Turkey holiday

[Bea Smith]

More incidents have happened closer to home recently than in turkey so I don't actually feel any less safe . Anyway the majority of incidents have been hundreds of miles away from resorts

 

 

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I don't want to argue with you, especially with troublemakers lurking and itching for a confrontation, but perhaps you'd like to read this from the GOV.UK website, which is official UK government advice-

 

quote (not my opinion, but government facts and official advice)

 

Terrorism

 

 

Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Turkey. A number of terrorist groups are active. Since 2015 there has been an increase in PKK (Kurdish separatist) terrorist activity in south-east Turkey. There have been a number of attacks by other groups including suicide attacks by Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL), attacks by the far left DHKP© and the Kurdish separatist group TAK, including in cities such as Ankara and Istanbul. Terrorist groups, including Daesh and the TAK, have publicly threatened to attack tourist sites in Turkey.

 

Further attacks are likely. Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect places visited by foreigners.

 

There is a heightened risk of terrorist attack against the aviation industry in Turkey. You should co-operate fully with security officials at airports.

 

Be vigilant around significant religious occasions (including the holy month of Ramadan) and public holidays; terrorist groups sometimes call for attacks around these times.

 

On 1 January 2017, there was an attack on the Reina nightclub in Ortakoy, Istanbul; 39 people were killed and 69 injured.

On 10 December 2016, a car bomb exploded near the Besiktas football stadium in the Macka/Dolmabahce area of Istanbul. 44 people, mostly police officers, were killed, and over 150 injured.

 

On 24 November 2016, a bomb exploded near the Governor’s office in Adana. 2 people were killed and 21 injured.

 

On 14 October 2016, a rocket attack took place on the outskirts of Antalya towards Kemer; no casualties were reported. Separately on 14 October 2016, attacks also took place against the Turkish military in Hakkari, Diyarbakir, Van and Adiyaman resulting in 13 injuries to service personnel

 

On 6 October 2016, an explosion occurred near a police headquarters in the Yenibosna area on the European side of Istanbul

 

On 24 August 2016, a roadside bomb injured 2 Gendarmerie officers on the Antalya – Kemer road near Topcam.

 

On 20 August 2016, an attack on a wedding party in Gaziantep killed more than 50 people and injured around 100.

 

On 28 June 2016, Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul was attacked. More than 40 people were killed.

 

On 7 June 2016, a bomb attack in the Vezneciler area of Istanbul killed 7 police officers and 4 civilians. 36 people were injured.

 

On 1 May 2016, a bomb attack at the Central Police Station in Gaziantep killed two police officers and injured 23 others.

 

On 27 April 2016, there was a suspected suicide bomb attack at Bursa Ulu Mosque. The bomber was killed and 7 people slightly injured.

 

On 19 March 2016, there was a suicide bomb attack against tourists on Istiklal St in Istanbul, in which 4 tourists died and at least 36 people were injured.

 

On 13 March 2016, a bombing in Kizilay Square, central Ankara killed more than 30 people.On 17 February 2016, a large bomb attack near a military barracks on Eskisehir Road in Ankara killed 28 people.

 

On 12 January 2016, a suicide bomb attack in Sultanahmet in Istanbul killed 10 tourists.

 

On 23 December 2015, while the airport was closed for the night, there was a mortar attack on Sabiha Gokcen airport in Istanbul.

 

On 10 October 2015, there were 2 explosions near the main train station in the Ulus area of Ankara. At least 100 people were killed and more than 180 injured.On 20 July 2015, a suicide bomber killed 33 people and injured over 100 others in Suruc, Sanlurfa province near the Syrian border.

 

On 9 June 2015, 4 people were killed in an attack in Diyarbakir. On 5 June 2015, two people were killed and many injured by an explosion at an HDP rally in Diyarbakir.

 

Extremist groups based in Syria including ANF (Al Nusra Front) and Daesh have the capacity to carry out attacks in neighbouring countries, including Turkey.

