Brits heading to Turkey told to make one 'check' before travelling
The Foreign Office has issued fresh travel guidance for those jetting off to Turkey. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) serves as the UK's foreign affairs ministry and governmental department. The FCDO represents the government body tasked with safeguarding and advancing British interests globally.
It regularly updates the public on travel developments, providing essential guidance before international journeys. In its most recent Turkey advisory, the Foreign Office has revealed details regarding e-sim usage within the country, with the announcement appearing on Gov.uk. The guidance warns: "Access to some e-sim services is restricted in Turkey. Check with your provider before travelling."
The destination remains incredibly sought-after amongst tourists, featuring numerous holiday resorts and welcoming millions of UK visitors annually. When travelling overseas, countless travellers prefer utilising international eSIMs, though those planning Turkish getaways must now consider fresh restrictions, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Travel specialist Juan David Soler from Holafly has issued an urgent alert to British holidaymakers, urging swift action before departing for their preferred Turkish destinations.
He warned: "Turkey's sudden ban on eSIMs has caught many travellers off guard, and it's vital that UK holidaymakers heading there this summer take action before they fly. eSIMs have become the go-to option for Brits wanting affordable mobile data abroad without the hassle of physical SIMs or costly roaming. But now, travellers will no longer be able to activate a new eSIM once they arrive in Turkey."
The travel expert continued: "To avoid getting caught out, UK travellers should ensure their eSIM is fully downloaded and activated before leaving the UK."
"This means setting up your digital SIM while still on UK networks, and confirming it's working properly before departure. Otherwise, you could be left without internet access the moment you land, which can be a serious issue if you rely on your phone for maps, transport, or bookings," Juan explained.
Should you decide to travel, it's essential to research your destinations thoroughly and secure suitable travel insurance. Your insurance policy should encompass your itinerary, planned activities and expenses during emergencies.
Do Brits need visa for Turkey?
British citizens can travel to Turkey up to 90 days within 180 days without a visa, whether for tourism or business purposes.
For Turkish entry requirements, the passport must remain valid for at least 150 days beyond the arrival date and contain a minimum of one blank page. It's advisable to verify with the travel provider that the passport and additional travel documents meet all requirements, and renew the passport if necessary.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
8 hours ago
- Metro
Man picks 'dirt from under his partner's toenails' during easyJet flight
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A holidaymaker saw a fellow passenger 'pick dirt from under his partner's toenails' during an EasyJet flight. Erin Butcher, 27, had been enjoying a seven-day family holiday in Tenerife, Spain, when her return journey home took a nasty twist. When looking around in the packed plane, she saw a woman's bare feet splayed out on a tray table. The fashion merchandiser from Southwark, London, said she felt 'disgusted' when noticing a man then appeared to be giving her a makeshift pedicure. Footage shows how he used his bare hands to flick bits of dirt off her manicured toenails. The couple continued the bizarre grooming activity for around 20 minutes, Erin claimed, and were unfazed by other passengers' confused reactions. The holidaymaker said the toenail incident was a 'depressing' way to end her week-long holiday. She said: 'I felt so disgusted and I couldn't believe it. 'The partner was sprawled across the seats with her feet on the tray table, which was shocking enough. 'Her partner then started picking at her toenails and flicking little bits [of dirt] everywhere. It was disgusting. 'I was absolutely horrified. I was with my family and none of us could actually believe what was happening.' Erin described the activity as 'questionable' but felt relieved she was not sat next to them on the over the four-hour trip home. She continued: 'Even to do that in the privacy of your own home is questionable but to put them on a tray table where people are eating off all day. 