Istanbul - stay away or safe enough?
Discussion
I'm planning a short break in Sept and planning to burn off a few avios miles - Istanbul ticks a few boxes but obviously it's got a border with Syria etc and there's been a few recent attacks there too.
However so has boring Brussels, Paris and London etc.
I'm an experienced traveller but not looking to go looking for risk if I can avoid it, my wife will be with me too.
Any thoughts on Istanbul in the current climate?
Cheers
However so has boring Brussels, Paris and London etc.
I'm an experienced traveller but not looking to go looking for risk if I can avoid it, my wife will be with me too.
Any thoughts on Istanbul in the current climate?
Cheers
Istanbul has not got a border with Syria. istanbul is a city, Turkey, been the country, has a border with Syria.
Istanbul is approx 800miles away from the Syrian border.
There are travel warnings from the USA and Israel for travel to Istanbul and Antalya - although we are just back from Antalya, no issues that we saw there.
Istanbul is approx 800miles away from the Syrian border.
There are travel warnings from the USA and Israel for travel to Istanbul and Antalya - although we are just back from Antalya, no issues that we saw there.
Thanks very constructive comments, my point was as you obviously knew was that Istanbul is a city in a country called Turkey which has a border with with a country called Syria, apologies for my poor phrasing
Tomo1971 said:
Istanbul has not got a border with Syria. istanbul is a city, Turkey, been the country, has a border with Syria.
Why are people on here delibarately acerbic and small minded.
Istanbul is approx 800miles away from the Syrian border.
There are travel warnings from the USA and Israel for travel to Istanbul and Antalya - although we are just back from Antalya, no issues that we saw there.
Why are people on here delibarately acerbic and small minded.
Istanbul is approx 800miles away from the Syrian border.
There are travel warnings from the USA and Israel for travel to Istanbul and Antalya - although we are just back from Antalya, no issues that we saw there.
pauljdh said:
You are not qualified to say that, I made a minor mistake don't appreciate that sort of comment.
Dear God. You 'don't appreciate that sort of comment' - well, that's me told, isn't it? had ham said:
Nope, I'm guessing not.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 16th April 06:33
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 16th April 06:34
Istanbul is the most dangerous city I've visited, not thru terrorism, but thru just ridiculous lack of the most basic H&S.
Shops with a staircase in the middle down to a basement, with no barrier around the drop to the ground floor on the three exposed sides, massive holes in the pavement, bits of sharp metal sticking out of all kinds of places, shops with the whole electrics running out of one socket with adaptors sticking out of adaptors sticking out of extension leads plugged into other extension leads. Not to mention billions of stray cats under your feet.
Every trip is a f
king fatal accident waiting to happen.
Shops with a staircase in the middle down to a basement, with no barrier around the drop to the ground floor on the three exposed sides, massive holes in the pavement, bits of sharp metal sticking out of all kinds of places, shops with the whole electrics running out of one socket with adaptors sticking out of adaptors sticking out of extension leads plugged into other extension leads. Not to mention billions of stray cats under your feet.
Every trip is a f
king fatal accident waiting to happen.TwigtheWonderkid said:
Istanbul is the most dangerous city I've visited, not thru terrorism, but thru just ridiculous lack of the most basic H&S.
Shops with a staircase in the middle down to a basement, with no barrier around the drop to the ground floor on the three exposed sides, massive holes in the pavement, bits of sharp metal sticking out of all kinds of places, shops with the whole electrics running out of one socket with adaptors sticking out of adaptors sticking out of extension leads plugged into other extension leads. Not to mention billions of stray cats under your feet.
Every trip is a fking fatal accident waiting to happen.
Actually that reminded me of the time we were building an exhibition stand in Istanbul and I asked the electricians where the power was. He pointed to a cable with three wires exposed laying on the floor, no socket, nothing.Shops with a staircase in the middle down to a basement, with no barrier around the drop to the ground floor on the three exposed sides, massive holes in the pavement, bits of sharp metal sticking out of all kinds of places, shops with the whole electrics running out of one socket with adaptors sticking out of adaptors sticking out of extension leads plugged into other extension leads. Not to mention billions of stray cats under your feet.
Every trip is a f
king fatal accident waiting to happen.As I went to pick it up and move it he told me to be careful as it was live
I'm due to travel to Turkey for work, which involves meetings in Govt offices too. I contacted our Corporate Security for their advice.
It was,
"We'll send a close protection security officer there 2 days before you, to check out the meeting venues in Istanbul & Ankara. He'll also meet you at the airport with a driver hired for your during your stay, and the CP officer will go with you to your meetings but will wwait outside."
If I would travel there with my wife or mates, I wouldn't worry about having a bodyguard! My only concern was, "Who pays for this? Your cost centre or mine?!"
OP: If you're in doubt, go somewhere else.
It was,
"We'll send a close protection security officer there 2 days before you, to check out the meeting venues in Istanbul & Ankara. He'll also meet you at the airport with a driver hired for your during your stay, and the CP officer will go with you to your meetings but will wwait outside."
If I would travel there with my wife or mates, I wouldn't worry about having a bodyguard! My only concern was, "Who pays for this? Your cost centre or mine?!"
