Here is a letter from a Jewish traveller. If you wish to answer his question, please feel free to use comments section.
Hello,
I was thinking about traveling to Turkey (mainly Istanbul) at the end of this year and had a question surrounding “safety.” I guess mainly my question has to do around the fact that I am “Jewish.” I don’t practice, I am not religious in the least bit and don’t wear the yarmulke or anything, never been to Israel, I’m not a Zionist, or anything like that. I am just “Jewish” by race, whatever that means (because my parents are non-practicing Jews). I have been told by a few middle eastern friends I can even pass for Turkish, Lebanese, or Moroccan too.
However, my main concern though is my surname is pretty famously “Jewish” and some people blame some Zionist stuff on a family bearing my surname. Even though there is a large business with an office in Istanbul with my surname, I still would like to know if it’s safe to travel there currently?
I am in love with Turkey even though I’ve never been there and all I’d like to do is visit and enjoy.
Turkey is expected to remain popular among British travellers over the coming years as a result of the value for money on offer in the country.
Research released by Euromonitor International at the World Travel Market (WTM) Vision conference in London also highlighted the growth that Turkey has experienced as a result of political unrest in north Africa and the Middle East, which diverted visitors away from the region.
Greece also saw the benefit of recent events in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt, while Spain is ‘holding up’ despite the strength of the euro, the report states.
One of the main factors in the enduring popularity of Spanish destinations is the substantial price reductions that have been implemented by holiday companies and tour operators.
Looking at the UK’s outbound travel industry in general, Euromonitor International predicted that levels of spending by tourists will return to pre-recession levels over the coming years, although departure numbers will remain below the 2008 peak.
WTM chairman Fiona Jeffery said: ‘The UK’s outbound market will take some time to get back to the levels of 2008, although the expenditure will be back within a few years, thanks to customers prioritising value for money over price.’
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via Opodo travel news � Brits set to continue visiting Turkey to get value for money.
Individuals with property in Turkey will be pleased to hear that the country is the ideal location for a long weekend away.
Comments from the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office recommend that holidaymakers take the time to explore Istanbul.
“You probably need a minimum of three days to really explore, but most of the major historic sites are situated on the historic peninsula in the old town, so they are all close together and within walking distance of each other,” Joanna Marsh, a spokeswoman for the Office, noted.
The news could prompt a number of potential buy-to-let investors to look at acquiring property in Turkey in order to take advantage of the city’s growing tourism market.
Meanwhile, figures released by ACI EUROPE show that passenger traffic to Istanbul’s two airports was up in March when compared to the previous year.
“There are good flight connections from most major European cities. From the UK, there are frequent direct flights with Turkish Airlines and British Airways as well as low-cost carriers easyJet and Pegasus,” Ms Marsh said.
Istanbul is a magical city with buzzing bazaars, impossibly grand mosques and smoky cafés coupled with a modern, ultra-dynamic metropolis where signs of a renewed cultural vibrancy come hand in hand with a physical renaissance.
When visiting for the first time, Istanbul can be overwhelming with so many choices of where to stay, what to eat, and what to do. These top 7 Istanbul restaurants have been chosen by locals as the best the city has to offer for each day of the week.
1. Changa is the recipient of a “Best New Restaurant” award (Wallpaper – Design Awards 2007) and has been featured in numerous local and international magazines and newspapers. Located in a 1903 Art Nouvea building near Taksim, Changa offers fusion food at its best in a modern and charming atmosphere.
2. Mikla caused quite a splash when it opened in 2005 on the top floor of the Marmara Pera and is still making waves, due to its unique niche in the fusion market – brilliant welding of Scandinavian and Turkish cuisine.
3. Sunset Grill and Bar is located on a hilltop in the posh neighborhood Ulus, and is awe-inspiring both with its food and its stunning views. This longstanding fine-dining venue offers International and Japanese cuisines at its finest in addition to a few select Turkish dishes.
4. Kiyi has been open since 1964, and is Istanbulite’s favorite seafood restaurant. It has a cozy interior with local paintings on the walls (alongside some strange art deco creations) and an outside terrace which is particularly pleasant in summer.
5. Zuma is the Istanbul branch of the trendiest Japanese restaurant in London and Hong Kong. Enjoy informal Japanese dining style in a 2-story venue on the waterfront with a wonderful view of Bosphorous.
6. Park Samdan has been serving its loyal customers since 1981, and is one of Nisantasi’s best known and most established restaurants. Particularly popular for lunch, the restaurant is deservedly renowned for its traditional Turkish cuisine and yogurtlu kebap.
7. Ulus 29 is well known both for its incredible view, which takes in the straits of the Bosphorus and its bridge, and for its avant-garde design. They offer a variety of cuisines, including inventive International and Turkish dishes and top-quality sushi options.
