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Original poster

Going on holiday to Turkey

58 replies

PeacheyPeach · 14/09/2021 08:35

What are peoples experience of holidaying in Turkey, does it feel safe? I don't know why I've always felt it wasn't a safe country to travel to, as it borders with Syria.
Is there a lot of tension when you are there and as a woman are you required to cover up your shoulders etc?
We have found a fantastic holiday which I think will be amazing for our family but not sure if I will spend the whole holiday worrying.

OP posts:
PlinkPlankPlunk · 14/09/2021 13:25

I also love Turkey - been to Fethiye, Olu Deniz and Side and they are all lovely. The weather is so predictably good, Turkish food is excellent and the historical sites are amazing.

I’ve never been hassled by men but was in my late 40s last time I went so am pretty much invisible Grin

Jerseygirl12 · 14/09/2021 13:28

I’ve been to three different beach holiday destinations and to Istanbul and always had a really good time in Turkey.

NannyGythaOgg · 14/09/2021 18:29

Love love love Turkey and can't wait to go back

I go on my own as a single woman and find that the men are direct but accept a direct no as well. I feel safer in Turkey than I do in the UK.

Turn a man down in the UK and I have been sworn at, accused of being frigid and called names - the men that have done this in the UK take a simple 'No' as personal rejection.

I have said no to many more men in Turkey and they have, without exception, accepted my response.

Cheeseandlobster · 14/09/2021 21:38

@NannyGythaOgg

Love love love Turkey and can't wait to go back

I go on my own as a single woman and find that the men are direct but accept a direct no as well. I feel safer in Turkey than I do in the UK.

Turn a man down in the UK and I have been sworn at, accused of being frigid and called names - the men that have done this in the UK take a simple 'No' as personal rejection.

I have said no to many more men in Turkey and they have, without exception, accepted my response.

I have been on my own too and this has been my experience as well
Runforthehillocks · 14/09/2021 21:42

There are blonde Turkish people you know.

Original poster
PeacheyPeach · 15/09/2021 12:10

Thank you all for reassuring me 🥰 I think we are going to look at Olu Deniz not Belek . ( A bit more away from the border 😜🤣)
Like the idea of going on a day trip to Rhodes aswell from there.
Has anyone got any recommendations for an all-inclusive resort in Olu Deniz xx

OP posts:
Jerseygirl12 · 15/09/2021 12:35

Hotel Belcekiz Beach
I had a lovely week here after a cruise, the scenery is stunning. All our meals were eaten outside with views of green seaside hills. There’s a promenade right outside the hotel and you can walk along it and then go on really reasonably priced boat trips. You can see sky divers as you swim in the pool which is really cool.

MrsPerfect12 · 15/09/2021 12:43

Belek is at least 10 hours away from the boarder. No problems in Belek. We stayed at the Granada and it was stunning.

Original poster
PeacheyPeach · 15/09/2021 12:55

@jerseygirl12 my friend has stayed here I've just been reading about it. Looks great. I think I'd quite like somewhere that maybe had a water park for the kids x

OP posts:
chocolatesaltyballs22 · 15/09/2021 16:29

OP have a look at the Barut Lara - fabulous. Small water park, amazing food and drinks, lovely helpful staff. Loved my holiday there.

Birdkin · 15/09/2021 16:32

I’ve been on holiday to Turkey with my family and as a single woman. The men can be full on (hitting on you and trying to sell stuff) but I never felt unsafe. You do have be quite firm though. Only covered up for visiting mosques etc.

PresidentJoey · 15/09/2021 19:56

I've been to Turkey three times (Kusadasi, Marmaris and Gumbet). As a blond woman I've always felt safe however my very muscular ex-partner had to beat them off with a stick! The Turkish men would wolf whistle at him, grab his arms and shout 'Heyyy, Rambo!' Shock Getting on the dolmus was a nightmare, he was molested so many times BlushGrin

Janaih · 15/09/2021 20:04

@PresidentJoey my dh is a boxer and they were mesmerised by him Grin. "Pizza for the handsome man" is one of my most frequent phrases, much to his annoyance!
Bloody love Turkey, hoping to go in May.

