Holidaycheck Awards 2012

The hotel rewiev site Holidaycheck announced “The 99 Most Popular Hotels Worldwide“. The selection was made with the votes of the 530.000 travellers. The awards are based on the hotel reviews from 2011.

This year the winning hotels were divided into 7 categories:
Country’s No. 1, Beach Holiday, City Trip, Winter Sport, Countryside & Spa, Family and Couples.

Antalya, the most popular tourism center of Turkey has entered the list with 4 great hotels.

The hotels awarded from Antalya are:

Hotel Delphin Diva Premiere – Category: Country’s No. 1

Hotel Delphin Diva Premiere*

Hotel Side Crown Palace – Category: Family

Hotel Side Crown Palace 5*

Hotel Royal Dragon – Category: Beach Holiday

Hotel Royal Dragon 5*

Sunis Hotel Evren Beach Resort & Spa – Category: Couples

Sunis Hotel Evren Beach Resort & Spa 5*

Those were the only four of the georgeus hotels in Antalya. Being a desired tourisim destination brings high quality in the accomodation services in Antalya. Also the competition between these great hotels provides great opportunities for travellers as great early reservation discounts, extra services and transportation assistaces etc.

Finally, if you reaf the reviews for Antalya, you will figure that Antalya is a must go place for you.

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Safranbolu has amazing traditional houses

Safranbolu a town of Karabük is in Northwest of Blacksea Region and its population is nearly 50.000 people. Safranbolu’s history is approximately 3000 years old and hosts many different kinds of civilization in this time period. By means of these different civilizations today it reaches a very impressive cultural richness. Especially Ottoman Traces such as baths, mosques, fountain, bridges and unique halls are very impressive and fascinate people. In 1994 it has listed as a World Arcitecture Heritage Cities by UNESCO and also in Europe Historical Cities Union Congress held in Rhodes in 2003 it was chosen one of the best protected city in 20 cities of Europe.

Nowadays everything turns into artificial: morals, art, tendencies. However a forgetten historical treasure meets you in Safranbolu. Not to be charmed by this natural beauty is impossible. Its Castle, Clock Tower, mensions that belongs to 18. and 19. centuries, fountains, mosques, Turkish baths, bridges have a history of centennials felt men like in a time tunnel.

The pool inside the Safranbolu Asmazlar Konağı

You can walk through the narrow streets with rough cobblestone pavement, lean against the walls 200 years old, drink natural fountain water in every corner and in a guild cafe enjoy your coffee with Turkish delight made of Saffron a herb that gives the name of city.

Safranbolu Old Government Building and Clock Tower

Together with its unique historical identity there are many natural beauties in Safranbolu such as caves, canyons, plateaus, historical villages, vineyards, Saffron gardens, king and rock graves, Turkish Delight with a unique taste. All these beauty makes Safranbolu an important tourist centre.

Cinci han, is an old hotel and has 48 rooms

You can find many historical places and ancient traces all over the world but some of them are protected some of them are blasted whereas Safranbolu is a historical artifact as a whole city. Therefore, definetely you must come and see this charming town of Turkey.

Must do things:

Watch the panaroma of town from Hıdırlık Hill and Castle of town

Visit Safranbolu House Museums

Visit and shopping in Blacksmith and Coppersmith Bazaars.

Stay in Historical Mensions.

Visit Safranbolu City History Museum

See

Taste local food such as Zerde a special desert made of Saffron, Safranbolu Bükmesi a traditional pastry, Baklava traditional Turkish Desert and Turkish Delight made of Saffron

A traditional house of Safranbolu

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Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ playing the character Kuzey

 Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ‘s new tv series “Kuzey Güney” hits the tv ratings. After the series Aşk-ı Memnu, his career reached to its peak, and his popularity, especially on his woman fans, increased.

“Kuzey Güney” is a new tv series project, it is based on the story of two brothers who have opposite characters and actually are in love with the same girl.

Kıvan. Tatlıtuğ is starring as Kuzey(means North) and Buğra Gülsoy acts as Güney(means South), and Bade İşçil and Ökü Karayel are also starring.

Also their story is a bit more complicated, an accident changes their life, although they live in the same house their way of life separates.

Kuzey is the rough one, he has a rebel personality, and he has no fear for anything, he is secretly feeling a great love to his dream girl, but he is unable to keep up with anything, as a job. His brother Güney, has an opposite character, he is well educated,  has a responsibility as job and other obligations, however he is an unfaithful lover.

The famous street-fight scene

The series played for eight episodes to now, and the critics are good. Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ’s performance is outstanding.  Also the whole casts performance is good.

The series keep the excitement, drama and love together and it seems that it will be a lasting series, and its tv ratings will be satisfactory for a long time.

