Skill: ivangdavila/turkey (version 1.0.0)

--- name: Turkey slug: turkey version: 1.0.0 homepage: https://clawic.com/skills/turkey changelog: "Initial release with verified Turkey entry rules, regional route playbooks, and practical travel logistics." description: Plan Turkey trips with city-coast-Cappadocia routing, verified entry rules, domestic transport strategy, and practical seasonal safety. metadata: {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"🇹🇷","requires":{"bins":[],"config":["~/turkey/"]},"os":["linux","darwin","win32"]}} --- ## Setup If `~/turkey/` does not exist or is empty, read `setup.md` and start naturally. ## When to Use User is planning a Turkey trip and needs practical guidance beyond generic highlights: visa pathway, route design, domestic transport choices, seasonal risks, regional tradeoffs, and on-the-ground execution. ## Architecture Memory lives in `~/turkey/`. See `setup.md` for first activation flow and `memory-template.md` for the file structure. ```text ~/turkey/ └── memory.md # Trip context and evolving constraints ``` ## Quick Reference | Topic | File | |-------|------| | **Entry and Arrival** | | | Visa, e-Visa, passport, booking names | `entry-and-documents.md` | | Customs, airport arrival, first-hour logistics | `customs-and-arrival.md` | | **Planning Backbone** | | | Regional route selection | `regions.md` | | Sample itineraries | `itineraries.md` | | Where to stay by route style | `accommodation.md` | | Budget planning | `budget-and-costs.md` | | Cards, cash, and tipping | `payments-and-tipping.md` | | **Transport** | | | Flights, rail, buses, ferries, city transit | `transport-domestic.md` | | Driving and rental strategy | `road-trips-and-driving.md` | | **History and Place Logic** | | | Museum and archaeology planning | `archaeology-and-museums.md` | | Istanbul playbook | `istanbul.md` | | Cappadocia and Central Anatolia playbook | `cappadocia-and-central-anatolia.md` | | Aegean and west coast playbook | `aegean-and-west-coast.md` | | Mediterranean coast playbook | `mediterranean-coast.md` | | Black Sea and eastern Anatolia playbook | `black-sea-and-eastern-anatolia.md` | | Southeast and Mesopotamia playbook | `southeast-and-mesopotamia.md` | | **Lifestyle and Execution** | | | Food by region and meal style | `food-guide.md` | | Nightlife by destination type | `nightlife.md` | | Traveling with children | `family-travel.md` | | Accessibility strategy | `accessibility.md` | | **Safety and Conditions** | | | Emergencies, scams, heat, earthquake and fire logic | `safety-and-emergencies.md` | | Climate and seasonality planning | `weather-and-seasonality.md` | | **Tools** | | | Connectivity and practical digital stack | `telecoms-and-apps.md` | | Official source map | `sources.md` | ## Core Rules ### 1. Route by Cluster, Not by Country Count Turkey rewards fewer bases with better logic. Keep one macro-cluster per week: Istanbul, Cappadocia plus Central Anatolia, one west-coast cluster, one Mediterranean cluster, or one southeast history cluster. ### 2. Confirm Entry Pathway Before Non-Refundables Use `entry-and-documents.md` first. Some travelers are visa-free, some need e-Visa, and some need a consular visa. Do not assume one rule fits every passport. ### 3. Match Transport to Geography Always offer at least two movement models: - Flight-heavy for west-east compression - Surface-heavy for one cluster where scenery and archaeology matter more than speed ### 4. Make Every Plan Season-Aware Use `weather-and-seasonality.md` before promising balloons, beaches, long ruins days, mountain roads, or Black Sea viewpoints. Heat, wind, wildfire smoke, snow, and shoulder-season service changes reshape the trip. ### 5. Protect the High-Friction Bookings Lock the fragile pieces first: - Balloon slots in Cappadocia - Cave hotel or small old-town rooms - Domestic flights on east-west moves - Museum and archaeology timing when doing dense historical days - Car rental for coast or inland routes ### 6. Budget With Real Turkey Math Price the full route, not the hotel headline: - Airport transfers and intercity repositioning - Peak-season beach or resort premiums - Fuel, tolls, parking, and valet patterns in coastal routes - Museum/site passes and internal flight baggage fees ### 7. Build a Practical Operating Plan Every output should include: - Base city logic - Day-by-day flow with transfer windows - Reservation deadlines - Weather or transport backup - Safety and local-context notes for the chosen region ## Common Traps - Treating Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Ephesus, and Mardin as one short seamless loop. - Assuming all foreign travelers use the same visa pathway. - Booking the wrong Istanbul airport and discovering it too late. - Planning ruins, viewpoints, and beach time in July or August without heat logic. - Using a rental car by default inside dense urban cores where parking and traffic dominate. - Trying to "see the whole country" instead of choosing one west route or one east route. - Locking a balloon-dependent Cappadocia schedule without a wind-cancellation backup. ## Security & Privacy **Data that stays local:** Trip preferences in `~/turkey/` **This skill does NOT:** Access files outside `~/turkey/` or make network requests. ## Related Skills Install with `clawhub install turkey` if user confirms: - `travel` - General trip planning and itinerary structure - `booking` - Reservation workflow and confirmation hygiene - `car-rental` - Better rental strategy and handoff logistics - `food` - Deeper restaurant and cuisine planning - `turkish` - Language support for bookings, menus, and local interactions ## Feedback - If useful: `clawhub star turkey` - Stay updated: `clawhub sync`

path: accessibility.md
content: # Accessibility - Turkey

## Accessibility Reality

Accessibility quality varies sharply by region, old-town fabric, and hotel type.

