We, for many years, have been resting in a small company and want to share our knowledge, experience, observations and hope that they will be useful to you.
SELECTING A COUNTRY* Now the question is: "Where is it better to go on vacation? " We have made our choice and for several years now we have been going on summer vacations only to Turkey - in our opinion, this is the only country where you can have a good and inexpensive vacation. Along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea stretched a chain consisting of resort towns, towns, villages and hotels. The Turks are very hospitable and treat all tourists well, making no difference between Germans, Dutch, Russians. We do not aim to idealize this country and its people, we just want to share our impressions.
RESORTS* The first time we rested in Belek, in the hotel Cezars. The hotel is excellent: huge territory, large pool, good food and service. Around the hotel there is a fence made of barbed wire and towers, and behind them is a pine forest.
This hotel and other hotels in Belek are designed for tourists who spend their holidays on site. The center of the village can be reached by a minibus without glasses, or by taxi. There is nothing interesting in the village.
There are also beautiful large hotels in Side, but, like in Belek, there is nowhere to go, except for the Oksid disco and the ruins of the ancient city. It is not worth making any more or less significant purchases in these villages, since, having almost no competitors, sellers bend prices.
Kemer is very popular among our tourists. A very beautiful cozy resort where you can find a hotel of any class, but due to the proximity of the mountains, at the beginning and at the end of the season the weather often changes, it rains. It makes sense to go there at the height of the season (from the end of May to the beginning of September).
We have not been to other resorts in this country, so we cannot say anything about them, although we have heard good reviews about Marmaris, Kusadasi, etc.
ALANYA * We really liked Alanya (namely Alanya, not Alanya, as they often mistakenly write; Alanya is in the Caucasus, and Alanya is a resort in Turkey, on the Mediterranean Sea, 135 km from Antalya) - a small and very beautiful town with with a population of 130 thousand people, where ancient and modern buildings coexist, where there are excellent conditions for recreation, especially for youth (you can’t list everything), so from year to year, we choose Alanya.
HOTEL SELECTION* There are a lot of hotels, from 2 to 5 stars - they are located along the entire coast. It all depends on how you want to relax, with whom you came, etc. We stayed in Botanica (a good hotel, but overcrowded), at the Kemal Bay hotel (we will never go there again - we can list the shortcomings for a long time, but we do not recommend to go to this ... , even on a very "burning" ticket), it was good in Banana until a new building was built.
We really liked the Iberostar Club Alantour hotel (only positive emotions) and we recommend it to you. If I could sum it up in one word, it would be GREAT!! ! There are 25 km. from Alanya, the chic Pegasos hotel, with a beautiful sandy beach, but expensive, so make your choice.
If you decide to relax in Turkey, in Alanya, we want to give you some tips that will undoubtedly come in handy.
MONEY* It's better to take dollars with you on a trip (you can buy for $ 10 what they sell for 10 euros, etc. ). Do not change the currency for local money (Turkish lira) at the Antalya airport, at the hotel reception, in small shops - the exchange rate is very unfavorable. It is better to do it in Alanya, in the official exchange office, under the CHANGE OFFICE sign. Practically, in any store they accept currency without restrictions, so it makes sense to change a small amount to pay for small purchases, for travel from the hotel to the city, etc.
In large centers you can pay with our rubles, but at the rate of 30 rubles. - 1$. If you are a fan of ATMs, do not withdraw money after the bank closes, especially on the eve of departure, because if the ATM swallows the card, you will leave without it. If, during the work of the bank, the ATM swallows the card, then you need to present your passport and it will be returned to you. We got into such a story, so we want to warn you. Turkish ATMs have a feature - if you carry out a transaction for a long time, the ATM "starts to think" that you have forgotten the card and swallows it so that it does not get to another.
EXCURSIONS* You land at the airport of Antalya, go through customs control (often formal), buy a stamp for $ 20, which is pasted into your passport (it gives you the right to stay in the country for 2 months), then the guides of the host travel agency meet, sit on buses and drive to the hotel.
