ESSENTIAL INFORMATION - DRINKING WATER
Although you can drink the tap water in Gumbet, it has a very high mineral content compared to England, so it really recommended that you leave it well alone.
Ice cubes in drinks from bars, however tend to be fine. Bottles of spring water can be purchased at all shops around the resort at all times of the day and night, and it's cheap - about the equivalent 50p max for 1.5 litres.
As it's so hot you'll be sampling one or two (ahem) beverages, it's recommended to drink a lot of water to stop you getting dehydrated
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION - THE CASH
New Turkish Lira" is now the currency in Turkey (well, local one anyway, they still love the English Pounds and Euros), but if any of you Gumbet regulars have the old Turkish Lira still (i.e. the ones that were in millions), they're no good anymore! - and shame on you for not spending them whilst you were out there! and if you prefer to get your money while your there all the cash points in Gumbet and nearby Bodrum (which has main banks such as HSBC) accept UK Switch/Maestro cards and Credit Cards too, We do highly recommend taking only enough Lira for the first day or so of your holiday, and the rest in either Sterling traveller's cheque's (safest) or pounds sterling (UK cash), You get a much better and commission free exchange rate in the resort than in the UK. Hotels, restaurants and bars change money, however you will get the best deals from some of the excursion and travel shops.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION - TELEPHONE
You can use your mobile phone in Turkey, but it is likely to cost you a lot of money. A far better option is to purchase a "phone card" like the one above.
These can be used in the payphones situated literally all over the resort. A 100 card like this one, costs 10 New Lira (about £4), and will last around 20 minutes, so it's great value for money. Phone cards can be purchased at any of the general stores around the resort (there's loads of them).
To use the card, simply pick up the receiver on the payphone, insert the card, then dial your country code and number (for the UK it's 0044 then the number minus the first 0 on the area code, I.e. Manchester 0161, would be 0044161, etc....
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
ALCOHOL & CIGARETTES
Lot of people are after bringing home some cheap Fags, Booze or both, and you don't get much cheaper than Turkey.
£13 for 200 cigarettes*
£7 a bottle of Spirits*
BUT we recommend you buy in the airport as it's all legal stuff,
and you still get a top bargain,
HOWEVER - take care - as Turkey is classed as outside the EU, which means you can take as much cigarettes and alcohol with you but you are only supposed to bring back 1 litre of spirits and 200 fags each. If caught with your very own flying Off-Licence, HM Customs may not be too chuffed - you have been warned.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
DRINKS IN RESORT BARS
Drinks are generally nice and cheap in bars and restaurants, but there are some exceptions. Generally, anything imported, such as Archers, Bacardi etc... is very expensive. You're best off asking for local alternatives eg "local Archers" just as good and less than half the price but twice the size!!
Also, alcopops are non existent in Turkey. Your better options are to go for the cocktails - very potent and very cheap! Lager isn't a big drink over there either - all bars sell it - usually Tuborg or Efes, both of which are very fizzy continental lagers. Some bars sell "Carlsberg" also, but be warned, this is brewed locally by Tuborg, and is not like you get in UK, wine is dirt cheap - go for the house stuff, about 90p a glass! and local beer a pint is 60p-90p depending where you drink, You'll find the cheapest drinks of course in the corner shops, Bar street is only slightly more pricey and still a lot cheaper than the UK. Do be careful in the proper clubs though the drinks are considerably more expensive than elsewhere in the resort.
