Here I explain everything about life in Turkey as an expat in Istanbul. Before I start seeing comments of people attacking, let me clear out something: REMEMBER THAT THIS VIDEO IS NOT MEANT TO ATTACK TURKISH PEOPLE OR THE COUNTRY, I'm simply opening my heart and my feelings after living in this wonderful country for several years. For those coming to my channel for the first time thanks to this video, I say HELLOOOOO and WELCOME! If you feel upset, angry for what I shared and totally disagree and feel that "I'm just an ungrateful YABANCI attacking Turkey and its people" just for one video you have watched on my channel (this one), well, I'm sorry that you are making a whole idea of me thanks to one short video, but I'd like to invite you to watch our other 100+ videos where we share all the magnificent places this country has to offer, and also you may click on this other link to watch the EPISODE 1 where I share WHY I MOVED TO TURKEY AND REASONS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH ISTANBUL. have your delicious çay and relax :) th-cam.com/video/k-UnLWCxIZk/w-d-xo.html 📕 Check out our amazing itineraries and guides! We have carefully created many itineraries not just in Istanbul but in many cities around Turkiye, organized useful information for you, including a list with plenty of hotels for all budgets in each city we mention, a list with more than 100 restaurants including one with vegan options, desserts, and much more! All the guides are LIVE, that means that they're updated daily and surely we’ll keep adding more and more! The new changes will automatically sync even after you get it WITHOUT an extra cost! All you have to do is sign up for free and get the guide or itinerary you're interested in! 🎉 www.thatch.co/@beryistanbul 🗺️ Guided tours in Istanbul Looking for a hassle-free way to book your city tours? Whether you're interested in historical landmarks, cultural experiences, or culinary delights, we've got you covered. Experienced guides will show you the best of what the city has to offer, all while providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience. www.remindertour.com/tours/ Much love!!!
Very good very informative thank you very much for that. I was not aware of the taxation of taxes or the cost of phones those are two things that are very important to me especially because I'm retired. I would very much like a candid explanation of the social interaction between men and women that don't know each other. Also social interaction between older and younger Turkish men and foreign women of various ages..
Hey Bery, I have purchased a property less than 250-K USD, do I qualify for citizenship after 5-8 years or just an indefinite stay residential status? Gracias 🥂💖🙏🎶
We moved to Türkiye in June of 2021 and I agree with you on nearly everything except the weather. So far, the summer heat and the winter snowstorms have been fine with us. Some comments are about dishonest Turks, but for the most part I think it is the yabange (foreigner) prices that we get stuck with sometimes. But with the exchange rate, even getting ripped off once in a while isn’t that bad. We’ve bought a home in Pendik so we’re out of the hustle and bustle of Istanbul proper, but close enough by excellent public transportation to visit easily. I feel safer in Türkiye than in any US city I’ve lived in in my 76 years. We have encountered many, many kind, caring, gracious, generous, wonderful Turkish people here. Moving to Türkiye was among the best decisions we’ve ever made.
I've been several times to Istanbul, I love the city and it has a special place in my heart. But indeed the cons of the city are indeed very annoying. I live in a European city with a good infrastructure for cycling, so everytime I come to Istanbul I'm feeling disturbed by the predominant car culture there and there's no room for cyclists. But I think that's just a symptom of being a huge metropolis, everything feels crowded. The streets, the highways and public transport. Istanbul is huge in every aspect, sometimes it can feel intimidating but that's one of the issues you have to overcome to embrace this wonderful city that has a lot to offer.
thanks for being honest regarding living in Turkey. I am choosing between Fethiye or Puerto Vallarta once I escape Canada. Being a non smoker, I will just visit beautiful Turkey as a tourist and try those delicious looking Turkish foods.
Thank you lady for the informative video. I also appreciate your honesty in describing things the way they are, with integrity. This video should have 300,000 views at minimum! Keep up the good work!
All of the drama in Istanbul sounds like home to me, I'm from Chicago, I should fit right in. I'm visiting in 2 weeks and I've learned soo much from your videos! Thank you!!
Chicago is a paradise in comparison to Istanbul. I leave in Chicago and in Istanbul. And I gree 100% with her video...and I will put more things ... She was so kind❤
@@fhd588 of course. there is a reason why istanbul is a magical magnet since ancient times. centuries of history and capitol of mighty kingdoms. not to mention climate, people and culture. there is nothing to be compared with the american sump of chicago - capitol city of dirt and murder with nasty streets and buildings.
Thank you for an honest opinion, it's good to know those things beforehand and be mentally ready for it. By the sound of it, many of those things I will dislike a lot too, up to a point it may outshine the pros, but I'll have to see for myself irl :)
Hi, you scared me😅 for tomorrow I bought ticket , I am from Iran and in Iran we have more than 30 million turk( northwest of Iran ) and all of this people love istanbul and turkey, I invited you to Tehran and come and visit, for first time of my life l will come to istanbul tomorrow ,I didn't know more about that but recently I find you and learn more , thanks for great videos 😍❤
So true! Türkiye is actually least tax paying country in Europe, and cheapest one to live. But when it comes to certain items especially foreign or imported items double taxation kicks in. It's almost like government punishing you for purchasing imported goods. By the way, Turks are very proud to have any merchandise made in Türkiye. It's not just the good quality but also to support the economy.
I totally agree with you on everything u said, I was in Istanbul November 2021 and these are all the things I noticed that I didn’t like, the crowded streets, the horrible traffic, too many smoking, the steep and up and down streets and not to mention the cats that are everywhere 😯 What I did like was that everything was cheap specially food and clothes, I love the food, it’s mostly organic and healthy, and I loved the weather during November. Not to mention their drama series.. love love love them ❤️😍
I was In istanbul last days..my mother and I go for shopping at Taksim square and we lost the location of our hotel..Many person stopped by and they tried to tell us in their broken english and help us to get reach at our location..they were friendly...I never felt like u..some guys tries to help me with my languages... My experience in istanbul was like fairy tale...
