Safety concerns?
 

Safety concerns?

My husband and I are well seasoned travelers and have booked a trip to Istanbul, Turkey in March. Airfare was purchased as well as hotel.

In light of recent safety concerns internationally, I have come up with some questions maybe some of the other experienced Fodorites can suggest.

We are doing this independently as we do all our trips.


Should we try to arrange a private tour escort for safety concerns?

Is this affordable?

I very much like the freedom of not being in a tour but do appreciate the "safety in numbers" concept.


I appreciate any and all suggestions.

Please keep in mind the hotel is booked and paid for so the entire time will be in Istanbul.


Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Efendi offers private transport at reasonable prices. They have tour services as well. We were very pleased with their transport service between the airport and Sultanahmet - no further personal experience with them however.

http://www.efenditravel.com/Turkey-T...27634823764823

I suppose some people will make fun of your concerns, but I understand the idea of just being nervous about all that is going on in the world, which is worrisome. But logically one more person isn't going to give you the safety in numbers concept, and in fact, terrorists have specifically targeted tourist groups in some places (in Africa, as I recall, perhaps Egypt, probably other places). So one could say the reverse, there is safety in NOT being part of a large group. But one more person doesn't really make any difference in that regard.

But they could perhaps be someone with more local savvy (ie, knowing bad areas -- I think that single woman from the New York area could have used that, who went missing and I believe was killed in a bad area of Istanbul) and I'd think of it more as a personal tour guide rather than a bodyguard or escort, if that's what you want. Some people like those type of personal guides, so maybe just think of it that way. What's affordable to you? I imagine it is affordable under what most people would expect to pay for such a thing, if you are willing to pay it.

Or do you just mean to find a small local tour group? that might be an idea. I think those may cost around 40 euro per person for part of a day?

I'm sure some experts may make suggestions, but I think this company can do both (small group tours, private itineraries, etc) and has some good reviews I've seen. http://www.mylocalguideistanbul.com/

Christina
Your commentary is very helpful and makes sense. I am interested in http://www.mylocalguideistanbul.com/. So, I will research that more.
Have you been to Istanbul?
I appreciate the helpful info.

I think you will need to follow the news just like everybody else. Lots can happen between now and March. Right now, there is not safety in numbers, however.

(PS: I have been to Istanbul, but it was decades ago. However, martial law was declared while I was there, for several days running. But, different conflict.)

We are lucky to have a resident of Istanbul, otherchelebi, who posts frequently about the security situation there and throughout Turkey. I believe this is the last thread he started:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-or-chaos.cfm

I agree with Fra_Diavolo -- check otherchelebi's posts. He is the expert and he is there.

Thanks everyone. I did go to that posting and it is helpful. I appreciate your input and agree.

We also used Efendi Travel in Istanbul but for day tours with guide and driver. We were very pleased their services.

If you want to use a guide service, go for it! -- but note that Istanbul is, in general, extremely easy to navigate and explore on one's own.

My husband and I spent two weeks in Turkey in September and felt very safe exploring Istanbul on our own. Our hotel arranged airport transfers with Efendi Travel and I considered using them for a half-day tour but we were so busy we never did.

We went to Ephesus on our own and while waiting at the front gate watched bus after bus dropping off tourists. My husband and I agreed that we would have felt less safe in a group situation rather than barely being noticed doing our own thing.

Thank you all so much. This has been very helpful.

I completely understand your concern and I realize you're not talking about joining a group but getting a private guide. We went to Syria in March 2011, we had a guide and driver for four days at the beginning and then intended to take buses through the later part of the trip. A things began to unravel we decided against traveling on our own and organized transfers from place to place. The added structure gave us a better sense for what was going on in the country. We weren't necessarily in any danger but we felt we had a better understanding of what was going on which ultimately enhanced our trip.

The advantage of a good guide is that they bring their local sensibility to your experience and with a rapidly changing political landscape it's great to have a local guide's perspective, as much to enhance your experience and knowledge as to increase your safety.

I haven't visited Istanbul but it seems much of this is about whether one feels safe rather than whether you are safe, which is often the case whether we're talking about Istanbul, London or New York. Perhaps arrange a day or two with a guide to orientate yourself at the beginning and then you could add days if it feels helpful or travel independently if that seems preferable? This way you can feel you are being cautious without committing to an entirely guided itinerary.

I wanted to just follow up on this thread. In the end, my cause for concern was right. However, you my fodor's family steered me right.
Here is my trip report

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...march-2016.cfm