Very famous and great, the Turkish hospitality, but I wonder where are the limits? I read in several books that when someone comes to your house, you have to offer them food, drinks, a place to stay. Even when you don't have the money for it or have absolutely no time or place for having visitors. In one story I read that a guest asked for a two-night stay but ended up staying 3 weeks without offering any help and that guest used the hosts' phone for international calls, expected the host to pay everything. The host accepted this as normal.

So, because in e.g. my country it is different, I wonder when do you say 'no'? When do you ask someone to leave? Or don't you ever do that? Where are the limits? Is there a difference in showing hospitality to 'just' a friend, a very close friend or to a relative?

hospitability is nicer when become unlimited,and you can see the prints of this good tradition still on some parts of our lovely country,especially on rural areas and out of big cities,but pity we started to loss our unique traditions slowly,humans not warm as much as in parts and emotions not deep as much as in the past to..

thats really big honour for we Turkish people to see this sweet compliments from our dear guests..>>>>http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Middle_East/Turkey/Istanbul_Ili/Istanbul-1837624/Local_Customs-Istanbul-hospitality-BR-1.html

Acording to İslam, To be guest is for 3 days.Host must treat guest for 3 days.After 3 days, hospitality is for alms.Host does not have to host anymore. But host can, if he/she treat guest more than 3 days then it is merit.

I just found out many more examples of Turkish hospitality. When İ'm back in 5 weeks I will write about it in my essay. It's great here!

Yes. Turkish hospitality is the thing that can make me feel both welcome and unwanted at the same time. What do you do when someone insists on you staying, though you know they have something to do or anything else?

If I ask Kadirs housemate if I can stay a bit longer, if its no problem, I expect an honest answer. After all as a guest you dont want to bother someone and I wont be offended if someone honestly says he is tired and would rather sleep. As a matter of fact, I long for someone to finally say that to me again

Once we were waiting at the busstop in the rain with groceries. A friend saw us and brought us home by car. The fuel-light already was lit up red and he himself lived on the other side of the city.

I wonder where hospitality ends and socially-desirable behavior starts. We all have it, but what is so wrong with saying 'No' every once in a while? As a foreigner, I havent been able to distinguish my own limits as a guest. When is leaving early rude, when does 'too long' start?
Will I be ruder not accepting the offered goods and leave at a 'desirable' hour, or will I be unknowingly rude when I keep accepting and dont object the 'stay a bit longer' words?

Id feel more comfortable to know someone is honest with me, than sitting somewhere and not being sure if my host would rather do something else.

I agree Turkish hospitality is great,you are made to feel so welcome in Turkish homes,I stayed with a family in Turkey for 3 months and it was very good,as I didnt want to freeload i used to do the family shop and help with the household bills.The second time I stayed was also great,however the bills started to increase,out of the norm if you will.I still did the family shop every week and helped with the bills but then I was asked by the Lady of the house to buy a new cooker and an iron!I stopped in my tracks I couldn't believe it,paying bills for staying there is one thing but buying domestic apliances is another,and in Turkey these are expensive compared to the U.K.
As a consequence I fell out with the family,hospitality can also be two ways can it not?/My family here also looked after their son he stayed with my family for a month or two when he couldn't find anywhere to live and they never asked for a penny from him,even though he was working!
I think I was just unlucky on those two occasions, because I stayed with other people in Turkey and never encountered a problem,but in the main Turkish hospitality is great.