First Turkey Holiday

[Deception]

I have just booked a week at Orka world Hotel and Aquapark in Olu Deniz, Turkey, flying out mid October from EMA.

This would be our first time in Turkey, so i was just looking for some tips on what to expect and possibly good spots to visit close by.

 

[jpaul]

you are not worried about travelling to Turkey - riots after erdogen, russian sympathies ....
(I initially saw the thread title popup and thought it was a light hearted xmas meal related thread)

Reissued after periodic reviews with minor edits.

Exercise increased caution when traveling to Türkiye due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do Not Travel To:

• Sirnak province, Hakkari province, and any area within six miles (10 kilometers) of the Syrian border due to terrorism.

Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Türkiye. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations. Be cautious in transportation hubs, markets, malls, and government buildings, as well as hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, and parks. Be careful in airports and at major events.

 

[weringo]

you are not worried about travelling to Turkey - riots after erdogen, russian sympathies ....
(I initially saw the thread title popup and thought it was a light hearted xmas meal related thread)

OP is going to a beach resort in Turkey, not North Korea. Aside from the obvious advice not to travel to the Syrian / Iraqi border, which is about 1,000 miles from OP's destination, the above is the same as the UK government's France travel advice:

Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in France.

Terrorism attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by tourists and foreign nationals such as:

• shopping centres
• entertainment establishments and nightlife venues
• sporting and cultural events
• public transport and national and international transport hubs
• places of worship
• crowded places and public gatherings

Methods of attack have included knife attacks, shootings, bombings and vehicle attacks. Be vigilant in public places and follow the advice of local French authorities.

 

[Diddums]

you are not worried about travelling to Turkey - riots after erdogen, russian sympathies ....
(I initially saw the thread title popup and thought it was a light hearted xmas meal related thread)

Lol, tell me you've never been to Turkey without telling me you've never been to Turkey.

@Deception it's an amazing country. The people are generally some of the most hospitable you'll ever come across, and their over-friendliness can often be interpreted as scrounging for tips. They're very appreciative of tips which is why you'll see tip jars literally everywhere, but it's not an expectation. They are still paid employees.

The food is amongst the best in the world, but do yourself a favour and find somewhere that the locals go to for a proper authentic Turkish experience. It's fantastic.

Don't be shy to try a shisha if offered, they usually cost £10 or so and are quite nice.

Ask the hotel for their tourism desk, they'll have a rep somewhere who moves from hotel to hotel for a few hours every day and will tell you all the local tours and whatnot. These are generally really good rather than the terrible tourist traps we have here and are quite cheap.

Haggling is a thing in Turkey but generally only at markets.

Don't eat or drink anywhere that doesn't have prices on the menu, they'll rip you off.

Don't stray from the beaten track, a common trick is for someone to offer to take a photo of you and your family, they'll then lure you off the beaten track and take more photos of you, then ask you for money. Very common trick, be careful.

Have your wits about you just like in any country, there will be people who will want to take advantage of you.

Don't wear bling in public, something like a fancy Rolex could make you a target.

If you're married, buy your wife a fake Gucci/Versace/Whatever handbag. She'll say it's tacky and that she doesn't want it but then you get back to the UK and it comes up in conversation a few months later with some friends and then she'll mention it and get irritated at the thought and why didn't you consult with your crystall ball to know that despite telling you that she doesn't want the handbag she actually really wanted the handbag and why didn't you buy her the ******* handbag David, WHY!!!!