I guess every country can relate to this. Take out the hot weather and the driving, almost everything is similar. In Europe, people don’t stop to help you either, but well! Now we can find our way with a GPS, so that’s ok. As for taxes, Western countries are known for their over rated taxes, mostly Europe. Istanbul is becoming overcrowded for people are running away from western counties for a better life. In Europe for example, where some ethnic groups are treated as second zone citizens. So Turkey is the right place for them. Small details and disadvantages will always be better than been shown and been seen like the worst kinds. Thank you for your honesty, it helps a lot!♥️
I’ve been to Turkey 2 times. Visited few other places besides Istanbul ( Capadocia, Bodrum, Kusadaci) I have to say the smaller towns are very charming. I love Turkey and would love to visit again♥️ Istanbul is always abuz for sure. I agree with the walking slopes… it’s not for everyone. I enjoy your videos. Greetings from South Africa 🇿🇦
Nice video. I’m Turkish American from California and moved to Istanbul a year and a half ago. I’m glad to see someone from Latin America here. I love Latino / Latina people. What brought you here?
Hi… greetings from San Francisco. We’ll be visiting Turkey early next month. Thanks for your videos, we learned a lot the place and got some ideas what to visit and food to try.
Hola Berry, thank you for your honest experiences. I really appreciate your videos. I hope one day to visit there, but if I move there I prefer a smaller town by the sea. I wish you the best always and stay safe and well 🙂
Honking have a huge meanings,, every Word you wanna say like, as a turkish driver when i honk,, it might have the meaning, take care you are so close to my car,, Dont look at your Phone, trafik Light turned Green, Hey lorry driver, i Will faster than you, see me and dont pass over me And many moreeeeee 😂😂😂😂 We love to comminicate in every way
I really enjoyed what you said here. I watch lots of Turkish series and they make me wonder about how the white lines on the roads seem to never be important to the drivers. It seems they see them as suggestions instead of the legal space to drive in. They park in odd positions in undesignated spaces too. I find it all very curious.
I might be the only other non smoker here and I get it. It's almost like it's compulsory for anyone over 15 to chain smoke. I live in Moda. The cars/ traffic don't bother me but those silent electric scooters are my nemesis. Lol, they just appear out of nowhere from all directions. There are so many things to love about Istanbul though. There's nowhere quite like it.
"Hold your horses", I've been enjoying your informative presentations and am imagining Istanbul/Constantinople and some of the other popular Aegean/Mediterranean Turkish cities as being among a list of most desirable destinations to visit. I'm overcome with almost Fairy Tale like emotion, sometimes, when I consider the historical significance of many places in Europe and Asia. thanks for sharing, gracias, enjoy
Hey Bery, thank you . Your videos are so useful and helpful. We plan to come To turkey during eid holiday. I wanted your assistance as I need to whether the markets ( grand bazar and eminonu will be open during eid or closed as we plan to be in istanbul from 30th april to 2nd may then fly to antalaya)
I've been staying in turkey for 8 months..I came from Ethiopia...the driving culture and traffic etc is almost the same except there are less accidents here
Thank you for your insight. I was considering relocating to Istanbul, but it’s like moving to a ‘mirror’ of my country South Africa, with regards to traffic, unkempt areas, vehicle prices and taxes. As the saying goes, ‘the grass is not always greener on the other side’ …
Thank you for your honest review! Turks don't want to hear criticism but without that nothing can improve. So you are absolutely right. There are still many other cons though. The list is longer
Hola Bery! Muchas gracias por la información, ha sido de gran ayuda. Viajó muy pronto a Estanbul y me gustaría saber cómo conseguir un apartamento seguro. Gracias!
This is an amazing video and I enjoyed every bit of it and am also excited to share my investment experience for 2021, I believe it will help a lot of people here that are confused on how to start the new year and be productive for the year
From my own point of view, you need to invest smartly, if you need the good things of life. so far i've made over $505k in raw profits from just q4 of the market from my diversified portfolio strategy and i believe anyone can do it you have the right strategy. mutual funds takes long time but investing smartly is the key for short term. Most of us tend to pay more attention to the shiniest position in the market to the cost of proper diversification.
Hi Berry, I watched a few of your videos and love them. I did not know that you were from Mexico. I visited Istanbul for 4 days and now I am planning to buy a retirement home somewhere in Turkey. I am visiting again in October with my wife and 3 more couples with 3 days in Istanbul. Wondering if you can help plan our trip to Istanbul.
Nice video, thanks! I lived in Alanya for 6 months last year. Agree with everything you are saying. I want to try Istanbul this time. What area of Istanbul would you recommend in 15,000-20,000 tl rent per month range? I prefer safe area where local or English speaking people live. Not conservative, not touristy, where there are new buildings(0-5 years) with a view. Watching videos I like Bebek and Kadikoy. Any other areas would you recommend?
then I recommend you suadıye, caddebostan area from anotolıan sıde. its stıll a nice preserved neıghborhood wıth educated turks so they are more lıkely to know englısh and plus not ın ınflux of tourısts and refugees.
I was in Turkey from Mar 22 to March 29, I personally did'nt Like TWO things(1) Every cell phone PLAN retailer has HIS own rates which varies from 300 to 500 TL for same package. (2) Yellow ,Uber or Bitaksi cab drivers don't wana follow meter rates but they offer their own rates like Fatih to istanbul ride will cost you around 225 TL but they take 300 to 350 TL.
Yes, you are absolutely right. There is no fixed rate for Sim Cards in Istanbul even at the retail shops of the service providers like Turk Cell, Turk Telecom, Vodafone, etc. They charge 3-4 times more than the actual rate shown on the respective website. BiTaxi drivers charge much more than what shows in the App. In general, I didn't have good experience with taxi drivers in Istanbul. But, Taxi drivers are reasonably honest in the city of Izmir , Bodrum, and other parts of Turkey. I just returned from Turkey few days back
All you say is true but Istanbul seviyorum .. I m leaving after 9 months ..sim blocked and all but loved every moment in Turkey. The end was my beautiful free day in Emirgan park.
Totally agree with you on many things that you disliked. I visited back in October and one of the things that really bothered me was the traffic and car honking. It was something that I don’t really see in USA. Also, one another thing was how they change sales price once they hear you speak English. We had situation when people in the front of us (Turkish) buy something in Kapali carsi and we were charged higher price after them just because we spoke English. If a tourist come to the States and sale person charged them more than our citizen that would be illegal and they would be arrested. So, I didn’t like that and also I didn’t like when we were walking down to streets and restaurant workers were so annoying trying to pull us in their restaurants.
