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Typical Tourist Scams in Turkey
(44 Messages in 5 pages - View all)
1 2 3 4 5
1.       Capoeira
575 posts
 27 Nov 2006 Mon 05:50 pm

Hello everybody! I love traveling and I know that Turkey is a great place with wonderful and by far very honest people. However, there are always a few that try to take advantage of our tourist ignorance. Even the best of us get taken every now and then. I would like people to share the scams that they avoided or got caught up in while traveling in Turkey. I would like it to be strictly about scams of hussles in Turkey. Thanks for sharing and I hope we all learn something here.

1. In Alanya...on 3 different occasions while waiting for change at different shops the owners engaged me in conversation. Half way out the door I realized I did not have my change and went back. On all occasions the owners acted as if they had simply forgot. THe first time yes/maybe...but the second two times...

2. Taxis never have proper change and feel comfortable telling you to forget about your 12-15 liras in change. I also discovered that they suddenly had poor math skills when counting out the change due back!

3. And my favorite one...the credit card machine didn't work the first time because it did not print a receipt. So let me run your card again! Where after leaving you discover that you received a double charge.

All of these incidences occured in Turkeky. Let me know what you discovered.

nessah liked this message
2.       laura
60 posts
 27 Nov 2006 Mon 06:13 pm

I don't think this is limited to Turkey!!

I usually find learning a little of the language and using it avoids people scamming you. In fact, I usually find the opposite - if I say as much as I can in Turkish, I'll usually get some kind of discount for making the effort!

Ironically, I was in Gothenburg, Sweden, last month and took a taxi. The driver was Turkish so I started talking to him. He suddenly switched off the meter and charged the minimum fare which was at least a quarter of what it should have been!

Tiara and lanya liked this message
3.       Capoeira
575 posts
 27 Nov 2006 Mon 10:41 pm

Quoting laura:

I don't think this is limited to Turkey!!

I usually find learning a little of the language and using it avoids people scamming you. In fact, I usually find the opposite - if I say as much as I can in Turkish, I'll usually get some kind of discount for making the effort!

Ironically, I was in Gothenburg, Sweden, last month and took a taxi. The driver was Turkish so I started talking to him. He suddenly switched off the meter and charged the minimum fare which was at least a quarter of what it should have been!

While true, I am interested in finding out what is typically turkish when it comes to tourist traps.

4.       Trudy
7887 posts
 27 Nov 2006 Mon 10:52 pm

I don't think there are typical tourist traps in Turkey (though.... men? ) but if you want to know just about tourist traps IN Turkey, see this page: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Middle_East/Turkey/TravelGuide-Turkey.html almost every city has something they warn about.

5.       nur1
427 posts
 27 Nov 2006 Mon 11:19 pm

all shops in bodrum will charge you as much as they think they can get away with but thats just tourism, certainly though a little of the language goes a long way(in saving your pennies).

6.       DeerH
1 posts
 14 Aug 2011 Sun 01:38 pm

Hi everyone, I´d just like to add these 2 things to be careful of when you´re in Turkey- they´re not outright scams, more misleading info. Both very common.

1) ´´Lunch included.´´- When you book a day trip and you´re told your lunch is included, you assume you couldn´t possibly have been misled? Right? It´s written clearly that your lunch is included. No, it isn´t. Your food will be, but they´ll charge you excessive amounts for drinks, and the waiters will hang around a half metre away from you, breathing down your neck and instructing you to order said overpriced drinks for the duration of your meal. When you have kids, this can become very expensive, as they charge 2 pounds plus for a can of coke. At the very least, they should have free water from the cooler (which costs them a few lira for a huge bottle). Lunch is not just food- it´s food and drinks. Should be made clear that lunch included just means the food.

Also, these places are all self- service, then they have the cheek to shake the tip box at you as you leave!

