#Turkey2017: Cappadocia

Most of our travels are based on itineraries from my favorite pinoy travel blogs, notably, Lady and her Sweet Escapes. She and her husband are expats as well, but based in Dubai - and I just love the way she chronicles their "escapes" - so much that I used her itinerary in planning our 9 day Turkey trip!

Their Turkey adventure was for 12 days, starting from Cappadocia then Pamukkale - Selcuk (Ephesus) and Istanbul. Theirs were more laid back as they allotted enough days per destination but with us, it's more fast paced because we were 3 days short (having used up our extra AL days on our September vacation).  

Day 1: Abu Dhabi - Dubai (Dubai International Airport Terminal 2) - Istanbul (via Sabiha Gökçen International Airport) - Cappadocia (Kayseri Airport)

Our flight was on Friday at 0400 at DXB, so we rode the 8PM bus from Abu Dhabi bus terminal to Ibn Batutta Metro station. Pegasus Airlines is based in Terminal 2 and I was thinking that maybe we can just ride a taxi from Terminal 1 but there was a more cost-effective way: 

1. Getting on the bus bound for Ghubaiba Bus Station (E100) - 25 AED
2. Take the green line to Abu Hail Metro station
3. Walk for 5 minutes to the nearest bus stop and take the 13B bus 
4. Bus will drop you directly in front of Terminal 2, departures area. 

Living in UAE for almost 4 years, just learned this now hehehe

E-Tip: Pretty sure that Pegasus Airlines are weighing cabin baggage (excluding handbags and laptop bags) so I recommend you to weigh your carry on and stick to the 8kg limit if you're flying with them. 

For our domestic flight to Cappadocia, we had to go through passport control first since it was not a direct transfer. As soon as we exited international arrivals, we went right and up to the second floor to wait for our 2PM flight.

The Cappadocia Hotel, Urgup

Merhaba Urgup Town Center!

It was an hour or so flight to Kayseri airport, and we have arranged for a transfer to the hotel for 30 TL/person. Make sure you have enough TL or exchange enough TL to get you till the town center, as they're not accepting other currencies (except for Euro, USD, sterling and GBP- which will be your loss considering the conversion rate).

Hotels can do the exchange for you as well, but if you have your cards with you, there are many ATMs in the town center where you can withdraw emergency cash. Mostly in Turkish though, but when I tried with Denizbank, there was an option for English once you insert your card (Urgup town center).

Kimmy Dora

Me worrying about where to get extra TL hehehe - pose pa more!

We ended Day 1 in Ugrak Restaurant, by trying out Turkish pide and tea ㋛

Just a general observation, Turkish people are very warm, friendly and helpful. At least those that I was interacting with - from Mr. Ali of The Cappadocia Hotel when we were still finalizing our arrangements a week before the trip, Mr. Halim of Bellamaritimo Hotel to the airport staff, tour guides, resto owners/crew and local travel agents - they were all very pleasant and approachable. I was loving the experience more and more ㋛

See you in Day 2!