Planning a trip to Istanbul, Turkey. any good travel tips?
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Citla1012 asked:

15 day trip. I was planning to spend 1 week at Istanbul and another week at Bodrum or Antalya, any advice and/or suggestions? it will be my first time in Turkey.
i´ll be travelling alone….any safety tips too?

5 Responses to “Planning a trip to Istanbul, Turkey. any good travel tips?”

  1. wizard8100 Says:

    1) Save some cash for duty free shop when leaving. Duty free in Istanbul is HUGE.
    2) NEVER refer to anyone in Turkey as an Arab. They are European and VERY proud of it.
    3) If you do not speak the language, plan ahead because very few people speak English, but many do speak other languages. Usually the hotel staff will have numerous people that speak English that can help you.
    4) Take lots of pictures. Enjoy the view.

  2. PANCHO Says:

    I would go to Send those guys an email they will send you all sorts of info and they have great prices on their tours. But I dont know if they will just send you info if you dont book with them. Well it is a great site anyway. try it.
    I am adding after seeing officer betty down below trashing these great people. My fiancee traveled to Turkey 5 times by herself and had a great time. And I know thousands of similar examples. After seeing that she is Canadian let me tell you about my own experiences close to home for you in America. I was jumped in a back alley (behind my hotel)and my briefcase was stolen. My fiancee at a club was groped by some people. I was rudely treated by the customs officer and almost strip searched. Now all of this happened but I also met some great people. So dont go exagerrating your events. If you go and stay in slum, horrible hotel and travel in budget it can happen anywhere in the world in lessed developed areas and financially more challenged neighborhoods. It happened to me in America when I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria for gods sake, supposedly one of the best hotels in the heart of Manhattan. So please. Any country in the world this will happen. BY the way do not compare Turkey to the Middle East. First of all Turkish people hate the Arab reference as they are not. They are an incredibly hospitable group of people and they are certainly incredibly civilized and have nothing to do with any country in the Middle East and rightfully so they consider themselves European, and as an Italian I think they are.

  3. Pinar Says:

    While you are shoppinh always bargin. Dont forget that there is tourist price and real price.Even if you are with your tour guide be careful because for him the best price will be the highest with thought of the comission from the shop.Turn back and walk away, they will come to you with the price you want to pay.

  4. officer_betty_lou Says:

    My tip is don’t go alone. I used to live in the Middle East so I thought I could handle Turkey. It was the worst experience of my life. Istambul was like some kind of horrible nightmare. Men followed me harassed me. One even throw a coin at my head. I couldn’t go anywhere. The hotel manager even tried to come up too my room!! Then I went to Kusidasi and that was a little bit better but a man at my hotel walked up to me and tried to lift my shirt up.

    Turkey is very beautiful but the people are horrible there. If you must go then at least try and fall in with a group to travel with some how. I still feel like crying when I think about it. then again my stepsister went and enjoyed it, then again she went with a friend and she has dark hair, I’m blond. Good luck

  5. ozgeonemli Says:

    people not that horriblr in Turkey. I dont know which part of Istanbul she was travelling but probably not the good part. I suggest you to bargain all the time when u r buying something, dont drink tab water. taste lahmacun, doner,ayran,mussel. defenitely take a Bosforus Tour it is not too expensive. if you wanna party go to Bodrum But if u want to have a nice tan, party and swim go to Antalya.

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