## Easier Choices

- Modern Istanbul hotels in flatter districts
- Larger resort properties on the Mediterranean coast
- Direct-transfer city breaks with fewer intercity moves
- Private transfer routing when rail or bus station handling would be stressful

## Harder Choices

- Cave hotels in Cappadocia
- Steep or cobbled old towns
- Small harbor or hillside coastal bases
- Dense archaeology days with uneven terrain and limited shade

## Planning Rules

- Ask first about walking distance, stairs, wheelchair use, bathroom needs, and transfer tolerance.
- Prioritize room and neighborhood suitability over postcard value.
- One accessible base with hired transport beats multiple romantic but difficult properties.
- Do not assume museum and site access is uniform even within the same city.

## Source Reminder

Use `sources.md` for official airport, museum, and transport pages when accessibility needs are high and current details matter.


path: accommodation.md
content: # Accommodation - Turkey

## Stay-Type Grid

| Base type | Strong for | Watch-outs |
|-----------|------------|------------|
| Historic core hotel | Walkable landmark access | Noise, steps, transfer friction |
| Modern central district | Better nightlife, cafes, easier taxis | Less postcard atmosphere |
| Cave hotel | Cappadocia experience and views | Steps, uneven floors, weather exposure |
| Resort strip | Family and beach convenience | Isolation from local food and old towns |
| Old-town guesthouse | Character and evening walkability | Parking, luggage access, room size |

## Istanbul Neighborhood Logic

- **Sultanahmet / Eminonu:** strongest for first landmark-heavy trip, weakest for nightlife and hill comfort.
- **Karakoy / Galata / Beyoglu:** better for mixed city life, food, and evening range.
- **Besiktas / Nisantasi / Kadikoy:** stronger for repeat visitors or users who want local-city rhythm over monuments.

## Cappadocia Stay Logic

- Goreme is the easiest first-time base.
- Uchisar feels quieter and more upscale.
- Urgup works well for travelers who care less about dawn walk-out views and more about hotel comfort.

## Coast Logic

- Selcuk is tactical for Ephesus; Izmir is stronger for bigger-city comfort.
- Antalya old town is best for short cultural stays; Lara and Belek are different resort products.
- Kas and Fethiye are better for scenic coast travelers than for travelers wanting large full-service resorts.

## Booking Rules

- In peak summer and holiday windows, book small boutique or cave properties early.
- Ask whether stairs, cobbles, or parking matter before recommending a romantic old-town stay.
- Prioritize transfer ease on arrival night and last night, not just charm.


path: aegean-and-west-coast.md
content: # Aegean and West Coast - Turkey

## Best Fit

Best for travelers who want Ephesus, Izmir, boutique coast time, beach clubs, food, and archaeology without full-resort dependence.

## Route Logic

| Cluster | Strong for | Watch-outs |
|---------|------------|------------|
| Izmir plus Selcuk | Ephesus and efficient archaeology base | Less beach atmosphere |
| Cesme / Alacati | Wind, style, weekend coast | Summer pricing and nightlife premiums |
| Bodrum Peninsula | Premium coast, dining, boating | Traffic, cost, and fragmented geography |
| Datca / quieter coast | Slower pace and lower-density scenery | Longer access time |

## Planning Rules

- Keep one culture base and one coast base instead of chasing every peninsula.
- Selcuk is the tactical archaeology play; Izmir is the comfort and flight-connectivity play.
- Aegean summer wind can help with heat but also changes sea and ferry mood.
- Coast weekends can feel very different from weekdays in price and crowd level.

## Common Mistakes

- Treating Izmir, Ephesus, Cesme, Bodrum, and Marmaris as one quick road loop.
- Choosing Bodrum for value when the user really wants lower-key coast.
- Doing major ruins at midday in peak summer.
- Underestimating the cost jump between local-town rhythm and premium beach products.


path: archaeology-and-museums.md
content: # Archaeology and Museums - Turkey

## Site Planning Logic

Turkey rewards thematic pairing more than random site collecting.

## Strong Pairings

| Pairing | Why it works |
|---------|--------------|
| Istanbul museums plus palaces | Dense landmark access without route sprawl |
| Selcuk/Ephesus plus nearby Aegean coast | History plus easier recovery time |
| Cappadocia valleys plus Goreme Open-Air Museum | Landscape and monastic history in one compact base |
| Sanliurfa plus Gobeklitepe | Deep-history focus with low transfer friction |
| Antalya region plus Perge/Aspendos/side sites | Beach and antiquity can coexist |

## Museum Rules

- Check official opening times close to the visit date.
- Do not assume one museum pass covers every region or every top site.
- Dense ruins days need early starts, shade strategy, and lower evening transfer burden.
- Users who say they love "history" often mean either major icons or deep archaeology; split those cases.

## Priority Filters

- **First-time iconic:** Hagia Sophia area, Topkapi, Ephesus, Cappadocia core sites
- **Roman and Hellenistic:** Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Perge, Aspendos
- **Very early history:** Gobeklitepe, Sanliurfa museum logic
- **Ottoman-city layers:** Istanbul, Bursa, Edirne if route supports it

## Source Reminder

Use `sources.md` for official museum and tourism portals, especially when checking current passes or reservation requirements.


path: black-sea-and-eastern-anatolia.md
content: # Black Sea and Eastern Anatolia - Turkey

## Best Fit

Best for lush landscapes, mountain villages, tea-country scenery, long-form rail stories, winter mood, and travelers who want a less standard Turkey trip.

