Civilized East
Our first visit to Turkey. A year has passed since the trip, so with a clear head, without unnecessary emotions, I decided to share my impressions of the trip to this eastern country.
They flew from Ufa, also with a Pegasus. I hope that I will never have to fly from Ufa again, because it was a nightmare.
We live in Magnitogorsk, it's about 450 km from Ufa and, in principle, there are no problems to get there by car. Therefore, we ordered a transfer, we were picked up from the threshold of the house and delivered to the airport entrance in advance, about an hour before the plane's departure. And when we were already at the airport building, we were told that the flight was delayed by 2 hours (the flight was at night at 4 am). We had to dry out for 3 hours at the airport, and the international waiting room in Ufa was the size of the local bus station, that is, there weren’t enough seats for everyone who wanted to. Okay, we sat out - they announced registration, passed it and then they began to marinate us. The flight was delayed every half an hour, an hour.
As a result, we flew out somewhere at the beginning of 10. During our stay in the waiting room, I managed to visit the Kutsi Ufa duty free, with boorish saleswomen. I did not buy anything, because in our city it is cheaper than there. I also looked at how airport employees work with luggage. Or rather, how they throw him out of the cargo hold of the plane onto the carts. But all this failed to kill the positive.
Upon arrival, I really liked the Antalya airport. Huge, light, beautiful. Hurghada is more modest. The visa was issued faster and easier than in Egypt. True, in Egypt, we were accompanied by a Pegasus employee before and after the bus. Here we had to stomp ourselves, but at the exit from the airport the people were met and assigned to buses depending on the direction of travel.
On the way, we stopped at a bunch of hotels, ours turned out to be the penultimate one along the route, so we managed to visually see the facades and territory of several hotels.
It seemed that the choice was right.
At the hotel, we still had to wait a little longer for check-in, because we arrived earlier. No problem, we left the suitcases in the storage room, walked around the territory and went for a late breakfast.
We were given a room on the 4th floor. The room is clean and beautiful. The bathroom is large and spacious. Furniture (for fans of new furniture in the rooms, I specifically specify) in excellent condition. The windows really looked at the suburbs and not at the sea, but this did not upset us.
The minibar was ok. The safe in the room is paid, and something was not weakly asked, I didn’t want to pay, so I stupidly picked up the password, changed it and used it until the end of the trip, thanks. Actually, the hotel employees are people too, so they didn’t bother and put 1234. You can try the room number, etc.
It can be seen that the hotel is well maintained. The place is clean, everything is fresh. Geographically located in the suburbs of Alanya. Nearby there are all kinds of shops with clothes, souvenirs, etc.
There are a couple of minimarkets, with non-tourist prices, in which the Turks themselves shop. We also bought all sorts of bath products, shampoos and other things there. On Wednesdays there is a large mobile clothing market (It is called the Durak Market, the Turks felt that the Russians would go to them =)).
Immediately far away from shopping. Alanya is not Istanbul, it is a tourist zone and prices are higher here. There is no special freebie. In this clothing market, you need to bargain until you win. The prices are set high, for most of us interested, in the local shop the prices were lower. Souvenirs too, if you are interested, do not rush to buy near the hotel, wander around. Fruits/vegetables etc. can also be purchased. They took medlar (garbage, tasteless, such as unsweetened peach), mini melon (also fresh) and strawberries (super, strawberries are honey! I advise). There are car and scooter rentals. The hotel itself has a leather goods shop. The owner of the hotel runs his own Ottimo brand. As a non-fan, I didn't appreciate it.
And the prices are not Istanbul, rather for the Germans and other foreigners.
The sea is across the road, which is not a problem, because there is an underpass. There is also a tennis court, a playground and a beach bar. In principle, there are all sorts of snacks, you can hang out there and not go to the main restaurant. The highlight is pizza in the morning. Recommend. Tasty. And more cakes.
