Frequently Asked Questions
Booking Arriving Money & Tipping Weather Clothing Food Electricity Religion
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
How can I book a room?
We have online booking on our website, the only place online where you can actually choose your room as well as enter your credit card details safely.
If you start the reservation procedure, the system will tell you if your room is not available on the dates you have chosen.
If you want to check out availability first, you can always send us an e-mail.
Can I book a tour on your website?
Yes, there are certain tours you can book, airport transfers and even a balloon flight for which we have agreed a special reduced price for our guests.
If you want further information about any tours or any different alternatives, please contact us.
All tourism services are brought to you by Honeycomb Tours, our own travel agency based in Cappadocia, a TURSAB member (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies), License Number 5361.
I have already made a booking, but I would like to change the dates. How can I do this?
It’s easy: just send us an e-mail to request the change. You will hear from us within 24 hours. If you would like an instant reply, you can always phone.
I have already booked a room and now I’d like to book a tour and balloon flight. Do I have to change my reservation?
Not at all. Just e-mail us with your request and we’ll take it from there.
Which airport is best, Nevsehir or Kayseri?
Nevsehir is a little closer, but Kayseri has more flights. You should choose your airport by selecting the flights that are best for you.
What about airport transfers?
To arrange a private or shuttle transfer please contact us at least several days before. It's best to book a transfer as taxis are more expensive.
Where is your hotel ?
We are in Urgup, in an old street right near the center and not far from the bus station. Find the hamam (Turkish bath). We are opposite, just look up.
Your prices are in Euros. Can we pay in Turkish Liras?
Certainly! You can pay in Euros, US dollars, or any other hard currency. We use the exchange rates given by the Turkish Central Bank.
What are today’s exchange rates according to the Turkish Central Bank?
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Are there any ATM (cash) machines near your hotel?
Yes, only two minutes down the road on foot. There are many different banks, and some even dispense Euros and US Dollars as well as Turkish Liras.
On our private tours do we pay the guide's and driver's lunch?
On private day tours in Turkey, it is normal to pay for the lunch of the driver and guide, but this depends on your agreement with the travel agency - you should check.
This is a normal part of the cost of a private tour and is not considered as part of their tip.
Where should I leave a tip, and what amount is appropriate?
Tipping is not compulsory. If you are unhappy you should not give anything, if you are really happy you should give more. It is an expression of appreciation.
Restaurants: 10% – 12%.
Tours: to the driver and guide separately – there are no limits – whatever you feel is appropriate.
Hotels: It is traditional to leave a small tip of 1-5% under the pillow, depending on your satisfaction with the cleanliness of the room. The cleaner will take this money.
If the receptionist has been particularly helpful, you may consider tipping.
The bell boy may deserve a tip for carrying your bags.
What’s the weather like in Cappadocia?
Cappadocia has four very clear seasons, each with special associations for Cappadocians:
Spring: the nightingale's song, wild flowers, and the overpowering scent from the Russian Olive.
Summer: strawberries, cherries, apricots, and the sweetest oranges from the cave depots.
Autumn: grapes, and making pekmez (grape molasses) and tomato paste in the garden.
Winter: snowmen or sun, skiing on Mount Erciyes, and warm, cosy stone and cave houses.
In summer, especially in August, the hottest temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Farenheight), but there is usually a cooler breeze to offset the heat. In addition, humidity is low, so it is cooler in the shade.
As the world’s weather is changing, the air seems to be getting cooler in Cappadocia, which means that even in late spring and early autumn, evenings can be cool enough to require a cardigan or light jacket.
Winter, especially January, can be very cold with snow followed by sunny but cold days. All days are suitable for tours and museums are open every day.
The Turkish State Meteorological Service gives all weather information in English.
Can I visit Cappadocia any time of year?
Yes, you can. Museums are open all year round and there are tours every day. Although many boutique hotels close during winter, Cave Konak Hotel is open with 24 hour central heating.
In Cappadocia, is it appropriate to wear shorts and sleeveless t-shirts?
Yes, of course. While Cappadocia is a more traditional place, the local people are used to tourists and even university students who have different ideas about dress. However, please bear in mind that it’s not the same as staying at a beach resort.
How should I dress to visit a mosque?
Men should cover their legs (trousers, no shorts) and shoulders (short sleeves).
Women should cover their legs (trousers or longer skirt) and shoulders (at least short sleeves), and not show a low neckline. In addition, women should cover their hair completely.
What clothing would you recommend I pack for Cappadocia?
Walking shoes with good grip (even for open air museums).
Trousers (not white) if you are going to do any walking or ballooning.
Something warm for evenings and your early morning balloon flight.
Sunglasses – useful even on winter days.
A hat against the sun.
Winters are cold, and spring and autumn changeable – so plenty of layers, a good jacket or coat as well as hat, scarf and gloves.
