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IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL TO TURKEY?

IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL TO TURKEY?Photo From Shutterstock

Originally Posted On: https://madeinturkeytours.com/safe-travel-turkey/

 

The jaw-dropping pictures you have seen on the internet and the rich history of Turkey are reasons enough to book your trip this very minute! However, some news coverage and other media might give you pause.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Is it safe to travel to Turkey?” then this is the article for you!

In this article, we will go over how to ensure that you can plan ahead so that this trip is both safe and one that you will remember for a lifetime!

Check Recommendations with Your Home-Country’s Embassy

Before you book your flight, take a moment to check your home-countries embassy recommendations about travel to Turkey! This will provide you some information about areas that might be a little less safe to travel to.

Currently, the United States travel advisory says to use increased caution when traveling to Turkey and avoid areas near the Syrian border. You can sign up for their STEP program while you are traveling for added security.

The most current advisory from Australia also states to use increased caution and to sign up for their SmartTraveler program to receive updates while abroad.

New Zealand recommends avoiding any public demonstrations or protests when traveling to Turkey, even if the demonstrations are intended to be peaceful and to avoid areas near the Syrian border.

Canada has a program called ROCA where you can register to let Canada know about your travels and make it easier for them to contact you in case of an emergency.

Remember that travel to any country comes with some risk and you should prepare adequately! See if your country has a program where you can enroll for any alerts from your home country about potential safety issues.

Learn Safety Tips for Tourists

As a tourist, it is important to be aware of safety concerns in the country you are traveling to, in this case, Turkey!

It is recommended that if you are a tourist you should keep an eye out for public political demonstrations. If you see any of these demonstrations you can simply distance yourself from the demonstration, check in with your embassy, and proceed from there.

Currently, it is not a great idea to travel to cities near the Syrian border due to political unrest. However, Turkey has a ton of amazing cities to see and explore! Some of the safe cities close to the Syrian border that are a bit off the beaten track are Gobeklitepe, Sanliurfa, Mardin, and Gaziantep, which are located in the Southeast!

It is also important to practice common-sense travel safety while in Turkey. Some ways to help you feel more secure in Turkey is by purchasing a local SIM card, which can be done at the airport. This will give you access to the internet at all times if something does go wrong.

This will also allow you to call an Uber instead of flagging down a taxi. Uber allows you to “share your ride” with friends, which allows an extra layer of security. It also shows you a map of your ride so you can make sure that the driver is taking you to the correct location.

Lastly, if you are in a large city like Istanbul, it is important to take extra precautions against pickpockets. Like any large city, this is always a risk. Keep your cash in multiple locations on your person, like your purse, jacket, and pants pocket, to minimize the damage if you are pickpocketed!

Be aware of where your personal belongings are at all times and consider keeping your important documents in a safe at your hotel if you are concerned about this!

Book with a Reputable Tour Company

The last step to consider when planning your trip to Turkey is booking with a tour company! There are multiple benefits to booking with a tour company, which we will review!

Don’t Waste Time Planning

Planning a vacation to a foreign country can simply be mind-boggling. Finding lodging, booking your flight, packing, arranging transportation and working on an itinerary can take hours! Take a weight off of your shoulders and leave the itinerary and transportation (sometimes even lodging!) to a reputable tour company.

Booking with a tour company is going to ensure that you don’t miss any must-see attractions on your trip! You will also learn way more by hearing about the country from a local’s perspective than if you had just ventured out on your own.

Travel Confidently with a Tour Guide and Save Money

Tour guides will know what safety measures to look out for and their local expertise will help ensure your safety. They will be keeping an eye out so that you can sit back and enjoy the marvelous sights of Turkey!

Some people get sticker shock when looking at the cost of a tour, but it often will save you money in the long run! Tour guides will be able to recommend the food, provide transportation, and make sure that you are not being scammed on entry-ticket prices to different sights and museums. Having one price in mind and budgeting for this expense is way easier than trying to budget for a thousand small transactions.

Perhaps most importantly, booking with a reputable tour company will give you the confidence to explore beyond the typical tourist attractions! You will be able to explore beyond Istanbul, (although we definitely recommend starting there) to see cities like Cappadocia, Ephesus, and Bodrum!

A tour is going to give you peace of mind and maximize your experience!

Quit Wondering and Start Exploring!

Traveling outside of your home country is something you should always research to ensure that you can have a wonderful vacation while also staying safe.

Now you can quit wondering if it is safe to travel to Turkey by staying up to date with safety updates from your home country’s embassy! You should also enroll in any notification program that they have so that they can contact you directly if anything goes amiss on your trip abroad.

Research safety trips for tourists such as sharing your ride when you are in an Uber, utilizing the hotel safe for your important documents, and avoiding pickpockets.

The best tip of all is to book with a reputable tour company to ensure that you have an incredible trip abroad! Be sure to contact us if you have any questions about travel to Turkey!

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