There were no problems with sunbeds on the beach. We were with the sea - we only managed to swim for a couple of days and a storm began. Naturally, they immediately hung up "no swimming", but this did not stop anyone and the people frolicked to their heart's content on large waves. But even without taking into account the storm, the sea here is garbage, compared to the Egyptian red. Muddy, even in calm, though Mediterranean, but reminiscent of Black in Sochi.
The hotel has a free sauna, you can walk at least every day. After it, jumping into an indoor cold pool is generally super.
They offer boors, like 40 dollars, don't take it. They are disgusting, fast, unprofessional.
It is better to buy a trip to the hamam at a travel agency near the hotel. We took a hammam at the hotel, we didn’t like it, they stupidly cut down the loot. Friends traveled from a travel agency - they were delighted.
The outdoor pool is large enough, there is one slide. In principle, you can diversify lying in the sun. Here with sunbeds more problematic, but not critical, they are often released.
Now for the feeding. In total, I counted 4 places for eating on the territory - this is the main restaurant, a bar in the lobby, a bar by the sea and a pool bar. The lobby bar is not exactly for eating, because there are only drinks there. The pool bar in the evening too, but during the day they serve snacks in the form of hamburgers, tortillas and other things.
Meat here is mostly turkey, as I understand it, but they cook deliciously. There is a grill. Desserts for four. Many dishes that consist in general of the same thing, just look different. The only fruits were apples and oranges. Vegetables were native, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.
Total food - 4 out of 5. There were enough places for everyone, tables are set for dinner near the pool.
The hotel has good animation. Unless of course you need it. In the evenings, all sorts of performances, the rest of the time, aqua aerobics, darts, etc. But for ordinary vacationers, there is little variety, and by the middle of the stay, monotonous exclamations at darts or aram zam zam in the original German performance are in order. However, if you are a party person, you can go to a local club with animators. The people went, like without consequences.
Immediately upon arrival, guides will begin to massage you for the purchase of excursions. We did not bother and took from them. Some took in a local travel agency - went, there were no problems, in fact everything is the same.
Excursions to your taste, we went to the temple of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Troy water park and the panoramic view of Antalya.
Antalya sightseeing tour is the cheapest, like $10 per person.
During this tour you will take a bus ride to Antalya, ride a yacht to the waterfall and see the city. But the main purpose of the tour for guides is to drag you around the shops with which the tour operator has an agreement =) and, accordingly, dilute you for shopping. I’ll tell you right away - where they will take you, the prices are initially high, it’s almost impossible to bargain and you won’t be able to buy something at a normal price. It's just milking tourists. We didn't buy anything on this tour. But like I said, you can see the city for cheap. ; )
I highly recommend Troya Water Park if you like water slides. It is great. Slides for every taste from calm to suicidal. After some slides, the men come out in thongs. There are really scary closed ones, in which you rush and you can’t see anything. Well, the dessert for the trip is an aqua show with a performance of seals, killer whales, dolphins, etc.
Worth a look. The food here is very good. But the locker rooms are really spartan.
For 12 days we managed to relax enough and see the sights, and we already wanted to go home. Turkey left the impression of an eastern but even a European civilized country. Merchants here are also very civilized and will not be dragged into their store.
If you ask me where I want to go next time, I will say without a doubt - to Egypt! Egypt beckons with its mystery, its chic climate and beautiful sea. And annoying merchants can be endured.
P. S. To call home, buy yourself a payphone card - cheap and high quality.
P. P. S. I almost forgot =) While you are driving to the hotel from the airport, you will definitely be told about the marvelous sweet shop, which you will definitely visit at the end of your vacation, on the way back, on the way to the airport.
They will even begin to convince you that only real Turkish delight is there, and they will dissuade you from buying it in other shops. So, all this is nonsense and another milking of tourists. The prices in this wonderful store are almost three times higher, and the assortment is the same as in other shops and markets. Well, who during the holidays did not buy sweets home, they are forced to take them here.
Good luck with your trip and have a nice holiday everyone! Rest wisely!
