Rentals in other areas of Europe

Turkey is a fascinating place to visit. The pull of sun, sea and sand is obvious, but this is also an immensely historic country, inextricably wound up with the history of ancient Greece and Greek mythology. After all, the city of Troy was in what is now Turkey. Ruins are liberally scattered along the coast of Turkey and modern life is very much built around and amongst them. In many cases you can just stroll around the remains of temples, their rocks left lying where they fell. While this may seem a little alarming, it's also rather refreshing - one big open air museum without a curator. Then of course there is Istanbul, a unique and glittering city, the Taurus mountains where you can even ski and many other natural attractions.

The currency of Turkey is the Turkish lira although many shops, bars and restaurant accept euros and sometimes dollars. The main language is Turkish, although most people in tourist areas will speak some English, German or Spanish. Russian is also becoming better known. It's worth knowing that you will need to purchase a visa on entering Turkey and this is payable in cash in foreign currency.

30 years ago, Turkey was a tiny player in the holiday market. Since then, the number of holiday homes available has rocketed with more Germans now buying in Turkey than in Spain. Owing to the building boom, most rental property in Turkey is relatively new, meaning that standards are high and your accommodation is likely to be well furnished. There are many villas with pools and many villas with great sea views. Although many of the places to stay in Turkey are modern, it's also possible to find more historic places to stay, such as old stone cottages or bed and breakfast in traditional farmhouses. Despite the range of accommodation, however, it's always worth noting that big houses for large groups get booked up early for the peak season.