We have three nights booked in a Istanbul hotel in September of this year. We booked many months prior to the earthquakes in that country. Are the hotels safe in Istanbul?
Thanks,
Rob
Posted by
585 posts
The earthquakes were at the eastern end of Turkey, Istanbul is at the western end of this large country - about 1200 kms away in other words. I don’t remember seeing any reports if damage in Istanbul.
Posted by
Cornwall
332 posts
They are as safe as hotels in any area historically prone to earthquakes. San Francisco? Tokyo? Lisbon?
Posted by
OP
20 posts
Thank you for your replies!
Rob
Posted by
Connecticut
692 posts
We are going ahead with plans to travel to Turkey (Istanbul) in October. I would gladly return to earthquake prone New Zealand which rattled during my last day there.
Posted by
northern CA
2766 posts
The Erdogan gov't passed a series of regulation 'amnesties' that excused or gave a slap-on-the-wrist fine to substandard construction over a period of several years, so the comparison to other earthquake-prone locations is not quite apt -- most cities have enforcement of their standards around the world. Just food for thought.
Posted by
New Zealand
496 posts
We are going ahead with plans to travel to Turkey (Istanbul) in October. I would gladly return to earthquake prone New Zealand which rattled during my last day there.
NZ has building standards which are enforced - the level of damage in Turkey was crazy and was all about local corruption.
In NZ we are taught to "duck cover and hold" - NOT to run outside - but that's assuming a well-built building. In Istanbul I'd pick an old hotel which has survived a few shakes - and if there was a quake - I'd run for the staircase (strongest spot) and HOPE that I could ride the collapse down.