Turkey?

[DJ85]

I am booking a late holiday for the family for the end of September, all the usual places like Spain, Portugal are around £900 for a 3* holiday.

However I have come across some 5* hotels in Marmaris, Dalaman etc for much much cheaper.

I have been told these wont be true 5* but they look amazing, also would you pick Turkey over Spain? The weather would be much better this time of year. Only been to EU places so a little worried why its so cheap.

I know this is not tripadviser but advice welcome

If your not scared due to everything that’s happening then go, after all the goings on last year we got a week in marmaris for me and the partner for £400 it was a good holiday, spent all the extra money shopping for “fake” handbags etc for the Mrs she had a great time. Only hassle we got was folk trying to pull you into shops to buy stuff, to which we ignored and that was that. (That was 1.5 years ago now maybe changed by now)
We also went to Cyprus a the start of this year we love it there, been 3 times, always hot!
We have our eyes on a 5* all inc resort in Antalya for April just waiting to get home and book it. The recent planes setting off from Cyprus to bomb such and such place last week put her off a bit but just waiting for a few weeks and see how it goes.

 

[Jean-F]

I wouldn't go -- just because of the hassling in the street. Can't stand that anywhere. The girlfriend and I have a rule -- if the restaurant has someone outside trying to get you in then we'll automatically not go in. The same if they have a menu with pictures

Not a bad rule Scam, I can’t have that touting, and the ones with photos
on the menu are for people who don’t know what scrambled eggs look like.

 

[Lopéz]

I wouldn't go -- just because of the hassling in the street. Can't stand that anywhere. The girlfriend and I have a rule -- if the restaurant has someone outside trying to get you in then we'll automatically not go in. The same if they have a menu with pictures

I don't know how much you travel, but you might be surprised at how many places have pictures in the menu across the world. I know it's not consider the done thing in the UK, but in many places it is. When my Greek colleague came over we went for lunch and he spent ages poring over a menu before admitting he had no idea what most of the dishes were, and where the hell were the pictures?

If you tried to apply your rule here in China you'd probably be starving in about a week, it's almost the norm to have picture menus.

 

[itchy]

Turkey is for Chirstmas not for a holiday, spend a little more and go to spain, or the Algarve.

 

[Maccy]

Turkey is for Chirstmas not for a holiday, spend a little more and go to spain, or the Algarve.

Turkey is for life, not just for Christmas

 

[james.miller]

We went to oludeniz the year before **** got really real over there and really we had a great time. We Stayed in a small family run place called CC's just across the road from the mosque, really enjoyed it and CC was super helpful when my son had to be taken to hospital the night before we were due to fly back. Dropped us off and picked us up, cant ask any more than that. The place itself was fine, very touristy of course but that's fine. Didnt get hassled there at all but we were advised by multiple sources not to venture further out. Havent been back since, but i wouldnt discount it now.

 

[McManicMan]

Turkey for me was great, went to Antalya / Side twice and my eldest has been to Olu Deniz twice. Yes you get people trying to get you into their shops/bars but that's the same as anywhere else. It don't matter where you go these days as terrorism is everywhere, life to short to worry about whether you going to get blown up or injured.

 

[FortuitousFluke]

Turkey for me was great, went to Antalya / Side twice and my eldest has been to Olu Deniz twice. Yes you get people trying to get you into their shops/bars but that's the same as anywhere else. It don't matter where you go these days as terrorism is everywhere, life to short to worry about whether you going to get blown up or injured.

The wife and I went to Tunisia a few years before we went to Oludeniz and if you're working on a sliding scale of pestering the shop holders in Turkey aren't even in the same league. Tunisia is the Cup Winners Cup of badgering, a guy once chased me down the street trying to sell me jewellery, he was not best happy when I declined.

 

[Scam]

I don't know how much you travel, but you might be surprised at how many places have pictures in the menu across the world.

I'm being intentionally blunt but it's generally a good rule to follow. I've never been to China (only Hong Kong) but I'd still say that a restaurant only puts pictures to cater/explain to tourists. And I'm not generally interested in eating anywhere that specifically caters for tourists, whether it's in China, Turkey, or Italy. I understand in places like China/Japan* you'd have a ludicrously hard time figuring out what to order, but again if they have pictures of food -- the question is why?

*If I ended up in a place with English translations I'd be disappointed, but I wouldn't necessarily avoid it like the plague, like I would if there were pictures

 

[Lopéz]

I'm being intentionally blunt but it's generally a good rule to follow. I've never been to China (only Hong Kong) but I'd still say that a restaurant only puts pictures to cater/explain to tourists.

You're incorrect. In a great number of countries, it is the norm.
I haven't been to a tourist restaurant here (the concept doesn't really exist in China anyway) but I'd estimate that 85% of the dining establishments I've seen (of which there are thousands) have picture based menus.