 

Daesh has targeted border crossings and nearby locations on the Syrian side of the border. The 20 July attack in Suruc, Sanlurfa province, is believed to have been carried out by individuals associated with Daesh. Daesh is also believed to have been responsible for the 10 October 2015 suicide bombings in Ankara, which killed over 100 people. The Turkish government have said that Daesh was responsible for the 12 January 2016 attack in Istanbul in which 10 foreign tourists were killed, the 19 March attack in which 4 foreign tourists were killed, the 1 May attack in Gaziantep in which 2 police officers were killed and the 28 June attack on Istanbul Airport in which more than 40 people were killed.

 

There’s a domestic terrorist presence in the south east of the country including in Van, Bitlis, Bingol, Elazig, Mus, Batman, Erzincan, Diyarbakir and Agri provinces. In December 2012 talks began between the Turkish Government and the Kurdish aligned PKK (proscribed as a terrorist group in the UK), during which the PKK observed a ceasefire. However, following the Suruc bombing on 20 July 2015, the ceasefire ended when the PKK killed 2 Turkish police officers.

 

So please read this link before you make a final decision, as those putting the opposite view on here are doing so for personal reasons and are not concerned with facts:-

 

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/terrorism

 

As you can see from the number of incidents above, I am sorry to say that you are mistaken about Turkey being no more dangerous than the UK or other western (or eastern) European countries.

 

I will leave you now, as it is your decision - but be wary of people with hidden agendas trying to sell holidays in places that official government advice warns are dangerous.

 

If you do decide to go, make sure your insurance covers you against terrorism and natural disasters - they opt out of these and you probably WONT be able to get insurance that covers this, meaning that if you are taken ill there you could be liable for thousands of pounds worth of medical bills.

 

Enjoy your holiday anyway, wherever you go.

[valesince83]

I don't want to argue with you, especially with troublemakers lurking and itching for a confrontation, but perhaps you'd like to read this from the GOV.UK website, which is official UK government advice-

 

quote (not my opinion, but government facts and official vice)

 

Terrorism

 

 

Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Turkey. A number of terrorist groups are active. Since 2015 there has been an increase in PKK (Kurdish separatist) terrorist activity in south-east Turkey. There have been a number of attacks by other groups including suicide attacks by Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL), attacks by the far left DHKP© and the Kurdish separatist group TAK, including in cities such as Ankara and Istanbul. Terrorist groups, including Daesh and the TAK, have publicly threatened to attack tourist sites in Turkey.

 

Further attacks are likely. Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect places visited by foreigners.

 

There is a heightened risk of terrorist attack against the aviation industry in Turkey. You should co-operate fully with security officials at airports.

 

Be vigilant around significant religious occasions (including the holy month of Ramadan) and public holidays; terrorist groups sometimes call for attacks around these times.

 

On 1 January 2017, there was an attack on the Reina nightclub in Ortakoy, Istanbul; 39 people were killed and 69 injured.

On 10 December 2016, a car bomb exploded near the Besiktas football stadium in the Macka/Dolmabahce area of Istanbul. 44 people, mostly police officers, were killed, and over 150 injured.

 

On 24 November 2016, a bomb exploded near the Governor’s office in Adana. 2 people were killed and 21 injured.

 

On 14 October 2016, a rocket attack took place on the outskirts of Antalya towards Kemer; no casualties were reported. Separately on 14 October 2016, attacks also took place against the Turkish military in Hakkari, Diyarbakir, Van and Adiyaman resulting in 13 injuries to service personnel

 

On 6 October 2016, an explosion occurred near a police headquarters in the Yenibosna area on the European side of Istanbul

 

On 24 August 2016, a roadside bomb injured 2 Gendarmerie officers on the Antalya – Kemer road near Topcam.

 

On 20 August 2016, an attack on a wedding party in Gaziantep killed more than 50 people and injured around 100.