## Region Selection Grid

| Zone | Strong for | Watch-outs |
|------|------------|------------|
| Trabzon / Rize | Green mountains, yaylas, Sumela area | Fog, rain, winding roads |
| Kars | Winter atmosphere, rail arrival stories, eastern architecture | Cold logistics and seasonal transport |
| Van and far east | Big landscapes and distinctive history | Long distances and fewer route shortcuts |

## Planning Rules

- Treat the Black Sea as its own weather system.
- Eastern Anatolia works better with a targeted flight than with a heroic overland stretch.
- Road scenery is part of the product, so do not pair it with an overcompressed pace.
- In winter, build extra resilience for snow, delayed roads, and early darkness.

## Common Mistakes

- Adding this region as a casual side trip to a west-coast holiday.
- Expecting beach-style infrastructure or same-hour flexibility.
- Underestimating the effect of rain and fog on viewpoints.
- Planning too many mountain transfers in one day.


path: budget-and-costs.md
content: # Budget and Costs - Turkey

## Cost Shape by Trip Type

| Trip style | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|------------|--------|-----------|---------|
| Istanbul city break | Lower room cost if outside prime zones | Strong value in shoulder season | Waterfront and design hotels climb fast |
| Istanbul plus Cappadocia | Internal flight raises floor | Good balance for first-time trips | Cave suites and private tours raise spend sharply |
| Summer coast route | Peak season compresses budget value | Mid-range books up early | Premium beach and yacht products spike hard |
| East or southeast history route | Hotels can be cheaper | Flights and private transfers matter more | Comfort premium is mostly in transport quality |

## Practical Daily Math

- Budget travelers can still spend more than expected on airport transfers and entrance fees.
- Mid-range Turkey often beats western Europe on room value but not always on transport convenience.
- Premium spend rises fastest on coast resorts, private transfers, and high-demand cave or boutique stays.

## Biggest Hidden Costs

- Domestic flight baggage and airport transfer stacking
- Fuel, tolls, valet, and parking on road trips
- Resort or beach-zone dining premiums
- Site tickets, museum bundles, and guided-tour upsells
- Last-minute room spikes around holidays and long weekends

## Budget Rules

- Keep a city-heavy route if the user wants lower transfer burn.
- Price one domestic flight against one long bus or car day, not just ticket price.
- Treat coastal August pricing as its own budget season.
- If user wants balloons, private gulets, or beach clubs, expose those as optional luxuries, not core assumptions.


path: cappadocia-and-central-anatolia.md
content: # Cappadocia and Central Anatolia - Turkey

## Best Fit

Best for landscapes, balloon mornings, cave stays, soft hiking, and a compact high-impact add-on to Istanbul.

## Base Selection

| Base | Strong for | Watch-outs |
|------|------------|------------|
| Goreme | Easiest first-time base and walkable tourism core | Busier and more exposed to crowds |
| Uchisar | Views and quieter upscale feel | Less central without a car or taxi plan |
| Urgup | Hotel comfort and calmer evenings | Less instant valley access |

## Stay Length

- 2 nights: only if user accepts one compressed dawn chance
- 3 nights: best first-time minimum
- 4 nights: safer if balloon matters or user wants slower valley and site days

## Planning Rules

- Balloons are weather-dependent; never build the whole trip around one guaranteed launch.
- Dawn viewpoints, valleys, and underground-city visits are different energy loads. Spread them.
- Cappadocia pairs naturally with Istanbul; it pairs less cleanly with a coast route unless flights are efficient.
- Ankara or Konya can support Central Anatolia logic, but they are not substitutes for Cappadocia itself.

## Common Mistakes

- Booking only one morning and treating balloon flight as guaranteed.
- Overestimating local public transport between valleys and viewpoints.
- Choosing a cave hotel without checking stairs, heating, or bathroom practicality.
- Forcing a long overnight bus immediately before a dawn activity.


path: customs-and-arrival.md
content: # Customs and Arrival - Turkey

## Arrival Reality

Turkey arrival friction is usually about airport choice, transfer timing, and first-hour logistics more than formal border complexity.

## Airport Logic

| Airport | Best for | Watch-outs |
|--------|----------|------------|
| IST | Most international arrivals and strong network reach | Long internal walking and long city transfer |
| SAW | Many low-cost and Asia-side flows | Not interchangeable with IST |
| AYT | Antalya coast trips | Resort transfer times can still be long |
| ADB | Izmir, Ephesus, west coast | Ground transfer still needed for Cesme or Selcuk |
| ASR / NAV | Cappadocia access | Late arrivals shrink next-day balloon flexibility |

## First-Hour Priorities

- Confirm which airport you actually landed at before planning the city transfer.
- Use official airport transport or prebooked transfer logic, not parking-lot touts.
- Keep a small cash backup for arrival-day edge cases even if cards are the default.
- If the trip starts with a separate-ticket domestic leg, leave generous buffer time.

## Customs and Baggage Practical Notes

- Pack medication in original packaging if there is any doubt.
- High-value gear, drones, or unusual electronics should be checked against airline and customs guidance before departure.
- If carrying large cash or valuables, use official customs guidance instead of assumptions.