PresidentJoey · 15/09/2021 20:18

[quote Janaih]@PresidentJoey my dh is a boxer and they were mesmerised by him Grin. "Pizza for the handsome man" is one of my most frequent phrases, much to his annoyance!
Bloody love Turkey, hoping to go in May.[/quote]
That's properly made me LOL. My poor ex once lay on the beach after lunch and felt all eyes on him, he looked up to see four waiters all gazing at him like 🥰 We couldn't work out if they were perving over him or just admiring his physique Confused

H1978 · 15/09/2021 20:24

Turkey is an amazing place to visit. We’ve been to Istanbul and Antalya. It’s very safe and the people are really friendly. There’s no obligation to cover up either.

chickywoo · 15/09/2021 20:32

I absolutely love Turkey, if it was possible I would go there and never come home!
We have gone to various different places prior to children, but stuck to Kusadasi for last 10
Years as we have found a great apartment to rent and it feels like home to us, and each yr extend the length of hols we go for 3 wks now.
Obviously sadly not been since 2019 due to current restrictions.
We are Muslim and so find it good that we can eat anywhere and everything halal, you don’t have to cover up in Turkey the locals are very diverse it’s the only country I’ve been in wear you can sit on the beach and within the same family they’ll be someone in a bikini and someone in a burka Wink
Also just to add Belek is absolutely no where near the border it’s about about 2000 miles away.

irregularegular · 15/09/2021 20:39

You know it is on the UK red list at the moment? Otherwise I would happily go, though have only been to Istanbul ( and didn't love it tbh)

Zerrin13 · 15/09/2021 23:11

I have an apartment 10 minutes down the road from Olu Deniz. Just go back last Saturday. Olu is a nice beach resort. Fantastic new waterpark just opened down the road. New cable car just opened that takes you high up into the Babadag mountains. Fethiye area is a very nice place for a holiday.

Original poster
PeacheyPeach · 16/09/2021 12:54

@zerrin13 is that the waterpark attached to orca hotel?
Reading up on Oludeniz it's absolutely beautiful isn't it.

OP posts:
Cheeseandlobster · 16/09/2021 17:56

@Zerrin13

I have an apartment 10 minutes down the road from Olu Deniz. Just go back last Saturday. Olu is a nice beach resort. Fantastic new waterpark just opened down the road. New cable car just opened that takes you high up into the Babadag mountains. Fethiye area is a very nice place for a holiday.
Ooh I bet the cable car view is stunning.

I must say I'd you go to Olu Deniz it's the lagoon beaches round the corner from the main beach that are the best

Toomuchleopard · 16/09/2021 18:03

Liberty hotels Lykia in Olu Deniz is a brilliant all inclusive hotel.

catsareme14 · 16/09/2021 18:22

I can confirm that as a blonde woman I was harassed continually, every time my husband left my side . I hated it . Also in the markets I hated the woman grabbing my wrists trying to put bracelets on me . Beautiful country but not for me .

littletinyboxes · 16/09/2021 18:25

I had reservations about going to Turkey (proximity to Syria/hassle from men etc) but having bitten the bullet and gone once I love it. As many pp have said, the border to Syria is a very long way from the tourist resorts and I haven't experienced or witnessed any more harassment than in the UK.

One thing I love about the resorts we've visited (Olu Deniz, Marmaris, Calis Beach, Ichmeler) is that even quite late at night there are loads of family groups (children, parents and grandparents) out together and no crowds of drunk brits as we have encountered in Spain etc.

silentlight · 16/09/2021 18:27

Lovely and beautiful country, but I too was harassed as soon as my husband left my side. Despite having a toddler with me. On resort it’s nice but shopping in the towns is spoilt by the harassment. Saying that I would go again, but won’t leave my husbands side!

Zerrin13 · 16/09/2021 19:36

The new waterpark isn't attached to a hotel. Its just down the road from Olu Deniz in Ovacik. Fethiye in general is a lovely part of Turkey. I've been to Belek and its got lots of big all inclusive hotels. I just prefer Fethiye because it has so much there to do and see. Turkey is a beautiful country and its safe I've been going every year for 25 years and nothing has ever happened. Its still good value for money too. July and August are extremely hot so I prefer early June and September and October.

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