8 days to decide - Would you cancel a Turkey holiday for early May?

[smallpleasures]

We’ve booked a week in Turkey for early May. Paid £240 deposit and would be charged another £1200 to cancel now. Total holiday cost £4000 (not relevant but this includes cost for one teen DC who is no longer coming).

Balance due March 11th. Given the ME conflict we are worried about travelling to Turkey. Travel insurance won’t cover if Turkey does get dragged into it as it’s a war.

Would you take a hit for £1500 now and cancel, rather than risking losing the whole £4000 if Turkey become involved in the conflict?

If the foreign office advise against travel I think insurance would cover it. But none the less I don't think I'd go personally

Can you pay to amend your destination so you don't lose as much money?

I think turkey has been added onto the list, where not to travel, maybe you can say I want to cancel but also I’m not going to pay the other amount because of the gov website saying don’t go, if that makes sense? Or maybe they might let you move it to somewhere else? Maybe you could call them x

It's only certain areas that travel advice applies to, not the full country. So if you're going to Antalya for instance, like we are on the 10th of April you can still travel.

In the same situation op and just came on here for this exact reason. We also have another holiday booked to Turkey in June.

This is all the gov website says at present.

“FCDO advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism.”

Same. We’re going end of April/beginning of May to Antalya. Full balance already paid!

I’d go. Assuming you’re no where near Syria.

Turkey is a BIG country. You’ll be nowhere near the southern border. But it’s whether you’re comfortable with the risks involved.

Personally I would go unless advised otherwise

Ive just decided I'm going as long as travel advice doesn't change. They've had the same travel advice to stay away from the border for decades, nothing has changed.

Flying back from far east on Easter weekend via Istanbul with 3 nights there, still planning to go unless situation changes dramatically.

I'm booked for end of May and not even slightly worried about it, it's only a few miles from the coast of Rhodes, Greece, where we're going, no where near the borders. Xx Turkey is a HUGE country, as long as you aren't staying near the borders I doubt there's much to worry about. Xx

I'm booked to travel between Cyprus, Greece and Turkey at the end of May. Just paid off the holiday. I'll be going unless it gets cancelled due to not being allowed to travel.

Turkey is enormous and I suspect you will be in the European/Med side rather than the bit that borders with Syria (there are already FCO warnings about going there).

We have just made the decision to cancel our turkey holiday for May as well. I only lost £300 luckily but the world is not in a good place right now and despite people telling you it will be okay they can’t guarantee it as no one predicted this in the first place- I can’t think of anything scarier than being stuck in another country with young children and a war going on

It’s 1100km from marmaris to Aleppo - about the same as London to the south of France. I’d go.

We had to cancel our holiday in April to Turkey (before all these ME issues started) and I'm actually rather relieved tbh!

Are you staying home then? This issue with Iran has been brewing for months, wasn’t exactly out of the blue.

We're booked for Side for June. We won't be cancelling unless travel there is not advised. It's miles away from the border.

FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Turkey.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/safety-and-security#:~:text=FCDO%20advises%20against%20all%20travel%20to%20parts%20of%20Turkey.

I really wouldn't.

That has been the FCDO position for a long time, FCDO hasn't changed it's advice, as a result of this conflict, at this time.

Yes, these parts. Not all of it.

“Turkey-Syria border
FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the Turkey-Syria border.

Fighting in Syria continues in areas close to the Turkish border and there is a heightened risk of terrorism in the region. See Terrorism.

Due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, roads in Hatay Province leading towards the border may be closed at short notice.

Hakkari province, south-east Turkey

In Hakkari province you must get permission from the local Governor’s Office to visit areas near the border with Iraq and Iran. If visiting with a travel agent or tour group, confirm with them whether you need an individual permit. Keep up to date with local media and follow the advice of the local authorities.

Mount Ararat, eastern Turkey

Mount Ararat, in Ağrı Province, is a special military zone. You must have permission from the Doğubayazıt government office and pay a fee. If visiting with a travel agent or tour group, confirm with them whether you need an individual permit.
Take extra care if you’re travelling to this area. Keep up to date with local media and follow the advice of the local authorities.”

I perosnally wouldn't have cancelled if we didn't have to, as we were really looking forward to going. It would have been the first time my dh and my kids visit Turkey. But ngl, I would have been worried and keeping an eye on the situation daily!

OP, sorry if I have missed this, but is it a package holiday?

The advice for Turkey has been like that for years.

And while it says that' Terrorists are likely to try and carry out attacks in Turkey'

It also says that for Spain and Greece, and very likely for France and Germany.

I know the situation in the ME is terrible, but some people are losing their minds.

Unless advised otherwise by the FCDO, I would not cancel a holiday to the other side of Turkey because of the situation over a thousand miles away. There are parts of Greece that are closer btw.