In the event of illness it is customary to go directly to a hospital or to a private specialist. There are several good private medical facilities in Istanbul and Ankara. Anyone coming to Turkey should have comprehensive medical insurance. Visitors who will visit rural areas, or go on hiking, or trekking trips in the country may wish to get Rabies vaccine although this is not required. Turkish cuisine is characterized by the freshness of its ingredients and most American business travelers have no trouble finding a good meal.
All major hotels have at least one restaurant serving continental cuisine.
Several European and ethnic restaurants are also available in major cities. Good food is available not only at expensive restaurants but also at moderately priced establishments. One also has the choice of fast food restaurants such as McDonald's, Wendy's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King and their Turkish equivalents such as Kebap 49. A variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is available throughout the year. Customs officials register the items to the traveler's passport and subsequently cancel them as the traveler exits the country with the same items.