 

On 28 June 2016, Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul was attacked. More than 40 people were killed.

 

On 7 June 2016, a bomb attack in the Vezneciler area of Istanbul killed 7 police officers and 4 civilians. 36 people were injured.

 

On 1 May 2016, a bomb attack at the Central Police Station in Gaziantep killed two police officers and injured 23 others.

 

On 27 April 2016, there was a suspected suicide bomb attack at Bursa Ulu Mosque. The bomber was killed and 7 people slightly injured.

 

On 19 March 2016, there was a suicide bomb attack against tourists on Istiklal St in Istanbul, in which 4 tourists died and at least 36 people were injured.

 

On 13 March 2016, a bombing in Kizilay Square, central Ankara killed more than 30 people.On 17 February 2016, a large bomb attack near a military barracks on Eskisehir Road in Ankara killed 28 people.

 

On 12 January 2016, a suicide bomb attack in Sultanahmet in Istanbul killed 10 tourists.

 

On 23 December 2015, while the airport was closed for the night, there was a mortar attack on Sabiha Gokcen airport in Istanbul.

 

On 10 October 2015, there were 2 explosions near the main train station in the Ulus area of Ankara. At least 100 people were killed and more than 180 injured.On 20 July 2015, a suicide bomber killed 33 people and injured over 100 others in Suruc, Sanlurfa province near the Syrian border.

 

On 9 June 2015, 4 people were killed in an attack in Diyarbakir. On 5 June 2015, two people were killed and many injured by an explosion at an HDP rally in Diyarbakir.

 

Extremist groups based in Syria including ANF (Al Nusra Front) and Daesh have the capacity to carry out attacks in neighbouring countries, including Turkey.

 

Daesh has targeted border crossings and nearby locations on the Syrian side of the border. The 20 July attack in Suruc, Sanlurfa province, is believed to have been carried out by individuals associated with Daesh. Daesh is also believed to have been responsible for the 10 October 2015 suicide bombings in Ankara, which killed over 100 people. The Turkish government have said that Daesh was responsible for the 12 January 2016 attack in Istanbul in which 10 foreign tourists were killed, the 19 March attack in which 4 foreign tourists were killed, the 1 May attack in Gaziantep in which 2 police officers were killed and the 28 June attack on Istanbul Airport in which more than 40 people were killed.

 

There’s a domestic terrorist presence in the south east of the country including in Van, Bitlis, Bingol, Elazig, Mus, Batman, Erzincan, Diyarbakir and Agri provinces. In December 2012 talks began between the Turkish Government and the Kurdish aligned PKK (proscribed as a terrorist group in the UK), during which the PKK observed a ceasefire. However, following the Suruc bombing on 20 July 2015, the ceasefire ended when the PKK killed 2 Turkish police officers.

 

So please read this link before you make a final decision, as those putting the opposite view on here are doing so for personal reasons and are not concerned with facts:-

 

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/terrorism

 

As you can see from the number of incidents above, I am sorry to say that you are mistaken about Turkey being no more dangerous than the UK or other western (or eastern) European countries.

 

I will leave you now, as it is your decision - but be wary of people with hidden agendas trying to sell holidays in places that official government advice warns are dangerous.

 

Enjoy your holiday anyway, wherever you go.

 

Thanks,

 

To be honest Everywhere is under threat from terror , and of course the warnings are heightened around turkey as its closer to home , but I'm just pointing out that threats are everywhere , I've been turkey last 4 years and not seen 1 bit of trouble .

 

This is for the uk , if outsiders were to read this they would hesitate to visit , yet we aren't scared to live our daily lives .

 

Terrorism

There is a heightened threat of terrorism across Europe, including in the United Kingdom.

 

On 3 June 2017, a terror atttack took place on London Bridge and nearby Borough Market killing seven people and injuring a number of others.

 

On 22 May 2017, an attack at a music concert held at the Manchester Arena killed 22 people with over 100 others injured.