In addition, do not forget to pack a good camera with lots of memory and spare batteries, and a small flashlight is good for exploration.
Is there any special local foods that I should try?
There are several different foods that are special to Cappadocia:
Pekmez, the local home-made grape syrup / molasses is used in many different ways. At Cave Konak Hotel serve it at breakfast mixed with tahini (sesame seed paste) as a topping for your bread. It is also used to make sweets which can be bought from the spice and nut shops around town.
Testi Kebab is a special treat: lamb in a clay pot with the top sealed with dough and cooked for anything from two and a half to six hours in a traditional stone oven. This dish originated in Avanos, where the local potters cooked lunch in their kiln.
Kayseri Mantasý is home-made ravioli served in garlic yoghurt and topped with tomato purée sauce.
Sujuk is the dry spicy Turkish sausage, and Kayseri is famous for making it. Try sucuk with eggs for breakfast (sujuklu yumurta) at Cave Konak Hotel.
Pastirma is pressed dried meat, usually beef, wrapped in a spicy paste made of cumin, fenugreek, garlic and hot paprika. It originates from the Turkic horsemen of the steps who used to put slabs of meat under their saddles to press, dry and preserve them. Pastrami is Italy’s version of pastirma.
Also, did you realize that in Turkey you can eat "many men" for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Yes! That’s the pronunciation of menemen, a type of Turkish scrambled eggs with tomatoes, green pepper and garlic.
Is it safe to drink tap water in Cappadocia?
Locals drink tap water, but it is best to stick to bottled water on your holiday. However, we’ve never heard of anyone having a problem using tap water to clean their teeth.
Is it possible to eat during the day during Ramadan, the month of fasting?
Yes, of course. There are many restaurants, especially in tourist areas, which are open all day during Ramadan.
However, even in tourist areas, a little sensitivity to eating and drinking in the street is appreciated.
I come from the UK – 240v system. Do I need an adaptor for Turkey?
No, you can use all your appliances safely. Turkey has a 220v AC system which is lower than the UK's, and the difference makes no difference.
I come from the USA – 110v system. Do I need an adaptor in Turkey?
Many appliances with their own power adapters (such as laptop computers and digital cameras) will usually adapt to the voltage automatically, just check the information on the back of the adaptor.
For other appliances, because the voltage in Turkey is higher than your appliances allow for, you will need to use an adaptor.
What type of socket is standard in Turkey?
Sockets in Turkey require two round pins.
What is the connection between Cappadocia and Christianity?
It is thought that Christianity came to Cappadocia very early, as Cappadocians were at the Pentecost (see New Testament, Acts 2).
Saint George is believed to have been born in a village called Baskoy near Soganli Valley. He was always an important saint in the east, and his fame spread to the west with the return of the crusaders. Nearby Mount Erciyes is supposed to be where he fought the dragon.
In Güzelyurt (Gelveri, Karvala, Karballa), Saint Gregorius Church (385 A.C.), named for Gregory of Nazianzus the Theologian from Cappadocia, is thought to be the birthplace of the Gregorian Chant.
Saint Gregory of Nyssa came from Nevsehir in Cappadocia. He, along with his brother Saint Basil and their friend Saint Gregory the Theologian are known as The Cappadocian Fathers.
Saint Basil (Basil of Caesarea) established the guidelines for guidelines for monastic life which focus on community life, liturgical prayer, and manual labor, and is therefore seen as the father of the later Byzantine cave monasteries in Cappadocia whose cave churches have such beautiful frescos.
Icons of Saint Gregory the Theologian, Saint Gregory of Nyssa, Saint Basil and Saint George can be seen in the Byzantine cave churches in Cappadocia.
Saint John the Russian, the Confessor (Saint Johannes / Ioannis Rossos / Yuannis) is a more recent saint who lived and died in Urgup. He was loved and respected by both Muslims and Christians. His remains were taken from Urgup to Greece on the exchange of populations in 1924.
In Cappadocia, Muslims and Christians lived peacefully together in towns and villages until the exchange of populations with Greece as laid down by the Treaty of Lausanne after the end of WW1.
Is Turkey a Muslim state?
After the Turkish war of independence, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his colleagues established the new Republic of Turkey as a secular state. However, 95% of the population is Muslim.
It seems that the majority of women in Turkey do not cover their hair. Does this mean they are not religious?
No, it doesn’t tell you anything about their religion. Most people in Turkey believe that covering a woman’s hair is a personal decision. Many women who do not cover their hair hold strong religious beliefs.
I thought drinking alcohol was against Muslim belief, so why is alcohol widely available in Turkey?
Once again, most people in Turkey believe drinking alcohol is a question of personal choice, and quite a number choose to do so, even if they obey other Muslim practices.