What has made you seriously consider Turkey as your next destination?

Turkey keeps appearing on travel lists, social feeds, and dinner conversations - and yet for many people it stays in that “maybe someday” category without ever quite tipping over into an “I’m going” decision.

Whether it’s the food, the history, the coastline, the hot-air balloons, or simply a feeling you can’t fully explain, something has a way of nudging Turkey back into your thoughts. What was that thing for you - and has it been enough to make you start planning? :backhand_index_pointing_down:

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Been to Turkey a few times, not currently on my ‘hit list’.

:globe_showing_europe_africa: Michel.

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The hot air balloons - yes it may be overly touristy but I want to ride in one above Cappadocia so bad!

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Oh, the Hot Air Balloons in Cappadocia. :+1:

:globe_showing_europe_africa: Michel.

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I’ve been to Turkey twice, and it is one of my favorites! It’s absolutely one of the best countries that I have ever visited. The second time, my wife and I stayed for an entire month, and we went all over, not just to the most popular places.

The selling point that people need to know: Turkey offers everything. It’s got amazing history, historical sites, ancient ruins, stuff from the middle ages, and so forth. It also has natural beauty with large open wilderness areas, gorgeous beaches and coastlines with clear blue water, hiking (Lycian Way, for example), unique places like Cappadocia, and so forth. It also has a terrific culture with music, dancing, theater, and other activities that attract visitors. It also has amazing food, which is becoming more of a priority with travelers in general when they choose a destination.

Also, until recently, Turkey was super cheap. Prices have gone up and now it’s just “pretty good” compared to other European countries, but it’s not really expensive, either.

I think there are a few main things that keeps it off of people’s bucket list:

  • First is that it’s in the Middle East, and many travelers consider that to be a quick “No” when deciding. For some it’s the risk of nearby war, for others it might be a little bit of racism, and so forth. Personally, I think it’s very safe, but these are the reasons other people have given over conversations I’ve had with them.
  • Second is the chaos. The markets are crowded, and the shopkeepers can get a bit pushy, especially in the touristy areas. These types of things make travelers talk to other travelers, then it gets a little bit of a bad reputation.
  • Third, the “negotiating” part of it. Unlike in western countries, sometimes you need to negotiate for things in Turkey, and that makes many travelers feel like they are getting a little scammed or getting a bad price on something. This could be everything from street food to booking a multi-day tour with a local travel agent to a taxi ride. These experiences sometimes leave travelers with a negative feeling, and it hurts the whole tourism industry in countries where this is common. Personally I like it, but you have to know what you’re getting into ahead of time or you’ll find yourself annoyed. And being annoyed while on vacation is not something most people want.

All of that being said, I think Turkey is awesome and everyone should go!

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As a Ugandan who’s done with college, I realized I haven’t traveled the world at all and the only place I get information about other countries is via social media. Turkey having bilateral relationship with my country motivates me a lot to one day travel there and appreciate the beautiful scenery, holiday activities and the cold weather.

And from there you can can cross the bridge from Asia and discover more of Europe.

Happy Travels.

:globe_showing_europe_africa: Michel..

We went to Istanbul for a few days, need to see more!

On my way to my destination, my sister and I had a +9 hour connection in Istanbul. After much hesitation, we decided to try to visit Istanbul and come back to the airport on time for our flight. It was the best decision because in this short amount of time, we did so many things while enjoying our adventure through Istanbul. First, we boarded this cute-looking little train to the city center of Istanbul. When we arrived, waiters suggested that we discover Turkish food. I tasted Turkish cuisine for the 1st time. The Turkish pide was delicious: the meat was flavorful, the bread was fresh, and it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The Turkish cheese brought everything together into this warm, soul-comforting dish. We wanted to continue discovering the menu, but because of our flight, we headed for the bazaar. Within minutes of entering the bazaar, we experienced heartwarming Turkish hospitality: a pastry shop owner offered us Turkish tea and Turkish delight. He didn’t even care whether we bought something from his shop. He was just happy to see us. When he learned that we left the airport just to experience Istanbul and Turkish culture, he was happier. My sister and I never forgot his welcoming gesture. He showed us the way to the Blue Mosque. I’ll never forget how I felt sitting under these domes of light and reflecting on the beauty of the mosque and its calming energy. We wanted to stay to learn more about the history of the mosque, but we were going to miss our flight. On the way out, we met an artisan who makes ceramics with intricate colors and designs. We chatted with him, and I bought two ceramics, one for me and one for my sister. She kept this souvenir of our sisterly adventure even after she moved to a different country. In the train, on the way back to the airport, we talked about how it was the right decision to leave the airport and visit Istanbul: we met friendly people who were so kind to share their food, culture, and knowledge of the city with us. We regretted not having decided to leave the airport earlier. We decided that we would come back one day to continue our visit of Istanbul and of Turkey. Since our short stop in Istanbul, we have been eating at Turkish restaurants, watching Turkish series, and waiting for the moment we can go back together to Turkey.

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I’ve been seriously considering Turkey because it looks like the perfect mix of history, culture, food, and beautiful scenery. Seeing Cappadocia, exploring Istanbul, and trying local Turkish cuisine are all on my bucket list. It feels like one of those destinations that offers something special every day.

Three reasons that made me seriously considering Turkey as my next destination :slight_smile:

  1. Beautiful scenery and amazing people.
  2. Easy to get halal foods.
  3. I WANNA PET ALL THE CATS THERE :cat::cat::cat::cat::cat::cat::cat::cat::cat:
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I have never been to Turkey but it looks magical , especially the hot air balloons.

And i have always loved tourradar trips, so comfortable and well thought of !

And from there you can can cross the bridge from Asia and discover more of Europe.

I’ve been watching Turkeys series since I was kid, and I really want to see the places in reality.

Hi. This is Chanel Mizoguchi.

As an International Cultural studies student, Turkey is one of the countries I’ve been interested to learn about. I want to know its culture and experience the life there with my sister :slight_smile: I want to take her there with me.

Turkey has caught my attention because it offers a mix of everything I enjoy in a travel destination. I’m drawn to its beautiful scenery, rich history, unique culture, and amazing food. I’ve always wanted to experience places like Istanbul and Cappadocia, and I love that Turkey combines luxury, adventure, and cultural experiences in one trip. It feels like a destination where I can relax, explore, and create unforgettable memories

Would have to say the food for once. It’s unique and authentic and I find that if you were to go to a Turkish resturant outside if the country it just doesn’t feel authentic. You need that freshness and creative they have there.

I visited a long time ago, and I only got to see Istanbul, Gallipoli & Troy. I would love to see more of the country, culture and landscapes.

Been to Istanbul just for 3 days. I would really like to tour around outside of Istanbul.

Turkey feels like one of the few countries where you can experience multiple worlds in a single trip. One day you’re floating over the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia at sunrise, the next you’re wandering through Istanbul where Europe and Asia literally meet across the Bosphorus. Add in ancient history like Ephesus, incredible food, vibrant bazaars, Mediterranean coastline, and the warmth of Turkish hospitality, and it feels like a destination that offers far more variety than most countries. As someone who loves exploration, culture, history, and outdoor adventures, Turkey has been climbing higher and higher on my travel list because it seems to pack a dozen different trips into one country.

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