 

2) "Free" sunbeds- In Bodrum, and possibly other resorts, one of the major selling points of the beach is that there are ´free´ sunbeds. There are not. The only reason the sunbeds are ´free´ is because the greedy waiters and restaurant owners near the beach have realised that, if they charge for sunbeds, they get a flat fee, per day. However, if the sunbed is free, they then pressure (sometimes downright force) you to buy their very overpriced drinks and food. If you do not have a drink in your hand at every second, they´ll pressure you to buy one- waking you up when you´re sleeping, handing you the menu every five minutes, whatever it takes to either get you spending minimum 10 TL per hour, or get you out. They sneer at you if you order soft drinks, mocking you for not having beer or soemthing stronger! (Don´t they realise that drinking beer under the sun is a very bad idea, not to mention the fact that it´s forbidden in their religion for them to advise you to drink alcohol, or even to carry alcohol or work in one of those places, but that´s beside the point.)

Thing is, you can buy drinks at the shops near the beach for a fraction of the price the restaurants charge, so plenty of people bring their own. It´s a tough one, as the sunbeds do belong to the restaurants, but the beach doesn´t. They dont pay rent for the beach. I feel that if the sunbeds are only free if you are spending a lot of money on drinks, this should be made clear. There should also be an area of public beach, with or without sunbeds, for the use of those who would prefer not to part with 4 or 5 pounds for a beer, and over 2 pounds for a lukewarm glass of watered-down pepsi.

7.       lemon
1374 posts
 17 Aug 2011 Wed 01:17 pm

DeerH

Dont you know that you are the money source? If you were the waiter there you would do the same. Or maybe you would be forced to do the same. It doesnt matter if you are satisfied or not, you will come to Turkey anyway, dear. 

Btw, a can of coke for £2 isnt so bad. In UK you buy it at pretty the same price if you go to a nice place. I used to pay £1.5 for a glass.

jolanaze liked this message
8.       stumpy
638 posts
 17 Aug 2011 Wed 05:50 pm

QuoteeerH

(Don´t they realise that drinking beer under the sun is a very bad idea, not to mention the fact that it´s forbidden in their religion for them to advise you to drink alcohol, or even to carry alcohol or work in one of those places, but that´s beside the point.)
drinking beer under the sun may be a bad idea for some but it won´t kill you unless you have 20 some odd beers roast to death because you passed out and yes the second part is rather besides the point

9.       stumpy
638 posts
 17 Aug 2011 Wed 07:38 pm

For my part I spent a whole month in Turkey and did not find scams.  Tourist destinations are all the same where ever you go be it Turky, Cuba, France, England etc...

You have tourists spots, you have over inflatted prices but it does help to know the language or have someone local there with you.

elenagabriela and tunci liked this message
10.       lemon
1374 posts
 17 Aug 2011 Wed 10:24 pm

 

Quoting stumpy

For my part I spent a whole month in Turkey and did not find scams.  Tourist destinations are all the same where ever you go be it Turky, Cuba, France, England etc...

You have tourists spots, you have over inflatted prices but it does help to know the language or have someone local there with you.

 

I kinda agree with you. Tourist spots are almost the same but they differ from west to east. There are subtle differences that one may notice. Asian scams are quite painful. It becomes a problem when the other part doesnt consider scam as scam.

Once I heard that in Romania if you get robbed it is totally your own fault since you are stupid enough not to look after your stuff and money.

Also, if you get raped, it is totally your own fault (mainly in muslim countries, or eastern-asian) because you behaved inappropriate (you probably smiled), you wore something mini or you travelled alone even in day time, etc etc.

Arrogance that I am scared the most. People arrogantly get their way. They arrogantly cheat you, treat you as if you were an idiot, an easy source of benefit, etc.

Oh, btw, tunci liked your post where you kinda defend Turkey. Well done.

scalpel liked this message
11.       stumpy
638 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 12:55 am

Quote:lemon

Also, if you get raped, it is totally your own fault (mainly in muslim countries, or eastern-asian) because you behaved inappropriate (you probably smiled), you wore something mini or you travelled alone even in day time, etc etc.
I travelled alone, I wore skirts and I smiled and I came back safe on sound

elenagabriela liked this message
12.       acute
202 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 07:06 am

 

Quoting stumpy

I travelled alone, I wore skirts and I smiled and I came back safe on sound

Before you said you were attacked as you posted

http://www.turkishclass.com/forumTitle_50541

 

13.       stumpy
638 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 02:02 pm

