Fast Facts

Airlines -- Turkish Airlines flies five times daily from Istanbul, and once daily from Ankara. The airline office in Bodrum is located in the Oasis Shopping Center northwest of town off the main road (tel. 0252/317-1203).

Airport -- The general information line at Bodrum Airport is tel. 0252/536-6565. THY (Turkish Airlines) has a toll-free number: tel. 0212/444-0849.

Car Rentals -- In Bodrum the major car-rental agencies are: Avis, Neyzen Tevfik Cad. 92/A (tel. 0252/316-2333); National Car Rental, Cevat Sakir Cad. 48 (tel. 0252/313-6110); and Budget, Neyzen Tevfik Cad. 94/A (tel. 0252/316-7382), all renting non-air-conditioned compact cars for as little as 68YTL ($50) per day.

Climate -- Bodrum's climate is Mediterranean, with temperatures rarely falling below freezing.

Embassies & Consulates -- The United Kingdom has representation in Bodrum, a consular agent at Kibris Sehi tleri Caddesi (tel. 0252/319-0093).

Emergencies -- Hospitals are the best option for emergency care. The Private Hospital (Özel Hastanesi; tel. 0252/313-6566), the Medicare Private Clinic (tel. 0252/316-7051), and the Karia Clinic (tel. 0252/313-6233) are open for emergencies 24 hours a day, and most duty doctors speak English.

Internet Access -- Internet cafes open and close quickly here. But there always seems to be one around if the wait at the hotel computer is too long.

Laundry -- Fatih's Laundry Center (tel. 0252/316-5081), located next to the Merve Park Suites Hotel at Dr. Mümtaz Ataman Cad. 6, can have your laundry washed and dried in 1 hour and 15 minutes for 8YTL ($6). The laundry is open daily from 8am to 8pm.

Market Day -- The local market is next to the bus station and open from dawn to dusk. Thursday and Friday are the days for food; Tuesday for textiles and dry goods.

Movie Theaters -- The Marina Outdoor Cinema (tel. 0252/317-0001) has a summer schedule of movies (original versions with Turkish subtitles); seating is on cushioned stones. The Karia Princess Hotel, Canlidere Sokagi, near the Migros (tel. 0252/316-6272), plays movies with the original soundtracks.

Newspapers & Magazines -- The Aegean Sun is the city's free and informative publication, with articles on life in Bodrum and current tips and trends. There's also a good map inside.

Police -- Dial tel. 155 for assistance or call the station directly at tel. 0252/316-8080.

Post Office -- The main post office is located on Cevat Sakir Caddesi and is open 24 hours a day for phone calls and other services. The change office operates on business hours, but there are several private change windows nearby.

Shopping -- For upscale merchandise whose prices are fixed to the dollar (read: expensive), the Karada Marina has elegant shops with mainly nautical motifs. Local goods and souvenirs are hard to avoid in the maze around the castle.

Oasis, an outdoor shopping center located on the northwest side of town, comes complete with upscale shops, a cinema, and restaurants. Make a special trip here for the lahmacun (thin-crust dough topped with minced lamb, tomato, and onion) at Öz Urfa (tel. 0252/317-0031), open daily 10am to 1 or 2am, or for one of their kebaps or çig köfte.

Travel Agents -- Bodrum Touralpin, Emlak Bankasi Dükkanlari 6, just opposite the main post office; tel. 0252/316-8733; www.bodrumtouralpin.com), is the heavy hitter in town, and where most visitors go for dealings with Turkish Airlines. Akustik Tour, Neyzen Tevfik Sok. 200, across from the marina (tel. 0252/313-8964; www.travelbodrum.com), is a professional, friendly and English-speaking mom and pop outfit. Check with Tolga or Özlem at Akustik before making any hotel reservations in town; they will save you a bundle. They will also direct you to the less visited archaeological sites in the region.