2:08 My childhood time Istanbul quite city people so much polite and helpful each other’s … when I visit Istanbul unfortunately I feel alien my born city, newer come back again my green and calm Istanbul 😢 I’m asking my self why happen that? actually answer is people loving Beauty, million people wants to beauty life with money ….. my innocent city newer come back again 🥺
İ have been Turkey November 2021, that was Amazed place that i've seen especially the sea. As you told all of them is true. The weather nice on November. İ loved Göreme place isnt about nice view also but its about so quite and felt comfy
Berry I agreed with you in most of your points. 1) I found that the people were very unfriendly and unhelpful, including the guys that work in the shops, including employees at the airport are also very unhelpful. To throw a smile at people is something one cannot expect as one normally does. 2) As for the driving it is called the free law driving, I think many developing countries practiced the same thing. 3) People from the US & Europe are going to find it hard getting used to smokers around. 4) I do entertain my mind to have a second home in Turkey, (not in Istanbul particularly) but after hearing about the taxes, that is kind of discouraging. Obviously the taxes on purchasing cars are just about 100%.
Hola, great information, very honest. By the way, by sloppy, you probably mean sloping, but nevertheless that can be understood. Your idea is not only not insulting, but gives rise to considering you as someone who cares about that city and that country. Gracias.
For me. The issue was no food from abroad. Every major city, you will see Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Korean, Inidan, Thai, German, Taiwanese and Irish restaurants at every block. Yet they are very few in Istanbul. This is really strange. Hopefully someone can explain this to me.
i guess because the Turkish love eating their own food more than from other countries so the demand isn't there. The tourists also want to eat Turkish food so they won't want to go into a restaurant that has food they eat all year round back home. God knows really😄
Because Turkish cuisine is very special , various and unique , we are locals are satisfied with Turkish food and also foreigners love Turkish food , that is the case.
Nice video. Also, I think with #4 you meant 'slopy' which is referring to the hills all around the city and is pronounced with a long o and sounds like sloupy. But your subtitles say 'sloppy', which translates to dirty.
Hey Berry, thank you again for such an informative video!! I have a question about banking. Do Turkish banks have good investment funds for foreign currency? like if I bring usd can I open a USD income investment account in a Turkish bank or would it HAVE to be converted to TL? Or would you have your investment Portfolio outside of Turkey and only transfer a certain portion of money at a time? Thanks. I'm just curious what people do?....
About the noise: I went to Beirut a few times and stopped over in Istanbul. Whenever I came back to Istanbul from Lebanon, I always thought „it’s so quiet here“ 😂 Everything is relative. I agree that I miss bicycling - especially now that it’s necessary to have a Turkish phone number to rent a bike which is not tourist friendly. I used to love riding along the Bosporus. I also sometimes miss the green areas (I live in Switzerland). There is a saying in German: „smoking like a Turk“ 😁 But I actually do know some locals who are non-smokers though.
Thanks for your videos! So helpful and interesting. I live in Izmir and adore it. We have an enormous park and seaside so we can access nature much easier daily. 🙏I used to live in istanbul and I loved it. I travel back 3/4 times per year to enjoy the city but just for a week. Much love from the Aegean 😘
Hi, I'm travelling to turkey tomorrow from uk . As a British citizen do I need to fill locator form still ? I have fill the form twice but it doesn't have a barcode. Can you please reply me ASAP. Thanks
I am an American and I have a home in Sakarya. I love living there. The city of Adapazari is most beautiful in my opinion. The people are lovely we have several green spaces. We don’t drive, it scares me to death. But there is many kinds of public transportation that is very reasonable price. When we do go to Istanbul we take the bus. The taxes are much but I think it is worth it. You are not worried about the unfriendly people. I have not met anyone yet. My husband speaks Arabic so we communicate very well. Far as the phone goes we get SIM cards for our phone every 120 days. Come to Sakarya and see for yourself how lovely the state is and how beautiful the people are.
Turks do not speak Arabic , speak Turkish , is your husband Arab or Turk ? if your husband speak Arabic , how you get along with Turks who are speaking Turkish , I didnt uderstand your comment.
I was in Istanbul last week and being someone who is from a small Welsh city, few things were a shock to me. They are: the traffic, the rush, the reckless driving culture ( omg! I saw so many near misses) and the poor people who are begging in the streets ( I felt emotional after seeing a large number of young children and elderly begging in the streets). Those children should be in school not begging for change. I am very grateful and more mindful of my privileges. Thank Allah for them 🙏🙏🙏
There were not so much beggasr before big amount of Syrians migration to Turkey because of war , also do not believe them , most of them are not realy poor , even some of them are coming where they will beg with expensive cars , they are changing their costumes and they are begging , some of them are acting like they are disabled eventhough they are healthy , some of them are acting like they are looking for bread from bins and when you aproach to them with pity , they demand money from you and in fact they have good lives , even some beggar gangs are collecting children from Syria , bringing them to Turkey in order to use them in begging and police are mostly catching these begging gangs , so do not become emotional and do not give money to them beacuse the ones who are relly in need never begs.
I bet in most major cities of the world there are homeless people (many who have to beg just to have enough money for food or other necessities). The "great" United States is no different - all of our major cities, and many smaller towns, have homeless populations, and not nearly enough infrastructure to support their needs. The economy has not been kind to most of the working people.
In Indian cities people also honk horns a lot. I thought they were impatient but the reason is just to let people know they are nearby, or coming through.
Hola, me encantan tus videos, los veo casi todos, que posibilidad real hay de enseñar español alla. Hace tiempo me quiero ir a vivir alla en el are de Antalya. Muchas gracias de antemano
Please guide me about how will I know to use public transport. I mean if I go to somewhere in Istanbul from one place to another how can I know to get bus/metro/tram etc. Is there any guidebook, app, or something else?