Quote:  acute

Before you said you were attacked as you posted

yes but I am not going to let 1 little incident ruin a whole month´s worth of vacation and I got the upper hand on the man.  I only got 2 or 3 bruises from that, the man is probably still in pain after what I did to him.  A hard knee to his private parts.  Let me tell you that a knee to the groin can stop almost any man.  You have to know what the situation is and know what to to to stop it and I knew exactly what was going to happen and I knew exactly what to do.  I was not wearing a short skirt and reveiling blouse but long pants buttoned up blouse and a scarf, the same outfit I had when I visited Çiçek  Pasaji.  After that little incident if I would have had the state of a victime I would not have enjoyed my trip.  So yes, I was attacked, I do not feel like a victim, the man was not a Turk but a foreigner and I did not let it affect me. So 1 incident in a 30 day trip not bad, I get harassed more often going and coming back from work then I did on vacation. I came back in one piece safe and sound and so scars.  Marmaris I would not walk alone anymore there especially not at night but Istanbul, Koycegiz and Fethiye, no problem walking alone there at night.

And FYI acute I did not get raped, big diffrence between being attacked and raped.



Edited (8/18/2011) by stumpy
Edited (8/18/2011) by stumpy

14.       acute
202 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 04:57 pm

 

Quoting stumpy

 

 

And FYI acute I did not get raped, big diffrence between being attacked and raped.

I said attacked. Yes those were the words. I did not even mention or ask if it was sexual harassment or of this nature. I am happy you remain unscathed by this attack and still support travelling to Turkey. I did not ask what you wore or how you looked it would be of no concern nor did I ask if the person was a foreigner ( this person being a foreigner is just heresay and no proof ) or what you wore . I just asked if you were attacked.

Good luck to you

 

15.       lemon
1374 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 05:00 pm

 

Quoting stumpy

 

yes but I am not going to let 1 little incident ruin a whole month´s worth of vacation and I got the upper hand on the man.  I only got 2 or 3 bruises from that, the man is probably still in pain after what I did to him.  A hard knee to his private parts.  Let me tell you that a knee to the groin can stop almost any man.  You have to know what the situation is and know what to to to stop it and I knew exactly what was going to happen and I knew exactly what to do.  I was not wearing a short skirt and reveiling blouse but long pants buttoned up blouse and a scarf, the same outfit I had when I visited Çiçek  Pasaji.  After that little incident if I would have had the state of a victime I would not have enjoyed my trip.  So yes, I was attacked, I do not feel like a victim, the man was not a Turk but a foreigner and I did not let it affect me. So 1 incident in a 30 day trip not bad, I get harassed more often going and coming back from work then I did on vacation. I came back in one piece safe and sound and so scars.  Marmaris I would not walk alone anymore there especially not at night but Istanbul, Koycegiz and Fethiye, no problem walking alone there at night.

And FYI acute I did not get raped, big diffrence between being attacked and raped.

 

This made me laugh

And the foreigner probably said: Hello, I am a forina, I am not a Turk.

And you said: I am Bruce Lee and gave him a good groin kick that he (an agressive forina) still is in pain.

A good story to have a laugh at. Just a few bruises.

 

 

16.       acute
202 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 05:23 pm

 

Quoting lemon

 

 

This made me laugh

A good story to have a laugh at. Just a few bruises.

 

 

you are a very negative and hurtful person maybe with all that lemon juice flowing in your veins you need a little sugar

JPEG Image

one again stumpy I am glad you are ok

17.       stumpy
638 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 05:25 pm

Quote: lemon

This made me laugh

And the foreigner probably said: Hello, I am a forina, I am not a Turk.

And you said: I am Bruce Lee and gave him a good groin kick that he (an agressive forina) still is in pain.

A good story to have a laugh at. Just a few bruises.

Laught all you want but some people live their life with the victime attitude, I don´t and ANY man that dares lift a hand to me will be the one on the ground in pain and a few bruises on me is better than being beaten up to a bloody pulp or worse off dead.

I have the man´s name, I know where he works and I know he is not Turk... I did my research after my little incident.  I just did not report it to the police because I think I got my point across to him, touch me without my consent and you go down, simple as that and any man who gets beaten by a woman will never brag about it because it is too humiliating for him.  Think he is going to go around saying I got my nuts kicked in by a woman I tried to have my way with?  I don´t think so!  And he will most likely think twice before doing the same thing to another woman, if he has an ounce of intelligence.

