The Turkish city of Istanbul is unique for straddling two continents and cultures – the European and the Asian. It is a place marked by subtle contrasts where the secular and the modern co-exist with the religious and the ancient. It is this fine balance of cultures and geographies that makes Istanbul such an intriguing city to explore.

Having ruled as the seat of Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years, Istanbul is today famous for its many palaces, mosques and historical monuments. The palaces especially are reminders of the Empire’s erstwhile opulence and one of the grandest among them is the Dolmabahce Palace.

Built on the orders of Sultan Abdulmecit, the Dolmabahce Palace is a testimony to the magnificence of Ottoman culture and architecture. The palace complex sprawls over 285 rooms and 43 large salons. One of the biggest highlights in the palace is a Bohemian glass chandelier which weighs over 4000 tons. While the architecture of the palace is an appealing blend of European and Ottoman traditions, the precedence of the European elements gives the palace a slightly modern look.

Istanbul has a vast range of lodging options both in the Old City or the newer parts. Visitors can check out www.ooaha.com for best and cheapest Istanbul hotel deals.

Turkey is a land of diverse geographical composition witch in fact heightens its appeal as a tourist destination. The rugged beauty of mountains and plateaus coexist with balmy coasts of as many as four different seas.

One of the most naturally spectacular regions in Turkey is Central Anatolia which is comprised of plateaus and sports a wild charm. The city of Ankara is located in the center of Anatolia and on the eastern edge of the high Anatolian Plateau. Its geographical location gives Ankara pleasant highland climate for most of the year though summers can be hot and dry.

Situated on the high Anatolian plateau, Ankara is surrounded by several sites of scenic beauty. One such place is Elmadag, just 23 kilometers out of Ankara which overlooks green slopes and distant blue hills. There are also hotels, restaurant, a chalet as well as a bar cum discotheque. The major attraction of Elmadag is a ski slope so near to the capital city of Turkey. The ski track here is 900 meters long and 250 meters across. another skiing facility at Elmadag is a 540-meter long teleski which can take in 720 people per hour.

Ankara is well supplied with a wide range of lodging options. One can check out www.ooaha.com for best Ankara hotel deals.

Turkey is a country where history echoes from every city and settlement. Among the many Turkish places which boast of famous historical monuments is the coastal town of Bodrum.

Located on the fringes of the Aegean Sea, Bodrum was known in ancient times as Halicarnassus. The most significant historical monument of Bodrum is the St Peters Castle which repeatedly figures in the collective consciousness of the city. This medieval castle stands as a sentinel at the mouth of Bodrum’s stunning blue bay where the waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas meet. Built by the Knights of Rhodes, the castle stands testimony to the ideals of the Hospitalers who arrived in this land to establish hospitals but ended up by fighting to save Christianity.

The St. Peters Castle at Bodrum has five towers, each built after the people - French, English, Italian, Spanish and German – who defended the Castle and the city against the Turks. Today the Castle is not only famous for its numerous relics, tombstones and towers but also for housing the Museum of Underwater Archeology which is reputed to be one of the best in the world.

Travelers to Bodrum take can a flight from Istanbul. To explore lodging options visit www.ooaha.com for best Bodrum hotel deals.