BootsnAll Travel Community

Haha, well cool, I was thinking $3000 each, so this shouldn't be too bad! I think I'll still shoot for 300 per month for me, but if I only save 150 then I should be able to pull it off. I might have enough points on my credit card to get a free flight there, which would help a lot. It should be easy next year with a raise and long-awaited homestead/mortgage tax credits (the man is breaking my back this year!).

Well enough of budget talk, I need to start fantasizing... I mean planning... for our trip.

There's a lot of good information in this thread. We just finished up five weeks in Turkey. We did the western part and most of the eastern part. We made it as far as Dogubayazit before taking a flight from Van to Istanbul. Will save Ani for next time (and there will be a next time for sure!)

For our itinerary, pictures, video, some audio clips, etc. you can visit our blog. Turkey is awesome. You need to go there.

Just to add my 2c - Turkey is amazing. I love it.

Winter is an unusual time to be here, so I may not be facing all the summer touts, but it has been great. People regularly go out of their way to help me, even when they don't speak English (and of course I don't speak Turkish) - in most if not all of the other countries I've visited, the language barrier gives people an easy and perhaps fair enough reason to walk away. Not here.

The other day a guy at the bus station said "Come" amd picked up my bag and I was happy to follow him to my bus. When I'm lost (which is rather frequently) people literally take me where I'm trying to go. Situations like this at home or even in eastern Europe irk me - I've been known to refuse if, say, my father offers to lift something for me - I'm an adult! But it's just helpful and clearly well-intentioned here.

As a woman: I'm not feeling a problem. Random men want to "help" or have a drink, but it's not threatening or anything.

As an American: I've been known to be economical with the truth about my citizenship before (which I defend by saying I don't need to tell every person on the street who asks me in India) but here I've said I'm from the USA, and the only time it drew comment (and nothing serious at that) was with a European.

My ininerary: Istanbul - Pamukkale - Fethiye - Konya - Istanbul over 2 weeks. (did not make it to Sanliurfa, caved in and went for the shorter bus ride and wifi in my room for cheap)

Surprising facts: The other day it was colder in Konya (19F) than it was in Chicago or Slovakia. Who would've thought.
They make an admirable effort, but their Bosnian food is just not as good as the real deal (ha )

Seriously, it's only two weeks I'm here, and mainly in the west...and it's winter...but I can tell it's an amazing place.

quote:

Originally posted by Liz Giles:
I traveled in Turkey for a month last year and was continually surprised by how much there was to see and do....Also, I'm pretty sure, as a woman I wouldn't really want to travel there alone. It is completely possible of course...but Turkish men are very hands on and chat-agressive. I traveled with a male friend, so I didn't encounter this too much, but was put off on occasion.

I'm curious if others agree with this. Turkey is heading towards the top of my list of places to travel this year. I will have 2 weeks there. However, I will be traveling solo. Granted, I'm far from being a cute young thing (50ish, dark hair and dumpy) so do you think these precautions would still apply?

Having said all this, I just read the poster before me's comment, which seems to imply there would be no problem. So maybe I'm worrying over nothing.

I was in Turkey for about three weeks on my own. 23, tall blonde. I had no trouble at all. I didn't go to clubs on my own or walk in the streets alone after dark. Just got to know people at whatever hostel I was at and we did stuff all together. I wasn't assaulted or harassed either. You walk by stalls at markets and no matter who you are they well ask to to look at such and such but just ignore them like anybody else who doesn't want to buy. And I also wouldn't consider myself a seasoned traveller at the time. You will enjoy yourself! It was such a treat to get full breakfasts with your room. Check out Olympos definately even if you don't want to party. Its a beautiful location and the food and accomodations are perfect for relaxing.

I suppose I shouldn't imply that it's absolutely fine for everyone, and my perspective may be influenced by it being winter and the off season and all...it may be different in the summer.

I've also travelled in a non-European country with a guy and interestingly, it seemed to be harder to deal with touts and people chatting in order to sell things. Somehow it seems easier when I'm alone to not talk or to walk away whenever I see fit.

Two carpet salesmen did tell me I "walked like a Turkish" whatever that means...(an attempt at flattery probably!)...so walk like a Turkish if you can

Okay, though, really I just don't want to face the possibility that they just don't think I'm cute

Well, if I go, and I'm leaning strongly that way, I won't be going in the summer either, but spring (probably last of April and/or first of May) or Sept/Oct. I don't know if that would make a difference.

Regardless, I think that even if there was any aggravation, it would be worth it. Just reading these posts has me salivating to visit - the country sounds incredible!

I will probably plan on spending 5-7 days in Istanbul, then tour the western half of the country, maybe getting as far as the Cappadocia region in the rest of my 2 week period. Does that sound do-able?

Well, yes, but you need to get out of Istanbul much sooner and save it for last (for after you have built up your Turkey-tout street smarts) and Goreme is an absolute must. Please refer to my "Quick & dirty" guide.

The true Turkey expert (static), I think recommended spending only a day or two in Istanbul upon arrival and then coming back at the end. He posted a cool itinerary here (hang on!).

It seems like buses are plentiful, even in winter, so as long as you are up for the time it takes to get from one place to another, I don't think it'd be a problem.

If you go in October, I'd just say try to check online in advance for the average temperature of the places you intend to see. I knew it wouldn't be scorching, but (I know I'm repeating myself here but wow it was 19deg. F in Konya a few days ago! I like to think of myself as ready for winter - I'm from Chicago - but man, it was 35 in Chicago the same day.

see, we started posting at the same time and he beat me to it! "check out of Istanbul as fast as static posts"...and now I don't have to go search for his guide

quote:

Originally posted by static:
Well, yes, but you need to get out of Istanbul much sooner and save it for last (for after you have built up your Turkey-tout street smarts) and Goreme is an absolute must. Please refer to my "Quick & dirty" guide.

