Istanbul?

Chlorine7

My friend and I booked a 4 day trip to Istanbul for May a few days before the bombings in Jan happened. The total cost each was approx £250.

My question is would you cancel given the current situation?

My opinion is that they would have increased security in the tourist areas and attacks can happen anywhere but my friends seem to think we shouldn't go.

We would only get £50 back from the flight and the hotel was non-refundable.

blindman

Chlorine7 wrote: »

My friend and I booked a 4 day trip to Istanbul for May a few days before the bombings in Jan happened. The total cost each was approx £250.

My question is would you cancel given the current situation?

My opinion is that they would have increased security in the tourist areas and attacks can happen anywhere but my friends seem to think we shouldn't go.

We would only get £50 back from the flight and the hotel was non-refundable.

I personally would still go-however it's up to you.


As everything is non refundable anyway why not wait until a day or so before you are due to go and see what the situation is then?


If the FO deem it an unsafe place to go you in the meantime you could get a refund on the fights\hotel.

PompeyPete

One of the world's great destinations.

Have you had a look on the Istanbul Trip Advisor Forum, to test the water...

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g293974-i368-Istanbul.html

Unless the FCO change their Travel Advice then I'd go...

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey

Make sure you get your visas online using this link [only takes a few minutes]

https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/

Chlorine7

One of the world's great destinations. That's why I really want to go

Have you had a look on the Istanbul Trip Advisor Forum, to test the water...

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g293974-i368-Istanbul.html

Not yet

Unless the FCO change their Travel Advice then I'd go...

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey

I have read this and they do say "it’s increasingly likely that some attacks will also target western interests and tourism" hence my query

Make sure you get your visas online using this link [only takes a few minutes]

https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/

Yep, will do as soon as I renew my passport

Chlorine7

As everything is non refundable anyway why not wait until a day or so before you are due to go and see what the situation is then?

This does seem to be the best thing to do but I'm still interested in opinion/views

PompeyPete

Chlorine7 wrote: »

I have read this and they do say "it’s increasingly likely that some attacks will also target western interests and tourism" hence my query

All you're going to get on a public forum is a x-section of opinions, which when you balance them out will probably leave you with the same dilemma.

Chlorine7

It may leave me with the same dilemma, or help me to make a decision. I am allowed to ask for an opinion not matter the result.

PompeyPete

Chlorine7 wrote: »

It may leave me with the same dilemma, or help me to make a decision. I am allowed to ask for an opinion not matter the result.

#6 was an opinion.;)

Since the outrage in Istanbul there have been several acts of terror in Turkey. The latest being last week in Ankara. Tourists weren't targetted, but you never know what or where next. So it's either cancel and do as terrorists want, or carry on with your plans and go and enjoy yourselves.

Chlorine7

#6 was an opinion.

Since the outrage in Istanbul there have been several acts of terror in Turkey. The latest being last week in Ankara. Tourists weren't targetted, but you never know what or where next. So it's either cancel and do as terrorists want, or carry on with your plans and go and enjoy yourselves.

Haha, yes it was an opinion - I concede.

I will most likely carry on with my plans and its good to have some support with it

Voyager2002

Personally I would still go, since it is a wonderful destination.

However, I would tend to avoid doing the really obvious tourist things, or do them at unusual times when the crowds will be thinner.

Alan_Bowen

For what it is worth, the German Government closed its Consulate in Istanbul today and issued a warning to German tourists to avoid some of the major squares in Istanbul on the basis they had credible warnings of an attack. I am not one to give in to terrorists, but I would seriously consider cancelling if I had a booking at the moment, which I haven't