The series plays on 20:00(GMT+3 İstanbul local time) on Wednesdays. You may find more information and watch the past episodes at its official website (The site is in Turkish however you may browse via Google translate by clicking here)

You may browse a small gallery here.

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2. Bülent İnal ; Your Favorite Actor

Beren Saat and her foreign boyfriend after cinema

Beren Saat, Turkish famous tv actress is appearing around with her forign boyfriend. After having relationship and being apart with Bülent İnal, Beren Saat’s private life was not to much issued on media.

After this sensational relationship with Bülent İnal,  Beren Saat stared to date with  with levent Semerci, who was her cast-mate in the tv series of Aşk-ı Memnu. The couple were together for three years, however last month the young  couple had broke up, and had no speech about this break up.

Beren Saat and her foreign boyfriend

Beren Saat was not on magazine shows since two weeks ago, until she was seen with her foreign boyfriend after having lunch in a beautiful restaurant at Yeniköy.

The press stuff asked her that “Is it a beginning of a new relationship” but she remained silent. She also translated the question to his boyfriend.

This event flashed question marks for their relationship. And another event supported this question marks.

Beren Saat and her new boyfriend caught to press at walking in Nişantaşı.

Beren Saat and her foreign boyfriend

After all, the last event was cleared the question marks. Yesterday, Beren Saat and her boyfriend went to the cinema, the couple met with Burçin Terzioğlu and Murat Yıldırım couple, Beren Saat introduced his boyfirend as my new lover. The couple watched the movie together and after the movie, the press stuff have seen the new couple and asked about the realationship, Beren Saat and her new lover just smiled to the cameras.

Beren Saat is now starring on the TV series “Fatmagülün Suçu Ne” the series play on Thursdays at 20:00 pm local time. Official site is here. (The site is in Turkish however you may browse via Google translate by clicking here)

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Umutsuz Ev Kadınları -Turkish version of The Desperate Housewives

The new tv series “Umutsuz Ev Kadınları” started to show on screens. The series based on the world-wide famous and award-winning tv series Desperate Housewives.

Umutsuz Ev Kadınları launched as a Turkish verision of The Desperate Housewives. The story is quite similat, however the social and cultural differeces makes the series a bit different from the originals.

The cast are selected from the successful woman actress. Susan is played by Songül Öden- charecter’s name Yasemin, Bree is played by Bennu Yıldırımlar- as Nermin, Gabrielle is played by Evrim Solmaz- as Zeliş, Lynette is by Ceyda Düvenci- as Elif and Edie is played by Özge Özder-as Emel.

The fifth episode will be on screens this Sunday. At first impression, people liked the new series and it has archived satisfactory ratings for the past four week. It seems like the series will be successful as a good implementation of an Hollywood series in Turkey. on recent years lots of Hollywood series tried to be implement on Turkish tv screens, but none of them were successful to hit the screens.

The series plays on Sundays at 20:00 on local time. You may find more information and watch the past episodes at its official website (The site is in Turkish however you may browse via Google translate by clicking here)

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İbrahim Tatlıses got married with Ayşegül Yıldız

İbrahim Tatlıses(59), the famous singer of Turkey, married with Ayşegül Yıldız(30). This news was surprising because after the terrible gunshot assault to İbrahim Tatlıses,  his fans were curious about his health situation. He was receiving rehabilitation treatment for 3 months.

İbrahim Tatlıses, is still a very popular singer among Turkey and Middle East. From the early period of his career his popularity has a great influence of women. He had relationships with Turkey’s famous female actresses, singers and dancers like Deray Tuna, Hülya Avşar, Perihan Savaş, Asena, Demet Akalın and others. Besides, he never got married with those lovers, even though he had kids from them, which are now teenagers.

İbrahim Tatlıses and Ayşegül Yıldız some years ago

It has been told that his relationship with his beloved wife was about 12 years. After the terrible gunshıt attack to him, he told his friends that he decided to get married because he was tired of lying to women who is special for him.

His ex-lovers got very angry for this marriage. However he is very happy for this decision.

İbrahim Tatlıses is still receiving rehabilitation but yesterday he went out for having some Çiğ Köfte. İbrahim tatlıses and his newly married wife went to restaurant which belongs to İbrahim Tatlıses -and the place opened just before the attack-. Tatlıses couple seemed very happy.

İbrahim Tatlıses at his Kebab Restaurant with his wife and friends

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By this topic, we hereby provide the prices of the common consumer goods and transportation in Turkey. This prices will help you to determine the common price level.

