Is anyone worried about travel to Turkey these days?
May 11th, 2007, 07:47 AM
#21
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Greetings from Cappadocia;
I am just wondering as a Turkish citizen living in Turkey; is that something happening or happaned that we did not hear or see ? What problem, which political situation ?
We would have elections in november now its july what makes it a different for a traveller ? Nothing.... Once again I would also like to state here; Army and its function and how we as citizens percieve military is waaayyy different than in any other country. Military is the number one trusted government organization by far, so even an army coup is differently perceived.( pozitive ofcourse) So please do not get disturbed and change your travel plans based on rumours.
I was on my regular business trips and just back to Cappadocia, I met Tom Brosnahan in Antalya had a chat and he was also enjoying his trip of updates of Turkey Travel Planner. ( an American in Turkey between many others )
Posters who have been to Turkey before stated their feelings and experiences I believe counts most.....
Happy travelling,
Murat
I am just wondering as a Turkish citizen living in Turkey; is that something happening or happaned that we did not hear or see ? What problem, which political situation ?
We would have elections in november now its july what makes it a different for a traveller ? Nothing.... Once again I would also like to state here; Army and its function and how we as citizens percieve military is waaayyy different than in any other country. Military is the number one trusted government organization by far, so even an army coup is differently perceived.( pozitive ofcourse) So please do not get disturbed and change your travel plans based on rumours.
I was on my regular business trips and just back to Cappadocia, I met Tom Brosnahan in Antalya had a chat and he was also enjoying his trip of updates of Turkey Travel Planner. ( an American in Turkey between many others )
Posters who have been to Turkey before stated their feelings and experiences I believe counts most.....
Happy travelling,
Murat
Jul 17th, 2007, 08:55 PM
#22
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Hi Kate W: I am wondering if you could recommend a couple of budget accommodation hotels as well as some restaurants.
My husband and I are thinking to go to Turkey mid-September this yr. Do you have experience with the weather around that time. What I meant to ask is if the weather is still warm and nice? I noticed that you have mentioned Toronto and I'd like to tell you that I live near Toronto. Please tell me if there ae Direct flights to Istanbul and what travel agency do you use.
Look forward to yuor reply.
Thanks for your reply
My husband and I are thinking to go to Turkey mid-September this yr. Do you have experience with the weather around that time. What I meant to ask is if the weather is still warm and nice? I noticed that you have mentioned Toronto and I'd like to tell you that I live near Toronto. Please tell me if there ae Direct flights to Istanbul and what travel agency do you use.
Look forward to yuor reply.
Thanks for your reply
Jul 29th, 2007, 11:27 AM
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Hi Rozy:
My trips to Turkey were made from Paris, where I was living for a few years, rather than Toronto. I almost never use travel agents; I book directly with airlines and hotels. I liked flying with Turkish Airlines and they have a fairly extensive network. I don't think they fly out of Toronto, but they do fly out of New York and Chicago and you can earn miles on American Airlines flying with them.
Usually, I stayed in moderately priced business-oriented hotels in Ankara and Istanbul (near Taksim Square). I think you might find it more interesting to stay in a smaller hotel/guest house in a different part of the city, although Taksim is very convenient and central. One hotel I would recommend (with one reservation) is the Point Hotel. It was quite new and stylish when I stayed there (Jan 2006), had a good breakfast and excellent views. The only downside is that I found that the soundproofing wasn't great and I heard a lot of noise from the street. But the price was right - around 100 euros a night.
One one trip, I was in Istanbul and Ankara in early September. It was sunny and pleasantly warm/hot - around 20-27C.
My trips to Turkey were made from Paris, where I was living for a few years, rather than Toronto. I almost never use travel agents; I book directly with airlines and hotels. I liked flying with Turkish Airlines and they have a fairly extensive network. I don't think they fly out of Toronto, but they do fly out of New York and Chicago and you can earn miles on American Airlines flying with them.