 

On 22 March 2017, an attacker drove a vehicle through pedestrians before stabbing a police officer near the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, also killing three people and injuring a number of others.

 

Terrorist groups, including those based in Syria and Iraq, continue to make threats to conduct attacks in the United Kingdom. There is also a threat from domestic-based extremists, including plots that may involve foreign fighters returning to the United Kingdom and Europe from the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

 

Tourists in the United Kingdom are advised to be vigilant, particularly in public places. Follow any instructions issued by local authorities and stay informed of potential risks to safety and security by monitoring the media and other local information sources. United Kingdom security personnel maintain an increased presence in public places as a precautionary measure.

 

Tourists travelling and resident in the United Kingdom are advised to take account of the terror threat level assigned by the United Kingdom Security Service when making travel decisions. The United Kingdom authorities currently assess the threat level as ’severe’ (level four on a five level scale). This means United Kingdom authorities assess the likelihood of a terrorist attack in the UK as “highly likely”, although there is no specific intelligence to suggest that one is imminent.

 

There is also an enduring terrorist threat from dissident republicans in Northern Ireland.

 

 

 

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[Bea Smith]

Thanks,

 

To be honest Everywhere is under threat from terror , and of course the warnings are heightened around turkey as its closer to home , but I'm just pointing out that threats are everywhere , I've been turkey last 4 years and not seen 1 bit of trouble .

 

This is for the uk , if outsiders were to read this they would hesitate to visit , yet we aren't scared to live our daily lives .

 

 

 

Fair point, though most people don't have a choice about'living their daily lives' here - its work or starve. I did read the one about Britain too, but in all honesty the 20-odd attacks and hundreds dead in Turkey does not compare.

Im glad you saw no trouble, and hope it stays that way if you go - but the chances are none of those people in the attacks listed had seen any trouble before.

One point I would consider is that future attacks in Turkey (as was the case in Tunisia) are likely to be targeted at tourists, resorts, airport (as shown) etc. whereas here if you live ourside London or Manchester the risk so far has been minimal.

Still, as I said, if you do go, enjoy - but watch out for sharks offering fake discounted deals - always better to book on the internet with an a large company by credit card, and remember what I said about insurance.

Have fun.

[valesince83]

Thanks,

 

To be honest Everywhere is under threat from terror , and of course the warnings are heightened around turkey as its closer to home , but I'm just pointing out that threats are everywhere , I've been turkey last 4 years and not seen 1 bit of trouble .

 

This is for the uk , if outsiders were to read this they would hesitate to visit , yet we aren't scared to live our daily lives .

 

 

 

Fair point, though most people don't have a choice about'living their daily lives' here - its work or starve. I did read the one about Britain too, but in all honesty the 20-odd attacks and hundreds dead in Turkey does not compare.

Im glad you saw no trouble, and hope it stays that way if you go - but the chances are none of those people in the attacks listed had seen any trouble before.

One point I would consider is that future attacks in Turkey (as was the case in Tunisia) are likely to be targeted at tourists, resorts, airport (as shown) etc. whereas here if you live ourside London or Manchester the risk so far has been minimal.

Still, as I said, if you do go, enjoy - but watch out for sharks offering fake discounted deals - always better to book on the internet with an a large company by credit card, and remember what I said about insurance.

Have fun.

 

But then turkey is 3 times the size of the uk , so . Yes certain parts of turkey are no go areas , but these tend to be hundreds of miles away from resorts , like driving from here to london x 3 .

 

 

 

 

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[valesince83]

These people have also threatened tourists in Spain , Germany , France , England , America , cruise ships , if we went by threats we wouldn't walk out the door

 

 

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[valesince83]

And thanks for the advice on insurance etc , I never go away without it , and I'm wise enough not to be ripped off

 

 

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[Robbie Earle's Perm]

These people have also threatened tourists in Spain , Germany , France , England , America , cruise ships , if we went by threats we wouldn't walk out the door

 

 

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Ignore it he/she is not happy unless he's spamming threads with his twisted views. Friendly advice indeed while he/ she abuses people calling them idiots

 

What dates are you looking at and how many of you?