Static, I've already found and saved your guide to my flash drive - I'm looking forward to reviewing it at leisure and coming up with a plan for travel. In fact, I found your post first from a search throughout the travel boards, which is what led me to this thread. Getting out of the city fast and then touring the countryside before coming back sounds like a pretty good plan to me. I've done it in other countries (none of which were as exotic as Turkey) and it worked pretty well.

I'm very excited about this - I've been torn between a couple of destinations and haven't been able to make up my mind (I wish I had 2 months instead of 2 weeks), but just reading through this has sparked a lust for Turkey that pretty much decided me.

Another reason to get back to Instanbul after seeing other parts of Turkey is that I found people's come-ons and aggressiveness to be a little stronger in Istanbul. Once you've seen other parts and met other people, it's much easier to deal with the people in Istanbul and realize that they really aren't 'scary' as some people might think. Maybe just a little zealous.

honestly, the Turkish are so friendly and hospitable. The men may like to flirt (I don't know from first hand experience as I was travelling with a male companion), but I think they are mostly harmless. We had so many people chat us up and go out of their way to help us. I think if you just bring your smarts with you and follow the general precautions of not going out alone at night, going into clubs alone, etc. then there is nothing to worry about. Even at that, in Goreme I went out alone at night, and I think in Kas as well, and probably in most smaller towns it's not even an issue.

go, have fun! and definitely get to Goreme!

(I don't know if anyone's mentioned this either, but don't be too freaked if another passenger on the bus tries to offer you food or snacks - they're just being friendly and generous. I don't know if it's common, but it's happened - we ended up trading snacks with a couple of Syrian women in Turkey, and we shared only a few words in common. it was a neat experience!)

Woo hoo - my flight is booked! I leave on May 3rd for 2 weeks in Turkey! Now to do some serious research - I hit the library today and grabbed all the latest guidebooks. I just wish it were the weekend so I could burrow down and read. Unfortunately, I had to bring work home tonight (I'm procrastinating right now), so I will not be able to do any serious planning till this week.

Stay at the Apricot in Istanbul if you are there your first few nights. I have never met such helpful folks as the owner Hakan and the front desk staffer Mehmet. They will give you solid advice on your travels and can help you plan everything. And you can actually trust them to do it without ripping you off. Oh, and send Mehmet my love.

Joe's guide and Justine's guide to Turkey were helpful to me.

I thought the touts in Turkey were very easy to deal with - maybe it was because I was traveling as part of a couple? I don't know. I thought they were not aggressive at all and even playful. And actually took "no" for an answer!

I keep hearing good things about the Apricot, so it's definitely on my list - and thanks for the link to Justine's guide! I've already read Joe's, so it's nice to have another reference (besides the 7-8 guidebooks I have currently sprawled across my dining room table).

Just make sure you get the right Mehmet... Ahmet and Mehmet are almost comically common names (think Nguyen or Kim). If you meet a guy, and forget his name, just throw out [mumble]-hmet and there's a good chance he'll respond.

I am enjoying this thread because Turkey is on our list too for this spring. BUT we are driving a little camper and with a 6yo child ,so I go back and forth about whether to include Turkey.

To be honest I am a little worried about the terrorist stuff. Also I will be coming in from Greece and hear that can be a hassle crossing the border since they do not like each other.We will probably be in that area in May or June.

We are on a long haul trip and now we are in southern Spain. We will go to Morocco, then up to Barcelona ..ferry over to Italy , see a few things there and then another ferry over to Greece from Venice ( touring as we go) ,then onto Turkey. ( Then more time in Italy ,croatia and eastern Europe for the summer before we head back to Spain next Nov for the winter).

We kind of wing it as we go ,but I would like to spend at least 2 or 3 weeks in Turkey to experience the best of it.We have a satellite so it works best to stay at least 5 days or a week at a place to make it worth while ( so no one day here or one day there kind of trips...unless they are day trips that we can get to by public transportation).

So is this safe and reasonable travel with a child? Any ideas for this style? I WANT to do it ...but am just a little uncertain. Morocco and Turkey and Cairo ..make me nervous with a child, but I want to see them.My child is also unvaccinated ( and these places should not be any different than europe in this matter) but that does impact a little in the back of my head.

It is the one area that I may cut off of our tour this year, but I would love to be talked out of "cutting it out" as I feel this is probably our only chance to see Turkey.

quote:

So is this safe and reasonable travel with a child?

The child is your ambassador into places and situations that most would never get a chance to see. Your child will be doted upon constantly. Turkey is a very family-oriented society. Most certainly, servers in restaurants will be happy to hold a small child, giving you a chance to eat a meal in peace. There will be tons of kids to play with. I hope that your kid likes rice pudding and baklava, because Turkey makes the best.

I agree with static
I spent 6 weeks in Turkey without kids and saw many tourists with young children in tow. I cannot wait to bring my two young children to Turkey, I have the impression that our trip with the kids will be even better than without them (and that would be hard to top).

I've been reading countless travel books on Turkey over the past few weeks and can heartily concur with the others that Turkey seems to dote on small children. Overall, Turkey seems to be very safe - you may want to avoid the eastern region, which seems to be a bit more volatile, but from everything I've read, you will be as safe in Turkey as you would in any western European country. The more I read about this country, the more I wish I had 2 years to spend there, instead of the 2 miserly weeks I'm allotted on this trip.

quote:

I hope that your kid likes rice pudding and baklava, because Turkey makes the best.

I am in HEAVEN! I love rice pudding and could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.