Enjoyed this video me and my wife are traveling next month to turkey. My wife is also mexican. Is there away she can get in touch with you. We just watch your video together. She is a nurse and we want to live in turkey for a year
Your views are honestly appreciated. But these problems are happening all over the world specially in third world countries, Asian n liberal democratic countries. People loose their civic senses n do things the way they like. Whichever country is in a developing stage then other developed countries than the financial economical gap compels a government to levy high taxes for improving infrastructure n standards. Corruption, politics, manufacturing units also play an important factor. It seems modern mass scale electronic manufacturing units are not available, so it has to import electronics goods. Being an ancient/historical country, it depends more on tourism. Also being hilly area, there could be less basic agricultural produce. Major portion of Turkey is surrounded by water so one may face humidity during Summers. Last but least it has to import very large amount of oil n gas from other countries n this eats the country's revenue n economy.. 🌹☺️
As electronics are expensive in Turkey, do I need to worry that I will be robbed if I carry an expensive camera? I don’t see anyone in videos of Istanbul carrying a camera.
You are right about taxes, Turkish people are being robbed officially, there are many alternatives in Turkey for other issues. For example, by moving to Çanakkale, you can still live in the Bosphorus and lead a quieter life 😉
Hola Bery! Muy buen video, soy de Uruguay y estoy en Turquía en este momento, es mi segunda visita a este hermoso país. Coincido contigo en la mayoría de las cosas. Más que nada me molestó y me llamó la atención la cultura vial, nadie es amable en el tráfico sino muy agresivos, hacen sonar la bocina todo el tiempo y se dicen de todo! 😳 Más allá de esas cosas amé Turquía en general y especialmente Estambul, una ciudad mágica con un encanto especial que la hace única, y que me hace querer volver siempre. ♥️🥰🇹🇷
Excelente video !! Confirmo de difícil que es atravesar una calle o avenida es un deporte extremo jajaja , las cuestas que hay que subir son demasiadas … pero aun adoro tu ciudad es hermosa , y los impuestos son muchos pero se quedan ahí solo basta ver que ciudad de ensueño !!! Saludos desde México !! 💟💟💟💟
Thank you so much for your videos, very informative. I'm planning to come to Turkey for living from Arizona, USA. What area you recommend to live, nice, quite and must have lots of greenery.
Cada loco con su tema… :-):-):-) I hear you, 100%, especially the “everyone smoking everywhere” thing has always bugged me (I’ve been to Istanbul about… 10 times by now, but never for more than a week), BUT :-):-):-), if you ask me, if I had a magic wand and I could change ONE thing about Istanbul and Turkey in general, that would be the super frustrating and practically prohibitive (I would go that far as to call it “hostile”) policy of theirs regarding how tickets for football matches are sold (hence “cada loco con su tema” :-):-)). As a foreigner visiting Turkey for a few days, trying to buy a match ticket feels like… mission impossible.
as a native i would also add "we are very loud nation (tradition-wise); when we are getting married, or joining army, or participating a football match, or even religious activities, we make so much noise pollution" i freaking hate it.. and also we litter
So true, is pollution yani 😫 At first, it was interesting to me, now it isn’t. Especially all the noise some make in the middle of the night before going to the military service, is extremely loud. 😂
Here I explain everything about life in Turkey as an expat in Istanbul.
Before I start seeing comments of people attacking, let me clear out something:
REMEMBER THAT THIS VIDEO IS NOT MEANT TO ATTACK TURKISH PEOPLE OR THE COUNTRY, I'm simply opening my heart and my feelings after living in this wonderful country for several years.
For those coming to my channel for the first time thanks to this video, I say HELLOOOOO and WELCOME! If you feel upset, angry for what I shared and totally disagree and feel that "I'm just an ungrateful YABANCI attacking Turkey and its people" just for one video you have watched on my channel (this one), well, I'm sorry that you are making a whole idea of me thanks to one short video, but I'd like to invite you to watch our other 100+ videos where we share all the magnificent places this country has to offer, and also you may click on this other link to watch the EPISODE 1 where I share WHY I MOVED TO TURKEY AND REASONS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH ISTANBUL. have your delicious çay and relax :)
th-cam.com/video/k-UnLWCxIZk/w-d-xo.html
📕 Check out our amazing itineraries and guides!
We have carefully created many itineraries not just in Istanbul but in many cities around Turkiye, organized useful information for you, including a list with plenty of hotels for all budgets in each city we mention, a list with more than 100 restaurants including one with vegan options, desserts, and much more! All the guides are LIVE, that means that they're updated daily and surely we’ll keep adding more and more! The new changes will automatically sync even after you get it WITHOUT an extra cost!
All you have to do is sign up for free and get the guide or itinerary you're interested in! 🎉
www.thatch.co/@beryistanbul
🗺️ Guided tours in Istanbul
Looking for a hassle-free way to book your city tours? Whether you're interested in historical landmarks, cultural experiences, or culinary delights, we've got you covered. Experienced guides will show you the best of what the city has to offer, all while providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
www.remindertour.com/tours/
Much love!!!
Hi!! Where to find the best mexican food in Istanbul?
Very good very informative thank you very much for that. I was not aware of the taxation of taxes or the cost of phones those are two things that are very important to me especially because I'm retired. I would very much like a candid explanation of the social interaction between men and women that don't know each other. Also social interaction between older and younger Turkish men and foreign women of various ages..
Hey Bery, I have purchased a property less than 250-K USD, do I qualify for citizenship after 5-8 years or just an indefinite stay residential status? Gracias 🥂💖🙏🎶
😊😊😊
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
as a Turkish firstly I'd like to say welcome to my city and I enjoyed a lot with this video 😀😀 this girl is definitely right
I’ve always wondered if there a weed over there?
We moved to Türkiye in June of 2021 and I agree with you on nearly everything except the weather. So far, the summer heat and the winter snowstorms have been fine with us. Some comments are about dishonest Turks, but for the most part I think it is the yabange (foreigner) prices that we get stuck with sometimes. But with the exchange rate, even getting ripped off once in a while isn’t that bad. We’ve bought a home in Pendik so we’re out of the hustle and bustle of Istanbul proper, but close enough by excellent public transportation to visit easily. I feel safer in Türkiye than in any US city I’ve lived in in my 76 years. We have encountered many, many kind, caring, gracious, generous, wonderful Turkish people here. Moving to Türkiye was among the best decisions we’ve ever made.
