Safety in Turkey?

[vick_stitch]

Me and 5 of my mates were gonna go on a girlie holiday to Turkey, but now only 2 of us are going. We're booking it tomorrow and although I'm excited, I'm a bit wary about the safety of 2 females alone. We're both 20. We're planning to avoid clubs and stick to bars and restaurants, which will be safer, but does anyone have any other tips? How safe is Turkey for tourists?

[GoodFella]

Should be fine, make sure you stay together though. Don't wonder off on your own. Don't know much about Turkey but as with most places you just gotta be a little careful and just look out for each other.

Make sure both of you don't get too drunk either. Errrmmm what else, im sure someone else will add something.

But have fun, hope you have a great time :)

[Kazbo]

I went to Turkey when I was 14 with my family and sorry to say it but both me my mum and my sis in law were very grateful my brothers were there or I don't think I'd have felt safe, but I was young then.

Be warned that they will constantly try and drag you into their bars and restaurants, and if you go to a near by one on one night the night after another will say oh you went there last night you should come here tonight.

I was picked uip from behind by people trying to put me on camels to get money out of us. My brother had has foot pinned down by a group of kids who started cleaning his shoes and wouldn't let him go till he paid them something like the equivallent of £5 just for putting some vague cleaning stuff on which wasn't even the proper stuff for cleaning his trainers.

However there were some very nice places to see and go and I did meet a lot of very nice and genuine Turks out there as well.

By the way it's nearly 10 years since I went so it could have changed.

My son to be flat mate went about 6 years ago wth her family and they kept trying to buy her for marriage constantly.

But as Goodfella says I'm sure as long as you're careful and stick together you'll be fine. Just thought I'd let you know some of the things to look out for and be careful of. Hope I haven't put you off at all.

[vick_stitch]

To be honest, you have put me off a bit... I mean, if people start trying to snatch us and buying us for marriage, with only two of us there, we're not going to be able to do much, are we? I know you were younger then, of course, but maybe we should think about other places too...?

[GoodFella]

Wherever you go your gonna have that chance of stuff happening, just don't let it put you off. If your careful you'll be fine. If there are a group of Brits there in your hotel or whatever that are roughly your age try and make friends with them and go out with them, if you want. You'll make friends and feel safe at the same time.

:)

[vick_stitch]

That's a good point actually. We're going to a pretty touristy area so I'm sure there'll be some Brits there

[GoodFella]

Just out of interest .... when you going? How long for?

[vick_stitch]

Going on July 11th for 8 days. It's my first holiday since I became single, so should be fun!

[GoodFella]

Oooh should be nice and hot then :D full of red skinned burning Brits who havent bothered putting any lotion on :D

[vick_stitch]

Supposed to be scorching out there at that time... I go red, then freckly rather than brown, which is annoying

[Kazbo]

To be honest, you have put me off a bit... I mean, if people start trying to snatch us and buying us for marriage, with only two of us there, we're not going to be able to do much, are we? I know you were younger then, of course, but maybe we should think about other places too...?

The turks are quite well known for trying to snatch up children though.

It is a lovely place and there's some great sites and things to do in Turkey. I'm very glad I've been. All I was trying to say really is to be constantly on your guard and watch out for each other as things can happen. Didn't mean to put you off at all sorry...just thought if you knew some of the things I found you had to look out for then it would help.

And yep ya'll recognise the English as they are all red out there.

[Kazbo]

Supposed to be scorching out there at that time... I go red, then freckly rather than brown, which is annoying

:yes: It's 27C at the moment out there...Cyprus is 32C.

[vick_stitch]

Oooh, so should be hotter than that come July!

Kazbo - I appreciate the warning actually... I can be prepared now. And I'm sure it'll still be a great holiday. I've been on 2 holidays with my ex boyfriend, so just being extra careful now that it's just me and my mate.

[NaRaYaN]

I went to a popular place in Turkey and it cant help but be dodgy. My dad has some dude demand money from him for walking into his shop to get a drink. He walked and the man said basically he had to spend however many turkish lira to leave.

