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The Rough Guide to Turkey

The Rough Guide to Turkey

List Price: $19.95
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Rough Guide to Turkey
Review: I enjoyed my Rough Guide to Turkey but will not be taking it with me to Turkey. because I am absolutely furious with the production of the guide. I have the fourth edition published June 2000 and the book is in bits. Pages 255 to 260 - 275 to 280- have come adrift other pages I have taped and others are ready to fall out. I bought the guide new. I therefore would not recommend Rough Guide to Turkey to anyone even though the actual format is good. I am making sure all my friends know about this shoddy production. I would happily post my copy to the Rough Guide Team, though I be very surprised if my copy is the only one suffering this defect.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Rough Guide to Turkey
Review: I enjoyed my Rough Guide to Turkey but will not be taking it with me to Turkey. because I am absolutely furious with the production of the guide. I have the fourth edition published June 2000 and the book is in bits. Pages 255 to 260 - 275 to 280- have come adrift other pages I have taped and others are ready to fall out. I bought the guide new. I therefore would not recommend Rough Guide to Turkey to anyone even though the actual format is good. I am making sure all my friends know about this shoddy production. I would happily post my copy to the Rough Guide Team, though I be very surprised if my copy is the only one suffering this defect.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Comprehensive, opinionated, and sensible
Review: I used this book for a driving trip along the western and southern coasts, beginning in Istanbul, remaining west of Ankara, and concluding in Antalya.

I was impressed with this book. I found its lodging and restaurant recommendations quite useful and reliable, though they are not as low-budget as, say, Let's Go. However, Turkey is so inexpensive that even the budget-conscious need not stay or eat at the cheapest places. I like the fact that lodging recommendations are located on clear maps with numbers keyed to the text--this simple thing is often absent in guides to Turkey, and what a pain when you're constantly in new places! Nightlife is covered, as is the nearest post office and local travel agency for that last-minute flight back to Istanbul that you were sure you wouldn't need because you would be driving back yourself.

Contemporary, historical, and archaelogical information is surprisingly detailed and plentiful. When the authors do not like something, they can be stinging. While some might find this approach annoying (it is very English), I buy a travel book for its opinions, so long as these opinions are based on real knowledge.

In sum, if you were to take only one travel book to Turkey, and if you wanted to cover major parts of the country, this Rough Guide would be ideal. Add a Blue Guide Turkey, a couple of really good atlases, and perhaps a book devoted to Istanbul, and you should be set.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: One of the better Turkish guidebooks, still not great though
Review: If you are travelling throughout Turkey, this is one of the better Turkish guidebooks, especially since it covers quite a wide breadth of areas. On the down side, I would have preferred more comprehensive maps (and more maps period). Also, it is not particularly conducive to travellers making plans to be travelling in different areas day-to-day. For example, we were on the Southern Coast and wanted to head up to Ephesus. But it was difficult to schedule the trip, as they were all-day trips offered on Wednesday and Saturday only. And since every tour operator in town had the same schedule, we had no alternatives. It would have been nice to know that there are lots of 2 day trips to Ephesus/Pammulkae. I wish that they had more on the short trips within the country. On the upside, the lodging and restaurant suggestions were excellent. If you are going to Istanbul, definitely get the Eyewitness Guide. It is excellent (too bad it's only for Istanbul). Overall, I would recommend this for those travelling outside of Istanbul.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: One of the better Turkish guidebooks, still not great though
Review: If you are travelling throughout Turkey, this is one of the better Turkish guidebooks, especially since it covers quite a wide breadth of areas. On the down side, I would have preferred more comprehensive maps (and more maps period). Also, it is not particularly conducive to travellers making plans to be travelling in different areas day-to-day. For example, we were on the Southern Coast and wanted to head up to Ephesus. But it was difficult to schedule the trip, as they were all-day trips offered on Wednesday and Saturday only. And since every tour operator in town had the same schedule, we had no alternatives. It would have been nice to know that there are lots of 2 day trips to Ephesus/Pammulkae. I wish that they had more on the short trips within the country. On the upside, the lodging and restaurant suggestions were excellent. If you are going to Istanbul, definitely get the Eyewitness Guide. It is excellent (too bad it's only for Istanbul). Overall, I would recommend this for those travelling outside of Istanbul.

Rating: 0 stars
Summary: NEW IMPROVED, EXPANDED FOURTH EDITION OUT NOW
Review: The fourth edition of "Rough Turkey" is now available; this time around we've benefitted greatly from expert contributions or updates from folk long resident in Turkey. Kate Clow and Terry Richardson, two hiking experts, give full coverage of walking/trekking opportunities in the Toros Mountains, plus an exclusive preview of the Lycian Way, Turkey's first marked long-distance trail along the stunning Turquoise Coast. David Byrne gives us the lowdown on his ever-complicated adopted hometown of Istanbul, while the music section has been completely overhauled by University of Chicago musicologist and saz player Martin Stokes. For the first time there are colour pictures, including some by two of Turkey's top photographers: Izzet Keribar and Yusuf Tuvi. As ever, the comprehensive history section has been brought as far up to date as possible (March 2000), no mean task in a country as complex as Turkey. These are just some of the features that give Rough Turkey the edge over the competition. You may hear through the grapevine that a certain other series has its updater/researcher resident in Turkey as of 1999. Don't be fooled -- the authors and updaters of Rough Guide Turkey have between them over 30 years collective experience in the country! See it as it really is, not just the limited backpacker's view from the back of a Fez Bus. Incidentally, I (Marc Dubin) am one of the three original co-authors of the guide, along with John Gawthrop and Rosie Ayliffe, not a "contributor"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best guide book possible
Review: The Rough Guide to Turkey is extremely comprehensive and fun. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in Turkey, not only to those who will be visiting.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: First steps to Turkey
Review: This is the best single guidebook we've found for Turkey. We escort small groups to Turkey, and the Rough Guide is consistently the best single reference for general and historical information. Combined with the Blue Guide to Turkey, it's easy to plan your trip. As usual with the Rough Guides, it has a lot of information for many types of travelers without sacrificing cultural and historical details. Well organized, with good maps (much better than the Lonely Planet series)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: First steps to Turkey
Review: This is the best single guidebook we've found for Turkey. We escort small groups to Turkey, and the Rough Guide is consistently the best single reference for general and historical information. Combined with the Blue Guide to Turkey, it's easy to plan your trip. As usual with the Rough Guides, it has a lot of information for many types of travelers without sacrificing cultural and historical details. Well organized, with good maps (much better than the Lonely Planet series)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Best Guide for Turkey
Review: We used the Rough Guide to Turkey in the summer of 99. Compared to other guides this is the best we have used. While there were a few areas that needed updating, if the guide said a tout would appear to lead you through tunnel, it would happen with uncanny accuracy. Provides almost-guide quality history with substantial detail. Only criticism was that hotel/restaurant not complete but good enough. We used for auto trip Instanbul/Capadoccia/Med coast.


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