On the way, the guide begins to colorfully talk about excursions that cost him 2.3, and sometimes 4 times more expensive than you can order in other travel agencies. The guide explains this by saying that if we do not go with their company and something happens to us, the insurance will be invalid and begins to tell terrible stories (more like scenes from horror films) that happened to tourists who decided to go with another company and low prices. Of course, a guide can be understood when he wants to sell for $60 what you can buy for $15, but his words about the invalidity of insurance are complete nonsense, just read the terms of insurance carefully and make sure that it is valid throughout Turkey, for everything rest time, which are stipulated there, literally point by point, all the conditions, where nothing is said that the host travel agency is the guarantor of insurance.
To our surprise, there were many tourists who believed the guide and bought excursions at a very high price. They were captive to the stereotype - "the more expensive, the more reliable. "
We take excursions from our friend, whom we have known for many years and we advise you. We give the prices at which we went on excursions: rafting (descent on inflatable rafts along a mountain river) - $ 15; day trip on a yacht (all inclusive) - $ 15; jeep safari - $15; diving (2 dives) - $35; pamukkale 1 day (there is for 2 days, but we were sorry to lose a day) - $ 30; Turkish bath - $20; perge-aspendos-side - $ 20; there were other excursions, but we didn't go, so we don't remember the prices. I would like to note that despite the low prices, the service was not lower than on excursions organized by guides at the hotel, and the bathhouse was even better (there was no "conveyor line") and on all excursions there were Russian-speaking guides, except for the yacht (where he was especially not needed).
In addition to low prices, our friend has other advantages that hotel guides do not have.
Let's start with the fact that excursions can be ordered either by phone or by sending an SMS and pay when they pick you up at the hotel. Also, at any time it was possible to refuse or reschedule to another day, and the guides at the hotel have excursions on certain days and they take money in advance, on the first day and it is almost impossible to return them. Our friend has a Turkish name, but he is better known as Zakhar. His phone number (mobile) is 00905324546496 (full dial) - call or send SMS - ku, he will call you back. Zakhar is a proven and reliable friend - that's why we recommend you. If the guide sees that you are not going on excursions with their company, he starts having an attack of rabies (at least get vaccinated), he begins to threaten that he will not take you to the airport, that you will get there yourself, etc. We were also told this, but we replied that our transfer was paid for and if the guide does not calm down, we will sue and look for suckers elsewhere.
SHOPPING* On the 2nd day of rest, the guides take you on a sightseeing tour, the cost of which is symbolic - 5 or 10 $. After giving a little information about the history of the city, taking you to the fortress and cave "Damlatash", the guide begins to praise the shopping centers to which you will be taken. According to him, only the tourists of their firms make "the biggest discounts" and offer "the highest quality goods" (roughly the same thing is said by guides of other firms). We never buy anything in shops on the territory of the hotel (behind the fence it is always cheaper), at various exhibitions and sales of leather products in the evening at the hotel, in shopping centers where guides bring, because over the years we have made friends in leather, jewelry, textile , souvenir and other shops in Alanya. If you are interested in shopping, it is better to go to Alanya, where there are more shops (only over three hundred leather ones, about the same number of jewelry stores, if not more), and there is a choice, and prices are lower, and you can bargain.
If you decide to bargain, then you must follow the unwritten rule: if you name your price, you must buy; if you are not ready to buy - do not name your price. You can get to Alanya by regular minibuses (dolmush in Turkish) - they come to the central square, located near the market.
As soon as the dolmush stops, dubious types run up to him (the same ones walk along the streets of the city) importunately offering their services - you should not deal with them, and if they bother you, say that you don’t need anything, that you bought everything and arrived just walk around the city. By the way, you can ask Zakhar about shopping - he will recommend only the best, there is no doubt. It makes sense to buy in Turkey, because the difference in price remains, sometimes quite significant.
If you are going shopping, you should not take large sums of money with you - any large purchase can be paid at the hotel, and you should not carry your passport, tickets, etc. , but it is advisable to rent a safe.
We hope you find our tips useful! If you want to ask something - write! We will try to answer everyone. If you are in Alanya - say hello to Zakhar from Penza, from Gena, Volodya, Stas, Seryoga! We wish you a good rest!