Lucky you!!
yabancı*
Nice to settle in beautiful place full of green parks like Istanbul n rest of Turkey is equally beautiful 👌
I was crazy about USA but i found Turkey best of balance between Asian n European worlds.
I’m looking to retire soon, any recommendations …
I've been several times to Istanbul, I love the city and it has a special place in my heart. But indeed the cons of the city are indeed very annoying. I live in a European city with a good infrastructure for cycling, so everytime I come to Istanbul I'm feeling disturbed by the predominant car culture there and there's no room for cyclists. But I think that's just a symptom of being a huge metropolis, everything feels crowded. The streets, the highways and public transport. Istanbul is huge in every aspect, sometimes it can feel intimidating but that's one of the issues you have to overcome to embrace this wonderful city that has a lot to offer.
thanks for being honest regarding living in Turkey. I am choosing between Fethiye or Puerto Vallarta once I escape Canada. Being a non smoker, I will just visit beautiful Turkey as a tourist and try those delicious looking Turkish foods.
Thank you lady for the informative video. I also appreciate your honesty in describing things the way they are, with integrity. This video should have 300,000 views at minimum! Keep up the good work!
All of the drama in Istanbul sounds like home to me, I'm from Chicago, I should fit right in. I'm visiting in 2 weeks and I've learned soo much from your videos! Thank you!!
Oh yeah! Chicago is another great example! Surely you’ll feel like home here in Istanbul 🎉
Thank you for watching our videos! Greetings 🎉
You would love it there. I recently visited with family and apart from snow the city was fun.
Istanbul is so much better than Chicago…no comparison
Chicago is a paradise in comparison to Istanbul. I leave in Chicago and in Istanbul. And I gree 100% with her video...and I will put more things ... She was so kind❤
@@fhd588 of course. there is a reason why istanbul is a magical magnet since ancient times. centuries of history and capitol of mighty kingdoms. not to mention climate, people and culture. there is nothing to be compared with the american sump of chicago - capitol city of dirt and murder with nasty streets and buildings.
As a Turk, I welcome all foreigners who come to our country.
People of different nationalities bring cultural diversity to our country.
Best wishes ❤
Yes! More diversity and that way we can also learn from other cultures ❤️😍
Are the foreigners you welcome in your country include Fghans Syrians and Iraqi
@@mohamedassouqi1984 Certainly. I think the same way about the ordinary Iraqis, Iranians and Syrians who don't commit crimes.
Sure once they respected Turkish law ...🙏🇹🇷🙏
But the scammers in Istanbul are very famous the government should control these.
Thank you for an honest opinion, it's good to know those things beforehand and be mentally ready for it. By the sound of it, many of those things I will dislike a lot too, up to a point it may outshine the pros, but I'll have to see for myself irl :)
Thank you; your information and opinions are quite informative.
You just confirmed that grass isn’t always greener on the other side.. I appreciate your honesty.. 🙏🏽
Hi, you scared me😅 for tomorrow I bought ticket , I am from Iran and in Iran we have more than 30 million turk( northwest of Iran ) and all of this people love istanbul and turkey, I invited you to Tehran and come and visit, for first time of my life l will come to istanbul tomorrow ,I didn't know more about that but recently I find you and learn more , thanks for great videos 😍❤
🙏🏻😍
Thank you for your videos. The information is amazing. I followed your videos while in Istanbul.
So true! Türkiye is actually least tax paying country in Europe, and cheapest one to live. But when it comes to certain items especially foreign or imported items double taxation kicks in. It's almost like government punishing you for purchasing imported goods. By the way, Turks are very proud to have any merchandise made in Türkiye. It's not just the good quality but also to support the economy.
Your videos are very practical & highly useful, thank you for sincerely sharing your Turkish experience
I totally agree with you on everything u said, I was in Istanbul November 2021 and these are all the things I noticed that I didn’t like, the crowded streets, the horrible traffic, too many smoking, the steep and up and down streets and not to mention the cats that are everywhere 😯
What I did like was that everything was cheap specially food and clothes, I love the food, it’s mostly organic and healthy, and I loved the weather during November.
Not to mention their drama series.. love love love them ❤️😍
I was In istanbul last days..my mother and I go for shopping at Taksim square and we lost the location of our hotel..Many person stopped by and they tried to tell us in their broken english and help us to get reach at our location..they were friendly...I never felt like u..some guys tries to help me with my languages... My experience in istanbul was like fairy tale...
I guess every country can relate to this. Take out the hot weather and the driving, almost everything is similar. In Europe, people don’t stop to help you either, but well! Now we can find our way with a GPS, so that’s ok. As for taxes, Western countries are known for their over rated taxes, mostly Europe. Istanbul is becoming overcrowded for people are running away from western counties for a better life. In Europe for example, where some ethnic groups are treated as second zone citizens. So Turkey is the right place for them. Small details and disadvantages will always be better than been shown and been seen like the worst kinds.
Thank you for your honesty, it helps a lot!♥️
I enjoyed your video it's the first one of yours that I have viewed.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I’ve been to Turkey 2 times. Visited few other places besides Istanbul ( Capadocia, Bodrum, Kusadaci) I have to say the smaller towns are very charming. I love Turkey and would love to visit again♥️ Istanbul is always abuz for sure. I agree with the walking slopes… it’s not for everyone. I enjoy your videos. Greetings from South Africa 🇿🇦
Bery so if you a tourist in Turkey coming in with your phone from your country,should you pay taxes on that even if you coming for say 10 to 15 days,?
Nice video. I’m Turkish American from California and moved to Istanbul a year and a half ago. I’m glad to see someone from Latin America here. I love Latino / Latina people.
What brought you here?
Thank you for your honest sharing. This is very informational for my decision making process.
Very informative. thank you
Hi… greetings from San Francisco. We’ll be visiting Turkey early next month. Thanks for your videos, we learned a lot the place and got some ideas what to visit and food to try.
