is Turkey in Europe?

[sara3]

yeah, stupid question but hey.. some sites say it is, others say it isn't.

I need to know what travel insurance to get, and whether my EHIC card is of any use.

cheers.. don't tell me off, I'm quite fragile!

[MarkRae]

About 3% of it is in Europe. At the moment, anyway...

[boxtops]

Half of it is, Sara - the left hand side as you look at the map. East of the Bosphorus is Asia Minor.

[boxtops]

OK not half, I should have said "a portion".

[welshlibranr]

Don't think they are!.........but not sure!.....someone will surely have the info!......

[sara3]

3% or 50%? lol.. thanks both ;o)

I'm going to Dalyan.. any idea?

[DTCwordfan]

half the population seem to be living in Germany.....

[annie0000]

Geographically, the wee bit with Istanbul on it is technically in Europe - hence their eligibility for things like the Eurovision song contest. However, at last count I don't think they had gained membership of the European Union so therefore your card wouldn't be eligible. I could be wrong about that though as I know they were pursuing membership.

[dotty.]

We were advised by the travel agent to take our E111 cards when we went 3 years ago, we only used the standard insurance policy from the post office too.

[vallaw]

They are not part of the EU although they have applied for membership therefore your EHIC card won't help. Anyone who sells travel insurance will tell you where the policy is valid.

[boxtops]

Dalyan's in Asia Minor http://www.dalyanonline.net/

Your EHIC only works for Europe, so you do need good travel cover.

[MarkRae]

Your EHIC card won't be of any use, for the moment anyway:
http://en.wikipedia.o...to_the_European_Union

[sara3]

the online insurance sites I've looked at just ask "Europe or worldwide"..

[Buenchico]

The EHIC is valid in all EEA coutries, plus Switzerland. The European Economic Area (EEA) is made up of the 27 EU countries, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Turkey is not in the EEA

Geographically, Turkey (or, more accurately, most of it) isn't in Europe - it's in Asia - but most (and probably all) insurance companies include Turkey within their definition of 'Europe'. (They also include the Canary Islands, which are geographically African, and Cyprus, which is geographically Asian - even though it's in the EU!).

[sara3]

okay.. bugger!

thanks for your help :o)

[tamborine]

Only the bit in Cyprus is EU but mainland Turkey isn't as yet. I buy travel & health Insurance at Boots in airport - £25+

[dotty.]

It's no big deal to get insurance for Turkey, we paid £25 each for the post office policy that was totally adequate. You have to take your E111 card with you sara, you could end up anywhere in Europe, why would anyone leave that at home?

[sara3]

not much point in taking it to a non-EU country, is there??

[tamborine]

Some credit card companies offer free health & travel insurance if you buy tickets through them.

[sara3]

thanks but have already booked the flights and paid via Paypal, as the charges were lower than with a credit card.

[boxtops]

We get free travel insurance through our bank as a perk of the account, worth checking that out, sara!