*If I ended up in a place with English translations I'd be disappointed, but I wouldn't necessarily avoid it like the plague, like I would if there were pictures

You would also be hungry. Unless you speak and read every language, how are you going select what you want to eat? You would not even know what is a starter, what's a main, what's a drink, what's a dessert.... do you just point at the meaningless shapes on the menu and hope that some food arrives?
Genuinely curious about this, I'm the least fussy eater I know, but a basic knowledge of the meal I'm paying for would be useful, right?

 

[Scam]

Well funnily enough when I was in Hong Kong all those years ago we found some back street locals restaurant with little/no translations, certainly no pictures and we just went for it. You can do quite well by judging things by price, for a start. We ended up with way too much food, but it was good fun. You're probably right about China in particular -- thinking about it our local excellent Chinese (one of the best in London by all accounts) has some pictures across the menu.

Anyway, I'm not trying to make some huge blanket statement. I'll readily admit to not having travelled around the back countries of Asia, Russia etc where you would struggle if you don't know the language. But I have travelled enough to be a pretty good judge. But I'll stand by the question of why a restaurant in the middle of nowhere in, say, Japan would have pictures of the food? If you've gone to Yorkshire on holiday and found a restaurant with Japanese and Spanish translations on the menu, would you pick it? I certainly wouldn't.

Brings to mind Raymon Lin's thread on travelling Japan where he had to take pictures of people's food to show the waiter.. or something. That's part of the fun in a foreign country.

 

[SPG]

The only good thing Turkey has going for it is a love of cats and when you leave.

Horrible place now,

 

[Ahleckz]

I know it doesn't really have much to do with the actual topic. But how was prices for meals and so in Istanbul? I'm going there in mid-May to celebrate my birthday.

I found it was pretty much half the price of the UK. You must get the ferry over to Asia, and go to the market there. Heaps of bars, and lots of good restaurants. No tourists either, but everyone is very friendly. Lots of students so it's a bit more fun. Stay closer to Galata Tower, there's nothing really need Taksim Square. You want to be closer to the river.

The only good thing Turkey has going for it is a love of cats and when you leave.

Horrible place now,

Why do you say that?

 

[thedoc46]

Went there in 99, Marmaris and Bodrum, when the missus. Cos we bought our first home, we were short on funds. So we thought give it a try. Horrible slimy third world dump. Every man leers on your woman. Some will even grab at her. (more on that in a min!) Every shop is either a dodgy jewelers or somewhere making nasty leather goods. Anyway had a run in with some locals after they tried to put their hand up my missus skirt, while i was right there. Needless to say a fight ensued, and they all jumped in. Was only the wife & i.. Nearly took a good kicking, but lucky for me, none were particularly strong or overpowering, and with the adrenaline going i got away with just a few scrapes and bruises. Also got bundled into a police van for the fight, but they let me go. Had to keep real low for the next few days as i didn't even know who they were and i / we stood out like a sore thumb. Especially with all the grazes and scrapes all over my face. It was nice to get back home. Oh and the apparent platinum ring we were sold, cos there was literally f.all else to do than shop at the dodgy jewelers was fake ! Even if you offered me a free holiday there, i'd say keep it !

 

[neviditelny]

I found it was pretty much half the price of the UK. You must get the ferry over to Asia, and go to the market there. Heaps of bars, and lots of good restaurants. No tourists either, but everyone is very friendly. Lots of students so it's a bit more fun. Stay closer to Galata Tower, there's nothing really need Taksim Square. You want to be closer to the river.

I'm staying not far from Galata Tower (according to Google Maps a 10 minute walk), a hotel called The Peak Hotel which seems to be on a street just off Istiklal street (as I understand one of the main streets in Istanbul). I will most likely take the ferry to the Asian side one day to stroll around. The reason why I chose that hotel is partly the price and decent location, but also the style of the hotel.

Edit: If I would only budget for food/drink (not planning to go out clubbing or so) would you think 40-50 quid a day would be a decent budget?
When I'm on holiday I tend to have a decent breakfast and then top up with something in a café during early/mid-afternoon before having dinner in the evening so I don't tend to eat that much. Specially not in hotter areas.

 

[Ahleckz]

I'm staying not far from Galata Tower (according to Google Maps a 10 minute walk), a hotel called The Peak Hotel which seems to be on a street just off Istiklal street (as I understand one of the main streets in Istanbul). I will most likely take the ferry to the Asian side one day to stroll around. The reason why I chose that hotel is partly the price and decent location, but also the style of the hotel.