SELECTING A COUNTRY* Now the question is: "Where is it better to go on vacation? " We have made our choice and for several years now we have been going on summer vacations only to Turkey - in our opinion, this is the only country where you can have a good and inexpensive vacation. Along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea stretched a chain consisting of resort towns, towns, villages and hotels. The Turks are very hospitable and treat all tourists well, making no difference between Germans, Dutch, Russians. We do not aim to idealize this country and its people, we just want to share our impressions.
RESORTS* The first time we rested in Belek, in the hotel Cezars. The hotel is excellent: huge territory, large pool, good food and service. Around the hotel there is a fence made of barbed wire and towers, and behind them is a pine forest.
This hotel and other hotels in Belek are designed for tourists who spend their holidays on site. The center of the village can be reached by a minibus without glasses, or by taxi. There is nothing interesting in the village.
There are also beautiful large hotels in Side, but, like in Belek, there is nowhere to go, except for the Oksid disco and the ruins of the ancient city. It is not worth making any more or less significant purchases in these villages, since, having almost no competitors, sellers bend prices.
Kemer is very popular among our tourists. A very beautiful cozy resort where you can find a hotel of any class, but due to the proximity of the mountains, at the beginning and at the end of the season the weather often changes, it rains. It makes sense to go there at the height of the season (from the end of May to the beginning of September).
We have not been to other resorts in this country, so we cannot say anything about them, although we have heard good reviews about Marmaris, Kusadasi, etc.
ALANYA * We really liked Alanya (namely Alanya, not Alanya, as they often mistakenly write; Alanya is in the Caucasus, and Alanya is a resort in Turkey, on the Mediterranean Sea, 135 km from Antalya) - a small and very beautiful town with with a population of 130 thousand people, where ancient and modern buildings coexist, where there are excellent conditions for recreation, especially for youth (you can’t list everything), so from year to year, we choose Alanya.
HOTEL SELECTION* There are a lot of hotels, from 2 to 5 stars - they are located along the entire coast. It all depends on how you want to relax, with whom you came, etc. We stayed in Botanica (a good hotel, but overcrowded), at the Kemal Bay hotel (we will never go there again - we can list the shortcomings for a long time, but we do not recommend to go to this ... , even on a very "burning" ticket), it was good in Banana until a new building was built.
We really liked the Iberostar Club Alantour hotel (only positive emotions) and we recommend it to you. If I could sum it up in one word, it would be GREAT!! ! There are 25 km. from Alanya, the chic Pegasos hotel, with a beautiful sandy beach, but expensive, so make your choice.
If you decide to relax in Turkey, in Alanya, we want to give you some tips that will undoubtedly come in handy.
MONEY* It's better to take dollars with you on a trip (you can buy for $ 10 what they sell for 10 euros, etc. ). Do not change the currency for local money (Turkish lira) at the Antalya airport, at the hotel reception, in small shops - the exchange rate is very unfavorable. It is better to do it in Alanya, in the official exchange office, under the CHANGE OFFICE sign. Practically, in any store they accept currency without restrictions, so it makes sense to change a small amount to pay for small purchases, for travel from the hotel to the city, etc.
In large centers you can pay with our rubles, but at the rate of 30 rubles. - 1$. If you are a fan of ATMs, do not withdraw money after the bank closes, especially on the eve of departure, because if the ATM swallows the card, you will leave without it. If, during the work of the bank, the ATM swallows the card, then you need to present your passport and it will be returned to you. We got into such a story, so we want to warn you. Turkish ATMs have a feature - if you carry out a transaction for a long time, the ATM "starts to think" that you have forgotten the card and swallows it so that it does not get to another.
EXCURSIONS* You land at the airport of Antalya, go through customs control (often formal), buy a stamp for $ 20, which is pasted into your passport (it gives you the right to stay in the country for 2 months), then the guides of the host travel agency meet, sit on buses and drive to the hotel.
On the way, the guide begins to colorfully talk about excursions that cost him 2.3, and sometimes 4 times more expensive than you can order in other travel agencies. The guide explains this by saying that if we do not go with their company and something happens to us, the insurance will be invalid and begins to tell terrible stories (more like scenes from horror films) that happened to tourists who decided to go with another company and low prices. Of course, a guide can be understood when he wants to sell for $60 what you can buy for $15, but his words about the invalidity of insurance are complete nonsense, just read the terms of insurance carefully and make sure that it is valid throughout Turkey, for everything rest time, which are stipulated there, literally point by point, all the conditions, where nothing is said that the host travel agency is the guarantor of insurance.