Hola Berry, thank you for your honest experiences. I really appreciate your videos. I hope one day to visit there, but if I move there I prefer a smaller town by the sea. I wish you the best always and stay safe and well 🙂
Honking have a huge meanings,, every Word you wanna say like, as a turkish driver when i honk,, it might have the meaning,
take care you are so close to my car,,
Dont look at your Phone, trafik Light turned Green,
Hey lorry driver, i Will faster than you, see me and dont pass over me
And many moreeeeee 😂😂😂😂
We love to comminicate in every way
The cats, smokers, up and down hills, honking cars , stop me to visit the beautiful and culturally amazing Istanbul.
I really enjoyed what you said here. I watch lots of Turkish series and they make me wonder about how the white lines on the roads seem to never be important to the drivers. It seems they see them as suggestions instead of the legal space to drive in. They park in odd positions in undesignated spaces too. I find it all very curious.
I might be the only other non smoker here and I get it. It's almost like it's compulsory for anyone over 15 to chain smoke. I live in Moda. The cars/ traffic don't bother me but those silent electric scooters are my nemesis. Lol, they just appear out of nowhere from all directions. There are so many things to love about Istanbul though. There's nowhere quite like it.
The scooters! I should’ve mentioned it along with the motorcycles 😅! You’re so so right!
"Hold your horses", I've been enjoying your informative presentations and am imagining Istanbul/Constantinople and some of the other popular Aegean/Mediterranean Turkish cities as being among a list of most desirable destinations to visit. I'm overcome with almost Fairy Tale like emotion, sometimes, when I consider the historical significance of many places in Europe and Asia. thanks for sharing, gracias, enjoy
So for temperature and humidity better you avoid cities near the sea
I agree with you. I am aTurkish person in US.. my best wishes for you.
Hey Bery, thank you . Your videos are so useful and helpful. We plan to come To turkey during eid holiday. I wanted your assistance as I need to whether the markets ( grand bazar and eminonu will be open during eid or closed as we plan to be in istanbul from 30th april to 2nd may then fly to antalaya)
Totally agree with the video.
I've been staying in turkey for 8 months..I came from Ethiopia...the driving culture and traffic etc is almost the same except there are less accidents here
I've been using the same phone i brought from my country for 8 months and. i just had to get a sim card for 350 tl. Nothing was blocked
Thank you for your insight. I was considering relocating to Istanbul, but it’s like moving to a ‘mirror’ of my country South Africa, with regards to traffic, unkempt areas, vehicle prices and taxes. As the saying goes, ‘the grass is not always greener on the other side’ …
Thank you for your honest review! Turks don't want to hear criticism but without that nothing can improve. So you are absolutely right.
There are still many other cons though. The list is longer
Thanks for sharing .
From Holland 😘
In Mexico depends on what state/city you live the weather is also humid and very hot.
Thank you heaps for the tips
Hola Bery! Muchas gracias por la información, ha sido de gran ayuda. Viajó muy pronto a Estanbul y me gustaría saber cómo conseguir un apartamento seguro. Gracias!
I’m so curious about why you were in Ordu.
This is an amazing video and I enjoyed every bit of it and am also excited to share my investment experience for 2021, I believe it will help a lot of people here that are confused on how to start the new year and be productive for the year
From my own point of view, you need to invest smartly, if you need the good things of life. so far i've made over $505k in raw profits from just q4 of the market from my diversified portfolio strategy and i believe anyone can do it you have the right strategy. mutual funds takes long time but investing smartly is the key for short term. Most of us tend to pay more attention to the shiniest position in the market to the cost of proper diversification.
Hi Berry, I watched a few of your videos and love them. I did not know that you were from Mexico. I visited Istanbul for 4 days and now I am planning to buy a retirement home somewhere in Turkey. I am visiting again in October with my wife and 3 more couples with 3 days in Istanbul. Wondering if you can help plan our trip to Istanbul.
Nice video, thanks! I lived in Alanya for 6 months last year. Agree with everything you are saying. I want to try Istanbul this time. What area of Istanbul would you recommend in 15,000-20,000 tl rent per month range? I prefer safe area where local or English speaking people live. Not conservative, not touristy, where there are new buildings(0-5 years) with a view.
Watching videos I like Bebek and Kadikoy. Any other areas would you recommend?
then I recommend you suadıye, caddebostan area from anotolıan sıde. its stıll a nice preserved neıghborhood wıth educated turks so they are more lıkely to know englısh and plus not ın ınflux of tourısts and refugees.
I was in Turkey from Mar 22 to March 29, I personally did'nt Like TWO things(1) Every cell phone PLAN retailer has HIS own rates which varies from 300 to 500 TL for same package.
(2) Yellow ,Uber or Bitaksi cab drivers don't wana follow meter rates but they offer their own rates like Fatih to istanbul ride will cost you around 225 TL but they take 300 to 350 TL.
Yes, you are absolutely right. There is no fixed rate for Sim Cards in Istanbul even at the retail shops of the service providers like Turk Cell, Turk Telecom, Vodafone, etc. They charge 3-4 times more than the actual rate shown on the respective website. BiTaxi drivers charge much more than what shows in the App. In general, I didn't have good experience with taxi drivers in Istanbul. But, Taxi drivers are reasonably honest in the city of Izmir , Bodrum, and other parts of Turkey. I just returned from Turkey few days back
All you say is true but Istanbul seviyorum .. I m leaving after 9 months ..sim blocked and all but loved every moment in Turkey. The end was my beautiful free day in Emirgan park.
I agree with you! Regardless of all these little things, Istanbul is wonderful and I also love the city so much ❤️
Totally agree with you on many things that you disliked. I visited back in October and one of the things that really bothered me was the traffic and car honking. It was something that I don’t really see in USA. Also, one another thing was how they change sales price once they hear you speak English. We had situation when people in the front of us (Turkish) buy something in Kapali carsi and we were charged higher price after them just because we spoke English. If a tourist come to the States and sale person charged them more than our citizen that would be illegal and they would be arrested. So, I didn’t like that and also I didn’t like when we were walking down to streets and restaurant workers were so annoying trying to pull us in their restaurants.
Anything you did like? With an attitude like that, perhaps you should stay home.
Perfectly agree with you...we have been through the same situation...
