julies

Let me preface this by saying I am trying to plan a trip to Europe at the last minute, and one of the strongest driving factors is availability of reasonably priced plane tickets at the last minute. We have taken a number of other European trips, but still have a long list of places we want to visit, so we are not limited to just one or two must-see places. Plus, we tend to like things that are a little different and are more off the typical, beaten tourist track. So we have already visited Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, and Hungary in addition to many of the typically visited western European areas.

I have found some last minute tickets to Istanbul from the US that are very reasonably priced (Minneapolis to Istanbul $700). This is about the same price it would cost me to fly to London or Paris in the next couple weeks. We have always wanted to visit Turkey, but my husband is very apprehensive because both the US and British government travel advisory web sites contain very strongly worded warnings about the possibility of terroristic actions against their citizens who are travelling in Turkey. I typically tend to think that the US travel warnings in particular are typically overly cautious, so I need to factor that in. We are middle-aged, experienced, independent travellers who travel on a low to medium budget tending to stay and eat in smaller, family-owned type places. We want to visit Istanbul, Cappodocia and perhaps some of the sites along the coasts. We are not at all interested in the typical beach resorts and would stay away from them. We would want, however, to visit many of the typical tourist sights in Istanbul and in other places in the country. What is the real political climate in Turkey right now? I know that no one is ever safe anywhere and no one can predict the future, but should safety be a concern? Has tourism to Turkey declined significantly because of real or perceived threats to tourists? This is all very hard to sort out. I would most of all like to hear from people who have travelled to Turkey recently or who live there. Thank you.

flanneruk

Well, these aren't hypothetical warnings. Four bombs went off yesterday, and 60 people were killed last November. In each case, British targets were specifically targeted. Yesterday's bomb coincided with Blair's visit: November's with Bush's visit to the UK

Bush is due to be present at the NATO summit in Turkey in late June.

In a country as huge as Turkey, I'd guess it's an absolute certainty there'll be some terrorist activity in late June.

But it's also an absolute certainty that there'll be terrorist activity elsewhere, and that Americans will die violently in the US from all sorts of causes. Terrorism, throughout the NATO countries, accounts for a trivial proportion of violent deaths.

Truth is, Turkey is essentially a safe country to visit. It'll be less so around Bush's visit. But is that safer or less safe than what you'd be doing otherwise?

sinan

Hi julies,

I am going to FLY MINNEAPOLIS tomorrow and stay there 6 days. Is it safe for me travel?

There are many people in this form and they are going to Turkey and they report that there is no problem in Turkey, you still THINK? Sorry julies if you still think to go to Turkey because of BRITISH advise especially terrorism, I recommend you NOT TO GO.
But I am going to Turkey June 3rd because I don't afraid of anything, if something happen to me, happen everywhere I go.
Look what happined in Spain or Greece

God bless you

Sinan Akdeniz

sfowler

As a bit of a Balkanist and a follower of US State Dept. consular sheets etc... on the region I think there is another factor. Sometimes warnings are put on [or kept on past the need] as a method of communicating with the governments. Indirect you might say? But that region is nothing but indirect....

sandi

julies - both governments have to list warnings but it's important that travelers ascertain as best as possible what is happening on the ground. Yes, there have been bombings in Turkey - sadly, mostly Turkish citizens were "murdered."

Will there be another attack, probably. As likely as there will be another attack in the US, in Britain, just about anywhere. No one has a direct line to the terrorists who do these things. Did Spain expect what they got, or anyone who is next on their list. It could just as easily be Paris, or London, or Rome. What are we do to? Sit at home and then chance to leave the house and get hit by a drunk driver? I think not.

Turkey is as safe as anywhere nowadays. But Turkey is also a wonderful destination - absolutely amazing sites, history of civilization so far back we can't imagine, friendly and welcoming people, great food, and a relatively inexpensive destination. In fact, a very inexpensive destination.

As I've posted on these boards many times - "if there are no bombs falling from the skies, nor steel flying past my head, I'm going wherever I choose to go." But it has to be an individual decision, yours and yours alone, though it would be a shame to miss this fascinating country. That $700 airfare is very very attractive. I say go for it!

Marko

GO !!! The most dangerous part of your journey will be the drive to the airport from your home !!!

Neil_Oz

I haven't seen the US travel advisories, but I've read a few Australian ones, and I have to say that if I were to be entirely guided by them I probably wouldn't get out of bed in the morning. Their current position is partly an overcorrection following their failure to warn of the possibility of action against westerners in Bali, which of course was followed by the nightclub bombing there.

Looks like most western governments, perhaps understandably, have decided to err on the side of caution. Personally I wouldn't be deterred from going to Turkey, but it really depends on your discomfort levels - there's no point going somewhere if you're likely to be worried the whole time.

Flyboy

These are difficult questions because they deal with unknowns. In talking with some business people when we visited Istanbul in the latter half of March, they told us tourism on the part of Americans is down significantly. (I don't recall encountering any -- though I wasn't searching, either.) We saw some Germans and Brits. It is a great city to visit with many wonderful things to see and tons of great places to eat. Police presence is very evident, although it didn't seem overbearing. The people we met were very friendly and we didn't detect animosity.

elina

Well, I went to Istanbul three days after the last November bombing. The streets where the synagogue and the British bank were situated were still closed but otherwise everything was very normal. Istanbul is a town of 15 MILLION people. What is the possibility that the bomb will go off just on that stretch of street where you are walking? And if there was a bomb somewhere, that bomb would just as easily be in the nearest big town from where you live.

