What to Pack for an Autumn Trip to Turkey

Last year, around this month, I was totally confused on what clothes should I bring for a 12-day travel in Turkey. It was the first time that we're heading out for an Autumn Holiday. And since we're flying on a budget airline, I had to squeeze everything that I wanted to wear in my carry-on... which is clearly impossible!

I wasted hours googling what to pack, how to create a travel capsule wardrobe and the like. All because I'm OC when it comes to travel outfits! Uhhm. I'm not a fashion blogger and I don't see myself venturing into the fashion scene, but hey I'm a girl! I love to dress up! 

Yep, this post is focused on travel wardrobe; a topic which I should have included in this blog way way back! :)

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Highlights of Turkey: A 12-Day DIY Travel Itinerary and Expenses

Because YOU asked for it, here is a summary of our #SweetEscapesInTurkey series along with our complete travel itinerary and expenses. :) 

We are very happy to share this article as a guide, but please remember that we are not the best DIY travel planners, not experts in budget trips either. Our itinerary had loopholes and we had misadventures. So I would suggest that you take all the tips you can get from here and build an itinerary based on your own interests. 

Grab your pen and travel journal. Ready? Here we go. :)    

#SweetEscapesInTurkey Travel Itinerary and Expenses

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A Day in Old City Sultanahmet

The Old City known as Sultanahmet is the heart of Istanbul. It is where major historical attractions are located, hence the archaeological park was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is touristy, yet filled with so much history and culture. That's why we chose to stay in a boutique hotel in the area.

We spent four days in Sultanahmet. And each day we would stay for an hour or two relaxing, people-watching, and eating Turkish ice cream in Sultanahmet Square. Except for Day 1 when we devoted the whole day exploring its attractions above and under the ground. 

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10 Reasons Why I Fell in Love with Istanbul

I have this huge crush on Istanbul for years. Needless to say, it turned into a love affair when I finally got to visit a couple of months ago. And when it was time to say goodbye, just like a girl truly madly in love, I suffered from separation anxiety.

How can somebody be so crazy about a city? Before you judge, please allow me to explain. Here are 10 reasons why I fell in love with Istanbul, probably the same reasons that will finally make YOU book an Istanbul-bound flight as well.   

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Travel Video: Sweet Escapes in Istanbul

The sound of call to prayer in Sultanahmet Square, the smell of the spices in the alleys of Egyptian Bazaar, the sight of the amazing skyline punctuated by majestic minarets, the taste of Turkish cuisine that greatly satisfied my tastebuds... All these I remember when I think about Istanbul. 

And I'm so happy that I can now bring back all the good memories in just a click. Our Istanbul Travel Video, made with love by the husband, is now on our YouTube channel (also embedded in this blog post)! 

This trip was four years in the making. You can obviously see in the video how extremely giddy we are to finally set foot in one of our dream destinations. So, I hope this video will also inspire everyone who have been wanting to visit Istanbul! Make it happen! You'll have the time of your life. I promise! ;) Trip details and some tips will be shared in this blog real soon. 

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My Top 15 Must-Eats in Istanbul

Turkish food is diverse and divine. Every meal that we had in Turkey was distinct, balance, and delicious. My foodie heart happily succumbed to it from the very first day until the last! During our last four days in Istanbul, we explored, ate, and looooved Turkish food like crazy! We dived into the unfamiliar, searched for the "bests", and ate like there's no tomorrow.

Without further ado, here are 15 Turkish treats that, I have to say, you ought to try when you're in Istanbul:

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Where We Stayed In Istanbul

Believe it or not, I spent a little more than three months searching for a perfect place to stay in Istanbul. First of all, let me define what's perfect for me because my perfect may not be perfect for you. Heheh! 

I wanted to stay in a hotel located near the sights and sounds of the Old City. But, a good night's sleep is essential, so it should be far away from the noisy streets. It should be reasonably priced, yet decent and pleasant. The one which offers little luxuries at less than 250 UAE Dirhams per night. You know, a carpeted room, cozy bed, private bathroom, breakfast buffet, and a roof deck where I can see the Blue Mosque!  

Sounds impossible? I thought so too. But one fine night, I stumbled across a boutique hotel which made me finally hit the BOOK button.  