2:08 My childhood time Istanbul quite city people so much polite and helpful each other’s … when I visit Istanbul unfortunately I feel alien my born city, newer come back again my green and calm Istanbul 😢 I’m asking my self why happen that? actually answer is people loving Beauty, million people wants to beauty life with money ….. my innocent city newer come back again 🥺
Hi Berry. I am visiting and want to get the Cotton Turkish Blankets..ols recommend a good wholesale place
If you go to other cities like Bursa and other Andolu cities as well as north of Turkey you will see the different
İ have been Turkey November 2021, that was Amazed place that i've seen especially the sea. As you told all of them is true. The weather nice on November. İ loved Göreme place isnt about nice view also but its about so quite and felt comfy
Great video!
Berry I agreed with you in most of your points.
1) I found that the people were very unfriendly and unhelpful, including the guys that work in the shops, including employees at the airport are also very unhelpful. To throw a smile at people is something one cannot expect as one normally does.
2) As for the driving it is called the free law driving, I think many developing countries practiced the same thing.
3) People from the US & Europe are going to find it hard getting used to smokers around.
4) I do entertain my mind to have a second home in Turkey, (not in Istanbul particularly) but after hearing about the taxes, that is kind of discouraging. Obviously the taxes on purchasing cars are just about 100%.
Hola, great information, very honest.
By the way, by sloppy, you probably mean sloping, but nevertheless that can be understood.
Your idea is not only not insulting, but gives rise to considering you as someone who cares about that city and that country.
Gracias.
For me. The issue was no food from abroad. Every major city, you will see Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Korean, Inidan, Thai, German, Taiwanese and Irish restaurants at every block. Yet they are very few in Istanbul. This is really strange. Hopefully someone can explain this to me.
i guess because the Turkish love eating their own food more than from other countries so the demand isn't there. The tourists also want to eat Turkish food so they won't want to go into a restaurant that has food they eat all year round back home. God knows really😄
Because Turkish cuisine is very special , various and unique , we are locals are satisfied with Turkish food and also foreigners love Turkish food , that is the case.
I had Italian, Chinese, Mexican or German food in Istanbul but also in other bigger cuties in Turkey. You just really have to look for them.
Nice video. Also, I think with #4 you meant 'slopy' which is referring to the hills all around the city and is pronounced with a long o and sounds like sloupy. But your subtitles say 'sloppy', which translates to dirty.
I love Turkey from Kathmandu,Nepal
Hey Berry, thank you again for such an informative video!! I have a question about banking. Do Turkish banks have good investment funds for foreign currency? like if I bring usd can I open a USD income investment account in a Turkish bank or would it HAVE to be converted to TL? Or would you have your investment Portfolio outside of Turkey and only transfer a certain portion of money at a time? Thanks. I'm just curious what people do?....
I have a USD account with işbank. So far it has served me well
Indians should feel at home in Istanbul... our driving manners are the same 😄
what about bringing a car from outside?
About the noise: I went to Beirut a few times and stopped over in Istanbul. Whenever I came back to Istanbul from Lebanon, I always thought „it’s so quiet here“ 😂 Everything is relative.
I agree that I miss bicycling - especially now that it’s necessary to have a Turkish phone number to rent a bike which is not tourist friendly. I used to love riding along the Bosporus.
I also sometimes miss the green areas (I live in Switzerland).
There is a saying in German: „smoking like a Turk“ 😁 But I actually do know some locals who are non-smokers though.
When you're right you're right. Traffic and smoking are the worst.
how u deal with your visa how long you can stay with visa please information
I liked your very much...but now I see that Turkey and Brazil have a lot iqual things...so I won't miss many things when I ger there!!!!
Thanks for your videos! So helpful and interesting. I live in Izmir and adore it. We have an enormous park and seaside so we can access nature much easier daily. 🙏I used to live in istanbul and I loved it. I travel back 3/4 times per year to enjoy the city but just for a week.
Much love from the Aegean 😘
planning to go there at May still need the hes code ? sorry for asking..thanks a lot
Hi! These are the requirements to enter Turkey as of March 4th:
th-cam.com/video/GIk7twMsR6s/w-d-xo.html
HES code not needed anymore.
Hi, I'm travelling to turkey tomorrow from uk .
As a British citizen do I need to fill locator form still ? I have fill the form twice but it doesn't have a barcode. Can you please reply me ASAP.
Thanks
th-cam.com/video/GIk7twMsR6s/w-d-xo.html
I am an American and I have a home in Sakarya. I love living there. The city of Adapazari is most beautiful in my opinion. The people are lovely we have several green spaces. We don’t drive, it scares me to death. But there is many kinds of public transportation that is very reasonable price. When we do go to Istanbul we take the bus.
The taxes are much but I think it is worth it. You are not worried about the unfriendly people. I have not met anyone yet. My husband speaks Arabic so we communicate very well.
Far as the phone goes we get SIM cards for our phone every 120 days.
Come to Sakarya and see for yourself how lovely the state is and how beautiful the people are.
Hubby speaks Turkish or Arabic?
Where is Sakaray? Which state in Turkey does it belong to?
Does yr husband speak Arabic with the local Adapazarians? Interesting :D
Turks do not speak Arabic , speak Turkish , is your husband Arab or Turk ? if your husband speak Arabic , how you get along with Turks who are speaking Turkish , I didnt uderstand your comment.
@@hamidvibes6865 Sakarya is two hours by car from Istanbul
I was in Istanbul last week and being someone who is from a small Welsh city, few things were a shock to me. They are: the traffic, the rush, the reckless driving culture ( omg! I saw so many near misses) and the poor people who are begging in the streets ( I felt emotional after seeing a large number of young children and elderly begging in the streets). Those children should be in school not begging for change. I am very grateful and more mindful of my privileges. Thank Allah for them 🙏🙏🙏
Oh begging is their profession; they're not poor as you think. Everybody knows still somebody gives money to them.
There were not so much beggasr before big amount of Syrians migration to Turkey because of war , also do not believe them , most of them are not realy poor , even some of them are coming where they will beg with expensive cars , they are changing their costumes and they are begging , some of them are acting like they are disabled eventhough they are healthy , some of them are acting like they are looking for bread from bins and when you aproach to them with pity , they demand money from you and in fact they have good lives , even some beggar gangs are collecting children from Syria , bringing them to Turkey in order to use them in begging and police are mostly catching these begging gangs , so do not become emotional and do not give money to them beacuse the ones who are relly in need never begs.