BTW, in my government's "warning list" are both US and Turkey. Except those warnings don't sound half as threatening as US governmet's.

baldrick

Julies,
If you want to go, then you have to go. If you are afraid, then wait. There will always be uncertainties. Turkey is not a country at war. Due to the international context, the notion of 'an absolute sure place' has altered; terrorism can strike anywhere.

But I wouldn't hesitate a moment. I would go immediately.

julies

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies to a thorny question. As I said to my husband yesterday, we have taken a train out of Atocha station (one of those bombed in March) in Madrid. We could have been unlucky there too. There are no guarantees ever. Now all we need to do is to see if the cheap seats are still available.

Pauline

Julies,
Like everything in life WE/YOU make our own decisions.

I toured Turkey from the 13th to 28th April 2004.
The Australian Government travel advise (from about the 1st of April) said "don't go unless you really need to", or words to that effect).
The Australian ambassador to Turkey, (Mr Jon Philp) at the Lone Pine ceremony on the 25th April 2004, thanked the 14,000 (or so) Australians, for ignoring the government's travel warnings.

Personally, I think Government travel warnings are posted to:
1. Make the traveller aware of what is going on in the destination country.
2. Cover their backsides (re the people who then say "We didn't know/we weren't told)

I had a great time in Turkey and had no more concerns, re my safety, than any of the other countries that I have visited in the past 4 years.

bardo

Maybe any statistical experts out there that can give the actual odds of being blown up in Turkey vs. having an auto accident within two miles of home here in the U.S.

ingrid

I just checked the German foreign ministry's advisory (since Turkey is a very popular destination for Germans):
They report increased security, recommend vigilence, especially in larger cities; not to travel by car after dark; and be aware that drug smuggling results in high prison sentences if you get caught!

progol

I think Baldrick summed it up pretty well; travelling almost anywhere these days has more to do with one's comfort level than the actual risk of being in the middle of a truly dangerous situation.

There really is no place one can go that has a guarantee of safety. I live in NYC and boy, have we all learned that the hard way. I don't really see that France or Spain is any safer than Turkey, yet I think that, as a Muslim country, it evokes a bigger fear factor for many people than going to the usual western European countries. Istanbul and Madrid are equally scary if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yet the chances of being in that wrong place are still very slim.

My husband and I fell in love with Turkey; it's an amazing country, and the people we met were all unbelievably warm and welcoming. I can't think of a more interesting place to go; and, with your interest in off the beaten track places, then you have to go to Cappadocia. Between the warmth of the people and the fascinating scenery, it was one of the most amazing places I've ever been.

We were travelling in the summer of 2001 and were supposed to return home on 9/11. We ended up returning to Istanbul that day, and were put up by Turkish Airlines for 4 days, until the airspace opened up again. The outpouring of concern people had for us was very touching, and, despite those difficult days, I truly couldn't have felt more cared for. The hotel & airlines personnel as well as the people we met in the street were all horrified by the events and tried to make us feel as welcome as they could.

Go to Turkey if you can! You won't regret it!

Paule

Airlawgirl

FYI- Julies, and others planning a trip to Istanbul/Turkey this summer:

Today, May 21st, a bomb went off in front of the McDonald's in Istanbul around 6:15pm local time-the store owner received a warning to evacuate about 15 min. before it detonated, and the device was located in a car in a residential street nearby. It destroyed the car and 4 others were set afire. No one was injured in the attack. www.cnn.com

As FlannerUk very cogently pointed out, Turkey is essentially a safe country, however, the war in Iraq has had some serious spillover effects in this country that may not be immediately apparent. The bombing in front of a McDonald's a month prior to Bush's NATO summit visit does not auger well for the period before Bush's arrival and after his departure. Although I normally wouldn't post a cautionary advisory on a travel forum concerning an area that is normally safe, those with plans to travel to Istanbul in the immediate future would be well-advised to stay regularly informed of recent developments there, and if things start to go further south, you may just want to defer travel to Istanbul to another time.

sandi

I have friends who are flight attendents working for various airlines. All traveled regularly to London during the 80s and early 90s and each can actually count on both hands how many times they were somewhere in that big city and only a few minutes or half-hour later that an IRA bomb went off.

Were they lucky? Yes. Did they stop flying to London (even though they had the choice not to)? No!

None of us has any guarantees - it still comes down to your comfort level traveling anywhere.

allanc

Turkey is a wonderful country and Istanbul is fascinating. Go-and try to get south to the Med coast. Try Marmaris and over to Rhodes by hydrofoil. From what I understand, the US State is very conservative. After all, they are the folks that brought us the ban on Cuban travel!

Kiwi_acct

Julies

Whilst I have not been to Turkey for six years and times were different then I do not believe the Turks themselves have changed from being some of the friendliest people you could meet. From the cafe owner in Selcuk who chased after us after an evening out so that he could give us free cigarettes as a gift for frequenting his establishment to the genuine people we met in Istanbul and onto the local people we met on the intercity coaches and how they were keen to find out about us, they were all great.

As a New Zealander, Turkey has played a special historical part in our countries foundation and nationhood, with Chunuk Bair being to New Zealanders what Lone Pine is to Australians. Therefore I do not think the current travel warnings would disuade me from travelling there.

Also I lived in London in the late 80's early 90's when the IRA had a prediliction for bombing public facilities like train stations. It did not for one minute make me think about leaving.

As with all travelling you have to weigh up the risks but I think a sensible outlook which you would have from your travel experiences would stand you in good stead to enjoy a rewarding journey.

By the way if you get a chance, go to Ephesus, amazing place.

Safe travels

Steve

Airlawgirl

As to the last post- I think the operative term there is "I have not been to Turkey in six years." The threat situation there is considerably different than it was six years ago.