Our first arrival in Turkey Marmaris and how it went.

[mocruising]

We arrived at Yat Marine two days ago. (Two crew on board) Paid the 160 Euro and obtained the permit and blue card it could not have been simpler the Mr fixit at the Marina did it all. Less simple was our attempt at obtaining two sim cards for phones not purchased in Turkey and a dongle. Turkcell no longer register phones. We have purchased Turkcell hotspot (Two laptops on board) for the boat and have been advised to buy two second hand cheap phones and PAYG sims from Turkcell which we are in the process of doing. I have been advised that Turkcell have the widest coverage and that trying to register two phones at the tax office is a no brainer.

We have about 200 L of wine and 50 cases of beer onboard plus diving gear and compressor no one was even remotely interested. They said just don't use it unless you are clearing anchors or props.

 

[blue elephant]

I like the idea of using 200l of wine and 50 cases of beer when clearing anchors and props. Must make the job quite enjoyable.

 

[Tony Cross]

I like the idea of using 200l of wine and 50 cases of beer when clearing anchors and props. Must make the job quite enjoyable.

Doh! You beat me to that one!

 

[MASH]

Good heavens! Paid "the" 160 Eu for what, exactly????

 

[mikecontessa26]

Am I the only one totally put off Turkey from the sound of all the hidden charges?

 

[suebabsthenoo]

Different people in different places report different charges...seems to be no standard charge....we only paid £102 for 2 peas and 1 boat last year including visa.

 

[rivonia]

Different people in different places report different charges...seems to be no standard charge....we only paid £102 for 2 peas and 1 boat last year including visa.

2 PEAS ?? and the boat was a plastic yellow thing for the bath!

 

[MASH]

Yes, but what was this charge for? A transit log? Something else?

 

[charles_reed]

Am I the only one totally put off Turkey from the sound of all the hidden charges?

No.

 

[vyv_cox]

Am I the only one totally put off Turkey from the sound of all the hidden charges?

It was always our intention to continue eastwards to Turkey and the Black Sea. On arrival in the Aegean we began to learn of the costs and bureaucracy involved in continuing and made the decision not to bother. Much of the recent explosion in numbers of berthers at Leros is due to people returning from Turkey.

 

[neil1967]

We're not liveaboards (yet) but we keep a yacht in Turkey, and I can only say that it is a fantastic place for sailing, with friendly, helpful people. Of course, there are niggles, as there are in all countries, but don't let that put you off.

Neil

 

[rivonia]

No there are many others and we are one of them who will never return to Turkey.

 

[dougg]

Watching this with great interest as we are heading to Turkey soon. It seems a 50/50 split, by the forumites, weather its worth the hassle.

 

[Carmel2]

Watching this with great interest as we are heading to Turkey soon. It seems a 50/50 split, by the forumites, weather its worth the hassle.

I can't see why people get there knickers in a twist about this, it a simple process that can cost as much as going out for a meal.

 

[duncan99210]

Paul, either you're paying more for meals now than you used to do in Barca or you found a really good deal..... See you in Crete.

 

[maxy]

Yes, sounds like it.

There are no hidden charges, just some like to charge tourists too much. Once you discover this, you find another supplier. The radio net in Yat Marin, can make a newbies course an easy one. Every morning (except Sundays) at 09:00 channel 69

Turkey can be bureaucratic, and cumbersome, but its no worse than many other countries, and seems to get bad press for trying to get it's act together. OPs were cmplaining the other day about having to go to the port with their yacht to check in. I had to do the same in Croatia and Slovenia and Montenegro several months ago.

When we checked into Datca in April it cost 240TL at Knidos Yachting in the harbour.

 

[affinite]

In my opinion Turkey is no more (or less)hassle than anywhere else.
I tried to check out of Leros (Greece) at beginning of this week intending to head for Turkey.
Port Police in Leros pointed out that Leros wasn't a port of entry and I should go to Kalymnos to check out of Greece.
I dutifully sailed to Kalymnos and decided to stop there overnight.
Told PP that my next port was Turgutreis in Turkey and they said come back in the morning
In the morning PP told me that Kalymnos wasn't a port of entry and I should sail to Kos
A few choice words later and I decided Id had enough of playing it straight and I just left and sailed for Turkey without checking out of Greece. (Im sneaking back to Kos in a few days to try again)

Checking in to Turkey provided almost as much fun

TL120 for transit log
€100 for agent to process checkin and transit log
€15 PP for Visas
No mention of Blue Card (although I do have one from last time)
TL78 for new data SIM for my TurkCell dongle
Armanaleg for 1 night in Turgutreis Marina

 

[vyv_cox]

In my opinion Turkey is no more (or less)hassle than anywhere else.

Hell of a lot more expensive, though! In a month of cruising this year in Greece we have spent a total of €17.

 

[MASH]

Its the Eu100 for fifteen minutes "work" that you could (and used to do) do perfectly well yourself for nowt that many feel is armanaleg

It leaves a sour taste in the mouth before you've even started and first impressions...

 

[Norman_E]

I suggest looking at this website http://cruisingtips.net/mbc/?p=2382 for information on checking in and out, and on the Blue Card.