OP: If you're in doubt, go somewhere else.
What a great Q and one that we have been talking about with friends this last few months.
Terrorism is a global threat as we know and incidents have happened in towns and cities most unexpected from Sydney to Brussels as we are well aware.
Its a fact that bookings in Turkey are down this year. I find this sad and yet understandable to a point. With attacks the plan is to create terror and loss of life to that Country in the most easy fashion with the maximum impact. Istanbul like everywhere has the potential to be targeted again, like London, Paris as we know. would I go? Yes, would I be vigilant? yes, I would avoid busy congested areas, bus stations, police stations and military buildings.
Where is safe? South Africa? South of France? we can keep asking ourselves yet its fair to say if you are wanting a holiday a rest and a chill out time maybe avoiding crowds is a lot easier.
Am I going to Turkey? Yes for three weeks this year to stay in Kalkan at VILLA YAR. Are the bookings down for us? yes for sure, am I concerned? No. The flights are cheap the food is excellent and the people the friendliest I know. If anyone wants to sit by a pool overlooking a bay for a big discount this year then look at the place. Pheaders go and will continue to do so.
Either way you must always do want you feel is right and don't get swayed by opinion that way when you come back from a fab trip happy there is only one winner. You.
Cheers
Terrorism is a global threat as we know and incidents have happened in towns and cities most unexpected from Sydney to Brussels as we are well aware.
Its a fact that bookings in Turkey are down this year. I find this sad and yet understandable to a point. With attacks the plan is to create terror and loss of life to that Country in the most easy fashion with the maximum impact. Istanbul like everywhere has the potential to be targeted again, like London, Paris as we know. would I go? Yes, would I be vigilant? yes, I would avoid busy congested areas, bus stations, police stations and military buildings.
Where is safe? South Africa? South of France? we can keep asking ourselves yet its fair to say if you are wanting a holiday a rest and a chill out time maybe avoiding crowds is a lot easier.
Am I going to Turkey? Yes for three weeks this year to stay in Kalkan at VILLA YAR. Are the bookings down for us? yes for sure, am I concerned? No. The flights are cheap the food is excellent and the people the friendliest I know. If anyone wants to sit by a pool overlooking a bay for a big discount this year then look at the place. Pheaders go and will continue to do so.
Either way you must always do want you feel is right and don't get swayed by opinion that way when you come back from a fab trip happy there is only one winner. You.
Cheers
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Istanbul is the most dangerous city I've visited, not thru terrorism, but thru just ridiculous lack of the most basic H&S.
Shops with a staircase in the middle down to a basement, with no barrier around the drop to the ground floor on the three exposed sides, massive holes in the pavement, bits of sharp metal sticking out of all kinds of places, shops with the whole electrics running out of one socket with adaptors sticking out of adaptors sticking out of extension leads plugged into other extension leads. Not to mention billions of stray cats under your feet.
Every trip is a fking fatal accident waiting to happen.
If Istanbul is the most dangerous city that you've visited I guess you rarely leave the UK ? Having been to Istanbul on a number of occasions I don't recognise anything particularly different to many other cites all around the world.Shops with a staircase in the middle down to a basement, with no barrier around the drop to the ground floor on the three exposed sides, massive holes in the pavement, bits of sharp metal sticking out of all kinds of places, shops with the whole electrics running out of one socket with adaptors sticking out of adaptors sticking out of extension leads plugged into other extension leads. Not to mention billions of stray cats under your feet.
Every trip is a f
king fatal accident waiting to happen.Out of the frying pan into the fire?
Just read this very sad and realistic fact today..
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/sas-to-protec...
It seems for those that are shunning Turkey may need to think again if they want to be 100% safe.
Just read this very sad and realistic fact today..
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/sas-to-protec...
It seems for those that are shunning Turkey may need to think again if they want to be 100% safe.
Indeed, we'll be back in Dalyan this year at the villa and spending most of the time on the boat - the flights are so cheap this year, I'm bringing all my teenage kids and their partners. Exchange rate looking good too.
We will probably have a stop in Istanbul on the way back too - unless the Syrian's don't get us first.
We will probably have a stop in Istanbul on the way back too - unless the Syrian's don't get us first.
PauloV12V said:
Out of the frying pan into the fire?
Just read this very sad and realistic fact today..
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/sas-to-protec...
It seems for those that are shunning Turkey may need to think again if they want to be 100% safe.
It's indeed worrying times, I fail to see how 150 SAS soldiers can protect the Mediterranean though. Just read this very sad and realistic fact today..
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/sas-to-protec...
It seems for those that are shunning Turkey may need to think again if they want to be 100% safe.
PositronicRay said:
PauloV12V said:
Out of the frying pan into the fire?
Just read this very sad and realistic fact today..
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/sas-to-protec...
It seems for those that are shunning Turkey may need to think again if they want to be 100% safe.
It's indeed worrying times, I fail to see how 150 SAS soldiers can protect the Mediterranean though. Just read this very sad and realistic fact today..
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/sas-to-protec...
It seems for those that are shunning Turkey may need to think again if they want to be 100% safe.
I don't worry too much. Given my lifestyle I am far more likely to be killed in a car, cycling or any number of other ways.
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