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I've been a long-term lurker on these forums and benefitted from the likes of FluffyBunny posting scarce information about this region so thought I should contribute. I flew to Erbil on 13 May, transiting through Istanbul.
I was nervous as I fit the profile of a potential jihadist - young, single, male, dark-complexioned, from an EU nation and mysteriously travelling to Iraq for 'tourism'. But the airport security people didn't ask me a single question. I was amazed and pleasantly surprised. I was stamped right in! Also, I got a day tourist visa. My passport is Irish but all the info online says to expect a day visa on arrival for US and EU citizens. Maybe they've changed the policy.
My return flight was booked exactly 15 days after arrival so it's not that he was trying to cater for a return flight booked more than 15 days after arrival.
City centre parks are safe to wander in the darkness of night and petty crime and assaults are practically unheard of. Kurdish people are very open and welcoming and it won't be long before you make friends, if you are open to it.
