Early reports said the possible cause is food poisoning, but more recent reports point to pesticides related to fumigation in the hotel room. We are schedule to join the Best of Turkey tour in a few months. Such incident naturally causes some concern. Looking for any thoughts/comments/advices, possibly also from RSE local guides there?
Posted by
Chicago
2192 posts
This hotel was on a poorer neighborhood and wasn’t a place that most Westerners will stay at. I will say we went to Istanbul 10 years ago and ll the hotels were fine. Can it happen again, yes but this is one incident out of hundreds of hotels in the capital.
Posted by
Brooklyn, NY
4842 posts
We were in Istanbul earlier this month. We stayed at 2 different Hiltons. We had not problems. What hotel are you staying in on the tour, which area?
Posted by
Belgium
190 posts
Multiple recent reviews on tourist sites mention bed bug infestations in specific hotels and hostels, particularly those that are cheaper or less well-maintained.
There have also been reports of bed bugs on Turkish Airlines flights, with passengers reporting finding them on seats and falling from the ceiling.
This (turkish) family from Hamburg has probably been died due to a pesticide (aluminum phosphide). They stayed at the Harbour Suites Old City in Fatih district.
Following this German family tragedy, two Dutch girls also found themselves in trouble last week. Food poisoning was initially suspected, but the possibility of pesticides is also being investigated. Their condition has already returned to normal.