I have just read the reassuring thread from October on safety in Turkey. How do the recent suicide bombings in Istanbul impact the issue of safety (in the opinion of those who are regular visitors there)?
Thanks

Even better than regular visitors are consuls. You can read their advice

from Australia on http://www.dfat.gov.au/consular/advice
from Britain on http://193.114.50.10/travel and on http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel/countryadvice.asp
from Canada on http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/menu-e.asp, under "Research your trip"
from France on http://www.dfae.diplomatie.fr/voyage...s/alphabet.asp
from the USA on http://travel.state.gov, under "travel warnings"
Some experienced travelers find the US advice over-cautious, so it is useful to compare it with others.

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Well, I am one of those who have always said that Turkey is safe. But I must admit that the bombings made me feel uneasy. But I have a payed plane ticket for Istanbul next Monday, and I am going. It is not like some wawe of terrorism.

I remember I was once in Tunisia having a wonderful time. The last day of my stay I heard that the previous week there had been a bomb in the hotel next to mine. Must have been a small one since the exterior was unharmed. But because I did not know about it (that was the time before international TV news and Internet) I was happy in my ignorance. And I plan to be just like that next week in Istanbul.

I was just in Istanbul at the end of October - and will post a report soon. I will say that while there my "NYer 6th sense" never went off - I felt very safe, welcomed, even looked out for. Yes - I saw police with machine guns but I've also seen that in Paris and NYC. I'm already planning a trip to Antalya for June '04.

With the new suicide bombings of today there's a general negative travel advice for Istanbul and Ankara.

I have booked a trip to Istanbul for the last 2 weeks in December and my "girl friend" is now not interested in going and many of our friends are concerned...I do not want terrorists dictating my life yet I feel i need to be responsible....We called USAIR today and they told us that if we changed our plans there would be a $200.00 PENALTY?ticket...That may be waived if a Gov`t travel advisory is announced for that part of the world.I was in Istanbul last December and met some wonderful people and I continue to email them and was looking forward to seeing them and visiting this wonderful country....Their businesses all tied into tourism and I regret having to cancel and play into the hands of these monsters...So i am going to wait and see but things look grim...I am wondering where MyriamC has seen the "negative travel advice" .

I'm just trying to keep my husband away from the news. We are booked on a cruise which leaves from Istanbul next summer, and I had arranged our tickets so we would have 2 extra days in Istanbul. My husband is such a nervous nelly when it comes to travel anywhere he considers "dangerous". Even though, yes, I know, it could happen anywhere.

Yes, it's a bit of a worry. I've never been to Turkey, and I was really excited about going in April (which is such a long way away, anything could change between now and then), especially to see Istanbul.
The Australian website urges Australians to take "a high level of caution", which is one level below "defer non essential travel". The British website was much stronger (and that was before this latest attack). There are links to these sites earlier in this thread.
It's really hard to know what to do. I agree with Barry: I don't want to give in to terrorism, but also don't want to stress out my family and friends while I'm away. (I also want to feel safe while away!)
But I'm not making any rash decisions just yet.
I feel very sorry for the Turkish tourism industry, which is going to take a nasty hit from all of this. By all accounts, this is a country that welcomes western tourists. I've heard nothing but glowing reports about the sights and people there.

The UK website puts it mildly - http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel/countryadvice.asp puts it
Negative advise was given on Belgian/Dutch/French radio and TV.

The Australian government this morning just upgraded the warning to "defer non-essential travel".

Hi Dear Turkish Friends,

Thank you all for your concern about Turkey and Turkish friends.

We Believe that these bombs were not agains Turkish or British people. These bombs were agains The people who wants to live in PEACE.

I don't want to write anything in this post because I am a man living in this SMALL WORLD CONDEMN THEM FOOLISH BEHAVIOUR.

Sinan Akdeniz

I weant to Turkey about ten years ago right after a bomb blast in the souk in Istanbul. I was nervous , but had paid for the ticket, etc.

Great trip, lovely people, no problems.

Ben, how sadly ironic you pointed to the British consul's advice, before he died in the latest attack.

Best wishes to everyone travelling anywhere. None of us are really safe from terrorism, even at home. A few days ago it was Turkey, but no one knows what country will be tomorrow's target.