I'd feel a whole lot safer on my on than with a guide I didn't know.

It would go for any city in which her native tongue is not spoken, where signs are sometimes are not in her native language, where there is political instability and demonstrations, and where there are a host of well-documented professional guides who make their livelihoods showing tourists the city.

I don't think this is rocket science: The further away from one's own experience, the harder it is to detect potential threats. That is why tourists all around the world make easy targets.

Risks

Getting ripped off in taxis -- not assault or theft, but being charged 4X the local rate.

"My cousin owns a carpet shop and has a good sale -- please come and have some tea"

Attempt experienced today.

Prelude - I tore a calf muscle yesterday running after my camera in a cab. Didn't catch the cab but my hotel was able to connect with the cab driver by contacting the hotel I had gotten the cab at originally. Unfortunately for me, my attempt at recovery caused me some injury. Great example of really good cab drivers in Istanbul.

Event - so today, after a visit to the American Hospital, I used some walkers to get around a bit after lunch. When I got tired, I got in a cab near the Grand Bazaar and the driver warned me that the fare would be a lot as traffic was bad and I suspected I was going to get ripped off a bit but, frankly, it didn't really matter to me and I was tired so my wife and I took the cab.

When we got to the hotel (Conrad), the driver went into a song and dance about how he couldn't go up to the hotel as it was forbidden at that hour... but he could drop us at the street and we could walk through the park. I'd done the walk before tearing my calf so I said OK but I was already suspicious as I had spotted the meter and it was 107 TL ($43). I knew that was probably 3X what it should have been but, frankly, it didn't matter as I had pretty much expected it. So, I handed him a 100 and a 10 and got ready to leave. Then the guy got greedy and went into the "you didn't give me the correct amount rap" and handed me back a 20 and a 10. I looked at it and checked my cash - I knew I only had 1 100 with me and when I couldn't find it I knew he was trying to hustle me. I handed him back the 20 & 10, told him I had given him the correct amount and that if he had a problem with that, he could come to the hotel, got out of the cab and limped off with my walker.

So, definitely need to get cabs from safe spots.

Added: Link to some info on Istanbul taxis
http://www.wittistanbul.com/magazine...ul-taxi-scams/

Relative to my initial post on security, things are fine but there are clearly precautions (trunk searches, checks under cars with mirrors, metal detectors at hotels...). Better they do them and expect them - its a higher level of precaution than we've seen recently in other European cities.

Sounds like my hotel stays in Delhi, Bombay and elsewhere in India. I'm not so sure they are much more than feel-good, window-dressing measures of the sort that can be readily circumvented by those capable individuals intent upon doing so.

Agreed.

Haven't spent time in India so the measures aren't ones I have generally come across. I don't know how long they have been going on in Istanbul (I suspect for a while) and noted them so that others heading there for the first time would expect them.

It's become more prevalent since 2012, but my experience with IST may be rather selective. The FTer whom I fancy most for Turkey info: hfly. Someone should ask hfly about the prevalence of this and the history of such things in Istanbul.

What do you guys think is the security issue about Istanbul,I live in Turkey,I travel to the US,I sometimes wory abouth security issues,but certainly not in Istanbul,I just cannot understand this,Turkey is a police state,-OK,thats not good,but fore security it certainly IS!!!

There is VERY,VERY,litle street crime in Turkey,-why,-bcs there is very,very,many cops evrywhere in Turkey,-why,-well,-thats politics,-which is prohibited on here!!!

Why dont you just ask him to .... of,then,you dont risk anything by it,even if he starts threatening you,-nothing!!!

Jeeesus Christ,I,DO NOT understand this,last week I was in Houston,Texas,there I DO take care,evrywhere in Istanbul that any tourist/visiting bussiness man want to og is about ten million times safer,-sorry!!

On the security measures at hotels and other public facilities in Istanbul - I'd go a step further than "feel good window dressing" and suggest that it's also a product of low labor costs and a preoccupation with status and conspicuous consumption among the city's upper-middle class. Most of the private security guards in the housing sites, shopping centers, hotels ect... outside of the most touristic places do just about nothing, but make the residents and customers feel like they are well-off enough to be living in a place that requires protection. It's a very status-conscious culture, which has worked to the advantage of the many American brands actively franchising there. In fact, my wife used to work in an office building in Atasheir where the private security had a habit of watching cartoons on the CCTV monitors...

JMN57 - sorry to hear about your experience! If you are still in town you should know the metro system is surprisingly friendly to people with reduced mobility, though the metro is unfortunately a bit far from the Conrad.

Thanks. Cabs have been fine and pretty inexpensive with USD being strong right now. Once we figured out that there are "real" cabs and "gypsie" cabs that look alike but have subtle differences (alike = taksi sign, yellow; differences=branding/association on side eg Pera Palace Taksi), it's not been a problem.

Still here, flying out tomorrow. After a lot of the classic tourist sights, today will be observing some of that conspicuous consumption (and maybe a little participation) by hitting Zorlu, Kanyon and Istiniye malls. In fairness to myself, I am involved in retail so checking these out is a little bit of work/research.

Conrad, as you say, is not near metro but has been a great place to stay. Great breakfast buffet (free for Hilton GLD/PLAT), wonderful views from rooftop bar, recently remodeled rooms, excellent/friendly/helpful staff.

BTW, we have some common ground. Lived in SEA for 9 years (CEO of a company there) and grew up near BGM (close to ITH).

I'd echo that, especially about a city like Istanbul, which is basically a safe place for tourists.

Yes, at least 2 out of 3 taxis in Istanbul will try to overcharge you in some way, even those called by your hotel.

Also, another issue for women visitors (alone or in groups, or when separated from male companions) in Istanbul touristy areas (mostly old town), they get hit on constantly and shamelessly, including from hotel staff, shop owners, in the street, everywhere, very sleazy, unprofessional, and potentially unsafe situation. I have witnessed many examples of the above, including in 4-star hotels.

My wife and I are heading there in 3 weeks. Seems like nothing to worry about other than normal common sense when traveling.