Are you planning to explore Turkey this coming season? Is this going to be a solo trip? Then, you should waste no time before getting tickets and getting a visa. When it comes to traveling, it is always best to do things a little early rather than pushing them until the very last minute. However, this is not the only thing that you will be required to do for this trip.
Well, a solo trip can bring in a few challenges. Plus, it also demands you to have a proper plan, basically, things that you should do and shouldn’t. So, make sure you have a full understanding of these things before you start your trip or apply for an eVisa to Turkey.
What Does One Need to Travel to Turkey?
There are a few things that you will definitely require to enter the country of Turkey. Moreover, there are some on this list, failing to provide which will block your entry. Some of these things are;
Passport:
Your passport works as the most important proof of identity when it comes to traveling to a foreign country. So, make sure you have a valid passport before you even start planning for the trip. This passport should have at least 6 months of validity and a minimum of 2 blank pages. The blank pages are required for the passport to get stamped when you enter and leave the country.
Visa:
A visa is a travel permit that proves your eligibility to enter the country. This is a must for most countries, except the ones which are on the waiver list. There are generally two ways of getting this visa; one is through online and the other one is through the embassy. In our opinion, it is always best to get an eVisa to Turkey. This way there is way less stress and hassle before your travel date. However, you should check the list of eligible countries for eVisas for Turkey before you apply for one.
Travel Insurance:
This one is not a must for exploring Turkey. However, you should keep in mind that a solo trip can bring in a few challenges just because you are left completely on your own. This is exactly why it becomes important for people to get travel insurance for the trip. You should choose an insurance plan that comes with good coverage. This will provide you the peace of mind that everything will work fine if things go in the wrong direction.
Crucial Steps of the Planning Process
There are a few things that form an important part of the entire planning process. Moreover, your entire plan can go in the wrong direction if you fail to ensure the following things.
Book Tickets in Advance:
You should start the process by booking flight tickets at least a month before the date you have planned to travel. This is the only way you will be able to ensure that you get the flight and the seat that you want to wish for. One good flight tip is to upgrade your flight tickets last minute after you reach the airport. This way you get a chance to get good last-minute discounts on flight tickets. This is definitely only if you want to get an upgrade.
Get Your Evisa for Turkey:
The approval process for Turkey eVisa doesn’t really take a long time. However, it is still better to apply for eVisa to Turkey at least 2 weeks in advance. This way you get a chance to handle the situation if the eVisa gets delayed or denied. The process to apply for this visa is pretty easy and it comes in a few different steps. The steps of this process are;
Visit the Website: Visit the Immigration website of Turkey or any other reputed site made for getting visa. From there on you will be able to find the visa application form made for tourism purposes.
Fill in the Application: Fill out the application form with your accurate personal details and anything else related to your travel. Make sure you make no mistakes while filling out the details. This is because any spelling mistakes or errors while writing the ID numbers can result in your visa being declined.
Attach Documentation: Attach copies of all of the necessary documents with the application form for eVisas for Turkey. Some of the documents that you will be required to share are a scanned copy of your passport, a recent passport-sized photograph, bank statements, travel bookings, return flight tickets, and others. Make sure that these are soft copies and match the requirements set for the Turkey eVisa application.
Pay the Fees: Pay the fee for the visa application through a debit or credit card. However, you should stay away from paying through suspicious payment methods as that can result in potential fraud.
Wait for Approval: You will most likely get the visa approval letter in your provided email ID within a few days after you are done with this process. Make sure you get a few printed copies of the letter and then bring it with you to the airport. This way you will be able to avoid any confusion with the Immigration officer.
Get Hotel Bookings in Advance:
Turkey can get pretty crowded during peak seasons. This automatically makes it hard for people to get hotel bookings after reaching the country. This is exactly why it is always best to get accommodation at your favorite hotel right after you book your flight tickets. This way you will not have to take any stress after your flight reaches the country. You will automatically know where you are supposed to go.
Pack Appropriately:
Well, the way you pack your bags completely depends on when you are traveling to the country. For instance, you should pack more light and breathable clothes if you are traveling in the summer. On the other, you should be carrying sweaters, thermal clothing items, and boots if you are traveling in the winter. However, irrespective of the season, you should always bring some sun protection with you. Most important of all, you should remember to avoid over-packing your bag when you are traveling to the country after applying for eVisa for Turkey. This is because carrying heavy luggage can become tough for you.
Create a Plan in Advance:
Having a proper travel plan becomes important for having a successful trip, especially when you are traveling alone. So, make sure you have a clear idea of all the places that you want to travel to. Moreover, you can also break down each of your days and designate it for different areas of the Turkish city that you are visiting. After that, you should also add any cost associated with exploring those places.
Learn Some Basic Turkish Phrases:
People from parts of the world know or at least understand English, and the same is true for Turkey. However, there can be some parts of the country where the locals do not fully understand the language. This is exactly why, it will be better if you learn a few Turkish words before you travel to the country. You will just some basic things like;
- “Merhaba” is Hello
- “Selam” is a casual greeting among friends
- “Teşekkürler” is Thank you
- “Hoş geldiniz” is Welcome
- “Günaydın” is Good morning
- “İyi akşamlar” is Good evening
Learning these few words will be more than enough for your trip. This will help you in going by your day and making any kind of expenses.
Safety Requirements:
There are a few safety requirements that you should definitely keep in mind when traveling alone in Turkey.
First and foremost, remember to restrict your traveling mostly to the day and stay indoors at night. This way there will be fewer chances for you to end up in a situation where your security is at risk.
Secondly, inform your friends or family about your whereabouts and plans. It does not matter if they are in a different country, hundreds or thousands of miles away from you. Keeping someone informed will at least make it easier to trace you if things go in the wrong direction.
Lastly, you should learn the emergency numbers of Turkey to be safe in case something happens. 112 is the Turkey Emergency Helpline made to help the ones in need. Remember to call on this and necessary help will be sent your way in no time.
Ready to Take a Solo Trip to Turkey?
Executing a perfect solo trip to Turkey will not be tough if you know the right way to do it. Remember you should get the tickets and apply for eVisa to Turkey in advance if you do not want to face any last-minute issues. Moreover, you should also have a proper plan as that helps in having a vision for the rest of the journey.
However, if you still face any delays in the visa approval then you can contact the Helpdesk. On the other hand, you should call the emergency number of Turkey (112) if you face any problems during your stay.
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