Tips for a Safe And Enjoyable Turkish Holiday
No matter where in the world you head for a holiday, it’s important to know a few safety hints and tips, to ensure you have a fantastic time, without any unpleasant side effects.
If you’re heading off to Turkey in the near future, you don’t have to worry about anything affecting your time, providing you keep your common sense to the front of your mind, and you listen to a few other hints too.
Turkey is a safe country. You have probably seen on the news that there is disruption in the areas around Turkey, and despite the fact that Turkey is the gateway to the Middle East, it is not involved in the wars and devastation that are occurring in places such as Syria. Yes, Turkey shares a land border with Syria, but to get to the Turkey-Syrian border, you would need to travel 24 hours by bus from the regular tourist resorts on the south west coast! The closet resort to the border is Antalya, and even that is almost 20 hours away by road too!
For that reason, please pay no need to the geographical part of the deal.
The official advice regarding Turkey is this:
- Avoid the south-eastern regions, e.g. the border with Syria (you’re not going to go there, there’s no beaches, no resorts, and no nightlife anyway)
- If you see rallies or protests going on in the big cities, usually Ankara or Istanbul, do not become involved and just walk away
- Avoid getting into in-depth talks with locals about politics within the country – you can have your views, but it’s not your business to voice them in this situation or circumstance
And that’s really it aside from the general common sense side of things!
We can talk about terrorism and other risks, but it’s an unfortunate truth that these incidents can happen anywhere in the world. This is not only about Turkey. To date, there have been no major terrorist incidents in any of the tourist resorts in Turkey.
So serious talk aside, what else do you need to know about having a safe and enjoyable holiday to Turkey this year?
Don’t Drink Too Much Alcohol
Alcohol measures in the tourist resorts of Turkey can be stronger than those you’re used to at home. For this reason, keep your wits about you, don’t drink more than you know you can handle, and remember that there is the possibility of fake alcohol doing the rounds.
We have to mention this because it’s prevalent in many tourist resorts across the world during the summer months. Vodka in particular is a drink which can occasionally be made locally and sold to tourists for cheaper prices. Simply as the waiter what the vodka is; if he says local, ask for Smirnoff or an equivalent big brand name. You might pay a few lira more, but it’s definitely worth it.
Don’t Wander Around on Your Own at Night
Again, common sense abound here. Don’t walk around on your own at night, particularly as a female. You won’t struggle to find crowds in the tourist resorts no matter what time of the day or night, but there can be quiet times, and if you’re wandering around on your own in the dark, you’re a target for the unscrupulous folk who are found in every resort the world over.
Don’t Get on a Motorbike Without a Helmet
You won’t find many people wearing helmets in Turkey. It is the law to wear a helmet, and the police can stop you if you’re not wearing one, although many don’t. It’s actually law for the driver to wear the helmet, but if you’re on the back of the bike, there isn’t actually a legal requirement for you to wear one. Can you imagine what would happen if there was a crash, and you weren’t wearing a helmet, even as a passenger? It doesn’t bear thinking about.
Always Have Holiday Insurance
Turkey isn’t covered the EHIC arrangement, so you will need to have good quality travel insurance to cover you in the event of a medical problem whilst you’re away. This will prevent you from having a huge bill to mar your holiday time with. Obviously, we hope you don’t have to use it, but you never know, and its always best to be prepared in these cases.
Avoid Fights Between Locals
It might be in your nature to wade in and help anyone who looks like they’re in the middle of a fight and in trouble, but in Turkey, it’s best to leave well alone. Fights can turn nasty, especially between local men, so keep out of it and walk away. They will solve it on their own.
Follow these general hints and tips for a healthy and enjoyable time in Turkey!
