Passport / Visa Information
To enter Turkey, you are required to have a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date you travel to Turkey. In addition, nationals from some countries require a visa to enter Turkey. Depending on your country of origin, you may purchase a visa stamp at the point of entry, or you must apply for the visa before arriving in Turkey. For information on whether you require a visa to enter Turkey, visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
For up to date information about visa fees, visit the ministry's site.
Please also note that visa stamps purchased at the airport are payable in cash only(USD/ ?). Traveler's checks and credit cards are not accepted.
In you need to apply for a visa before your arrival, INVITATION LETTERS can be sent to you by email as a pdf file or postal service. The letters invite your participation in the conference and in order to get it, you should either have an accepted paper or complete your registration payment. Please send your invitation letter requests to info@vldb2012.org.
Language
Turkish is the official language, but English is widely understood in the main tourist areas.
Getting Around
The best way to travel in and around the Turkish coastal resorts is by the local minibus services which can be hailed from the roadside. There are good bus services between the major towns and organised tours to many attractions, though more independent travellers often prefer to rent a car.
Communications
The international country dialing code for Turkey is +90. The outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Mobile phones work in most of the country; the network operators use GSM networks, which will not be compatible with many US cell phones. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.
Safety / Security
Istanbul remains a destination with no increased risk when compared with other major destinations in the world.
According to a European Union study, Istanbul is the safest major city in the world. The EU Crime and Safety survey for 2006 showed that the crime rate in Istanbul was just 18 percent last year. This compared with 32 percent in London, 27 percent in Amsterdam, 26 percent in Belfast and Dublin, 24 percent in Copenhagen, 23 percent in New York and Stockholm, 20 percent in Brussels, and 19 percent in Rome.
In addition, strict security measures are put in place by the competent authorities in the city during major congresses and events.
Electricity
220 volt, 50 cycle. Most hotels have a receptacle with 110 volts. Socket type is European standards.
Communication
Public telephones operate with tokens or cards, sold at post offices or some booths. Through some of the public phones, there is access to AT&T and some other telecommunication networks - please check with your operator for the latest information. Fax messages can be sent from major post offices, or from the hotel. Cellular telephones can be hired.
Education and Health
Seventeen of 137 universities in Turkey are located in Istanbul, with faculties offering education in all subjects, from engineering to fine arts, economics to literature. The general level of the education is of high standard. There are also several foreign schools with the advantage of a second language from early years. Istanbul is as much a centre from the standpoint of health, with several hospitals equipped with modern instruments.
Clothing
The dress is generally informal in Turkey; however for special evenings ladies compete to wear the latest fashion.
For the visitors, it is advisable to bring comfortable shoes and pant suits for daytime visits. The organisers can set the tone for the evenings; in any case it is recommended to bring a cocktail dress. In most restaurants, gentlemen will feel more comfortable with a jacket and tie in the evening and some require formal dress.
Turkish Cuisine
Turkish food is famous throughout the world, the range is enormous, from a number of soups to an astonishing variety of meze (appetisers), followed by meat and fish dishes, many famous Turkish sweets and pastries and Turkish coffee. The traditional breakfast is a scrumptious combination of tastes comprising bread, olives, tomato, cucumber, white cheese, butter, jam/honey, yoghurt, and sweet black tea.
Tea is the main drink in Turkey, served without milk in small bulbous glasses with sugar lumps on the saucer. For a very refreshing long drink try Ayran, a mix of yoghurt, water and salt. There are also the normal soft drinks and a wonderful range of squeezed fruit juices. Among alcoholic drinks are light Turkish beer, excellent wines, and the national drink, raki (an anisette), which clouds when water is added giving it the popular name of 'lion's milk'.