As much of a learning experience as that incident was, I will always remember the feeling and look of, "what did I just do?" on my room mate’s face as soon as he was handed that leather jacket. After all, he was backpacking Europe in the middle of a scorching hot summer with nothing more than a backpack crammed full with summer clothes.

While I am by no means a master of negotiations, my two week journey through this breathtaking country has taught me a few things to take home. With these lessons, at the very least I am hoping your shopping and sight-seeing experience in Turkey will be just that much more fruitful. In no particular order, here are some tips to take along your journey:

1) Approach with a friendly smile. The Turkish people may be one of the friendliest people that I have met throughout my cross-Europe backpacking trip. While a smile from them may go a long way for you, the same applies from their perspective. Be friendly to whomever you are talking to and they will treat you with more respect and joy.

2) When shopping at a store in a bazaar, most places - if not all - will offer you some apple tea. This is a simple gesture on their part in welcoming you to their store. While I can't say that it is purely rude to reject this offering, it is certainly in your favor to accept this. It's a great ice breaker, brings comfort to both you and the seller, and is certainly very refreshing. Besides, it is very tasty and for me, my first offering was the best tasting apple tea that I ever had in the country.

3) When shopping at a bazaar, try and be the first customer of the day at a store that has something you really want. The Turkish believe that if the first customer of the day leaves happy, then the rest of the day will prove to be a good one for the seller.

4) If you're in the market for a Turkish pillow (and you should be as these make for great gifts), you will be inundated with options wherever you go. With an endless choice of colors, patterns, and quality, you will surely be lost in the sea of options at your disposal even in one single store. If you find one that you like, or one that you even remotely think would be a good gift for yourself or another, buy it then and there. If you're the type that wants to see all your options in front of you before making a purchase, then you may find it hard to purchase that right one since you'll likely never find that one that you liked once you pass up the initial opportunity.

5) The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is definitely what the name suggests it to be. With long corridors stretching left and right, there are no shortages of places to go. While the Grand Bazaar is most popular amongst the tourists, there are other bazaars that should not be missed. The Spice Market, located a short walk away is a smaller bizarre serving the community with a myriad of spices. The aroma of the corridors is a clear indication that you have come to the right place for spices. Directly behind the Spice Market are a series of corridors where the locals tend to shop for their bargains. For household items to clothing to more food, these set of corridors are packed with locals looking for great bargains. For tourists looking to see where the locals like to shop, this is a great starting point.

6) Some of the best foods in the vicinity can be bought right on the streets of Turkey. However don't let the excitement of the smell of the food cover your senses. Be forewarned that sometimes these street foods have been lying outside in the heat for the entire day. If you so choose to buy something meaty, eat at your own risk. I had the unfortunate experience of having to delay my flight back because I was stuck in bed for an extra day with food poisoning.

7) Speaking of food poisoning, I have run into a number of travelers who have had bad luck with the water they drank. Although I had no troubles in my journey, it may be wise for others to take precautions by buying bottled water at the local store.

8) Need money for that water? There are ATMs scattered all over. Even in the remote areas of Göreme you'll be grateful with that familiar sign of an instant bank machine. However safe you may feel seeing that machine, don't bet on always getting your money right away. Sometimes - more often in rural areas - the machine runs out of money. Travelers have been known to take out money from the machine with nothing more than air coming out of the dispenser. Your account gets deducted the amount and you are left with nothing more than that horrible feeling of panic wondering what you are supposed to do next. Phoning the number on the machine is a start, although often times they may tell you to go to the bank directly and solve the issue there. If so, keep a record of the before and after transaction details (via your online banking), the ATM location and ID (if you find one), and more than likely they will give you your money back once everything checks. Banking in the rural parts of Turkey is possible, but be aware that these things may still happen on occasion.

9) When banking at an ATM in Istanbul, I noticed many people simply loitering around the area. Being extra cautious at this point, it's best to be on your guard. One of the loiterers noticed I was having trouble with one of the ATMs. He approached me and offered his assistance by telling me which buttons to press. At this point, he was unnecessarily close to me so I took my card out of the machine and walked over to another bank down the street. He followed me down the street insisting that he help me out with the ATM. I ignored him and walked over to the next ATM I saw. As I held my card and read what it said on the screen, he grabbed my card insisting that I let him help me with the machine. Fortunately my grip was hard enough that I didn't let go. I told him his help was not needed and walked away.

10) Touring the sites of Istanbul? Don't be alarmed if a traditionally dressed Ottoman comes to you motioning you to take his picture. It's often a scheme for them to make some money from unsuspecting tourists (like myself). After taking his picture, he comes to you offering a cup of visne juice that he has filled with his tank on his back. He's adamant in you taking the drink by putting it in front of your face and saying it's OK. After you take it, he asks for some money. In my case, it was $5. If you're not up to paying $5, then try bargaining with him to lower the cost. Most of them - if not all - are more than happy to take any denomination you offer them. The juice is refreshingly pleasing to the palette and he did pose for a photo, so use your judgment as to what you feel is fair.

If you're planning your itinerary to Turkey, there are many places that should not be missed in this unique country. One can easily spend an entire week in Istanbul alone. With so many things to do and see, the week will go by very quickly. However with Turkey being so large, other parts of the country may prove to be just as priceless a trip as a trip to Istanbul may be. Finding the time to visit inlands into the valleys of Göreme was one of my most memorable experiences. The southern, western, and northern coastlines also offer terrific vacation opportunities. Wherever you choose, no doubt Turkey will be sure to leave you with fond memories that will last a lifetime.