## Same-Day Transfer Rule

- International arrival plus same-day Cappadocia flight is workable only with real buffer.
- International arrival plus same-day long-distance bus is usually a bad first-night experience.
- Istanbul old-city arrival days improve when the first hotel has easy transfer access, not just postcard value.

## Source Reminder

Refresh airport transport pages and customs guidance in `sources.md` close to departure.


path: entry-and-documents.md
content: # Entry and Documents - Turkey

## Fast Decision Tree

1. Confirm whether the traveler is visa-free, e-Visa eligible, or needs a consular visa.
2. Check passport validity and exact name matching before booking flights, trains, and balloon activities.
3. Verify arrival airport and whether the route uses one Istanbul airport or a different arrival/departure pair.
4. Keep hotel, onward, and insurance proof easy to surface if airline or border staff ask for supporting documents.

## Visitor Pathways

| Path | Typical use | Core limit |
|------|-------------|------------|
| Visa-free short stay | Many tourism passports | Stay length depends on nationality |
| e-Visa | Eligible nationalities through official portal | Conditions depend on passport and trip purpose |
| Consular visa | Non-eligible or more complex cases | Timing depends on consular processing |

## Practical Rules

- Use only official channels in `sources.md` for visa checks. Aggregator blogs drift fast.
- Some nationalities have extra conditions for e-Visa or are routed to consular processing instead.
- The visa outcome should be solved before locking non-refundable domestic flights.
- Keep passport access easy on arrival day and for airport check-ins on internal flights.

## Booking Name Logic

- Match the passport spelling exactly across international flights, domestic flights, and tours.
- If user has dual nationality or multiple passports, anchor the whole trip to one document set.
- If route includes Greece or another nearby country, re-check Schengen vs Turkey document logic separately.

## Before Locking Non-Refundables

- Entry pathway confirmed
- Passport validity checked
- Airport pair confirmed
- Name spelling aligned across all bookings
- First and last night logic decided

## Source Reminder

Use `sources.md` for MFA and official e-Visa links, then refresh again close to departure.


path: family-travel.md
content: # Family Travel - Turkey

## Best Family Fits

| Route style | Why it works | Watch-outs |
|-------------|--------------|------------|
| Istanbul plus one second base | Variety without endless packing | Airport transfers still need padding |
| Antalya or Fethiye family coast | Easy beach-hotel logic | Peak-season crowd and heat |
| Cappadocia with older kids | High visual payoff and soft adventure | Early starts and cave-hotel stairs |
| Aegean archaeology plus coast | Good mix for mixed-age groups | Site heat and drive time |

## Family Rules

- Reduce hotel changes; Turkey distances punish restless packing.
- Choose flight-heavy routing when kids would suffer from long bus or car stretches.
- Use resort or coast segments as recovery time after city or ruins days.
- Check stairs, lift access, and room layout before romantic boutique bookings.

## Kid-Specific Watch-Outs

- Balloon viewing is often easier than balloon flying for very young children.
- Old cities, cave hotels, and small harbors can be stroller-unfriendly.
- Summer midday ruins are rough on children without shade strategy.
- Keep last-night airport logic simple when traveling with kids.


path: food-guide.md
content: # Food Guide - Turkey

## Food Planning Logic

Turkey is not one single kebab menu. Route the food plan by region and meal style.

## Regional Food Map

| Region | Focus |
|--------|-------|
| Istanbul | Wide national spread, seafood, meyhane, modern dining |
| Southeast | Kebab depth, pistachio desserts, liver, breakfast, intense savory identity |
| Aegean | Olive-oil dishes, herbs, seafood, meze and slower coast meals |
| Black Sea | Anchovy culture, corn-based dishes, breakfast and tea-country comfort |
| Central Anatolia | Doughs, grills, hearty comfort foods |

## Meal Strategy

- Turkish breakfast can be a headline experience, not just hotel filler.
- Meze and grilled mains suit slower dinner pacing better than checklist ordering.
- Dessert matters most in southeast routes and in select Istanbul specialists.
- If the user drinks alcohol, note that nightlife and alcohol culture vary a lot by district and region.

## Practical Rules

- Ask whether the user wants street food, classic restaurants, or special-occasion dining.
- Build heat-aware lunch logic for southeast or summer coast trips.
- Travelers with dietary limits need more planning in smaller towns than in Istanbul.
- If food is a top priority, give it route power, not just restaurant side notes.


path: istanbul.md
content: # Istanbul - Turkey

## Best Fit

Best for first-time Turkey trips, food-heavy city breaks, Bosphorus days, shopping, and layered history.

## Base Selection

| Base | Strong for | Watch-outs |
|------|------------|------------|
| Sultanahmet / Sirkeci | Landmark-first first trips | Tourist density and evening energy drop |
| Karakoy / Galata / Beyoglu | Balanced sightseeing, food, nightlife | Hills and crowd density |
| Besiktas / Nisantasi | Repeat visitors, local-city feel, dining | Less old-city immediacy |
| Kadikoy | Asia-side cafe and nightlife rhythm | More ferry and cross-city logic for classic sightseeing |

## Stay Length

- 3 nights: efficient landmark sampler
- 4-5 nights: proper first-time city trip
- 6+ nights: works only if mixing districts, shopping, Bosphorus, and day-trip margin

## Planning Rules

- Confirm IST vs SAW first; it changes the whole arrival and departure day.
- Split old-city, Bosphorus, and modern-city days instead of crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use ferries as part of the experience when weather and timing fit.
- If Friday prayer timing matters for the user, avoid overpacking mosque-heavy midday plans.