And if you laught at the fact that a woman got attack well then it says a lot about the person you are. 

Not all women are helpless little maidens in distress, some of us actually stand up for ourselves and do not let men run us and push us around and treat us like dirt.

Come to think of it, I am starting to see that my Turkish friends are more open minded than my non Turkish friends.

18.       lemon
1374 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 05:38 pm

Acute,

Fantastic!    Thanks

And you must be so sweet that it makes people sick. You know when you eat too much sugar you feel poor and want to throw up?

19.       lemon
1374 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 05:45 pm

 

Quoting stumpy

Laught all you want but some people live their life with the victime attitude, I don´t and ANY man that dares lift a hand to me will be the one on the ground in pain and a few bruises on me is better than being beaten up to a bloody pulp or worse off dead.

I have the man´s name, I know where he works and I know he is not Turk... I did my research after my little incident.  I just did not report it to the police because I think I got my point across to him, touch me without my consent and you go down, simple as that and any man who gets beaten by a woman will never brag about it because it is too humiliating for him.  Think he is going to go around saying I got my nuts kicked in by a woman I tried to have my way with?  I don´t think so!  And he will most likely think twice before doing the same thing to another woman, if he has an ounce of intelligence.

And if you laught at the fact that a woman got attack well then it says a lot about the person you are. 

Not all women are helpless little maidens in distress, some of us actually stand up for ourselves and do not let men run us and push us around and treat us like dirt.

Come to think of it, I am starting to see that my Turkish friends are more open minded than my non Turkish friends.

 

Stumpy

I think you are making up. Your stories dont sound true. I dont believe you are good at martial arts (this actually happens in Hollywood movies). I dont believe you did your investigations about that forina

You have to make new stories to cover the old stories, so you never break this circle of lies.

Sorry to sound this harsh, but your stories didnt convince me.

20.       stumpy
638 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 05:49 pm

Think what you want lemon, you don´t need to ba a martial arts expert to deliver a good knee to the groin of a man and yes I take martial arts classes it is a good way to stay healthy both mentaly and physicly.  A few classes of self defense and you get the basic knowledge of how to fend off an agression.

You know what lemon, you just decided to post to yet again provoke a reaction from me and others.

Think what you want I do not care.



Edited (8/18/2011) by stumpy

21.       lemon
1374 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 06:07 pm

 

Quoting stumpy

Think what you want lemon, you don´t need to ba a martial arts expert to deliver a good knee to the groin of a man and yes I take martial arts classes it is a good way to stay healthy both mentaly and physicly.  A few classes of self defense and you get the basic knowledge of how to fend off an agression.

You know what lemon, you just decided to post to yet again provoke a reaction from me and others.

Think what you want I do not care.

Ech, dont bother! 

I just expressed what I thought.

Sorry.

 

22.       stumpy
638 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 07:01 pm

You seem to love graphic details, here you go you will be well served.

I was sitting on the terasse of a restaurant with another woman and this man.

Laughing having fun and enjoying the day.

I got up to go to the WC which was onthe second floor of the restaurant.

I did not notice right away that the man followed me up.

He came up behind me and grabed my breasts so hard that it left bruises and started dry humping me and kissing my neck and ears.

This pushed me forward but I manadged to avoid falling down.

He then grabbed my hip, and this also left bruises, to spin me around.

Instead of fighting the motion I turned and when I turned that is when I gave him the knee in the groin and said dur and left because I don´t think he really was going to follow me back down.

Now how do you ask I know his name and such, well you see before this happened when we were sitting at the table he asked to have his picture taken with me, so I had his picture on my iPhone, how did I know his name, I asked the others at the table his name because I found him strange, they said he is harmless, he works here and his name is XXX

So I did not need to do much investigating, I just confirmed who he was by showing his picture to a shop owner down the street.

Now the only thing I can say, is if you are a woman I really hope a situation like this never occures to you because I think you will not have a single clue on how to defend yourself and you might get seriously injured or maybe worse killed.

If you are a man and you find this type of behavior acceptable than you are no better than the pour fool that tried to get into my pants and if you ever try doing this to a woman think twice you might get one that knows how to defend herself and run the risk of getting your ass kicked seriously.

