Would like any info on restaurants, sights other than the major ones in guide book. Are ATM machines available? Do I need to worry about theft of person/hotel room? Women OK to wear slacks? How about blue jeans? Thanks for any and all help

ATM machines are readily available. As far as theft, use some precautions such as wearing a money belt and keeping valuables out of sight in your hotel room. I felt very safe in Istanbul, much safer than at home and in many parts of Europe. It is OK for women to wear slacks and blue jeans.

A week in Istanbul! I wish I was going as well...

Istanbul is fabulous, you will enjoy it. If you get the opportunity, also go to the south of Turkey. We only encountered two minor problems in Instanbul...taxis and men with bears.<BR>If you take a taxi, ENSURE that the driver turns the meter on. If he does not then you will be ripped off. From time to time you will come accross men with pet bears. They expect and demand tips if you have your photo taken. Please do not do this, these bears are treated very poorly. The humane society regularity raids these people but they keep popping up again.<BR><BR>If you take public transportation, say a dolmush, western women will often get their bums pinches or touched in other ways if the transport is packed to the rafters.

Another item....don't know where you are staying but try to avoid small hotels or pensions that are very close to mosques/minerets (?). Why, because<BR>each one has prayers and call to prayers several times a day starting at about 6AM. They use a loadspeaker to broadcast. I found out the hard way!

I'm jealous. I was in Istanbul last year in August. I found slacks to be very appropriate. Blue jeans ok too but I preferred to dress-up a bit more -Istanbul is a fairly fashionable place I thought.<BR><BR>I never saw any bears. Everyone was incredibly friendly and I found the city to be very safe.<BR><BR>Do beware of the cabs - I was ripped off (at least) once - not a major amount of money but a major annoyance.<BR><BR>Have a great time!

Take earplugs - wherever you are you will be able to hear the early-morning call to prayer, which can be enchanting but is VERY loud. Slacks are ok for women, blue jeans too. Knot a nice scarf around your neck, that way you'll always be ready to go in a mosque properly. Some of the smaller ones are beautiful. We had bad luck in some restaurants in the Suntanahmet area - very small portions of uninteresting food at high prices (friendly tourist rip-off). Stay out of that area for dinner - unless you're lucky enough to be able to afford the Four Seasons!

<BR>You can go to Beyoglu many restaurants nice cafees any kind of rests.<BR>I offer K.V in Tunel very nice and quite place for sth differnt go to Nevizade and eat at Boncuk rest(also in Beyoglu) <BR><BR>Ortakoy is very nice place you'll like it.<BR><BR>Go to PARK FORA REST for fish which is in Kurucesme.I also recommned ASSK CAFE<BR>also in Kurucesme very very nice place eat ASSSK toast drink cafe...<BR><BR>To go out during night LAILA is the most popualr place go early and have a drink (in Kurucesme) or ZIHNI across LAILA more quite place..<BR>You can wear anything you want but during night turkish people wear very chic clothes...<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip<BR><BR><BR>By the way sorry for jenviolin but I never recommend to eat at touristic places because there is a lot of choice for rest bars in Istanbul..

Let's see. $45 visa fee just to enter the country. $35 to see Topkapi and $35 to se Ephesus. $25 to see Aya Sofia. That's $280 for my wife and I to enter the coutry and see the 3 biggest attractions. It cost $40 for the equivalent in Spain, Portugal and Italy. Plus the airfare is a lot cheaper.<BR><BR>Thanks, I'll skip Turkey.

What was the point of the previous post?????????? I don't see anything in the original post about costs.....

SUSAN<BR><BR>HE or SHE hates Turkey that's why XXX has been writting this post for along time<BR>ABC