## Common Mistakes

- Staying in a postcard zone with hard luggage access and then taking constant taxis.
- Trying to see both sides plus every major museum in one rushed weekend.
- Underestimating line time for icon sites.
- Adding a rental car to an Istanbul-based itinerary.


path: itineraries.md
content: # Itineraries - Turkey

## 5 Days

- **Istanbul deep dive:** 4 nights in one base, split historic core and Bosphorus neighborhoods.
- **Cappadocia short break:** 3 nights with one balloon window and one flexible weather buffer.

## 7-8 Days

- **First-time classic:** 4 nights Istanbul + 3 nights Cappadocia
- **History and coast:** 3 nights Izmir/Selcuk + 4 nights Bodrum or Antalya
- **Food and old cities:** 3 nights Istanbul + 2 nights Gaziantep + 2 nights Mardin

## 10-12 Days

- **Balanced first trip:** 4 nights Istanbul + 3 nights Cappadocia + 3-4 nights Aegean or Mediterranean coast
- **West coast route:** Izmir/Selcuk + Bodrum/Cesme + Istanbul finish
- **East-focused route:** Istanbul entry + Sanliurfa/Mardin + Cappadocia or Kars

## 14+ Days

- **West Turkey arc:** Istanbul -> Cappadocia -> Aegean west coast -> Istanbul out
- **Coast-heavy route:** Istanbul -> Antalya/Kas/Fethiye corridor -> Aegean finish
- **Deep-history route:** Istanbul -> Cappadocia -> Gaziantep/Sanliurfa/Mardin

## Route Design Rules

- Keep one transfer-light base for every 3-4 active sightseeing days.
- Protect the last night before the international flight in the departure city or a same-airport base.
- If a route depends on one dawn activity, keep one flexible half-day nearby.
- If user wants both beach and archaeology, choose one coast and one inland site cluster, not every famous stop.


path: mediterranean-coast.md
content: # Mediterranean Coast - Turkey

## Best Fit

Best for beach time, resort families, scenic drives, boat days, and users who want a warmer and more resort-forward Turkey route.

## Route Logic

| Cluster | Strong for | Watch-outs |
|---------|------------|------------|
| Antalya city and old town | Short cultural beach mix | Not the same product as a quiet coast escape |
| Lara / Belek | Resort convenience and family comfort | Can feel detached from local texture |
| Kas / Kalkan | Scenic coast, couples, small-town base | Hills, steps, and car or taxi dependence |
| Fethiye / Oludeniz | Paragliding, lagoons, family and activity mix | Busy in peak season |

## Planning Rules

- Decide early whether the user wants resort ease or small-town coast character.
- The D400 corridor is beautiful but should not be overscheduled.
- One boat day can replace multiple rushed beach hops.
- Peak summer heat changes old-site tolerance and walking comfort.

## Common Mistakes

- Picking a resort strip when the user actually wants old-town evenings.
- Driving too much coast in too few days.
- Ignoring school-holiday crowd patterns.
- Forgetting that scenic boutique stays often mean stairs and hills.


path: memory-template.md
content: # Memory Template - Turkey

Create `~/turkey/memory.md` with this structure:

```markdown
# Turkey Trip Memory

## Status
status: ongoing
version: 1.0.0
last: YYYY-MM-DD
integration: pending | complete | paused | never_ask

## Trip Snapshot
- Dates:
- Duration:
- Arrival and departure airports:
- Travelers:
- Kids:
- Mobility notes:

## Route Direction
- Main cluster: [Istanbul / Cappadocia-Central / Aegean-West / Mediterranean / Black Sea-East / Southeast]
- Confirmed bases:
- Open route questions:
- Domestic flight tolerance: [low / medium / high]
- Driving comfort: [none / local only / road-trip ready]

## Preferences
- Trip style:
- Budget:
- Pace:
- Food priorities:
- Archaeology priorities:
- Beach priorities:
- Nightlife priorities:

## Conditions
- Entry status: [visa-free / e-Visa / consular visa / unknown]
- Heat tolerance:
- Wind sensitivity:
- Conservative-context sensitivity:
- Must-see places:
- Must-avoid:

## Bookings and Deadlines
| Item | Needed by | Status | Notes |
|------|-----------|--------|-------|
| Entry docs | | | |
| Domestic flights | | | |
| Hotels | | | |
| Balloon or tours | | | |
| Car rental | | | |
| Museum/site tickets | | | |

## Working Plan
- Current route draft:
- Backup plan:
- Last-night protection:

## Notes
- Durable observations only.
```

## Status Values

| Value | Meaning | Behavior |
|-------|---------|----------|
| `ongoing` | still learning trip shape | ask only high-impact follow-ups |
| `complete` | core context is stable | act quickly from saved defaults |
| `paused` | memory use paused | do not expand without need |
| `never_ask` | no setup prompts wanted | avoid future setup questions |

## Key Principles

- Save route logic and constraints, not casual travel chatter.
- Keep volatile booking details in the table, not scattered notes.
- Replace stale assumptions when airport, visa, or domestic-flight choices become fixed.
- Preserve region choice because it determines transport, seasonality, and budget.


path: nightlife.md
content: # Nightlife - Turkey

## Nightlife Strength by Destination

| Destination type | Best fit | Limits |
|------------------|----------|--------|
| Istanbul | Broadest range from cocktail bars to clubs to Bosphorus scenes | Traffic and district choice matter |
| Bodrum and premium coast | Summer club and beach-nightlife culture | Cost and seasonality spike hard |
| Antalya and larger resort zones | Resort nightlife and mixed visitor crowd | Less distinctive local-city feel |
| Kadikoy / Izmir / student areas | Relaxed bar and live-music rhythm | More neighborhood-specific than iconic |

## Planning Rules

- Match nightlife advice to the user's tolerance for crowds, cost, and late transfers.
- Istanbul works best when nightlife is matched to the hotel district.
- Premium coast nightlife is strongest in summer and weakest as a year-round assumption.
- In quieter or more conservative areas, position nightlife as selective rather than central.

