From what I've read the woman in question was staying in the wrong part of town. It was also very unusual. When I saw your title I thought you were enquiring about the Syrian border, it didn't occur to me that anyone would have qualms about Istanbul.

I think you are being over worried, frankly. Women are murdered, raped and assaulted every single day in Canada, United States, Australia etc ,, would you consider those "safe" countries to visit? Why do people freak out about things that happen in other countries when the exact same things happen where they live!!

I can suggest if you wish to hear from some locals and expats that live in Turkey you check out the Turkey forums on tripadvisor.com that will likely reassure you.

Turkey is safe. The worst thing I experienced is being scammed by a taxi but it's my own fault for not being more aware. Taxi scams can happen anywhere.

I see you're from Baltimore. Perhaps your family does not read the Baltimore Sun so I googled kidnappings in Baltimore and came up with this information on crime in Maryland. You might want to share this with your family. I'm sure I can find lots more on Baltimore crime, after all, this city does not have a great reputation.

I think I'd rather take my chances in Istanbul than in Baltimore.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/keyword/kidnapping

Yeah, I have managed to convince them that we will be far enough from Syria. That was their initial worry. Of course, the woman's murder is undoubtedly related to the issues with Syria, according to my future mother-in-law anyway

@adrienne - Haha! Exactly! They are well aware of the crimes in our Balt/Washington area, but for whatever reason the worries persist.

@justineparis - I am not really worried in the least, its just our parents who are expressing the concern. I think it is ludicrous to allow the murder of one woman to even partially affect someone's opinion of an entire country!

I understand, as my family can be the same way--not everyone is as fortunate as many of us on this forum to have traveled widely. I just reiterate the common sense that murders happen every day, where you are going is far removed, and anyway both problems (crime, terrorism) can easily happen anywhere in the US. There are not state dept warnings advising you not to go. I finish with "statistically, riding in a car is the most dangerous thing any of us do every day, and you're not telling me to not ride in a car." Then just smile and ignore them and have a great trip!

@yorkshire - thanks!! I work for the Department of Defense and have to get "permission" to travel internationally. I think my mother assumes that the federal govt has just forgotten to add Turkey to the high risk list Ultimately it will come down to exactly what you said - smile and ignore. But 8 months of listening to everyone trying to deter us is going to be exhausting!!

We visited Turkey with our 7 year old son in October. We spent time in Istanbul, Ephesus, Antakya and Reyhanli. We even dipped into Syria for a bit. We never felt unsafe (a little worried at the border crossing, but that was it). Our time at the border was spent doing some work for a charity so we were usually accompanied by translators and guides. But we were often on our own and still felt safe.

Use common sense. Be observant of your surroundings.

Make copies of your itineraries for them with contact details. Register with the U.S. State dept.

Then relax and enjoy your holiday!

When I read the news or listen to the radio I am sure you are much safer in Turkey than you are in the US. But as in the states take the logical precautions.

I assure you, Turkey is safe. Tell your relatives please never come to DC.

It's safe.

There is, of course, a cult of assassins -- turbaned, cloaked, men who swarm up columns and porticos in the middle of the night to murder their victims, but they do not usually trouble tourists.

Fra_Diavolo - lol!

A Canadian tourist was found murdered on a hotel roof in L.A., does that mean that people shouldn't travel to California. No where is totally safe and you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That said, if you take precautions and use common sense-you will probably be okay. As a single woman I was out and about in Madrid and Seville in the late evening and felt safer than here in D.C. at night because of all the people.

I have a European penpal who is nervous about coming here to the U.S. because he's convinced most people are carrying firearms around with them. There is misinformation in all countries.

<<There is, of course, a cult of assassins -- turbaned, cloaked, men who swarm up columns and porticos in the middle of the night to murder their victims, but they do not usually trouble tourists.>>

And watch out for those whirling dervishes - those cloaks can slice you to ribbons!

Do not forget the risk of running into or afoul of OC and/or his wife in Istanbul!

OK, you've convinced me, we won't cancel our trip! (oh wait, it hadn't even occurred to me that we should do that )

Adoc86, be sure to tell your mother-in-law to avoid Las Vegas at all costs:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/21/las-vegas-strip-shooting_n_2733188.html?igoogle=1

Thanks everyone! I will relay your assurances, although I'm sure the response will be, "well you can't trust people you talk to online," haha. Its odd because my family is actually very well traveled - my parents have visited over 50 countries(and my father has been to Turkey!). This being the case I was extremely surprised by their response to our honeymoon choice. Hearing their reaction you would think they are sheltered and a bit ignorant (though the latter seems to be true in this instance).

My fiance's family has never left the country and lives in a tiny, quaint town in Iowa so I can see how their perspective might be a little foggy... Either way, we're not cancelling our trip!!

Sf7307 - hah. No matter how many times I say that people are murdered all over the US everyday it doesn't seem to matter. When Natalie Holloway went missing I was in France and my mother called me in a panic, as if Holloway's abductors were heading right for me on the French Riviera

"Turkey is safe. The worst thing I experienced is being scammed by a taxi but it's my own fault for not being more aware."

