I know the foreign office says the resorts are safe, but would you take your family? No major terrorism incidents have occurred there yet but I guess it only takes one. Thinking of Antalya area.
We are having the same discussions in our house. We are still undecided.
I'd not be touching it with a 10' stunt cock. There may not have been major incidents for a while but there's plenty of smaller ones and I can't see it calming down any.
Turkey is an amazing country to visit. People are always happy to go out of their way to help, especially out of the resort areas. Rent a car/jeep and take to the hills. we spent days touring in the areas around Marmaris in a jeep and the kids loved it. You end up in the places that tourists dont go to and get to see a slice of the real turkey. Plus with kids in tow, the Turkish people always make more of an effort when you are the more rural spots.
My mate and his wife rode a triumph to Cappadocia a couple of years back, and are going back out next year they loved it so much. Nuff said!
I'm sure it will be OK in a resort, but other countries are available, so why take a chance to save a few quid?
If it was just to sit on a beach why take the risk. Other beaches available.
My mum and step dad live in Turkey in Dalyan most of the year only coming back to the UK for a few weeks at Christmas and again in the summer. They've been living like this for a few years now and me and my family went to visit two years ago.
We could go again this year but my teenage daughters don't want to go, mainly due to a fear of terrorism. I think it would be safe but I'm not forcing them to go.
Friends still going to Club Med near Antalya. Last year the family club at Palmyie was deserted even after opening much later in the season and the normally fully booked "singles" club at Kemer was 50% off.
Personally no and I have been on holiday there a lot in the past.
No, they reluctantly put up with the British but would rather have Germans or Russians or ideally none at all.
far more places in the world to visit, until they sort there sh1t out, it would be a no go for me.
No - go to Greece instead 🙂
anagallis_arvensis - Member
If it was just to sit on a beach why take the risk. Other beaches available.
This, although I was there at the start of 2016 doing some winter walking. Great country, seemed very welcoming. We were in the Taurus mountains so a long way from anywhere.
The risks are vanishingly small. Even if there was a bomb going off every week in tourist hotspots, and there clearly isn't, you'd still be very unlucky to find yourself directly involved.
People are weird - mathematically inept enough to find the national lottery enticing but unable to rationalise risks like this.
Are you avoiding France too? London is not short of its troubles historically; avoid that too?
I guess the bigger picture is do you avoid the country because you don't agree with the policies of the government? Do you actually know what the Kurds want? If so might they have a point? I lived there for a couple of years in the early 90's - the kurds get a poor deal, especially back then.
No - go to Greece instead
and this. love the greek islands and this year trying the mainland (peloponnese). the people are really friendly, and its just a nice vibe,
turkeys maybe a bit hotter, we've been twice and had great hols, but id be going greece if i were you.
[generalising] dont like generalising (so ill generalise then) but we personally found a nasty side to some of the hotel staff and shop owners, all smiley smiley until someone complains. one of the hotel staff punched a woman who complained about him being rude, and we also saw another woman thrown against a shop window and needing an ambulance for trying to return some shoes that were faulty. [i]in our experience[/i] there just seemed to be that undercurrent of people losing their rag too easy, which we've never come across in greece. [/generalising]
Probably no worse than UK in the 70s.
Are the Turkish resorts heavily discounted? If not then ...
anagallis_arvensis - Member
If it was just to sit on a beach why take the risk. Other beaches available.
If yes then I'd do more research.
TBH we just want all inclusive and will likely just stay in the resort, the complete opposite of what our last couple of holidays have been like. It's for the kids mainly, as for all the things we've done on the last two holidays, this kids still hark back to the last time we went to an all inclusive in Sharm a few years ago. Can't get anywhere in Greece anywhere like the deals in Turkey, plus the hotels we are looking at for the kids tend to have waterparks on site which I've not seen anywhere like elsewhere with a reasonable price tag.
go for it then mate. if you enjoyed sharm (we hated it) then id say turkey would be better than that. and no, i wouldnt be too worried bout terrorism, it can happen anywhere.
but you have been warned..
I would go to Turkey in a heartbeat. I agree with what convert said, above, but there are also so many places of huge historical significance that the benefits would outweigh the tiny risks anyway.
He's not going to historical sites, he's going to an all inclusive hotel with small glasses, losts of russians and staff who dont like westerners.
I'd go on holiday, without the Turkey though.
