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Original poster

Holiday to Turkey Booked - Don't know whether to swap

45 replies

Octopus45 · 09/02/2023 20:07

I booked a week in Turkey for us in August (Alanya, near Antaliya).

In light of the awful earthquakes (know we are 400 miles away), my DH wants to swap the holiday to somewhere else, which will incur a £200 admin feel.

I'm not asking a load of people online what to do as such, but was just wondering what other people would do. Obviously August is a way off. Have spoken to TUI and they don't seem to think its too much of a problem and say that it would be cancelled anyway if it was too dangerous.

We have two teenage boys (will be 16 and 13) and want an all inclusive holiday. Ideally we would like a large hotel, somewhere teenage friendly but not overrun by little kids and a football pitch. Have been looking at different alternatives but unsure.

Any advice welcome

OP posts:
minipie · 09/02/2023 20:09

My view is that if your holiday is nowhere near any affected area, you should go. Both because that’s where you chose originally, and because Turkey will need all the income it can get. It will be hit doubly hard if tourists don’t go.

QforCucumber · 09/02/2023 20:11

Alanya and Antalya regions are not affected. It’s fine. It’s like not wanting to live in London because something has happened in Paris (for perspective)

Snoopsnoggysnog · 09/02/2023 20:21

You should go, the country needs tourists income

HermioneWeasley · 09/02/2023 21:05

It’s a massive country, why would you cancel? Antalya is miles from the fault line

TheChosenTwo · 09/02/2023 21:08

Turkey is enormous. I imagine they could do with the boost in income tourists will undoubtedly bring, especially considering what they lost during Covid. I’m not saying it’s your responsibility to go to Turkey (I wouldn’t go myself!) but i can’t see that the earthquake will have a detrimental effect on your holiday.

Anon300 · 09/02/2023 21:09

I can understand your reluctance to enjoy a holiday in a country where there is such devastation and despair. I'm not sure what I would do tbh.

Commonsensitivity · 09/02/2023 21:09

It will be fine. That area is absolutely hundreds of miles away. Turkey is massive.

Kenworthington · 09/02/2023 21:11

We booked on Fri to go to Turkey in may. It’s absolutely miles away from where the quakes were so I’m not concerned. As dh said it’s like the distance between here and Poland!

Igotjelly · 09/02/2023 21:11

I would go. I have many friends and family in Turkey and they’re really worried about the impact of loss of tourism income after so many already hard years.

Commonsensitivity · 09/02/2023 21:11

I went to Turkey last October and it was absolutely gorgeous. Feel in love with the place. I think you should go.

MajorCarolDanvers · 09/02/2023 21:12

Support the country by going on your holiday.

400 miles is the distance between Edinburgh and London 7 hours by car - to give you some perspective.

Anon300 · 09/02/2023 21:14

I wouldn't feel right enjoying a holiday somewhere where 1000s of people had died or been made homeless. I'd rather support them in other ways.

Original poster
Octopus45 · 09/02/2023 22:24

Thanks, that's a very good point about income from tourism and supporting Turkey that way. Will show my DH this thread. Dont feel totally ok about it tbh, but think on balance that will be the thing to do.

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 09/02/2023 22:25

Go, they’ll need all of the income they can get.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 10/02/2023 09:02

Go, support the tourist trade, be respectful and make some donations where you can x

Underparmummy · 10/02/2023 16:02

We booked a holiday to fethiye for October this year 24 hours before the earthquake. I agree, I think they will want the tourism industry to continue.

GroggyLegs · 10/02/2023 16:06

We love Turkey & have been many times.

I've made a donation to the white helmets and all being well, we will continue with our holiday.

Clymene · 10/02/2023 16:08

The last thing Turkey needs now is people cancelling their holidays. Please go.

OpalexBlonde · 10/02/2023 16:10

Have you been before @Octopus45 ? It’s a beautiful country and I don’t think you’ll regret it if you go ahead.

Choconut · 10/02/2023 16:13

You wouldn't avoid going to Edinburgh in the summer because something bad happened in London in February, that would be crazy! It's the same thing. Turkey is absolutely wonderful, have a great time!

Westfacing · 10/02/2023 16:26

I love Turkey and have been many times - they rely a lot on the tourist industry as so many people are employed in that sector.

I was staying in a small family hotel near Antalya when the 1999 earthquake happened - the next morning almost all the guests left to return to Istanbul to check on their relatives and property. I expect that quake wiped out the livelihood of many tourist areas as people cancelled bookings.

If it were me I would still go.

MavisCruet2023 · 10/02/2023 17:07

Go.
Turkey will welcome your spending there.
I'm going in April to the west of Turkey.
I'm not cancelling my holiday.

Intemperatefatty · 10/02/2023 22:25

I hear you OP. We’re due to go Side Antalya at Easter and I’ve been contemplating whether we should cancel. Not because of safety but just the thought of holidaying there when so many people are suffering feels very wrong. I get they probably need the tourism income but it still just doesn’t feel right. Such a tough situation.🙁

HermioneWeasley · 11/02/2023 13:53

@Intemperatefatty you’ll be hundreds of miles from the earthquake zone, it will be fine

Intemperatefatty · 11/02/2023 16:19

HermioneWeasley · 11/02/2023 13:53

@Intemperatefatty you’ll be hundreds of miles from the earthquake zone, it will be fine

Thanks @HermioneWeasley you’re absolutely right.