Home in Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul

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Sunny Days in Selcuk

Our days in Selcuk were filled with sunshine. It was quite a good break from the blistering cold autumn weather during the first two legs of our #SweetEscapesInTurkey. We spent a day and a half in the historical town, and we managed to see most of the major attractions plus a short afternoon trip to the lovely village of Sirince. 

Full day guided tours are available from Pamukkale. but since we wanted freedom (as always), we created a DIY tour itinerary, booked two nights in Ayasoluk Hotel, and purchased one-way bus ticket.

Hello, sunshine! Hello, Selcuk!

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Ayasoluk Hotel in the Heart of Selcuk

I dragged my luggage from the bus station to the brick road up the hill, kept my fingers crossed that we're on the right path. We have studied the location map carefully, but since we opted not to subscribe to an international roaming service, our travel best friend - Google wasn't there to confirm if we got the directions correctly. 

An old man who assumed Ed and I were on a honeymoon trip (Hahah!) said we're probably confused as there are two Ayasoluk Hotels in Selcuk. Oh no! The other one is actually Ayasolok which is down the hill, across the main road. I was pretty sure that we're heading to the correct Ayasoluk Hotel as I could already see the landmarks stated in the hotel website - Ayasoluk Castle, Basilica of St. John, Isabey Mosque, but I just don't know which of the many left turns to take. 

After he wished us "Happy Honeymoon" (Gosh, I still couldn't help but laugh), we took his advice, turned left and finally saw a marker in the midst of a charming neighborhood. Few more confusions came, but we eventually arrived at the brick-clad facade of Ayasoluk Hotel. When we entered the courtyard, we were welcomed with open arms by Sarah, the lovely lady who never failed to promptly reply to my subsequent emails! Home, finally!     

Ayasoluk Hotel in Selcuk

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How to get to Selcuk from Pamukkale by Bus

Bus or Train? Ed and I were torn between two options when we inquired for tickets to Selcuk in a travel agency in Pamukkale. Train tickets are more affordable, but we had to go to the train station in Denizli which is almost 20 minutes by shuttle bus from Pamukkale. Taking the bus was the best way for us, but another question popped up... which bus?   

Pamukkale Turizm Bus

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Travel Video: Sweet Escapes in Pamukkale and Selcuk

It's been almost three months since our Turkey trip. Schedule was pretty tight after, hence we didn't get to share everything in this blog instantly. Sorry! But I'm really thankful to those who appreciate the snippets that we have shared in our social media handles. Huge huge THANKS for the private messages, especially the queries! It kept the memories alive and it inspired us to go on with our #SweetEscapesInTurkey blog series.

This may be a little late, but I'm soooo excited to finally share our travel video diaries in Pamukkale and Selcuk; mounted and made special by the husband!

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Turkey: Paragliding in Pamukkale

Based on the title alone, I guess you all know that this post was written by Ed. Heheh. Here are seven reasons why he thinks paragliding in Pamukkale is a must-do. He hopes this can somehow convince me to try it out if we get another opportunity in the future. Hmmm, we'll see! :)  - Lady  

After the 10-hour bus trip from Cappadocia to Pamukkale and a 3-hour rest at Melrose Viewpoint Hotel, I kicked off the second leg of our Turkey trip  with an extreme adventure. Paragliding! I really felt it was a great way to start our three days stay in Pamukkale town. It would have been better if Lady did it as well though. Hahah! 

I was excited to paraglide over the travertine terraces, but not as excited as I was when I was going for skydiving above Palm Jumeirah. I mean, paragliding is on my list, however I aim to do it first in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Dream on! Hahah! 

But then again, who could resist the urge of having a bird's-eye view of the magnificent white travertines of Pamukkale? I had the opportunity, I couldn't just stand there and let it pass. 

Paragliding in Pamukkale

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Turkey: 50 Hours in Pamukkale

In the southwest of Turkey lies a dramatic landscape of white travertine terraces overrunning with calcite-laden waters. It is called the Cotton Castle, or Pamukkale in Turkish. The surreal attraction, along with the ancient spa city of Hierapolis on top of the white mountain, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most visited tourist destination in Turkey. 