Now think what you want I really don´t care for you or your opinions.

23.       haniagree
73 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 08:19 pm

i´ve been following the discussion and stumpy i am glad you are alright i admire you for standing up for yourself, you go girl!

24.       stumpy
638 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 09:51 pm

Thanks haniagree, but to get back to my original point, a person has to be aware of their suroundings.  It is not because you are on vacation that you will not get scamed or taken advantaged of.  If your gut feeling says there is something strange then listen to it.  And this occures in almost every economy that is tourist driven. 

25.       barba_mama
1629 posts
 18 Aug 2011 Thu 11:06 pm

Only advice I can give is DO go to the police. Even if you think you got your point across. If you are one of the lucky ones who can get away from an attacker, or knee him in the groin or whatever, it doesn´t mean you are the first to get away, or the first who was attacked. After a groin-recovery the perv is back in the game. The struggle is part of the attraction. Go to the police, and there is a chance he (or she) will be stopped.

26.       lemon
1374 posts
 04 Sep 2011 Sun 07:40 pm

watched russian news today. violence against russian tourists (esp. women) was reported. russian holidaying couples beaten, women nearly raped by a dozen turks. the woman was shouted at: you bitches should be cut into pieces.

still this wont stop russian toursists flood the turkish beaches.

27.       isaacoomber
2 posts
 29 Aug 2012 Wed 08:33 am

Hello,

Well, it should be very interesting !!

 

Thanks,

http://www.waterton.ca/

 

28.       AlphaF
5677 posts
 29 Aug 2012 Wed 09:09 am

It is amazing, but the statistics indicates majority of lady toursts sexually assaulted in Turkey, are attacked by other tourists....not by Turks (Turks rarely do it to the tourists, unless gracefully presented a lap top or a camera...free assaults are in demand, but very rare)

Police finds apprehended attackers very surprised, wondering why tourist ladies try to defend their virtue like a real Turk, while in Turkey...must have someting to do with the food they get in Turkey.

{#emotions_dlg.nargile}



Edited (8/29/2012) by AlphaF

29.       partnership
3 posts
 29 Aug 2012 Wed 06:02 pm

Hello,
I appologized for contacting you through this media because it serves as the fastest and more convenient way to get to you.

My name is Mr James Gbohou, Am in search of a mutual business relationship and partner for business project, I worked with one of the main bank in Lome republic of Togo, what I want to transfer the sum of ($7.5 Million USD) Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to your country for an investment purpose with you. I need your cooperation in the Transaction. let me know your interested, so I can give you more information. I will reward you with a reasonable level.

Contact me by email: jamesgbohou7@gmail.com for more information.

I am waiting to hear from you.
Yours

Mr James Gbohou

30.       partnership
3 posts
 29 Aug 2012 Wed 06:03 pm

 

Hello,
I appologized for contacting you through this media because it serves as the fastest and more convenient way to get to you.

My name is Mr James Gbohou, Am in search of a mutual business relationship and partner for business project, I worked with one of the main bank in Lome republic of Togo, what I want to transfer the sum of ($7.5 Million USD) Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to your country for an investment purpose with you. I need your cooperation in the Transaction. let me know your interested, so I can give you more information. I will reward you with a reasonable level.

Contact me by email: jamesgbohou7

Quote:

Add quoted text hereHello,
I appologized for contacting you through this media because it serves as the fastest and more convenient way to get to you.

My name is Mr James Gbohou, Am in search of a mutual business relationship and partner for business project, I worked with one of the main bank in Lome republic of Togo, what I want to transfer the sum of ($7.5 Million USD) Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to your country for an investment purpose with you. I need your cooperation in the Transaction. let me know your interested, so I can give you more information. I will reward you with a reasonable level.

Contact me by email: jamesgbohou@gmail.com for more information.

I am waiting to hear from you.
Yours

Mr James Gbohou
@gmail.com for more information.

I am waiting to hear from you.
Yours

Mr James Gbohou

31.       Abla
3648 posts
 29 Aug 2012 Wed 06:05 pm

Just get out of here will you.

32.       tunci
7149 posts
 30 Aug 2012 Thu 12:39 am

 

Quoting partnership

 

Hello,
I appologized for contacting you through this media because it serves as the fastest and more convenient way to get to you.

