Going to Turkey...
Mar 18, 2003 | 5:57 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2
I've been to Turkey three times now (Istanbul and Ankara) and there is generally nothing to worry about. The travel advisory for travel near the Iraq border is due to civil unrest with Turkish Kurds (Kurds live in Iran, Iraq, Turkey) and their resistance to Turkish authority - they wish to be autonomous. This advisory has been in effect for years.
While in Ankara, I stayed at the Merit Altinel (not bad). There is a FABULOUS restaurant that serves Kebaps (a well known dish) which I forget the name of, but apparently its THE place to be for the business crowd. Any hotel should be able to direct you there.
My other favourite restaurant is the Kale Washington, which is at the top of the hill on Castle Ankara. You get a nice view of Ankara up there in the evening.
For a but of Turkish history, there's Ataturk's Mausoleum which contains a bit of WWI history from the "Ottoman" perspective and forward. This is atop another hill surrounded by lights and gardens (just up from the Merit Altinel hotel).
Some Turks speak English, but most of them speak German as a second language. It's not as exciting as Istanbul, but Ankara does have a "calm" nature which is comforting.
Good luck!
While in Ankara, I stayed at the Merit Altinel (not bad). There is a FABULOUS restaurant that serves Kebaps (a well known dish) which I forget the name of, but apparently its THE place to be for the business crowd. Any hotel should be able to direct you there.
My other favourite restaurant is the Kale Washington, which is at the top of the hill on Castle Ankara. You get a nice view of Ankara up there in the evening.
For a but of Turkish history, there's Ataturk's Mausoleum which contains a bit of WWI history from the "Ottoman" perspective and forward. This is atop another hill surrounded by lights and gardens (just up from the Merit Altinel hotel).
Some Turks speak English, but most of them speak German as a second language. It's not as exciting as Istanbul, but Ankara does have a "calm" nature which is comforting.
Good luck!
Mar 18, 2003 | 6:06 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,877
I've posted on this ad nauseum before in other threads but will make a few comments:
1) It is $100 and has been for about 5 months. It was $65 for about 6 mnonths before that. $45 for about 3 years before that. $20 for about two years before that. Previous to November 1, 1994 there was no visa fee for US or many other citizens. The imposition of the $20 fee and all of its raises up to $65 were all instigated by the Turkish government (specifically a bigoted foreign minister way back when named Mumtaz Soysal).
2) The GDP thing is idiotic as in fact Turks get a 10 year visa for $100, while US citizens only get 3 months. Therefore US people pay 4000 DOLLARS for the same thing (so the GDP of Turkey would be about 8 times worse than was implied above). In any case the resiprocity is TOTALLY hit or miss as Brits pay 10 GBP for 3 months, while Turks pay something like 80 GBP for a similar visa. The Turks claim that EU citizens need no vise, however about half the countries need them. In any case its always available at the airport so it is instead an entry fee.
Lastly,
Istanbul is over 500 miles from the Iraqi border, no travel advisories are in effect fro Western Turkey nor shall they be. The Turks are friendly and although "anti" war are that way almost purely and exclusively out of economic and stability fear (N. Iraq) do not hesitate to come here its perfectly safe.
3. The Brazilians started the fee thing. Prior to the Brazilians started charging for visas both US and Brazilains got free visas. Interestingly enough the Brazilians like to cover this up a bit through some vebiage which reads something like "the visa is free but we charge to process it". The US instituted the increases the last time around
1) It is $100 and has been for about 5 months. It was $65 for about 6 mnonths before that. $45 for about 3 years before that. $20 for about two years before that. Previous to November 1, 1994 there was no visa fee for US or many other citizens. The imposition of the $20 fee and all of its raises up to $65 were all instigated by the Turkish government (specifically a bigoted foreign minister way back when named Mumtaz Soysal).
2) The GDP thing is idiotic as in fact Turks get a 10 year visa for $100, while US citizens only get 3 months. Therefore US people pay 4000 DOLLARS for the same thing (so the GDP of Turkey would be about 8 times worse than was implied above). In any case the resiprocity is TOTALLY hit or miss as Brits pay 10 GBP for 3 months, while Turks pay something like 80 GBP for a similar visa. The Turks claim that EU citizens need no vise, however about half the countries need them. In any case its always available at the airport so it is instead an entry fee.
Lastly,
Istanbul is over 500 miles from the Iraqi border, no travel advisories are in effect fro Western Turkey nor shall they be. The Turks are friendly and although "anti" war are that way almost purely and exclusively out of economic and stability fear (N. Iraq) do not hesitate to come here its perfectly safe.
3. The Brazilians started the fee thing. Prior to the Brazilians started charging for visas both US and Brazilains got free visas. Interestingly enough the Brazilians like to cover this up a bit through some vebiage which reads something like "the visa is free but we charge to process it". The US instituted the increases the last time around