Exchange rates as of 25.09.2011 (Current Rates may be seen here)

1 USD= 1.8 Turkish Lira(TL)
1 EUR= 2,5 Turkish Lira(TL)
1 GBP= 2,8
1 SAR= o,5

Common consumption goods

Water(50ml): 0,50 TL
Coca-Cola(500ml): 1,45 TL
Marlboro 100′s: 7,50 TL
Kebab’s: ~12-18 TL
Big Mac Menu: 10 TL
Crisps(80gr) 1,5 TL
Beer(Market): 3 TL
Beer (Bar): 7 TL

Meals:

Avarage Breakfast: 8 TL
Avarage Lunch: 10 TL
Avarage Dinner: 12 TL

Döner Sandwiches:

Chicken Döner: 4 TL
Beef Döner: 6 TL

Public Trasportation(İstanbul incity)

Bus Tickets: 2 TL
Underground: 2 TL
Ferries: 2 TL

Taxi Fares (İstanbul)

Opens with 2.5 TL + 1,6 TL for each km

->A simple taxi fare calculator with map 

Intercity coach fares:

İstanbul-Ankara: 33 TL
İstanbul-Antalya: 55 TL
İstanbul-İzmir: 45 TL
İstanbul Bodrum: 60 TL
İstanbul-Fethiye: 65 TL

Airport Shuttles(İstanbul)

Sabiha Gökçen İnternational Airport to Taksim Square: 12 TL
Atatürk International Airport to Taksim Square: 10 TL

The prices provided here are not actual prices, they are written for demonstration purposes only. The prices provided here may be vary for the seller&place

Also you need to know the banknotes and coins. You may see the picture of the banknotes and coins in use:

Turkish Banknotes and Coins in use

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Sapphire of İstanbul

İstanbul Sapphire, with its 261 meters height, is the Europe’s tallest building(except Russian territories).  Being a financial and trade center, modern skyscrapers started to build in the early 1990′s. Levent zone now became a skyscrapers hood. Modern sckscrapers changed this zones view, and now this zone is the most attractive center for financial and trade centers. Also zone hosts lost of shopping centers inside this sckyscrapers.

Sapphire of İstanbul is the newest one. Sapphire is not just a skyscraper, residence and shopping center, it is also a touristic place. This attraction point uses its height to impres its visitors.

Sapphire has a panaroma view terrace, which you may go up to the top of the building and watch the amazing wiev of İstanbul and Bosporus. This beautiful panaroma will be very exciting for you and watching the sunset over Bosphorus and İstanbul will take you away.

Sapphire at Night

Also, there is a  4D Skyride in this terrace.  By this skyride, you will enter a 4D cinema saloon and make a virtual tour over İstabul by chopper. This experience is quite realsitic. You will fly across the Bosphorus Bridge, Maiden’s Towe, Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmet, Taksim Square and Levent. Tickets for the view terrace are about 15 Turkish liras  (~9 USD) if you buy the SkyRide it will be about 25 Turkish Liras (~15 USD)

Saphhire also has a shoping center, lots of brands and their concept shops are located at the entrance of the building.

Sapphire is located at Büyükdere Caddesi, levent, this street also hosts great shopping centers as Kanyon AVM, MetroCity AVM. Being a financial center, Turkey’s greater financial Instututions has their headquarters here.

If you are planning to visit İstanbul, you may get to Sapphire by using underground from Taksim, it is just ahed of the Levent Underground station .

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Sinem Kobal

Sinem Kobal is a young model and actress. Her popularity has been increasing since she had started dating with the talented Turkish football star Arda Turan.

She was born in 1987 in İstanbul. In early years of school she had a great interest in Bale and sports. Her TV career started when she was in her 13th age in The sitcom ‘Dadı’. She was training in the Dormen Theatre. This was her first step in her acting career. She played with two celebrities; the famous actor Haluk Bilginer and the famous singer Gülben Ergen were starring in this sitcom. She kept acting in her education time. Since She graduated from high school in 2001 she moved forward and started to get bigger chances in both TV and cinema.

After graduating she went to Beykent Üniversitesi Department of Fine Arts and Stage and Show Arts Department. With this education, she improved her acting skills and her star shined even brighter.

She had played in the Tv series; Hurrem Sultan(2003), Lise Defteri(2003), Nefes Nefese(2005), Selena(2006) and recently Küçük Sırlar(2010).

Selena was the milestone of her career. This tv serie was so popular amoung the children. She was playing as an Angel who looks after for three orphan girls suffering from their evil stepmother.

Her cinema career had the boost from her tv series, she plaed in:
Okul – as Sebnem (2004), Dunyayi Kurtaran Adamin Oglu – as Bianca (2006), Ayakta Kal – Yasemin (2008), Romantik Komedi – as Didem (2010).

Her acting performance was not the only reason of her popularity. As it was stated, her relationship with Arda Turan of Galatasaray changed everything of her world.