'I was relieved I wasn't sitting next to them. I had the perfect view from my aisle seat which is horrifying. I couldn't really take my eyes off even though I wanted to.' She labelled the couple's toenail session as 'unhygenic' and said most passengers laughed at the pair, while others seemed horrified. Erin said: 'As if things aren't depressing enough when your week in the sun has just ended and you're faced with toe picking the whole way home.' When the Londoner shared the video on TikTok, many users expressed their disgust in the comments. More Trending One user simply wrote, 'totally gross', while another said, 'save it for later'. Another commenter suggested toenail picking should not be tolerated in any situation, adding: 'That's disgusting anywhere'. A different user simply asked the question: 'Why on earth?' Metro has approached EasyJet for a comment. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: British holidaymakers terrified after plane tyre explodes on take-off MORE: Billionaire hotel tycoon reveals £25,000,000,000 Heathrow expansion plan MORE: Ryanair axes all flights to three European destinations — including a winter break hotspot
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Holiday hotspots where vapes can get you fines and 10-year prison sentences
Many holiday destinations have serious laws on vaping where travellers could be fined or worse jailed on holiday, warnings have been issued to travellers to ensure they know the rules before they fly These are the holiday hotspots where vapes can land you in serious trouble. Travellers may be fined, detained or even jailed for taking or using their vapes in these countries. The UK have cracked down on their own vaping laws and these popular holiday destinations also have their own that must be taken seriously. Experts at Vape Ease UK have warned British travellers to check laws before flying as there are many destinations where travellers could be in for a shock and serious action has been taken on vaping. From Thailand and India's jail time to Mexico and Singapore bans, tourists have been issued serious warnings. It comes after a flight attendant urges tourists to always leave a shoe in their hotel room safe. Turkey More than 4.4 million Brits visited Turkey in the last year and due to its popularity it's necessary to know the vaping laws. The country bans the sale of vapes, whilst using them is allowed only in certain areas like smoking zones. Travellers can only bring one device, spare pods or refill bottles that are no greater than 30ml in volume or up to 10 disposable vapes per person. You must also be 19 years old to vape in Turkey. According to e-cigarettes and e-liquids are also classed as tobacco products so all the restrictions applied to smoking also apply to vaping. India Vaping in India has been banned since 2019 when they introduced the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) which banned everything to do with electronic nicotine products - production, sales, imports, exports, transport, storage and advertisement. E-cigarettes cover all types: refillable vapes, disposable vapes, heat-not-burn (HnB) products, and E-hookahs. Travellers can face fines, imprisonment or both if caught doing any of the above. First time offenders who violate the ban could face up to one year in prison, or a fine of £1000 or both. For subsequent offences, this would increase to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of £5000. Denmark Whilst vaping in Denmark is legal there are certain rules and restrictions that apply: such as the age limit of 18 years old where you can purchase and use vapes. Flavoured E-liquids are banned which came into effect in April 2021, only tobacco-flavoured ones are allowed. Vaping is allowed in public places but not in all areas such as on public transport, schools and childcare facilities, and certain indoor spaces like bars and restaurants may have their own policies so you must check. UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) Vaping is legal in the UAE but must meet the standards set by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA). Like most countries you must be at least 18 to purchase a vape in the UAE. There are designated areas where people can vape. If these rules are not followed then penalties can include a minimum imprisonment of one year for serious offences and a fine ranging from £20 000 to £200 000. Australia Australia's approach to vaping is a medical one as of July 2024, all vaping products can only be sold in a pharmacy for the purpose of assisting those that are trying to quit smoking or manage their nicotine. From March 2024, travellers entering the country can only bring a small quantity of vapes with them. The vapes must only be for the traveller's treatment or someone they are caring for. The maximum allowed is 2 vapes in total, 20 vape accessories and 200ml of vape substance liquid. Mexico The sale of vapes in Mexico is generally banned, and there are certain public places where a vape is not allowed in: Indoor public spaces (bars, restaurants, shops and government buildings), workplaces and public transport. When travelling they advise, to pack it in your checked luggage, carry a small