I wouldnt let two girls travel there to be honest. My cousin was there same time as us and she was literally the object of everyones attention and my uncle had to give out some strong glares to stop wandering hands etc.

Go to Greece, their within the EU and far less gropey. As Turkey isnt part of the EU they arent governed by laws we have and their generally a tad dodgy.

[vick_stitch]

Blimey! Think I'll definitely consider somewhere else. I've been to Greece before and loved it - would like to go island hopping there actually

[NaRaYaN]

Im touring Kos, Crete (Malia in particular) and Zante in the summer. Its great! I recommend any of those islands if you dont mind going to bars and that.

[LuckyStrike]

i wouldnt be worried, if you have your wits about you, you will be fine. ive been to turkey before, ive seen the kind of behaviour some of you mention and i wouldnt say they did it in a malicious way...at the end of the day it is a mainly muslim country so have issues with women so thats one of the main worries. i wouldnt be scared about going there tho, anywhere can be dangerous.

i went to marmaris a few years back, had a great time. lots of dutchies there tho, they'll protect ya!

edit: why is it that you picked turkey in the first place?

i'd hate to be in malia this summer, seems like everyones going there, might as well stay at home! i know at least 15 people who are going on holidays there. im not really into my beach holidays anymore, more into new, strange places.

[vick_stitch]

We chose it coz none of us had been there before and because we wanted to avoid over-touristy places like Majorca.

[NaRaYaN]

i'd hate to be in malia this summer, seems like everyones going there, might as well stay at home! i know at least 15 people who are going on holidays there. im not really into my beach holidays anymore, more into new, strange places.

Its the place of the summer really. If your young and out for a laugh Malia will accomadate that. Strange and exciting is something I'll be after when im 28, try Goa or somewhere like that.

Im still anti-Turkey as the men can be forceful and two girls alone are nothing but easy pickings.

[LuckyStrike]

yeah, maybe its just me..but who wants to do the same thing that everyone else is doing?? do something for yourself..small scummy greek town full of pissed up brits, doing drugs and whoring themselves around doesnt do it for me im afraid.

[vick_stitch]

We'd like to do something different, but we only have a budget of £300 each, so it's gonna have to be Greece or something if not Turkey

[LuckyStrike]

go to prague. bout £100 for flights, £6.50 a night at Hostel Elf and some of the best night life in the world! its great!! plus its 20p a beer. great cheap holiday.

[Kazbo]

i wouldnt be worried, if you have your wits about you, you will be fine. ive been to turkey before, ive seen the kind of behaviour some of you mention and i wouldnt say they did it in a malicious way...at the end of the day it is a mainly muslim country so have issues with women so thats one of the main worries. i wouldnt be scared about going there tho, anywhere can be dangerous.


It might not be meant malicously but it can be scary if you end up on the wrong end of it especially if you're not expecting it as it's just not what we're used to and they can be very forceful.

I would recommend Cyprus btw...It's pretty much the same as Turkey but the people are far less full on.

[NaRaYaN]

small scummy greek town full of pissed up brits, doing drugs and whoring themselves around doesnt do it for me im afraid.

Its not a scummy town, take a trip into Old Town and you will see its actually quite nice, the problem is they cater for tourists who happen to be the english who go there for week long benders.

I also didnt say for you to go there as your too high and mighty to hang around such common filth that inhabits these places, obviously. Go around Europe on the lookout for culture or something, leave the pissheads and pillheads alone to their fun.

[LuckyStrike]

ok thanks for that..i will do.

[Kazbo]

Its not a scummy town, take a trip into Old Town and you will see its actually quite nice, the problem is they cater for tourists who happen to be the english who go there for week long benders.

I also didnt say for you to go there as your too high and mighty to hang around such common filth that inhabits these places, obviously. Go around Europe on the lookout for culture or something, leave the pissheads and pillheads alone to their fun.


Calm it...was there any need for the personal insults...he was only stating an opinion which is what this place is all about, giving advice from our own points of view and experience....but only advice, not forcing our ideas on other people.

