Travel World Gateway

  As traditional summer holidays draw to a close, travel planners are turning their attention toward the Mediterranean coast of Southeast Turkey, which is emerging as a premier destination for autumn getaways. Offering a combination of warm coastal waters, historic archaeological sites, and significantly reduced congestion, regions like Ölüdeniz and Çıralı are welcoming vacationers seeking peace. Çıralı remains a particular draw for nature enthusiasts in September, when protected sea turtle hatchlings begin emerging along its quiet golden beaches. Direct flight connections to Dalaman Airport continue to make multi-stop coastal itineraries seamless for independent travelers.

 * If your travel plans fall during a busy period, call for reservations early. Flights for holidays may sell out weeks - sometimes months - ahead of time. Don't buy a standby fare or an 'open return' ticket if you need to fly during a high-demand period. You could be stranded for a week or more before a seat becomes available.     * Ask the reservations agent to give you the on-time performance code for any flights that you are considering. This is a one-digit code in the reservations computer that shows how often that flight arrived on time (within 15 minutes) during the most recent reported month. For example, an "8" means that flight arrived within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time between 80% and 89.9% of the time. If you are deciding between two flights with similar schedules and fares, you may want to choose the one with the better on-time record. (Only the largest U.S. airlines are required to maintain these codes.)     * When you make a reservati...