My name is Mr James Gbohou, Am in search of a mutual business relationship and partner for business project, I worked with one of the main bank in Lome republic of Togo, what I want to transfer the sum of ($7.5 Million USD) Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to your country for an investment purpose with you. I need your cooperation in the Transaction. let me know your interested, so I can give you more information. I will reward you with a reasonable level.

Contact me by email: jamesgbohou7@gmail.com for more information.

I am waiting to hear from you.
Yours

Mr James Gbohou

 

what a load of rubbish !!

sorry but this type of scam is out of fashion..since there are tousands of this type  around on internet..modası geçti bu tip sahtekarlığın !

33.       stumpy
638 posts
 30 Aug 2012 Thu 01:20 am

Quote: AlphaF

Police finds apprehended attackers very surprised, wondering why tourist ladies try to defend their virtue like a real Turk, while in Turkey...
funny you say that they try to defend their virtue like a real Turk... heads up, in my country if you just put your hand on a woman´s butt you might get the living daylights beat out of you by the woman...

lana- liked this message
34.       Adam25
369 posts
 30 Aug 2012 Thu 02:43 pm

 

Quoting partnership

 

Hello,
I appologized for contacting you through this media because it serves as the fastest and more convenient way to get to you.

My name is Mr James Gbohou, Am in search of a mutual business relationship and partner for business project, I worked with one of the main bank in Lome republic of Togo, what I want to transfer the sum of ($7.5 Million USD) Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to your country for an investment purpose with you. I need your cooperation in the Transaction. let me know your interested, so I can give you more information. I will reward you with a reasonable level.

Contact me by email: jamesgbohou7@gmail.com for more information.

I am waiting to hear from you.
Yours

Mr James Gbohou

 

Wow what an amazing opportunity!!  I will be contacting you as soon as I finish typing this post - don´t go away!

 

{#emotions_dlg.computer}

slavica and caliptrix liked this message
35.       stumpy
638 posts
 31 Aug 2012 Fri 02:34 am

Quote: Adam25

Wow what an amazing opportunity!!  I will be contacting you as soon as I finish typing this post - don´t go away!

what they forgot to mention is that you will also receive a unicorn and after eating rainbows you will be farting butterflies

caliptrix liked this message
36.       AlphaF
5677 posts
 31 Aug 2012 Fri 12:18 pm

 

Quoting stumpy

funny you say that they try to defend their virtue like a real Turk... heads up, in my country if you just put your hand on a woman´s butt you might get the living daylights beat out of you by the woman...

 

You mean it has nothing to do with the Turkish food they get here ?   

37.       stumpy
638 posts
 01 Sep 2012 Sat 06:56 am

Quote: AlphaF

You mean it has nothing to do with the Turkish food they get here ?  
myself, after having had my first Turkish breakfast when I was in Istanbul I was ready for a nap basicly after having all the foods like mideye dolmasi, lamajhun, lentille soup and on and on and on I am suprised that I lost 10 kilos and that I did not go into a food induced coma and I haven´t even mentionned the pastries

38.       gokuyum
5050 posts
 01 Sep 2012 Sat 07:12 am

Not all Turks are same. I live like a saint

stumpy liked this message
39.       stumpy
638 posts
 01 Sep 2012 Sat 08:23 pm

Quote: gokuyum


Not all Turks are same. I live like a saint

carefull, the devil used to be an angel

gokuyum liked this message
40.       nessah
744 posts
 07 Apr 2013 Sun 02:14 am

 

Quoting Capoeira

Hello everybody! I love traveling and I know that Turkey is a great place with wonderful and by far very honest people. However, there are always a few that try to take advantage of our tourist ignorance. Even the best of us get taken every now and then. I would like people to share the scams that they avoided or got caught up in while traveling in Turkey. I would like it to be strictly about scams of hussles in Turkey. Thanks for sharing and I hope we all learn something here. 1. In Alanya...on 3 different occasions while waiting for change at different shops the owners engaged me in conversation. Half way out the door I realized I did not have my change and went back. On all occasions the owners acted as if they had simply forgot. THe first time yes/maybe...but the second two times... 2. Taxis never have proper change and feel comfortable telling you to forget about your 12-15 liras in change. I also discovered that they suddenly had poor math skills when counting out the change due back! 3. And my favorite one...the credit card machine didn´t work the first time because it did not print a receipt. So let me run your card again! Where after leaving you discover that you received a double charge. All of these incidences occured in Turkeky. Let me know what you discovered.