Blame the victim? Comments like this are absurd and borderline sick.

Turkey is a great and safe country! everyone should see Turkey

<<lmhornet on Mar 16, 13 at 7:07am

"Turkey is safe. The worst thing I experienced is being scammed by a taxi but it's my own fault for not being more aware."

Blame the victim? Comments like this are absurd and borderline sick.>>

Imhornet, it was a statement of self-evaluation which is how many people reflect and learn from experience in order to avoid negative consequences in the future. Why is that "absurd and borderline sick?"

We also plan to visit Istanbul this fall. I hope safety is not a concern there, anymore than other cities.

BTW, DD went to college in Baltimore, and there were several scary incidents: her freshman year, a young man was stabbed in the heart in his frat house by an intruder (DD had just left the party). The drug dealings and shady characters outside her apartment building were constant. She once got into the wrong neighborhood very close to her campus, and taxis would not even pick her up. Her car was vandalized by someone who poured paint remover all down one side of it. I'm just sayin'.

"<<lmhornet on Mar 16, 13 at 7:07am

"Turkey is safe. The worst thing I experienced is being scammed by a taxi but it's my own fault for not being more aware."

Blame the victim? Comments like this are absurd and borderline sick.>>

Imhornet, it was a statement of self-evaluation which is how many people reflect and learn from experience in order to avoid negative consequences in the future. Why is that "absurd and borderline sick?"

The fact that you would have to ask is almost as sick as the original comment.

We were in Tukey a little over 6 years ago. Friends of ours from England were to join us from England. At that time there were some bombings & the English friends didn't join us. My husband & I stayed in Istanbul-Cappadocia-Yalova & drove down to Kusadasi with neary a problem. The people were kind & friendly. The press just trys to sell news. We have shootings in the Bay Ara of California. Travel & enjoy life and different experiences. I'm glad I do.

I am the type to be quite cautious but I felt very safe when we visited Turkey two years ago. In fact, I felt much safer there than in some parts of San Francisco!

@PeaceOut - The experiences of your DD in Baltimore don't surprise me! My family lives in a very safe suburb of Baltimore though and I don't have a tendency of hanging around the city too often. When you live in an area you learn what parts to avoid, ya know? They are worried about Turkey because we are unfamiliar with it, its a foreign country so if there is a problem its not always so easy to get home, and overall they just worry about terrorist attacks and the ongoing problems with Syria. Although Turkey isn't on the State Dept Warning list, there are US warnings about traveling to the country and that Americans are targeted in the area.

My future father-in-law visited us this past weekend and again brought up that he wished we weren't going there. I ensured him that we would be safe and not be wandering off the beaten path, but nothing seems to settle their worries. Oh well.

Imhornet -

.....The fact that you would have to ask is almost as sick as the original comment......

Now that makes two of us who think your original statement and the above one are just plain absurd comments. If you are making a point - maybe it is just a blunt end, it will sail pass a lot of people.

Three. Guess lmhornet is called hornet for a reason.

Four. Is this a past poster with a new name? At any rate, clearly someone wishing to stir up a hornet's nest.

Yes, I guess the Jews were stupid because they got murdered by the Nazis. They should have known better and emigrated to Antarctic. The people in the World Trade center were idiots and should have know better and gotten a job in the subway. The child who is killed by the drunk driver should have known better than to try to cross the street. People who are victimized by other people have no one but themselves to blame

hornet...will you ever learn that it's not just WHAT you say, but how you say it? I guess mean and nasty are your things and always have been. People on these forums are long ago onto you, Mr. Bitter. I vote for you as the unhappiest conntrarian on Fodors, by far. Give it a rest!

Stu:

"He only does it to annoy,
Because he knows it teases."

Lewis Carroll, defining "troll" about 100 years early.

>>>Lewis Carroll, defining "troll" about 100 years early.<<<

KW: Alice in Wonderland strikes a blow to trolling!

What's bothersome to me is that Aduchamp who has contributed mightily over the years, get's bounced off the forum (twice) and venomous creeps like hornet go merrily long. Go figure.

Well said, Tower.

Turkey is a safe city, just be aware of yourself and your belongings like you would in any city in the world. I was there with a friend, so we were two women alone in the city and it was fine.

The first time my dad travelled to Istanbul he got pickpocketed, the city is known for that. So just be alert and have a wonderful time!

Here's my take on it:You all are missing the parental factor! Parents will worry even if they themselves have visited Turkey...like Adoc86's father. It's part of the parenting protocol I resented it from my parents, and I dole some of it out to my adult kids....that's parental anxiety. I am trying to modulate it !!!

I grew up in Baltimore and live in WDC...yeah, crime and guns and stuff. I spend every winter in Argentina - mostly Buenos Aires - lots of worried cautions by those who have never been there, although care and respecting safety protocols is important.

I am so looking forward to my visit to Turkey this coming Fall. I expect to read about the scams and dicey neighborhoods and so, like the Boyscouts, be prepared. Stuff (and worse) happens wherever - but from everything I have read and heard, Turkey and Istanbul are reasonably safe to visit - the vitality of the city beacons !