I'll be in Turkey for 1 week (8 days, specifically) in mid-November. We're planning on splitting the time about 50/50 between Istanbul and a road trip (rental car - there are 4 of us, after all), probably terminating in Ephesus.

Some questions - any help or advice is welcome!:

1)We're US citizens. The visa info is somewhat confusing. Do we need to get visas before we leave, or when we arrive at the airport? Also, can anyone confirm that the fee really did drop to $20 in April? The consolate website has conflicting info.

2) I had read that hotels outside Istanbul are cheap, but most of what I'm seeing online is more expensive than the nice-looking place we booked in Istanbul for 45 USD's/night. Is this because the cheaper places aren't online? Or becasue the Aegean coast has a lot of tourist traffic?

3) That time of year, mid-week, do you think it's safe to travel without hotel reservations? My group is not exactly backpacker material, but our requirements are relatively minimal: clean sheets and a private bathroom.

4) Other than the obvious spots - Canakkale, Izmir, Ephesus, and possibly Bursa on the way back, any less-known spots that are recommended?

1.) Yes, it's $20 and you don't need a visa, you'll get what you need at the airport when you arrive. (Bring $USD of the latest issue)

2.) Finding cheap accomodations is easy. If you mean $45 for 4 persons, that's very reasonable. April is not yet the busy tourist season, so you should have no problem finding something you can afford in that price range. You'll have the extra advantage of a car to help you look around for the best place to stay. Polite bargaining is not considered rude or improper.

3.) Advance reservations are definitely not necessary at that time of year. See #2.

4.) Since you plan to stop in Canakkale, be sure to go to Ancient Troy (Truva). It's a short drive out of town.

Can't say much about November, but there's loads of cheap accommodation outside Istanbul, and most of it isn't on the web.

You will need to be a truly fearless driver if you're planning to drive from Istanbul. The main road east has one of the worst reputations in this part of the world, although driving in Turkey is mostly fine.

As an alternative, think about flying to, say Izmir and picking up a car there, or getting the overnight train to Ankara and perhaps driving back down to Izmir and flying back. Both Izmir and Istanbul airports and probably many other Turkish airports have late ticket desks for the national airlines, where you might pick up a bargain.

For an idea of a few places to visit, my trip report on our website, avengerpenguins.com has a few ideas. It focuses on wildlife but includes visits to Istanbul, Pamukale, Efesus and other well-known spots. Try to get to Cappadoccia, although it might be a bit chilly that late in the year.