 

hahahhaa i know this very well from when i was there in 2009. im going back after 3 months and this time im prepard!!! bring it u thiefsssssssssssss

 

 

41.       elenagabriela
2040 posts
 07 Apr 2013 Sun 11:27 am

in the last 3 years I have travelled alone, 2 times/ years, to Istanbul,  visiting my friends from there. I have stayed at hotel every time, because my friends` family is very big and I dont want to disturb them, even that everytime they told me to come and stay in their home. I know, it is a kind of respect  to accept and stay in their home but I felt myself more confortable by staying in hotel. but everytime when I walked alone I felt myself very safe. indeed, everytime I have spoke  turkish and, even if, sometimes, some of natives ask me where are you from, because my  accent maybe, they treat me very very well. indeed, it is a small risk to walk as alone woman through historical part of Istanbul, because there are a lot of turistic agencies`members who try to offer you many opportunities for holiday. but if you try to talk to them in turkish, using a neutral voice, like a non - turist, they will leave you alone; everytime when I enter in restaurant or shop I use to speak in turkish from the beginning; even the waiter or seller are talking, first, in english - with usually ´hello,  welcome" I respond in turkish and all turn into the safest mode...of course, even my Turkish is not perfect, even my accent is not a Turkish one, even I am not look like a Turkish woman, I speak turkish as much as I can and..no problem for me..no scams..



Edited (4/7/2013) by elenagabriela

stumpy and nemanjasrb liked this message
42.       nessah
744 posts
 07 Apr 2013 Sun 12:42 pm

 

Quoting elenagabriela

in the last 3 years I have travelled alone, 2 times/ yars, to Istanbul, to visiting my friends from there. I have stayed at hotel every time, because my friends` family is very big and I dont want to disturb them, even that everytime thy told me to come and stay in their home. I know, it is a kind of respect to accept and stay in their home but I felt myself more confortable by staying in hotel. but everytime when I walked alone I felt myself very safe. indeed, everytime I have spoke in turkish and, even if, sometimes, some of natives ask me where are you from, because my accent maybe, they treat me very very well. indeed, it is a small risk to walk as alone woman through historical part of Istanbul, because there are a lot of turistic agencies`members who try to offer you many opportunities for holiday. but if you try to talk to them in turkish, using a neutral voice, like a non - turist, they will leave you alone; everytime when I enter in restaurant or shop I use to speak in turkish from the beginning; even the waiter or seller are talking, first, in english - with usually ´hello, welcome" I respond in turkish and all turn into the safest mode...of course, even my Turkish is not perfect, even my accent is not a Turkish one, even I am not look like a Turkish woman, I speak turkish as much as I can and..no problem for me..no scams..

 



Edited (4/7/2013) by nessah

43.       bydand
755 posts
 07 Apr 2013 Sun 04:52 pm

I have been going to Turkey every year since 1987 and two or three times a year since I retired 8 years ago and have not had any problems. I have been to most of the holiday resorts in southwest Turkey. I have also visited Kapadokya and spent time in Ankara,Konya, Izmir, Bursa and Istanbul. I have tried to learn as much Turkish as my brain cells allow. It is only courteous to make the effort. I have always found that most of the Turkish people are kind and helpful. You get dodgy characters in every country.

stumpy and elenagabriela liked this message
44.       NomadicalSab
1 posts
 20 Nov 2013 Wed 03:12 am

I recently spent about 2 months in Turkey with my Girlfriend. Amazing country, I loved the place and intend to head back next time im in Europe. However we were ripped off by about $1000 USD in Kusadasi while we were there. After about 2 weeks we did manage to get our  money back though! which was a big relief, since we may have had to cut the trip short if we had lost that cash. I actually write a trael blog and have written 2 posts about scams in Turkey that I hope other people will find useful, including detailed information on how we got our money back. Here they are, hope someone else finds these handy! 

Post 1: Scams in Turkey 

Post 2: Scams in Turkey - Getting Your Money Back 

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