Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

What is the deal with taking food in suitcases? to cut down costs we were planning to take some pastas and possibly hot dogs.. is there any restrictions on meats or food?

I always take food, snackpots, chocolate etc and have in the past taken lots of bacon and sausages, not for myself as I am a vegetarian but for some of the restaurants as is unavailable there as they do not breed pigs. I had lots in my suitcase the last time I took some and checked my case in and it wasn't until I got to the customs before the departure lounge that I noticed a sign stating no meat is allowed out of the country, it was too late as my case had gone so I kept quiet about it. All was well though, nothing happened and I know many others who have taken bacon etc with no bother at all. I haven't done it this year as it was very rare that I got the money from them despite them promising to refund me, didn't even get a free drink so I stopped doing it. I would take in your case though and not hand luggage. Funnily enough it was Humberside airport where I saw the notice and you are from Hull so presumably you are flying from there. I have also flown from Doncaster and Manchester with bacon etc with no problem at all.

I wouldn't take pasta as it's cheap in Tansas. You can check prices on the Tansas website on www.tansas.com.tr and click on Current Insert, to see whether its worth taking certain foods with you, or buying there.

We tend to take sandwich fillers which we transfer into small plastic takeaway containers instead of in their glass bottles, to cut down on the weight. We take salad cream as we haven't seen it anywhere and we often eat a salad lunchtimes (I really miss the tomatoes!). We also took a number of other things which were left over at the end of the holiday as we found so many takeaways that were so reasonable, such as Alin's (a roast chicken and a 2L bottle of coke 9.9TL) and Kardelin that we just didn't eat them. We always take our own T-bags as we prefer them but buy the coffee there as even though its a little more expensive you've also got to watch the weight restrictions as taking food with you could mean you have to pay extra at the airport, which defeats the object. Any food we take with us we wrap in freezer bags, just in case of leakage. Provided that your food is in your suitcase there won't be a problem. We also take toaster bags and buy the "tost" cheese which I think is Turkish for sliced, to eat at lunchtime.

As our baggage this year weighed 20kg without the food, we checked the weight of the empty suitcases which were 5kg each. We then bought holdalls which weighed 1.4kg which had the same capacity as the suitcases. If you want to take food out with you and you're close to the limit then they're an excellent buy as we only paid £8.99 each but we put luggage straps around them for extra protection.

We took all sorts with us this year through Humberside, we took teabags, coffee, butter, jars of meat paste and some sliced ham also cereals. We had no bother at all and will be doing the same again next year, have a great holiday we did

They may not breed pigs,but there is a warehouse in Marmaris where restaurants can purchase bacon and pork sausages Another website for Migros supermarket is http://www.kangurum.com you can get English on that one,go onto migros virtual market and you can see whatever product you want.

Cathedral city cheese and lurpack for snax wrapped in about 4 swing bin liners,,,, the odd butty at lunch was heaven

I took Bacon,sausages,cheese and butter in a small coolbag in my hold luggage,butter was still solid when I arrived at my apartments,and a small tin of cornbeef to make sandwiches for travelling home,not paying Dalaman airport prices!!,desparatly wanted a coffee in the early hours last week waiting for our flight home,but went without when I saw the price 8.50 lira !!