Is Turkey really awful- specifically Side / Fethiye

[Xrays]

Was chatting to my friend yesterday about holidays and I mentioned how I was considering booking a holiday to one of the resorts above (would be 5 star all inclusive, huge resort type place). My friend has completely put me off with tales of how she felt very unsafe in Turkey on a girls holiday, men hassling them and constantly trying to get them to buy stuff / sexual comments etc etc and she mentioned she wouldn’t have felt safe in an ambulance or getting medical treatment as a woman - (we talked about this because I have difficult medical needs which means although my issues are generally okay I may have a flare and need hospital treatment, one of the reasons I was considering Turkey is that on the specific group related to my very rare health issues many people said they’d had excellent treatment there). Now part of my feels like my friend is comparing a very different part of Turkey to where I’m planning to go (she was in Marmaris) and this was about 15/20 years ago, so surely things must have changed?

And also, I’m going as a middle aged woman with my husband and dc (aged 11 and an adult dd) so not the girls type holiday she was on.

Give me your thoughts!

I've been to fethiye a few times and it's lovely.

Didn't feel like we got any more hassle than anywhere else abroad from people trying to sell stuff from markets and outdoor stalls.

Other than trying to sell things nobody behaved inappropriately or in a sexual manner.

I went to hospital for a severe eye infection and the staff were lovely.

I went with my husband and got absolutely zero hassle. We weren’t even hassled to buy stuff in shops etc. I also got no trouble/comments when I was walking on my own without him. I suspect it might have been different if I was a 20 something in a mini skirt perhaps?

We were in Fethiye staying near the marina and it was one of the best holidays I’ve ever taken especially when you factor in value for money.

The weather was incredible, the people friendly, the food fantastic and we did loads of activities like boat tours etc. I would definitely definitely go back!

I had a lovely holiday in Turkey a few years ago, no harassment or hassle and my DDs were blonde teens at the time.

Is Turkey really awful?

Your thread title is rather offensive and ignorant and your friend sounds as bigoted as they come. If you feel you have to ask if Turkey is really awful, it's probably best to holiday in Blackpool, no chance of men hassling you there, right? And you've got the world renowned NHS to treat you should it be necessary.

I'm just back from Marmaris, it was absolutely fine. Shops and restaurants would speak as you passed to ask you to come in, we just replied and kept walking. Same thing happens in Spain etc

I've been to Turkey several times with DH and friends. Never had any hassle. Its a lovely area.

I think your friend must have been very unlucky, or perhaps she was in a very dodgy area. I've been to various places in Turkey, and have left dh and dc in the hotel and gone out on my own to the town or to a mall. Just the same as going to the shops in the UK. No one spared me a second glance, and I was certainly never hassled.

Last went on 2009, Turkey is one of my favourite countries. Fethiye is beautiful, very historic and also natural beauty. The food is amazing and the people are wonderful. Warm and friendly.

At the time I was quite stunning (if I say so myself!) AND men did chat me up, but it wasn't in a creepy way they were quite flirty and it didn't bother me or make me feel unsafe.

I'd probably happily go to Turkey now as I don't think the men would take any interest in me!

However, I went as a teenager and absolutely hated it. I was 14, overweight, bad hair, bullied at school and had never had any positive attention from the opposite sex so it absolutely blindsided me the amount of attention I got in Turkey. I was followed, stared at, even asked out to a club. It was grim. I'd definitely not take a teenage daughter there.

Been several times. Never felt unsafe. One of the best holidays we’ve had was turkey. It’s a lovely place

Oh come on 🙄 I clearly meant as a holiday destination- hence the posting in “holidays” and referring specific parts of Turkey. Don’t try to find offence where none was intended.

Thank you everyone else for your views, very much appreciated.

I travelled alone to Fethiye and wasn’t hassled at all. Brussels and Paris however….

But expecting Turkey to be 'really awful' based on your friend's experience is like expecting all of the UK to be really awful based on a trip to Blackpool on a Saturday night during stag party season.

Sounds like your friend went to one of the places that markets itself to the 'cheap drinking holiday in the sun' brigade, so if that's not what you're looking for, don't go to that sort of area. There's plenty of lovely places in Turkey if you want a quieter, more authentic experience.

I returned earlier this month from 10 nights in Side. As a single blonde 39 year old with two older blonde very pretty teenage daughters I can confirm we did get male attention but I didn’t feel unsafe and we had an amazing time!

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Ive been to Olu Deniz which is Fethiye area about 10 times. It’s amazing, beautiful country, great food and lovely friendly people. In fact I’m going in 4 weeks and I can’t wait.

I'd agree. Went there a few times as a teenager and got hassled loads by guys, physically pulling me into their shops. Barmen trying it on. I wouldn't go back now and I'd be wary of taking teenage girls there also.

I found a slight hassle factor but not from a sexual angle (I'm 61) but you can say the same about Marrakech, Antigua etc and definitely Egypt. If you learn to ignore the rather full on sales technique , it's a lovely area and fantastic food. Turkish coast is great - Istanbul is also one of my favourite cities!! Not sure I would go there on a 'girls' holiday but with family it's fine

I'd go back to Turkey, just not with female only company.

I've been to Turkey loads of times since the age of 15 and even did an Erasmus year there.

You can get some male attention but it's possible to ignore it and they'll stop. They know there will be someone else along in a minute who is loving the attention and they'll turn their interests to them! In general I've found Turkish people to be lovely, both male and female.

I'd also say that travelling with husband and kids they'll tend not to bother you other than wanting you to spend money in their shops or restaurants which you can get anywhere.

😊 I’m not expecting it to be awful - I’m asking if it is, specifically these areas - and it turns out, judging by most of the replies that they aren’t, so that’s fabulous. Perhaps I didn’t word my title very well. Sorry. 🙈

We like a good mix of things- history, nature, some lovely food and being able to get off resort and experience some of the culture and do different things, but I do like a nice luxury type base to go back to.

@Xrays one thing I would say is possibly to lower your expectations slightly of these huge 5 star all inclusives. Whilst perfectly nice in a huge resort kind of way I personally wouldn't say they are luxury- but I guess it depends on what your definition of luxury is.

My parents took me to Olu Deniz/Fethiye when I was 14 and I found it very uncomfortable. I was blonde, blue eyes and very petite and got a lot of unwanted attention, including a much older man who tried to separate me from my parents and when challenged, offered my Dad money. I was a very naive teen in some ways, from rural East Anglia and I heard some things I'd never heard before outside books.

However, it was absolutely beautiful and the food was wonderful. It was a real culture shock, but it was also 25+ years ago!

Not a place I would go. A relative went with their 6 year old girl, men constantly hassling, offering to buy her and then in the end, trying to abduct her. Awful.

We went to Side 2019 and absolutely no issues at all. We're going back to Belek area this year