Arda Turan was the young talent of Turkish football. He succeeded to get into the National Team and his performance in both league and international cups were outstanding. He was the hope for Galatasaray.

Things were going great for the young couple and they had engaged in the year of 2010. Their relationship was good however they couldn’t stop rumours and speculations about them and Arda’s performance.

In this summer Arda Turan transferred to Athletico Madrid for €12 Million. This was his major step to Europe. Everybody was looking for their future plans with Sinem. The couple managed to handle with this rapid changes. Arda moved to Madrid and Sinem will be staying in Turkey for some time to keep her career moving. However there is rumours about her movement plan to Madrid. It is said that she was receiving offers from Spain and there is a huge interest for Arda’s young fiancé in Spain.

Sinem is now recently acting in the TV series of Küçük Sırlar. The series is the Turkish version of Gossip Girl and Sinem is playing a role quite similar to Serena van der Woodsen.

We actually do not now Sinem’s further steps for Spain, but we wish best for the young couple.

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Kenan İmirzalıoğlu one of the best male actors of Turkey

Kenan İmirzalıoğlu is one of the most talented actors of Turkish Tv&Cinema. With his good looking and stunning acting performance he became one of the best male stars of Turkey.

Kenan İmirzalıoğlu was born in 18th of June 1974 in the village Üçem, which is located in Bala province of Ankara. He studied his middle school and high school in Ankara. After graduating from the high school, he didn’t succeed well in the matriculation exams in his first try. After the disappointment, he was returned to his village and studied to the matriculation exams for university. By his second attempt he was qualified for Yıldız Technical University Mathematics Faculty. Then he moves to İstanbul for his university education.

İmirzalıoğlu was a good looking young man, with his height and good looking, her friends were insisting him to became a model. By this advises and insistance İmirzalıoğlu started to work with a modelling agency. After his modelling career started, he joined to the contest of Best Model of Turkey and he took  the first place of the contest, became the Best Model of Turkey. As he took the first place of Turkeys’s contest, so he joined the Best Model of The World contest. With his great success he also took the first place of the worldwide contest, and became the Best Model of The World. This was the first time a Turkish model won such a prize.

Kenan İmirzalıoğlu in Deli Yürek

After the contest, he got offers from the TV series. The Director Osman sınav offers him the leading role of the tv series “Deli Yürek(Mad Heart)”. İmirzalıoğlu accepts this offer as he likes Mr.Osman Sınav. After the series he starred in his first movie “Deli Yürek-Bumerang Cehennemi(Mad Heart-Boomerang Inferno)”.

Deliyürek Bumerang Cehennemi

After the movie of Deli Yürek is completed he went to the U.S.A for language education. After his return, he got more offers for new movie and tv projects. He picked the project Alacakaranlık(Twilight), which is was written and directed by Uğur Yücel. After this project he acted in the movie of “Yazı Tura(Heads and Tails)” which is also produced by the Alacakaranlık team.

A screencapture from Acı Hayat

The next tv series project was Acı Hayat(The Bitter Life), which was based on the original movie dated 1962. movie. With his strong performance, he increased his popularity among Turkish people.

In the year of 2006 he acted in the movie of “Son Osmanlı Yandım Ali(The Last Ottoman Yandım Ali)” which was based on the cartoon of Suat Yalaz.

Son Osmanlı Yandım Ali

As his performance was increasing, the offers continued to increase, and he starred in the movie “Kabadayı(Swashbuckler)” with the legendary actor Şener Şen, besides his tv series, this movie was one of the peaks of his movie career.

The tv series Ezel

After this projects, his last and most successful project is the tv series “Ezel“. Ezel became so popular, took number one place of the tv ratings. The series are finished this season, however series stared to show in abroad countries.

Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ performed as guest star in Ezel

Short notes about Kenan İmirzalıoğlu:

-His parents are farmers. He has a sister and a brother
-He has 1.90 cm height and his shoes are number 46
-He doesnt like night life
-He likes reading and listening to music
-He loves drinking tea, an enthusiast. His favorite is the blend which he prepares by his own.
-He loves eating meat in his meals
-He eats honey everyday in his breakfast
-He loves forests, and he has a great passion to the nature

Filmography:

-Deli Yürek - Yusuf Miroğlu – 1999

-Deli Yürek: Bumerang Cehennemi -Yusuf Miroğlu-2001

Alacakaranlık - Ferit Çağlayan- 2003

Yazı tura- Hayalet Cevher – 2004

Acı hayat - Mehmet Kosovalı- 2005-2006

Son Osmanlı Yandim Ali- Ali -2007

Kabadayi- Devran- 2007

Ejder kapani - Akrep Celal-2010

Ezel - Ezel Bayraktar-2009-2011

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