Turkey to build world’s largest airport

Turkey is aiming to make a major mark in the skies with ambitious plans to build the world’s largest airport and a vast expansion of the national airline as it seeks increasingly to build on its strong emerging status to become a global player.

Boasting an airport twice the size of Heathrow and a fleet of modern aircraft, Turkey could pose a threat to struggling European airlines as well as fast growing Gulf carriers.

Key to the plans is the construction of a six-runway airport in Istanbul eventually capable of handling 150 million passengers per year.

The Turkish government has launched a tender to build the 7-billion-euro ($A9.12 billion) airport that from 2016 would position the country to become a major hub for traffic between Asia, Europe and increasingly Africa.

(Source: SMH)

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Staying in a cool cave hotel

If you are looking for somewhere different to stay for your holiday retreat then this is the place for you.

Get in touch with your inner caveman with an overnight stay in this rock-cut hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey. Built near the historical village of Akköy near Ürgüp, the family-run Akköy Evleri hosts five boutique rooms built inside former cave houses.

There are plenty of other good cave hotels in the region, but the friendly management, good food and views make this place special. Use it as a base to explore the surrounding area — including the underground cities at Kaymakli and Derinkuyu, the nightlife and architecture of Ürgüp or the nearby Byzantine caves.

Cost: Prices range from US$106-284 for a room. Not that bad considering that the dollar is now weak and you will experience something different.

Read more here.

It sounds like Turkey

Turkey’s succession of wins at the 2011 World Travel Awards proves Turkey’s credentials as one of Europe’s best tourist destinations.

Turkey picked up 15 awards overall, with one of the biggest wins of the night going to Oludeniz, which was named Europe’s Leading Beach Destination. Another big win was for the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office which took Europe’s Leading Tourist Board.

All you Turkey lovers and advocates of this destination – now you have awards to lean back on.