amount of e-liquid and if questioned by customs officials to answer any questions about your vape and its intended use. Thailand Thailand have some of the strictest rules overall as e-cigarettes are illegal since 2014. Anyone found breaking this law could be arrested and face jail time of up to 10 years or fined up to £700. Travellers are advised not to bring any e-cigarettes with them or any item associated with them. Travellers should be aware of the ban beforehand as tourists in the past have been arrested before having not known. Hong Kong Hong Kong state imports, manufacture, and sale of vapes have been banned since 2022 but not the use of it, however laws are set to change by early to mid 2026. Breaking these laws will result in heavy fines of up to £200 000. Japan Japan vaping laws are heavily regulated, nicotine e-liquids are classified as medicinal products and travellers can only bring up to 120ml of e-liquid. Non -nicotine vapes are allowed and do not face restrictions. Vaping in public spaces is strictly banned unless in a designated smoking zone. They have strict penalties in place for those who break these rules with heavy fines or imprisonment. Singapore Singapore have a zero-tolerance policy with vaping that includes importing, selling or using e-cigarettes as illegal. You can face fines of up to £2300, legal trouble and confiscations at customs if seen with a vape. A spokesperson from Vape Ease UK warned travellers that the "last thing anyone wants is to be detained or fined on holiday. In places like Thailand and Hong Kong, the laws are shockingly strict. When in doubt - leave your vape behind." It is not worth the risk bringing your vape on holiday. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Metro
13 hours ago
- Metro
The world's funniest countries revealed — and Brits won't be happy
Laughter might be a universal language, but let's be honest, some people are just funnier than others. And, whether it's deadpan delivery, playful banter or self-deprecating sarcasm, each country has its own comedic signature. If your ideal holiday includes more than just lounging on the beach or ticking off tourist attractions, and you want a place where the locals make you laugh, you might want to listen up. A new global ranking has named the world's funniest countries. But Brits shouldn't get too cocky. We might be a nation of dry humour and relentless sarcasm, but the UK hasn't even made the top 10. In a survey by Remitly, over 6,000 people across 30 countries were asked to complete something called the Humour Styles Questionnaire. It's a psychological tool created in 2003 by researcher Rod Martin, designed to examine not just if someone is funny, but how they express their humour. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. The winner? Perhaps surprisingly, it was Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic). Scoring 72.33 out of a possible 112 on the questionnaire, the Czechs came out top thanks to their strength in self-defeating humour. They also scored high for aggressive humour, which Remitly describes as 'a potent mix of self-deprecation, razor-sharp irony, and expertly wielded sarcasm. The Czech humour isn't loud or performative; it's dry and operates on well-placed jabs and deadpan delivery. According to Remitly: 'Czechs have refined humour into a survival tool, using wit as psychological armour that has evolved into a defining national characteristic.' In second place was Portugal, scoring 71.42. Remitly says Portuguese humour leans more into affiliative and aggressive styles, leaving them with a sense of humour that blends warmth and wit. 'Known for quick-thinking jokes, they often use humour to charm, tease, and disarm,' it explains. Ireland took third place with 71.18 – a result that probably won't shock anyone who's ever been around someone from Ireland. According to Remitly, Ireland scored high for affiliative and self-enhancing humour. 'This may align with the Irish's reputation for friendliness and excellent storytelling. It's a great combination of humour styles, leading to citizens of Ireland being sharp, charming and relatable.' More Trending Belgium followed close behind (71.12), with Chile and Greece tied for fifth at 71.08. As for the UK? Eighteenth. Behind Canada and just ahead of South Africa. A ranking that may leave British comedy fans clutching their box sets of Peep Show and The Office in disbelief. Hey, at least we weren't in last place. Sorry, Norway, we hate to break it to you. Czechia Portugal Ireland Belgium Chile Greece Australia Poland Denmark Hungary Switzerland Netherlands France Mexico Austria Estonia Canada UK South Africa Norway. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: A new high-speed train is set to link three of Europe's coolest capital cities MORE: Prague hit by major power outage impacting thousands of people across Czech capital