A day trip in Pamukkale is possible, but since I promised Ed that this trip would be a relaxed one, no full-packed itinerary and no rush, I booked a two nights stay in Pamukkale town. So, we had a total of 50 hours to spare and I felt it was just right.    

Sweet 50-hour Escape in Pamukkale

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Turkey: Night Bus from Cappadocia to Pamukkale

Ed and I bid goodbye to the surreal fairy chimneys of Cappadocia before our third day in Turkey ended. And on our fourth day, at dawn, we said hello to the snow-white travertines of Pamukkale. There are flights between two tourist destinations, from Kayseri (Cappadocia) to Denizli (Pamukkale), but we opted to take the most economical way - via Suha Turizm night bus.

Suha Turizm office in Goreme Otogar

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Turkey: Where and What I Ate in Cappadocia

Whenever we travel, deciding where to eat is just as important as choosing which tourist attraction to visit and to skip. It may be too obsessive-compulsive, but it pays to do a little research on food especially if you're too keen on your travel budget, or if you're simply a foodie who doesn't want to miss the town's specialty.

With only three days to eat my way around the town of Goreme, I wrote down two restaurants to tick off on my travel list and the rest of the meals I left for some surprises along the road. Here are the foodie spots I discovered in Cappadocia:    

My Foodie Destinations in Cappadocia

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Turkey: DIY Walking Tour in Cappadocia

Pulling off a DIY tour is hard. A lot of research is needed, map reading skill must be on point, and misadventures are inescapable. However, the joy of reaching a destination on your own is beyond compare! So, despite of being haunted by the thought of losing our way in a land we haven't set foot in, Ed and I fervently made a Cappadocia DIY walking/hiking tour itinerary.

Here are the attractions we explored on our own during our 3days-2nights trip in Cappadocia. Caution: Travel mishaps ahead! :) Follow our route with discretion. Hahah! ;)

Self-guided Tour in Cappadocia

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Turkey: Off The Beaten Track Guided Tour in Cappadocia

Ed and I were quite eager to go on a full DIY Turkey trip, so I did a lot of research on how to go from here to there. Halfway through the planning stage, I got alarmed on the thought of being lost in the deepest underground city in Cappadocia. Although I found some testimonies in the web saying it's possible to explore the multi-level Derinkuyu underground city without a guide, it's a risk I couldn't take. 

So, I went searching for tours and I found Turkish Heritage Travel's Undiscovered Cappadocia Tour which includes the underground city that I wanted to visit, plus four off the beaten path attractions. Discovering the undiscovered sounded like an adventure to me, hence I decided that if we're going to spend a whole day following a tour guide, that should be it!     

Discovering the Undiscovered in Cappadocia

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Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia

I'm such a scaredy-cat. I would excuse myself from the adrenaline rush that my husband greatly enjoys most of the time, but the moment I saw a photo of hot air balloons flying above the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, I told myself that one day, I will not let my fear of heights get me. I will hop on that basket and have a magical adventure in the air! 

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Turkey: What's So Special about Kelebek Special Cave Hotel?

A lot of "firsts" happened in Cappadocia. It was where we first discovered Kahvalti; THE breakfast of all breakfasts. It was where we had our first hot air balloon ride and our first long hike together. It was also where we slept in a cave for the first time! 

Cappadocia region in Central Turkey is every inch mystical. Fairy chimneys dot the dreamy landscape, some of which have been turned into houses, churches, and hotels. Hence, when we were deciding where to stay during the first leg of Turkish holiday, we couldn't settle for anything other than a cave room in the heart of Goreme.

And, we found something special.     

Kelebek Special Cave Hotel

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Travel Video: Sweet Escapes In Turkey: Cappadocia

Hi guys! We just got back from the BEST trip we've had by far!

Ed and I filled our memory banks to the brim with loads of adventure (and misadventure) in Turkey! It all started in Cappadocia - the land of the beautiful horses which I would rather call the mystical land of fairy chimneys and hot air balloons! 

I know a lot have been waiting for us to spill the trip details. We are so excited to share our travel stories as well, but let's start with a little teaser. ;) Thank you, by the way, for following our #SweetEscapesInTurkey on Facebook and Instagram.

Our days in Cappadocia were captured on video! :)

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