## Common Mistakes

- Booking far from the evening district and assuming rides back are frictionless.
- Treating every coast town like Bodrum.
- Ignoring dress code or reservation logic in premium venues.
- Recommending nightlife-heavy routes to users who mainly want dawn activities next day.


path: payments-and-tipping.md
content: # Payments and Tipping - Turkey

## Payment Reality

- Cards are common in cities, airports, chain hotels, and most tourist-facing restaurants.
- Cash still matters for small cafes, taxis, local markets, and some rural or beach situations.
- Keep some Turkish lira available even if the trip is mostly card-driven.

## ATM and Exchange Logic

- Use bank ATMs in well-lit, normal locations.
- Airport exchange desks are for convenience, not best rate.
- If user is already in Europe, compare card FX terms before carrying large cash.

## Tipping Rule of Thumb

| Context | Typical move |
|---------|--------------|
| Restaurant | Round up or tip around 5-10% if service charge is not already included |
| Hotel porter / housekeeping | Small cash tip if service level warrants it |
| Taxi | Round up on normal city rides |
| Guide / driver | Tip for full or excellent service, not automatically at every micro-service |

## Card Practical Notes

- Dynamic currency conversion should usually be declined in favor of local currency.
- Contactless works well in many urban places but do not assume every cab or kiosk accepts it.
- On coastal road trips, cash resilience matters more than in central Istanbul.

## Source Reminder

Use `sources.md` for official transport and tourism links, then check current user-card conditions separately because bank fees change faster than destination rules.


path: regions.md
content: # Regions - Turkey

## Region Selection Grid

| Region | Best for | Watch-outs |
|--------|----------|------------|
| Istanbul | First-time city trips, history, food, shopping, Bosphorus | Airport transfer friction, dense crowds, steep hills |
| Cappadocia and Central Anatolia | Landscapes, balloons, cave stays, easy 2-4 night add-on | Wind cancellations, early starts, weak public transit on site |
| Aegean and West Coast | Ephesus, Izmir, Bodrum, Cesme, archaeology plus coast | Summer crowds, long coast transfers, car value rises fast |
| Mediterranean Coast | Antalya, Kas, Fethiye, beach and resort mixes | Peak heat, traffic on scenic roads, resort sprawl |
| Black Sea and Eastern Anatolia | Green mountains, yaylas, remote scenery, winter rail stories | Weather volatility, slower logistics, fewer direct links |
| Southeast and Mesopotamia | Gaziantep food, Mardin, Sanliurfa, Gobeklitepe, deep history | Extreme summer heat, stronger local-context planning needed |

## Planning Rule of Thumb

- 4-5 days: Istanbul only or Cappadocia only
- 7-9 days: Istanbul plus one second cluster
- 10-14 days: Two clusters with one domestic flight
- 16+ days: West route or east route, not full-country overreach

## Transfer Reality

- Istanbul is the domestic air hub, but not every route should touch it twice.
- Cappadocia works best as a compact insert, not as part of a five-base sprint.
- The west and south coasts look close on a map but drive slower than users expect.
- The east is stronger with targeted flights than with accidental marathon overland days.

## First-Time Turkey Route Suggestions

- Culture plus food: Istanbul plus Gaziantep or Izmir-Selcuk
- First classic route: Istanbul plus Cappadocia
- Beach plus ruins: Aegean west coast or Antalya plus nearby coast
- Scenic greenery: Black Sea cluster, not a rushed add-on


path: road-trips-and-driving.md
content: # Road Trips and Driving - Turkey

## Best Driving Use Cases

- Aegean archaeology plus small coastal towns
- Antalya to Kas or Fethiye style scenic routes
- Cappadocia viewpoints and valleys if user wants sunrise and sunset flexibility
- Black Sea mountain or eastern routes where public transport is thin

## When Not To Drive

- Istanbul stays
- One-night city hops
- Historic cores with parking friction
- Any plan where the user is already transfer-fatigued or anxious about aggressive traffic

## Practical Rules

- Confirm rental policy for foreign licenses and whether an IDP is recommended for the traveler's document type.
- Tolls often run through rental-car systems; ask how HGS charging is handled before leaving the lot.
- Fuel and parking matter more than many first-time visitors expect.
- Mountain, coast, and old-town roads look short on maps but drive slowly.

## Region Notes

- Cappadocia roads are easy to cover but dawn and winter conditions change confidence.
- The D400 Mediterranean coast is scenic but slower than its postcard reputation suggests.
- West-coast archaeology routes reward a car when the user wants multiple ruins and beach stops.
- East and southeast routes need daylight planning and a realistic appetite for long drives.

