Planning a Family Trip to Turkey - Turkey with Your Family: From Bustling Bazaars to Historic Sites - page 42

in and out of the sea or pools, be
sure the cream is waterproof.
Reapply often.

As with any travel, always be
sure your children are in sight at
all times, especially if visiting
crowded places like bazaars.
Hold young children's hands
tightly or keep them in a buggy.
If visiting beaches, always be on
your guard against the usual
dangers such as a toddler wan-
dering to the sea, and if visiting
remote areas always have a good
supply of drinks and snacks with
you, plus a mobile telephone.
While incidents of crime are
relatively low in Turkey, you
should be on your guard. Petty
crime has been known to occur in
crowded places. The Foreign and
Commonwealth Office ( www.fco.
com ) also warns that there is a
high risk of terrorist activity in
Istanbul and the southeast areas of
Turkey, but even the Aegean and
Mediterranean areas have been
targeted in the past. The FCO
states, however, that despite
around 1.7 million British tourists
alone visiting Turkey a year, most
visits are trouble-free so there is
no need to panic.
Foreign Commonwealth
Office: You can find plenty of
advice on the website about safety
in each country, what to prepare
and also advice on being a
responsible tourist. You can also
register your trip on the website
so that if anything happens while
you are away, they can try and
locate you. Open Mon-Fri, b 020
7008 0210 ; out of hours for gen-
uine emergencies, b 020 7008
1500, www.fco.gov.uk .

Mosquito protection
Mosquitoes are another hazard.
Although unlikely to cause any
serious medical problems to any-
one other than those allergic to
their bites, mosquitoes can be
annoying and a repellent should
be used. Malaria as a result of
experiencing a mosquito bite in
Turkey is not regarded a hazard at
this time, although of course this
can change. The UK Department
of Health's free leaflet Health
Advice for Travellers ( b 0800 555
7777 or visit www.hpa.org.uk ) is a
good source of information.

Prescribed medication
If you or anyone in your family
takes prescribed medication it is
wise to take details of the generic
name of the medicine as well as
the brand name with you in case
the brand isn't available, plus a
copy of the prescription. This is
in case you lose or need to replen-
ish the medication while you are
away. Be sure to pack your med-
ication in your hand luggage, not
only for your flight but in case
your baggage goes missing.

Staying Safe

You will find that Turkish people
adore children and it is not
uncommon for someone to
reach out and pat your child's
head. While this can be unnerv-
ing, it is unlikely to be a threat.

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