Talya Arditi is Editor at The Guide Istanbul.
via A Luxury Travel Blog » 7 luxury restaurants in Istanbul that you really shouldn’t miss.
Two hotels from Turkey entered into the Expedia Insiders’s Select List. Hotels are listed based on quality and value, where the ranking is determined primarily by Expedia customer reviews.
expedia-logoEvery year more than 500,000 reviews are submitted, verified and analysed to compile the Insider’s Select list. Witt İstanbul Suites and Hillside Su in Antalya are the two hotels from Turkey at the 2011 list.
The Insiders’ Select program debuted in 2007. This year, Expedia made the requirements more rigorous; the company required more reviews per property and higher scores per review to make the list. The 2011 winners are the top 500 hotels globally, out of the more than 135,000 properties offered on Expedia sites internationally. Hotels that made the 2011 list received an average review score of 4.7 and a 98.2% recommendation rate.
Three components are considered when ranking a hotel:
• Customer Reviews: Reviews are the most powerful testament to the quality of a hotel. Travelers submit reviews after completing a stay at a given hotel. Expedia verifies that each review is legitimate. The company has a comprehensive method of ferreting out fake reviews. More than 500,000 hotel reviews were analyzed over the past year.
• Market Manager Input: Expedia employs hundreds of market managers in cities across the globe. These market managers work closely with Expedia’s hotel partners to maximize the value the hotels get from Expedia’s global online travel marketplace [and to maximize the value that hotels offer to Expedia’s consumer base].
• Value Rating: Expedia compares each property’s average daily rates to those of similar properties, to assess the hotel’s relative value. This makes it easy for busy travelers to identify hotels that deliver an excellent experience at a comparatively good value. Hotels that routinely exceed customer expectations – in their customer service, amenities, competitive pricing and more – see that emphasis reflected in their rankings.
Expedia Turkey Market Management Director Marilena Zagana added, “Insider Select scores are primarily determined by our customers. Every year, hundreds of thousands of travelers take the time to share their experiences with Expedia and with one another. The 2011 Insiders’ Select List reflects that collective wisdom. We hope to see more and more hotels from Turkey at the list every year.
To see the complete list of winning hotels and for more information on Insiders’ Select, visit www.expedia.com/insidersselect.
via Two hotels from Turkey are at the Expedia prestigious list.
Belek is highly regarded as one of Europe’s best golfing locations, with its combination of luxurious five-star hotels and 18 golf courses to choose from, with two more in planning.
It is not hard to understand why it is the place that golfers and investors are impressed by.
Belek Golf Village, Turkey
The Belek region itself started it’s journey back in the mid-eighties specifically to attract tourists capitalising on its rich historical heritage, authentic surrounding towns and villages, along with almost year round Mediterranean sunshine.
It is not surprising that with the addition of the many golf courses, why this has become one of the most visited areas in Turkey.
Often overlooked as an all out location for general tourism through its emphasis for golfing holidays, it is now attracting those wanting a more refined, relaxed holiday rather than the hustle and bustle of its neighbouring town Side. To further enhance the reputation for refinement and quality there are now more luxury developments being planned, as not all visitors wish to stay at a hotel but would rather have their own property in Belek for a more intimate, relaxed carefree environment.
The investment opportunities in Belek are endless.
To be successful these developments must offer the same standard as the nearby five-star hotels to be considered a real alternative. One of the best new developments is the Belek Golf Village with facilities matching and surpassing the five-star standards.
The development boasts a collection of 1, 2 ,3 and 4 bedroom apartments and villas designed in a traditional way with modern influence and interiors offering a choice of traditional finishes or contemporary modern design. It boasts nine outdoor swimming pools plus an indoor pool, a Spa and Hamam, designer boutiques, food markets for all your shopping needs, pool side bars and restaurants, floodlit golf driving range, putting greens and the first in the area, a hilltop revolving restaurant overlooking the snow capped Taurus mountains one side and the Mediterranean sea the other.
All these are centred on a first for the region, an impressive Authentic Turkish, Boutique SPA Hotel with its own restaurant and Marrakech styled courtyard bar. This has just over 40 bedrooms with a mixture of rooms or suites. The whole area is hand cobbled with an impressive concierge service that offers transport to all around the grounds in golf buggies, keeping the environment safe for visiting families.
The Belek Golf Village development is not just an array of luxurious facilities as the purchasing costs for the region are very attractive, especially with its initial offers for early reservations. It is certain to entice those requiring an extra special holiday home or the savvy property investor looking for an opportunity to make an investment with a guaranteed income option in conjunction with its shared income facility with the boutique hotel.
Belek Golf Village has now opened its London office and welcomes visitors to discuss and receive a full brief of this Best of Turkey opportunity.
For more information, visit: www.belekgolfvillage.com or e-mail info@belekgolfvillage.com
via Belek Golf Village Turkey: One of Europe’s Top Golf Destinations – Telegraph.