 

 

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[philpvfc]

Enjoy. Be careful, don't live life in fear or the terrorists win.

 

I've been Bodrum a couple of times and had a decent time, not somewhere I would go back to but can see the attraction.

 

I'm off to the States next month, got as much chance of a terrorist attack there and a higher percentage of locals will own guns, not 100% safe anywhere nowadays.

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

5 of us 2 adults 3 kids, end of June , I always book through tui/Thomson but I know it'll be cheaper to go through some1 else or even direct , just wondering if any1 had any tips .

 

 

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Let me ask around for you and come back to you based on your budget.

 

What's the lowest star ratings you would consider, 3?

 

 

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[valesince83]

Enjoy. Be careful, don't live life in fear or the terrorists win.

 

I've been Bodrum a couple of times and had a decent time, not somewhere I would go back to but can see the attraction.

 

I'm off to the States next month, got as much chance of a terrorist attack there and a higher percentage of locals will own guns, not 100% safe anywhere nowadays.

 

Thanks , never been bodrum but been marmaris , ichmeler and oludeniz , I just enjoy the peacefulness , weather and the food . Much better than the commercialised /rowdy Spain

 

 

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[valesince83]

Let me ask around for you and come back to you based on your budget.

 

What's the lowest star ratings you would consider, 3?

 

 

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Brill , yeah 3 sounds fair enough .

 

 

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[philpvfc]

If going all inclusive it's pretty well always to book as a package.

 

Cost it out to see if it is better not going all inclusive as it is very cheap over there, that could bring the cost down massively and give you a lot more flexibility when your there to eat and drink where you want.

[geosname]

A tip on travel insurance

 

Careful how you answer the medical questions, dont lie but choose how you phrase the answers... unless its just a tick box thing of course.

 

Personally I dont buy it, I use the euro health card in europe.

for other places its to expensive for the trips I make, if I can get it at all, some companies wont cover the time of the trip whilst others wont cover my preexisting conditions so any treatment/medication has to be paid for.

Wherever you decide to go... enjoy

[Bea Smith]

A tip on travel insurance

 

Careful how you answer the medical questions, dont lie but choose how you phrase the answers... unless its just a tick box thing of course.

 

Personally I dont buy it, I use the euro health card in europe.

for other places its to expensive for the trips I make, if I can get it at all, some companies wont cover the time of the trip whilst others wont cover my preexisting conditions so any treatment/medication has to be paid for.

Wherever you decide to go... enjoy

 

 

Some filthy profiteering travel companies will gladly sell you a holiday, take the money which is not refundable, then mention insurance - and people like yourself with existing conditions, or in some case people over a certain age (70, sometimes as ,low as 65, a few up to 75 or more)- and tell you that you cant have it !

 

Then you are left to find it yourself and it can cost a fortune, I know people who have nearly been caught like this.

 

A more useful tip would be DONT ACTUALLY BOOK THE FLIGHTS AND HOTEL ETC. UNTIL THEY AGREE YOUR INSURANCE AND PRICE IT FOR YOU - READ ABOUT ALL THE EXCLUSIONS.

 

Also, never let them con you into booking a car or 'tours' here which will always be cheaper at the resort, and will not include commission from a grabbing travel agant. They will use all sorts of lies to trick you into booking - especialy 'nearly booked up' and 'last car left', 'last tour place left'. When you get there, there will be a much wider choice of cheaper alternatives.

[philpvfc]

Shop around for currency as well. I bought some through Thomsons once when I went to Thailand, it was 25% more expensive than the tourist exchanges when I was there.

I now look online for the best rate and often find it is Moneycorp but make sure you book in advance on line, usually only need a couple of days as they are extremely expensive if you just turn up.