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Is it safe to travel in Turkey?
Most
travelers comment on the friendliness and hospitality of
the Turkish people. It really is
exceptional.
Turkey
is not only friendly, it's as
safe as Europe and North America,
although no place is completely safe.
Here are some travel
danger statistics to
put things in perspective.
Even
though Turkey is relatively safe,
the only crime-free place is heaven,
so here are things to watch:
It has begun to
grow in the big cities (Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir),
particularly in tourist areas: pickpockets and bag-snatchers.
Defense is the same anywhere:
wear your purse/bag strap over
your chest (not just dangling
from your shoulder) and hold
your bag close. More...
Mugging (robbery)
and rape are rare, but they
do happen, so observe the normal
travel precautions. More...
Single
male travelers should
beware two
particular scams aimed
at them: "Let's Have
a Drink" and "New
Traveling Companions," one of which even happens
on trains. More...
Women
travelers should be sensitive
to local
customs and attitudes.
It's
everyone's worry these days. Statistically,
it is not much of a danger at all
(compared to such real big-time killers
as traffic
accidents), but it makes headlines,
so we're frightened. More...
You
must answer this question to fit
your personal tolerance for
risk. If you believe the statistics and
look at it rationally, you'll probably
go. If you're going to worry about
safety a lot while you're there,
the worry may make your trip less
pleasant, and so you probably shouldn't
go.
Many
governments post detailed security
notices on the Internet. These
are useful reading if you are concerned
about safety when you travel:
-
US Department of State' s Consular
Information Sheet
-
US Embassy in Ankara
-
UK Foreign & Commowealth
Office
-
Canada Department of Foreign
Affairs
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Australian Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade
Private
sources of security info include World
Travel Watch.
Many people do come down with Travelers' Diarrhea ("the
Sultan's Revenge"), and there are cases of more
serious gastrointestinal ailments, so observe wise
dining habits. The US Government Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention's CDC
Travelers' Health website, and its Turkey page, are
also useful.
Turkey has historically had high vehicular
accident and mortality rates. They're coming down, but you must still drive and ride carefully. More...
A variation of the Single
Male Scam sometimes happens on trains. More...
Turkey is in an active earthquake zone,
and deadly temblors occur periodically,
as they have for millennia. Like
San Francisco, Istanbul and
the Marmara region expect a major earthquake within
the next three or four decades. Here
are some thoughts...
It's a good idea to review your coverage and decide
if you're adequately insured. Here's
how...
It's a very, very old good-luck tradition
in Turkey. It can't really hurt you, especially if
you're wearing a Nazar
Bonjuk! ;-) More...
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