To our surprise, there were many tourists who believed the guide and bought excursions at a very high price. They were captive to the stereotype - "the more expensive, the more reliable. "
We take excursions from our friend, whom we have known for many years and we advise you. We give the prices at which we went on excursions: rafting (descent on inflatable rafts along a mountain river) - $ 15; day trip on a yacht (all inclusive) - $ 15; jeep safari - $15; diving (2 dives) - $35; pamukkale 1 day (there is for 2 days, but we were sorry to lose a day) - $ 30; Turkish bath - $20; perge-aspendos-side - $ 20; there were other excursions, but we didn't go, so we don't remember the prices. I would like to note that despite the low prices, the service was not lower than on excursions organized by guides at the hotel, and the bathhouse was even better (there was no "conveyor line") and on all excursions there were Russian-speaking guides, except for the yacht (where he was especially not needed).
In addition to low prices, our friend has other advantages that hotel guides do not have.
Let's start with the fact that excursions can be ordered either by phone or by sending an SMS and pay when they pick you up at the hotel. Also, at any time it was possible to refuse or reschedule to another day, and the guides at the hotel have excursions on certain days and they take money in advance, on the first day and it is almost impossible to return them. Our friend has a Turkish name, but he is better known as Zakhar. His phone number (mobile) is 00905324546496 (full dial) - call or send SMS - ku, he will call you back. Zakhar is a proven and reliable friend - that's why we recommend you. If the guide sees that you are not going on excursions with their company, he starts having an attack of rabies (at least get vaccinated), he begins to threaten that he will not take you to the airport, that you will get there yourself, etc. We were also told this, but we replied that our transfer was paid for and if the guide does not calm down, we will sue and look for suckers elsewhere.
SHOPPING* On the 2nd day of rest, the guides take you on a sightseeing tour, the cost of which is symbolic - 5 or 10 $. After giving a little information about the history of the city, taking you to the fortress and cave "Damlatash", the guide begins to praise the shopping centers to which you will be taken. According to him, only the tourists of their firms make "the biggest discounts" and offer "the highest quality goods" (roughly the same thing is said by guides of other firms). We never buy anything in shops on the territory of the hotel (behind the fence it is always cheaper), at various exhibitions and sales of leather products in the evening at the hotel, in shopping centers where guides bring, because over the years we have made friends in leather, jewelry, textile , souvenir and other shops in Alanya. If you are interested in shopping, it is better to go to Alanya, where there are more shops (only over three hundred leather ones, about the same number of jewelry stores, if not more), and there is a choice, and prices are lower, and you can bargain.
If you decide to bargain, then you must follow the unwritten rule: if you name your price, you must buy; if you are not ready to buy - do not name your price. You can get to Alanya by regular minibuses (dolmush in Turkish) - they come to the central square, located near the market.
As soon as the dolmush stops, dubious types run up to him (the same ones walk along the streets of the city) importunately offering their services - you should not deal with them, and if they bother you, say that you don’t need anything, that you bought everything and arrived just walk around the city. By the way, you can ask Zakhar about shopping - he will recommend only the best, there is no doubt. It makes sense to buy in Turkey, because the difference in price remains, sometimes quite significant.
If you are going shopping, you should not take large sums of money with you - any large purchase can be paid at the hotel, and you should not carry your passport, tickets, etc. , but it is advisable to rent a safe.
We hope you find our tips useful! If you want to ask something - write! We will try to answer everyone. If you are in Alanya - say hello to Zakhar from Penza, from Gena, Volodya, Stas, Seryoga! We wish you a good rest!
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
Comments (2)
leave a comment
Show other comments …
OTHER REVIEWS ABOUT THE HOTEL
- Cancel, please, "ALL INCLUSIVE"!
- Review of Labranda Alantur
- Excellent resort hotel!
- The hotel is not even close to 5 stars. 4 and even then with a minus
- The hotel is super!
SEE ALSO