Ah, that's a good area! I ate in the roof top restaurant, Mikla, just opposite your hotel which was fantastic (but pricey) and ate at Meze By Lemontree just round the corner. The latter wasn't great for the price, but a good introduction into Turkish food I suppose.
Bilce Kebap is just round the corner, I went there for my last meal and it was fantastic. Very meat heavy, but it was fresh and delicious. Best kebabs I've ever had! Staff are very friendly, and try and speak English.
Isitklal Street is just a generic shopping street, not a huge amount going for it but walk down it (going away from Taksim) and you'll get to a cute smaller street with some cool shops and there's a good Shisha cafe halfway down (look for the umbrellas) and you'll end up at Galata Tower. Say hi to the black fluffy Labrador for me!

We went to the Aga Hamami which isn't far from you (http://www.agahamami.com/). It was very odd, but once you got over the initial weirdness it was very relaxing and one of the few that allow mixed genders in. It's aimed at the tourist market, but for £20 it's well worth it. Don't think it's worth paying for the expensive ones.

Blue Mosque is currently shut to non Muslims, but you can go into the grounds which are quite interesting.
Topkapi Palace is quite interesting, pay the extra to see the haram.
Hagia Sophia is impressive.
Make sure you check out the Cistern. It's being renovated but it's cheap and quite interesting!
Grand Bazaar wasn't my cup of tea, much preferred the walk to the Spice Market and stopping and eating along the way.
Get down to the fish boats at Galata Bridge (same side as the Blue Mosque) for the fish sandwiches. Really nice, and good fun!

It's just a good city to walk around. Don't be afraid of the dogs, they are tagged and the aggressive ones are taken away.

 

[neviditelny]

That sounds great. I'm really excited to go to Istanbul as I've planned to do that for years and it's the kind of places I like to visit. I love walking around exploring areas and try to local food so I will definitely look into the places you've recommended. Hagia Sophia is definitely on the list of things to visit. The Spice Market sounds really interesting too.

 

[Jean-F]

Because it's not in the EU, not a first world country, and tourists have been murdered there recently.

I understood that “first world country” means aligned with the West, and as Turkey is in NATO I guess that it qualifies.

The wife and I went to Tunisia a few years before we went to Oludeniz and if you're working on a sliding scale of pestering the shop holders in Turkey aren't even in the same league. Tunisia is the Cup Winners Cup of badgering, a guy once chased me down the street trying to sell me jewellery, he was not best happy when I declined.

Not been there, but I’ve been to Morocco a couple of times, and it sounds like both countries are on a par with their touting.
Tried the usual polite “No thanks” but it seemed to encourage them, after a while I switched to French, “non, va-t-en” (no, go away) rookie mistake, French is their second language, one dug me out as a Northerner, (he was right, I speak French with a Pas-de-Calais accent).
Tried German, nein, geh weg, (no go away), they came back with “geh zum Teufel”, (go to hell, or the devil), tried Spanish, vete, (go away), they put a finger under their nose, and gave the Nazi salute, perhaps they thought I was Franco.
As a last resort, I remembered something a Polish girlfriend taught me, Nie rozumiem, (I don’t understand).
They hesitated, and I thought I’d won, then one pointed at me and shouted Warszawa! (Warsaw), I gave up.

 

[FortuitousFluke]

Not been there, but I’ve been to Morocco a couple of times, and it sounds like both countries are on a par with their touting.
Tried the usual polite “No thanks” but it seemed to encourage them, after a while I switched to French, “non, va-t-en” (no, go away) rookie mistake, French is their second language, one dug me out as a Northerner, (he was right, I speak French with a Pas-de-Calais accent).
Tried German, nein, geh weg, (no go away), they came back with “geh zum Teufel”, (go to hell, or the devil), tried Spanish, vete, (go away), they put a finger under their nose, and gave the Nazi salute, perhaps they thought I was Franco.
As a last resort, I remembered something a Polish girlfriend taught me, Nie rozumiem, (I don’t understand).
They hesitated, and I thought I’d won, then one pointed at me and shouted Warszawa! (Warsaw), I gave up.

It would be impressive if it wasn't so annoying. My wife made the rookie mistake of letting a shopkeeper put a necklace on her, I ended up paying just to get out of the bloody shop. I don't think we were helped by it being early in the season, difficult to avoid the sellers when you're the only people on the street.

On the bright side now I know that feigning being from another Country isn't a viable tactic I don't have to spend time learning new languages, I mean, I wasn't going to anyway but now I feel justified in my laziness.

 

[Scam]

When the girlfriend and I went to Djerba (Tunisia) we had great fun doing the same thing trying to get them to go away. Me speaking terrible GCSE German, her basic/terrible french. It's way easier to ignore them shouting back as you walk off - if you don't understand what they're saying

I know it's a cultural thing, but I can't imagine why they think it's a good idea to hassle tourists like that.