## Rental Strategy

- Automatic cars may be scarcer or pricier in some markets.
- Take photos at pickup and keep toll, fuel, and parking terms clear.
- Choose a compact car for old towns unless the route is explicitly resort or family-heavy.


path: safety-and-emergencies.md
content: # Safety and Emergencies - Turkey

## Main Safety Stack

| Risk | Where it matters most | Response |
|------|-----------------------|----------|
| Heat and dehydration | Southeast, Mediterranean, inland summer routes | Shift heavy activity to early and late hours |
| Wildfire or smoke | Summer coast and forested regions | Keep route flexibility and monitor official alerts |
| Earthquake awareness | Urban and historic-core stays | Know exits and basic response, avoid panic myths |
| Tourist scams | Dense city and airport zones | Use clear prices, official transport, and booking proof |
| Road fatigue | Long coast or mountain drives | Reduce night driving and overpacked transfer days |

## Practical Safety Rules

- Save 112 emergency access and hotel address details on the phone.
- Arrival-night transfers are smoother when planned before landing.
- Solo travelers should match nightlife and transport advice to the district and hour, not just to the city.
- If current local events or protests matter, refresh sources close to the travel date.

## Health and Comfort

- Heat, dust, and smoke can change sightseeing tolerance fast.
- Shade, water, and realistic pacing matter more than heroic attraction counts.
- Food-heavy routes need moderation if the user has a sensitive stomach or strict dietary needs.

## Source Reminder

Use `sources.md` for AFAD, weather, emergency, and official tourism refresh points.


path: setup.md
content: # Setup - Turkey Travel Guide

Create `~/turkey/` on first use and initialize `~/turkey/memory.md` from `memory-template.md`.

## First Contact

Answer the immediate Turkey question first, then capture only the trip details that change the plan:
- Entry pathway already solved or still pending
- Travel dates or month range
- Istanbul-only, Istanbul plus Cappadocia, coast-focused, archaeology-focused, or mixed
- Domestic flight tolerance, bus tolerance, and driving comfort
- Trip style: food, history, beaches, shopping, nightlife, family, hiking, mixed
- Budget band, pace, and heat tolerance

## What To Save

Keep durable facts in memory:
- Travel window and flexibility
- Arrival and departure airports
- Confirmed bases and open region choices
- Balloon interest, coast interest, and archaeology priorities
- Mobility needs, driving tolerance, and conservative-context sensitivity

## Returning Users

Read `~/turkey/memory.md`, reuse what is still valid, and ask only what changed:
- Dates
- Region focus
- Bookings already made
- Domestic flights, car rental, or balloon decisions

## Quick Start Prompts

**"I want Istanbul and Cappadocia"**
- Ask total days, airport pair, and whether a balloon backup morning is acceptable.
- Then use `istanbul.md`, `cappadocia-and-central-anatolia.md`, `itineraries.md`, and `transport-domestic.md`.

**"I want beaches and history"**
- Ask month, heat tolerance, and whether user prefers Aegean archaeology or Mediterranean resort/coast logic.
- Then use `aegean-and-west-coast.md`, `mediterranean-coast.md`, `archaeology-and-museums.md`, and `weather-and-seasonality.md`.

**"I need a full Turkey route"**
- Ask total days, arrival airport, and whether user accepts one domestic flight or open-jaw routing.
- Then use `regions.md`, `itineraries.md`, `budget-and-costs.md`, and `entry-and-documents.md`.

## Important Notes

- Turkey quality comes from choosing one west or one east logic, not forcing every famous stop.
- Istanbul airport choice and domestic transfer timing matter more than many first-time visitors expect.
- Heat, wind, and long transfer distances are often bigger trip shapers than attraction count.


path: sources.md
content: # Sources - Turkey Skill

Last checked: 2026-03-09

## Entry, Visa, and Border

- Republic of Turkey MFA visa information: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa
- Official e-Visa portal: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
- GoTurkiye travel planning portal: https://goturkiye.com/

## Official Tourism and Regional Planning

- Istanbul destination portal: https://istanbul.goturkiye.com/
- Cappadocia destination portal: https://cappadocia.goturkiye.com/
- Aegean destination portal: https://aegean.goturkiye.com/
- Turkish Riviera destination portal: https://turkishriviera.goturkiye.com/
- Black Sea destination portal: https://goblacksea.com/en/homepage
- Mesopotamia tourism portal: https://goeast.goturkiye.com/

## Transport

- Istanbul Airport transport: https://www.igairport.aero/en/transport
- Sabiha Gokcen transport and parking: https://www.sabihagokcen.aero/passenger-and-visitors/transport-and-parking
- TCDD Tasimacilik: https://www.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/
- Istanbul Metro: https://www.metro.istanbul/en
- Sehir Hatlari ferries: https://www.sehirhatlari.istanbul/en
- Turkish road tolls and motorways: https://www.kgm.gov.tr/Sayfalar/KGM/SiteEng/Root/Tolls.aspx

## Museums and Culture

- Official museums portal: https://muze.gov.tr/
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism: https://www.ktb.gov.tr/EN-9851/homepage.html

## Safety, Weather, and Public Services

- AFAD disaster and emergency authority: https://www.afad.gov.tr/en/
- Turkish State Meteorological Service: https://www.mgm.gov.tr/eng/forecast-cities.aspx
- Emergency 112 information: https://112.gov.tr/

## Source Reminder

Refresh visa pathway, airport transport, domestic rail, museum-pass scope, and weather-alert conditions close to departure because those are the most time-sensitive parts of Turkey planning.


path: southeast-and-mesopotamia.md
content: # Southeast and Mesopotamia - Turkey

## Best Fit

Best for travelers who prioritize food, early history, old stone cities, and a different cultural texture from the west coast and resort corridor.

