How scarey! Are English women easy?

Hello! I will be coming to Turkey at the end of May to mid June and will be making my way from Istanbul to Fethiye, flying out of Dalaman. Firstly, I'm a bit worried about the men situation. I REALLY don't like being hassled by men who think English women are easy. Sometimes women speak to men because they are being nice or polite! Even though I will be dressed respectfully, is it worth just ignoring all men that try to talk to you? Does anyone have any recommendations about how to get round this tricky issue?

Secondly, I'd like to go to Troy and Ephesus on the way down to Marmaris. Is it better to hire a car, or try and do it by bus? Is driving problematic?

Thirdly, I'd LOVE to dive or snorkell around a sunken city. Can anyone recommend any?

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Many thanks.

Susan

It's much cheaper to take a bus. There are very good buses everywhere.
I have been in a sunken city near Kas, after Fethiye, if you come from Marmaris.
About hassling I can´t help you. I'm a man, I've been in Turkey five or six times and I have never seen situations like that.
If you cross Fethiye, don't miss Kalkan and Kas.
Have a nice time.

the buses are fine.

i'm female and i go to Turkey at least twice a year, i haven't had any real hassle to speak of. I think the only way near the sunken city at Kas is to sea kayak, i think diving or snorkelling is forbidden, its something we were hoping to do this year but we'll make do with the kayaking.

I thought it was Australian women who were buried in 'Y' shaped coffins!

As legless says, the buses are fine and very comprehensive. You shouldn't have a problem finding one that's heading in the direction you want.

About the hassle - I'm going to sit on the fence on this one. Yes, a lot of the Turkish men I have encountered have seemed to think English girls are 'easy', but there again what they see in the tourist resorts, or on satellite television just reinforces that stereotype. However, not all of them have thought that, and I've met plenty of lovely people who haven't hassled me in the slightest.

I would just recommend you go about as normal, but perhaps avoid eye contact as you walk along. Turkish women seem to do this, and don't get hassled so much.

The only sunken ruins I know of are that of Myndos, which is just by the village of Gumusluk on the Bodrum Peninsula. The ruins are supposed to be lovely, although I've never actually seen them myself.

I think that both #2 and #4 have summed it up pretty well. As for the sunken city check out Kekova and it can be reach by boat either Kas, Kalkan, Demre or Üçagiz. Diving or snorkelling around the ruins is yes forbiden. But you can swim in certain area close by. the boat captains will take you to the places that are allowed.

Simena is a popular Lycian site, situated upon one of the most attractive spots of the Turkish coast. The name "Kekova" is Turkish for "plain of thyme" and describes the region encompassing the island of Kekova, the villages of Kaleköy and Üçagiz and the three ancient towns of Simena, and Tersane (meaning "shipyard", as its bay was the site of an ancient shipyard, with mostly Byzantine ruins). Both Simena and Teimussa have a large necropolis. Teimussa is now the village of Üçagiz, where boats set off for tours of the area.

Thanks for that witty insight Tretower. Moron.

If you have time I would stay in Ucagiz. Its beautiful, near that sunken city, and the part of the Likya Yolu around there is beautiful.

I am in Turkey now and am traveling by myself, and have not had any problems other than stares of curiousity, and that is mostly in the more conservative areas. I do tend to look away from the men who are looking at me (mostly groups of men talking together).

In Istanbul, you will find plenty of men that come up and talk to you - however, the only reason they are doing this is to try to sell you something. I tried to be polite at first and then just started ignoring them - it's the only way they will not hassle you.

"Are English women easy? "

From what I see in Bodrum or Kusadasi, if I had never been to England I would get the impression that they really are.

Stayed in Fethiye 2 years ago, gatta place by the way. But!! the Turks hassle everybody, not just the women. We found it was usually good-natured, but persistent - you only had to sit on a park bench and someone would pop up trying to sell you fake fragrances, watches, whatever. In the main though, the Turks are very friendly people, but just a bit pushy.

perhaps the better question would be "are turkish men easy?"

Great point, mmcc8571.

10

I am :)

LOL! Beautifully put #10.

And GT_I - we already knew that ;o)

#12 Tart!

#6 Me thinks someone doth protest too much....!?

On a serious note: people the world over judge others my stereotypical images.

If you pander to that image [western women are easy] then expect to be hassled.

The difficulty is that behaviour that would be seen are normal in the west (though not always!) could be seen as being provocative abroad.

Again a little common sense goes a long way.

OK people ,let's admit one thing and stop pretending...most people again I say most not all.. expect and accept some kind of sexual adventure ( of various degrees) when they are on a holiday.many people may misbehave when they are on a holiday especially when they are away from home typically somewhere where they are totally anonymous.This ofcourse does not make anyone" easy" it is just that when you are on a holiday abroad your chances of sexually misbehaving are greater than at home.We all know that and the locals certainly know that.Your typical Turkish stud will never approach a woman that easy if he was in London but he will when he finds the same woman in a resort Turkish town because his chances of scoring are much higher than in London,am I right? tell me I am wrong?

No, you're right GT_I. When people are on holiday, with the sun, drink and relaxing atmosphere, they are more likely to engage themselves in activities that perhaps they would shy away from at home. Also, the fact that they know they are leaving in a short time speeds the whole process up.

Absolutely GTI. It goes both ways.

Can't help feeling this thread should go on FAQ or similar.

Also with;'Is bus traveller easy in Turkey?', 'am I going to get felt up?' ia another FAQ, and there is no simple answer.

Certainly not one that either implies western girls are sluts or Turkish men predatory!

Thanks for all your replies so far. I will be going with my sister and, reading your responses, I am more confident that we will be OK now. Thank you.

Fortunatley when travelling, we don't have a problem of seeing men through 'sun-goggles' and promescuity is not an issue for us. We don't have a 'what happens away, stays away' attitude - people still carry STD's.

RE: 18... is questionning diving sunken cities a FAQ? I certainly couldn't find any other information on it... that's why I was asking. But thank you to everyone who made suggestions, we will definitely try and go to all the places that you have recommended. Again, thank you so much.

xxx

#19 I was thinking more specificaly of the 'is it safe for single women' type question.