@loddrick have a look at Club Med Palmyie my gut feel is you'll be able to get 50% off. We used to go there with our kids although more recently it's been Kemer as going just with the new wife. All the Club Med resorts are "closed" and guarded.
Dr-J we stopped going to Greece in part due to Europe/UK level prices
In which case, why not just go to Spain? Isn't that destination littered with such places?
The pound is worth nothing so going to Spain is actually quite expensive, Greece can be too but (and it hurts me say ) is on a fast track to being a third world country.
Hence the attraction of Turkey, you may have picked up on this already but I wouldnt go there though, not just because of recent developments, I first went in the 80's didnt like it been a few times since and havent changed my mind.
Spain or France would be my suggestion.
You should go.
Ive spent about 2 or 3 months in the country in the last 12 and love it there. Once you are there you will realise how great it is and feels very non threatening. At a push you may want to avoid Istanbul but you'd be missing out. My girlfriend used to live there and we still know westerners living there with no issue.
The people are amazing, the scenery is fantastic and the food is awesome. I would go back tomorrow with no hesitation and feel that its a shame people pass up on a country that offers so much.
I don't know what the prices are like these days compared to ~10 years ago, but I'd rather go All Inclusive in the Canary Islands, we did Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Back then, it was ~£350pp for a week.
You're many, many times more likely to die in a pile-up on the motorway on the way to Heathrow than you are to die in a terrorist attack in Turkey.
We go every year, including just after the coup attempt last summer.
he's going to an all inclusive hotel with small glasses, lots of russians and staff who dont like westerners.
I've never found any of this in Turkey. Mate you must have been on some terrible holidays 😉
Dr-J we stopped going to Greece in part due to Europe/UK level prices
But not France. I worry that you don't understand the Euro. 😛
But that's for another thread where you get called out for spouting shite.
Mate you must have been on some terrible holidays
Only the ones in Turkey.
I do know people who like you love it, but I can't post for them.
Never been & never had the inkling to go. I know a few people who love it, including someone who has a place there, & some people who'd never go back.
We love Goa but even that's not to everyone's liking.
@convert: agree with all that. Thought this thread might be about the morality of holidaying in places with repressive regimes (I can argue either side fwiw) but no. Also lived in Turkey for a year end of the 80s and still speak a bit. Fantastic country and you'll be in far more danger on the roads. Hey ho.
I had the same doubts in the back of my mind last year,but decided to go,stayed in icmeler with my wife and 9 year old daughter in October.We all loved it,very friendly people,and a really nice place.Not once did we feel in any danger whatsoever , everyone made us feel welcome and they seemed to really like the English.
We will probably return this year at some point.
quite a few years now but I went to Kalkan and had a great time - the people were genuinely friendly (and I've been to places where they make out they are but aren't really)
I'd go without thinking twice. I'd probably go to some places the foreign office warns against, too, though I wouldn't take the family there.
There's a risk of terrorism anywhere. Not going would be giving the terrorists what they want. It's a small risk of terrorism there, and I'm not convinced it's any higher than the UK (based partly on looking at the warnings re. UK travel from our corporate travel bunch).
Captain I used to go to Greece before the euro existed, stopped long before they adopted it. Rhodes prices where nuts. More expensive than rural France. Turkey always cheaper and better for sailing.
You are statistically more likely to die in a car crash in Paris but the Army are patrolling everywhere. It is what it is. Fear of terrorism has decimated Egypt's tourism industry, down 30% ? I have no doubt it's having a big impact in Turkey too.
You are statistically more likely to die in a car crash in Paris but the Army are patrolling everywhere. It is what it is. Fear of terrorism has decimated Egypt's tourism industry, down 30% ? I have no doubt it's having a big impact in Turkey too.
I imagine there are scaremongering idiots spreading all sorts of crap on internet forums that's putting people off travelling, don't you?
No.
Not because of the remote chance of death by blowing up. More because it's a country whose politics I don't agree with, and whose government's actions are pretty alarming in many areas.
So no, I'd get my sunshine somewhere else
Yes, same as I visit London
Went last year 3 days after the coup, was waiting for the foreign office to say don't go but they never did so we went, stayed in Side and loved it, a lot of hotels were closed though, shame for the locals for lack of trade, only time I was really uneasy was coming home at the airport, big cues out side waiting to go through first line of security just to enter the building, hundreds of us ripe for a bombing, would love to go back but will give it a miss till it gets settled down.