Usually, I stayed in moderately priced business-oriented hotels in Ankara and Istanbul (near Taksim Square). I think you might find it more interesting to stay in a smaller hotel/guest house in a different part of the city, although Taksim is very convenient and central. One hotel I would recommend (with one reservation) is the Point Hotel. It was quite new and stylish when I stayed there (Jan 2006), had a good breakfast and excellent views. The only downside is that I found that the soundproofing wasn't great and I heard a lot of noise from the street. But the price was right - around 100 euros a night.
One one trip, I was in Istanbul and Ankara in early September. It was sunny and pleasantly warm/hot - around 20-27C.
Jul 29th, 2007, 12:28 PM
#25
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Susan,
I live in Toronto and I'm going this Thursday for 2 1/2 weeks, leaving 2nd, coming back 20th. I'm flying AC to Paris, then AF to Istanbul. I booked via Expedia. Cost is $1435. My brother, who is also going, booked via Sultan travel in Toronto (sultantravel.ca). They may be marginally cheaper.
I'll post when I get back. Seeing istanbul then heading south along Aegean. Both my brother and myself rented cars through Economy car Rentals, based on recommendation here. They provide cars from Decar, which I have also seen recommended.
I will be travelling with my sister in law who is Turkish, so I hope to get a better insight into the culture. The Canadian Gvt has no travel warnings.
I live in Toronto and I'm going this Thursday for 2 1/2 weeks, leaving 2nd, coming back 20th. I'm flying AC to Paris, then AF to Istanbul. I booked via Expedia. Cost is $1435. My brother, who is also going, booked via Sultan travel in Toronto (sultantravel.ca). They may be marginally cheaper.
I'll post when I get back. Seeing istanbul then heading south along Aegean. Both my brother and myself rented cars through Economy car Rentals, based on recommendation here. They provide cars from Decar, which I have also seen recommended.
I will be travelling with my sister in law who is Turkish, so I hope to get a better insight into the culture. The Canadian Gvt has no travel warnings.
Jul 29th, 2007, 07:06 PM
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I haven't flown Turkish Airlines across the Atlantic but have flown it on the Paris-Turkey and strongly preferred it to Air France on the same route (sorry Michel_Paris - I hope your experience is better than mine). If I were flying from North America to Turkey, I'd either fly Turkish Airlines direct from one of the cities it flies from in North America. My second choice would likely be either Lufthansa or BA.
Jul 29th, 2007, 09:06 PM
#28
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WORRIED TRAVEL TO TURKEY?
Stay home!..... May be you should worry going to London, Madrid or Barcelona as well. When I was in Spain for a month, I was thinking of ETA and their bombings. Remember 2 years ago people were being robbed in the Mall, yes, in the Nations Capital in the USA. What is your specific worry? Spell it out, perhaps you will get answers to your specific questions.
People who were worrying about the demonstrations prior to election, none has been involved in any violence. IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE THE DEMOCRACY IS TAKING PLACE IN TURKEY. Hey!... Look around, it is the ONLY COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST carrying out the democracy since l923, yes, since 1923.
Where I live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, there are killings in certain part of the town, everyday. All you have to read the crime page of the paper. Not to mention the robbings, for example, along the Wilson Blvd. in Arlington where respected restaurants are all over. Where is safe?
Since l960 in Turkey,there has been numerous interventions by the military when politicians really got off the track of DEMOCRACY. First intervention was in l960 when the ruling party passed a bill that gave judiciary power to the Parlemantarian Commisions. These Commisions could issue decrees, close newspapers, issue search warrants etc., I was one of the students who was arrested when we were demonstrating against this bill. We rightfully telling that this is not a democratic country anymore, the goverment has become a totalitarian regime. Military intervened, declared amnesty for those students who were arrested. Military never stayed in power. They came, brought together the professors, lawyers, businessmen and let them change the laws so that democracy will continue in the country and so far it has.You cant bring democracy to a country within a year or two. Democracy has gone through some evolution since 1923. Percentage of illiteracy has decreased enourmously in the past 40-50 years. Government provides local schools through high school and equally there are private schools. 40 years ago there were 3 universities, compare to universities today all over the country. People understand and know what democracy means. , In other words, the TURKEY HAS ILLUSTRATED AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF DEMOCRACY IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD.