Beggars go where the money is. As soon as you go away from the crowded / touristy places, you won’t see a single beggar.
A lot of them are refugees, and we all know who is responsible for their plight
I bet in most major cities of the world there are homeless people (many who have to beg just to have enough money for food or other necessities). The "great" United States is no different - all of our major cities, and many smaller towns, have homeless populations, and not nearly enough infrastructure to support their needs. The economy has not been kind to most of the working people.
Do you register your phone once or after how long
It needs to be registered within the 120 days after you enter the country.
In Indian cities people also honk horns a lot. I thought they were impatient but the reason is just to let people know they are nearby, or coming through.
Hola, me encantan tus videos, los veo casi todos, que posibilidad real hay de enseñar español alla. Hace tiempo me quiero ir a vivir alla en el are de Antalya. Muchas gracias de antemano
Do tourist have to pay tax for their phones which they bring along?
Hi Donald! No, this is only for any person who will stay in Türkiye for at least 120 days+
Please guide me about how will I know to use public transport. I mean if I go to somewhere in Istanbul from one place to another how can I know to get bus/metro/tram etc. Is there any guidebook, app, or something else?
Google Maps, your best friend for any place you visit 💯
Do you mean it will be given on google map to get a bus, metro, train, tram, etc Need your response thank you
Of course! I always use that one and never failed me. It tells you what bus number to take, where to exchange, etc, etc.
Totally you are right
I love turkey the way it is no cribbing from my side
Enjoyed this video me and my wife are traveling next month to turkey. My wife is also mexican. Is there away she can get in touch with you. We just watch your video together. She is a nurse and we want to live in turkey for a year
thank you
Your views are honestly appreciated. But these problems are happening all over the world specially in third world countries, Asian n liberal democratic countries. People loose their civic senses n do things the way they like.
Whichever country is in a developing stage then other developed countries than the financial economical gap compels a government to levy high taxes for improving infrastructure n standards. Corruption, politics, manufacturing units also play an important factor. It seems modern mass scale electronic manufacturing units are not available, so it has to import electronics goods. Being an ancient/historical country, it depends more on tourism. Also being hilly area, there could be less basic agricultural produce. Major portion of Turkey is surrounded by water so one may face humidity during Summers. Last but least it has to import very large amount of oil n gas from other countries n this eats the country's revenue n economy.. 🌹☺️
You need to visit Winnipeg. Very flat. No crazy honking.
Getting my luggage ready! Winnipeg, here I come! 🎉🎉🎉
@@BeryIstanbulTips If you ever get to Canada, make sure you see Winnipeg!
As electronics are expensive in Turkey, do I need to worry that I will be robbed if I carry an expensive camera? I don’t see anyone in videos of Istanbul carrying a camera.
I do not agree with you about seeing that there is no greens in Istanbul there are many huge gardens and green areas but it depend where you live
ım from turkey,ı think everything you say is true
Thanks for you tips
You are right about taxes, Turkish people are being robbed officially, there are many alternatives in Turkey for other issues. For example, by moving to Çanakkale, you can still live in the Bosphorus and lead a quieter life 😉
Hola Bery! Muy buen video, soy de Uruguay y estoy en Turquía en este momento, es mi segunda visita a este hermoso país. Coincido contigo en la mayoría de las cosas. Más que nada me molestó y me llamó la atención la cultura vial, nadie es amable en el tráfico sino muy agresivos, hacen sonar la bocina todo el tiempo y se dicen de todo! 😳
Más allá de esas cosas amé Turquía en general y especialmente Estambul, una ciudad mágica con un encanto especial que la hace única, y que me hace querer volver siempre. ♥️🥰🇹🇷
True about inflation in Turkey. Change at 1USD to 13TL. By the time I arrived, it was 14.5TL. Literally in 48 hours.
And two weeks further on, it is still around 14.5 TL
Excelente video !! Confirmo de difícil que es atravesar una calle o avenida es un deporte extremo jajaja , las cuestas que hay que subir son demasiadas … pero aun adoro tu ciudad es hermosa , y los impuestos son muchos pero se quedan ahí solo basta ver que ciudad de ensueño !!! Saludos desde México !! 💟💟💟💟
What are the prospects of doctors
I do not like the motorbikes in the pedestrian areas. There are signs saying they are not allowed, but they ignore them.
Thank you so much for your videos, very informative. I'm planning to come to Turkey for living from Arizona, USA. What area you recommend to live, nice, quite and must have lots of greenery.
Berry
Can u pl be my guide for 2 days. Planning to come 13 Jul 2022
My main number one thing that I do not like are all of the taxi scans in Istanbul.
Are students who study in turkey obligated to pay taxes too?
Cada loco con su tema… :-):-):-) I hear you, 100%, especially the “everyone smoking everywhere” thing has always bugged me (I’ve been to Istanbul about… 10 times by now, but never for more than a week), BUT :-):-):-), if you ask me, if I had a magic wand and I could change ONE thing about Istanbul and Turkey in general, that would be the super frustrating and practically prohibitive (I would go that far as to call it “hostile”) policy of theirs regarding how tickets for football matches are sold (hence “cada loco con su tema” :-):-)). As a foreigner visiting Turkey for a few days, trying to buy a match ticket feels like… mission impossible.
I would add disliking taxi drivers not going by meter and overcharging.
Hola Bery, somos una pareja de mexicanos que nos encantó Turkía. Crees que 30,000 TL al mes sea más que suficiente para poder retirarnos en Antalya?
Hola! Desde luego! Con eso viven como reyes.Antalya no es tan caro como Estambul así que con 15 mil al mes viven súper bien, sin limitaciones, etc.
as a native i would also add "we are very loud nation (tradition-wise); when we are getting married, or joining army, or participating a football match, or even religious activities, we make so much noise pollution" i freaking hate it.. and also we litter
So true, is pollution yani 😫
At first, it was interesting to me, now it isn’t. Especially all the noise some make in the middle of the night before going to the military service, is extremely loud. 😂
Interesting 🤔
Well done for bringing up cultural aspects of the society. 👍
everyone culture has pros and cons