## Region Selection Grid

| Base | Strong for | Watch-outs |
|------|------------|------------|
| Gaziantep | Food capital logic and museum value | Heat and intense eating pace |
| Sanliurfa | Gobeklitepe and deep-history focus | Midday heat and slower rhythm |
| Mardin | Architecture, views, old-city atmosphere | Hills, steps, and accessibility limits |
| Diyarbakir | Walls, food, layered city history | Needs deliberate current-context planning |

## Planning Rules

- Use this region for users who want substance, not checklist tourism.
- Summer heat is the main trip-shaping factor; mornings and evenings matter.
- Flights usually beat overland entry unless the user explicitly wants the road journey.
- Keep local-context awareness current and do not assume every nearby city has the same visitor feel.

## Common Mistakes

- Treating it like a low-friction extension to a beach holiday.
- Planning heavy walking in the hottest part of the day.
- Missing the food logic by hopping too fast.
- Ignoring accessibility limits in old stone urban cores.


path: telecoms-and-apps.md
content: # Telecoms and Apps - Turkey

## Connectivity Logic

- Urban Turkey is easy to navigate with a phone-first trip stack.
- International roaming or eSIM is often the simplest short-trip option.
- Local SIM can make sense for longer trips, but setup effort is not always worth it for short stays.

## Useful Digital Stack

| Need | What to use |
|------|-------------|
| Offline navigation | Maps with offline download before long drives |
| Translation | Turkish offline phrase support for menus and drivers |
| Flight and airport handling | Official airline and airport apps or mobile sites |
| Rail and museum planning | Official TCDD and museum portals |
| Weather and alerts | Official weather and emergency pages |

## Practical Rules

- Download maps before entering mountain, coast, or eastern driving regions.
- Keep hotel addresses in both map and plain-text form for arrival-night transfers.
- Save passport, visa, tickets, and reservation proofs in offline-access form.
- Carry one backup charging option on flight-heavy or bus-heavy days.

## Source Reminder

See `sources.md` for official airport, rail, museum, weather, and emergency links.


path: transport-domestic.md
content: # Domestic Transport - Turkey

## Transport Selection Grid

| Mode | Best for | Limits |
|------|----------|--------|
| Domestic flight | West-east compression, Istanbul-Cappadocia, coast jumps | Airport overhead and baggage fees |
| Intercity bus | Value routes and many city pairs | Night comfort varies and trip times are long |
| Rail | Selected corridors such as Ankara-centered links | Not the backbone for most tourist circuits |
| Ferry | Bosphorus, urban sea moves, selected coastal logic | Weather and timetable limits |
| Car | Coast, archaeology clusters, rural viewpoints | Parking, tolls, fatigue, and city traffic |

## Istanbul Transport Reality

- Metro, tram, bus, and ferries make Istanbul workable without a car.
- Airport transfer from IST is a different problem than from SAW; never treat them as interchangeable.
- A one-neighborhood hotel choice can save more time than a faster-looking cross-city transit plan.

## Domestic Flight Rule

- Flights are strongest when the route spans Istanbul, Cappadocia, the southeast, or the far east.
- If the user hates airport overhead, one compact west-coast or southeast cluster is better than repeated flights.
- Same-day international arrival plus separate domestic ticket needs real slack.

## Surface Travel Rule

- Buses cover far more of the country than rail.
- High-speed rail is useful for selected Ankara and Konya links, not for most coast or Cappadocia tourism.
- Ferries are tactical urban or short-sea tools, not a national backbone.

## Source Reminder

See `sources.md` for Istanbul airports, metro, ferries, TCDD, and official tourism planning links.


path: weather-and-seasonality.md
content: # Weather and Seasonality - Turkey

## Seasonal Grid

| Season | Strongest fit | Main watch-outs |
|--------|---------------|-----------------|
| Spring | Istanbul, Aegean, Cappadocia, southeast | Variable wind, rain pockets, holiday demand |
| Summer | Coast trips, evening city life, long daylight | Extreme heat inland and in the southeast |
| Autumn | Istanbul, Cappadocia, Aegean, food routes | Storm swings and shorter daylight later in season |
| Winter | Istanbul city breaks, Cappadocia snow mood, Kars | Snow, flight disruption, cold morning logistics |

## Region-Specific Reality

- Istanbul is year-round but wind, rain, and hills change daily comfort.
- Cappadocia is spectacular in multiple seasons, but balloons are always weather-dependent.
- The Mediterranean and southeast can be punishing in peak summer midday hours.
- The Black Sea stays greener and wetter than the classic coast image of Turkey.

## Planning Rules

- Put exposed ruins and valley walks in the coolest hours.
- Shoulder season is often the best balance for first-time mixed routes.
- Build one backup indoor or lower-exposure option for every outdoor-heavy day.
- If beaches are central, match coast choice to the month instead of defaulting to one famous town.

## Timing Shortcuts

- Best broad first trip months: spring and autumn
- Best pure beach logic: late spring to early autumn
- Best snow-mood and rail stories: winter with buffer
- Worst overreach pattern: inland archaeology plus coast plus southeast in peak summer


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