Turkey is a country her people are like a mosaic. There are people of almost every ethnic background. When Tito of Yugoslavia was doing his ethnic cleaning, Turkey took 156,000 Yugoslavians in between l954-56. When Kurds tried to kill Saddam and Saddam retaliated by attacking and gassing some of the village, many Kurds crossed the border to Turkey and never went back. Duiring the first Gulf War again, Kurd crossed the border, came and settled in Turkey never went back. Speaking of Kurds, they are spread around in number of countries, from Chechnia, Dagistan, Georgia, Azarbaijan, Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria and even Lebanon. If Turkish Kurds have not found their freedom in Turkey, they found in none of the other countries that I listed. There are Kurdish member of parlimentarians, generals, government employees, businessmen. As a matter of fact, one of the primeministers is said to be Kurdish-Turk. They are part of the country, they are citizens of the country. One may say, "well, they dont have their own schools." My answer to that, why the Latinos do not have their own elementary schools in the USA?
Stay home!..... May be you should worry going to London, Madrid or Barcelona as well. When I was in Spain for a month, I was thinking of ETA and their bombings. Remember 2 years ago people were being robbed in the Mall, yes, in the Nations Capital in the USA. What is your specific worry? Spell it out, perhaps you will get answers to your specific questions.
People who were worrying about the demonstrations prior to election, none has been involved in any violence. IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE THE DEMOCRACY IS TAKING PLACE IN TURKEY. Hey!... Look around, it is the ONLY COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST carrying out the democracy since l923, yes, since 1923.
Where I live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, there are killings in certain part of the town, everyday. All you have to read the crime page of the paper. Not to mention the robbings, for example, along the Wilson Blvd. in Arlington where respected restaurants are all over. Where is safe?
Since l960 in Turkey,there has been numerous interventions by the military when politicians really got off the track of DEMOCRACY. First intervention was in l960 when the ruling party passed a bill that gave judiciary power to the Parlemantarian Commisions. These Commisions could issue decrees, close newspapers, issue search warrants etc., I was one of the students who was arrested when we were demonstrating against this bill. We rightfully telling that this is not a democratic country anymore, the goverment has become a totalitarian regime. Military intervened, declared amnesty for those students who were arrested. Military never stayed in power. They came, brought together the professors, lawyers, businessmen and let them change the laws so that democracy will continue in the country and so far it has.You cant bring democracy to a country within a year or two. Democracy has gone through some evolution since 1923. Percentage of illiteracy has decreased enourmously in the past 40-50 years. Government provides local schools through high school and equally there are private schools. 40 years ago there were 3 universities, compare to universities today all over the country. People understand and know what democracy means. , In other words, the TURKEY HAS ILLUSTRATED AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF DEMOCRACY IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD.
Turkey is a country her people are like a mosaic. There are people of almost every ethnic background. When Tito of Yugoslavia was doing his ethnic cleaning, Turkey took 156,000 Yugoslavians in between l954-56. When Kurds tried to kill Saddam and Saddam retaliated by attacking and gassing some of the village, many Kurds crossed the border to Turkey and never went back. Duiring the first Gulf War again, Kurd crossed the border, came and settled in Turkey never went back. Speaking of Kurds, they are spread around in number of countries, from Chechnia, Dagistan, Georgia, Azarbaijan, Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria and even Lebanon. If Turkish Kurds have not found their freedom in Turkey, they found in none of the other countries that I listed. There are Kurdish member of parlimentarians, generals, government employees, businessmen. As a matter of fact, one of the primeministers is said to be Kurdish-Turk. They are part of the country, they are citizens of the country. One may say, "well, they dont have their own schools." My answer to that, why the Latinos do not have their own elementary schools in the USA?