Another thing I noticed was how quiet the beaches were, supposedly this is because of the Tunisia attack and people stay in the hotel grounds.
I will never go to that country while Erdogan is in power.
Yes
Happy for mini THM to go last summer and would be now
Yes, went in September.
I'd sooner go there than Spain or Greece.
Fantastic place.
I'd just go to the Canaries like everybody else. Much safer and you can get a good cup of tea from Mick and Brian's Irish bar.
I don't think I'd be put off by the terrorism risk, but I'd not be in any great hurry to go to any country run by a populist strongman at the moment.
You could go to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Was there in October and very safe.
They dont know what a rubbish bin is though. 😈
You could go to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
My wife is the daughter of Greek Cypriot parents, I couldn't drag her to the Turkish side!!
My wife is the daughter of Greek Cypriot parents, I couldn't drag her to the Turkish side!!
Will be one country soon anyhow !
We were due to go next week. We're going to Malta.
conversely you are probably more likely to get in shit IN a resort than out i would have thought. Its like shooting fish in a barrel.
Why people would to go turkey and stay in a resort is beyond me. its such a lovely place everywhere else and such a shithole in the resorts. It brings out the worst in all the nationalities. Spent a lot of time their sailing in and out of season.
Just want sun and facilities. No apologies for not wanting anything further with this holiday. I certainly wouldn't hire a car and go exploring a Muslim country anymore as I would in other destinations.
The times they are a changin'....
The times they are a changin'....
They always were.
I certainly wouldn't hire a car and go exploring a Muslim country anymore as I would in other destinations.
Is this where we are now? Depressing.
(Not judging btw - it's your holiday, you should enjoy it however you want, and travelling with young kids is a bit different - but still...)
Just want sun and facilities. No apologies for not wanting anything further with this holiday. I certainly wouldn't hire a car and go exploring a Muslim country anymore as I would in other destinations.
I understand how you feel. I was driving today and a transit tried to force me off the road, the passenger was hanging outside the cab giving me the finger and gobbing off like a muppet. 'Twas the A567 Bootle. 🙄
I'll take my chances in the Muslims based on the ones I know.
Never had a desire to go, still don't.
Never had a desire to go, still don't.
I've got no option, it's a part of my area. 😛
I wouldn't go. I've seen Midnight Express. And Gallipoli.
I wouldn't go to Turkey, and for the same reasons, Egypt. Firstly I don't think I could forget about the risk of terrorism, even though it's pretty small. Secondly friends (mixed race couple, him white, her black, kids in between duh!) were treated terribly by locals as he was a white guy who dared to walk hand in hand with a black woman. Their words to describe how they felt was enough to put me off.
..and thats why I wouldn't go, not the added risk of terrorism but just the culture.
It was bad enough as a single fella travelling 30 yrs ago but now as a parent..nope.
wilburt - Member....he's going to an all inclusive hotel with small glasses, losts of russians and staff who dont like westerners.
Cripes. I've been to Turkey 5 times I think on holiday and have never been greeted with small glasses, lots of Russians & staff who don't like Westerners.
The Turkish people seem very genuine, friendly & proud of their country.
Last time we went, we had vowed to never go to the same resort again but ended up doing so because we liked the hotel we found the previous year so much.
One of the waitresses in the restaurant remembered us from the year before & seemed really pleased to see us back again; this astounded me given how many faces she must see every year.
I would travel to Turkey but I am not sure my Wife would at the moment.....hopefully by the time we've got enough money to go on holidays abroad again, the troubles will be over & she will not feel it is unsafe to go there.
I'm sure it's fine unless you're are Kurd. Then you are likely to be jailed or burned alive in a cellar trying to escape the destruction of your city.
Still keen on going you bunch of Nazis
We booked in the end. Marmaris.
Good enough for Simon Calder it's good enough for me.
Marmaris is a total shithole
I don't really plan on leaving the hotel, which is apparently excellent with free Wi-Fi. That'll do me for this holiday.
Marmaris is a total shithole
tis true, but its cheap enough to get the bus into icmeler a few minutes away which is far nicer. we did that every day when we stayed in marmaris.
yourmywifenow - MemberMarmaris is a total shithole
The dude's a Liverpool taxi driver, I'm sure he's been to Bootle.
There are a lot worse places you could go
https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/07/11/turkey-state-blocks-probes-southeast-killings
I agree Icmeler is much nicer, it is the next bay around and you can get there by the regular little ferries.