[vick_stitch]

I appreciate the different points of view and the new holiday ideas. I mean, I would never have posted to begin with if I didn't have an inkling of what Turkey was like. I would like to consider Greece, Cyprus and Prague too, actually.

[bluesneakersben]

I think Turkey does have a lot of misconceptions about it. I went to Marmaris with my girlfriend last summer. The Thomson rep had me shaking in my boots with the expectation that I woud have to fight a group of burly Turks off everywhere we went but I found the Turkish people to be very friendly and this may be difficult for British people to accept. The burly Turks at my hotel (Garden Park or something like that) were really friendly and riding on the Dolmus actually made me feel like a real tourist not a holiday maker. . I loved Turkey and was pleased to accept hospitality when I went in shops.

The closer you get to the middle east the more the manners situation goes downhill which may spook the Brits into thinking that the people are agressive. Try Israel for manners, there's no "please may I have" it's more along the lines of "give me..."

On the downside though I did have my Birkenstocks "cleaned" by a man but I suppose I was asking for it as we were in a backstreet and I made eye contact...gave myself a good kicking for that mistake.

Ben. (sorry for the lengthy post)

[Dear Wendy]

Was in Marmaris with my family 3 years ago. The Turks are really really friendly. The country is beautiful. And there's a nightlife. That's why I will go there for a week with some people from school once we graduate this summer.

Had some guys being creepy, and asking my mom how many camels she wantes for me etc. But apart from them offering camels then it's no different from being at a sleezy nightclub (or even a better one in some cases).



The closer you get to the middle east the more the manners situation goes downhill which may spook the Brits into thinking that the people are agressive. Try Israel for manners, there's no "please may I have" it's more along the lines of "give me..."

I love it :D
It suits me.
Thing for a girl is that the guys are not as pushy in Israel as they are in Turkey.

[bluesneakersben]

I did really enjoy Turkey and can see why some people have their doubts. I wandered around the Bazaar at night on my own and had no trouble but having said that, when I get a sun tan I tend to look Greek or Turkish anyway so they may have thought I was a local.

As for Israel it was good being there with actual Israelis but as for men bothering women... would you mess with a Kibbutz girl who's on leave from the Army? ;) tee hee

Middle East - good food!

[Kazbo]

Oh another suggestion Tunisia is nice as well and again you'll find less aggressive attitudes and more joking friendly ones.

Sorry to those who say it wasn't aggressive in Turkey but it was simple as. Yes there were some very nice shop keepers (I ended up being a model in a fashion show for one of the guys who my bro was thinking about buying a leather jacket off after losing an arm wrestle to him so I'm not saying everyone was aggressive, but get into poorer areas, where it's less touristy and no the attitude definately changed and was threatening, but there were folks in the tourist areas as well I was scared of.

[Wyetry]

I've been to turkey 6 times since 1989 and its not that bad but i definatley noticed the difference between going with my family or boyfriend and going in a group of girls. Its amasing to see how its changed the first time i went Marmaris was still a sleepy fishing town with a few hotels tacked on the side - the last time i went it had changed drastically I can't imagine what its like now.

If you go you will be harrassed but you just have to keep your head down and ignore it also dressing conservatively helps (a long skirt or trousers and cover your sholders). I think that myths around the loose nature of western women have been perpetuated by the behaviour of a few girls who've secumbed to the advances of turkish men leading to the perception that we are all gagging for it and willing to be taken advantage off. Unfortunatly this view is at its most promenant in the very touristy areas. I've been to some pretty off the beaten track parts and people have been amasingly friendly and just interested to talk to someone from a different country and havn't tried to kidnap us or anything.

Unfortunatly the dodgyest situations i've been in have both involved officials - one was a ticket collector at a train station who was egging on two soldiers and their sargent to harras us and the other was with a police man.

I really dont' want to put you off though Turkey is one of the most amasing places i've ever been to (and i've travelled loads). If you do go with out blokes then try and find a group of guys to hang around with whilst your there and just ignore any advances you get from any turkish men - it might seem impolite to ignore them but you will be safer in the long run.