We fancy a trip to Trabzon next year to have a look at the place (as it was an eastern outpost of the Byzantine Empire) and to try to see Sumela Monastery and whatever else might be around there. We have no experience of Turkey but plenty of experience of independent travel in out of the way spots in Greece, which may be a completely different kettle of fish for religious and cultural reasons.

The FCO website doesn’t mention any specific problems in NE Turkey but rates SE Turkey as a no-go area – starting about 100 miles south of the Black Sea coast. Also, it rates the western resorts as potential trouble spots! (Not that we believe everyting we read on their website – if we did we’d never leave this country!)

Anyone been and have any insights and / or experiences to offer? Is it safer to go to places that western visitors don’t usually visit than to go to high profile resorts?

We’re not being xenophobic, just a little cautious about going somewhere completely outside our usual sphere of experience.

Thanks!