My trip to Turkey
I went this year on September 29 to Turkey for a week. I am 43 years old, I traveled alone, and this was my first trip to Turkey, and generally abroad by sea. The purpose of the trip is to swim a little, sunbathe, and most importantly, see the sights, because there are a lot of interesting things in Turkey. Therefore, I chose Kemer, since the weather there at such a time promised to be good, and there are many interesting things to see. I'll start everything in order.
Chose the hotel Dinara 3 *, based on breakfast. Since I am alone, and I was going to spend most of my time on excursions, "all inclusive" with animation and discos, show programs did not interest me. The requirements for the hotel were: if possible, a quiet place in a good area, which would be small, modest, but decent, clean rooms and good service.
I must say that this hotel fully met my expectations. Located in the very center of Kemer, near the central pedestrian street, with shops, cafes, etc. Go to the pebble beach near the pier for 5-7 minutes. walking step through a beautiful area with palm trees, fountains, lawns, and other Mediterranean delights. True, on the beach near the pier, they don’t give sunbeds for money, only for guests of another hotel, but it didn’t bother me at all, I took a towel and a bedspread from home.
The hotel itself is small, but very nice and cozy, there is a swimming pool, around a small garden. The standard room is also small, but clean, the furniture is new, there is no special luxury, but everything is decent and comfortable, everything you need is there. Cleaned every day, towels changed as expected.
The breakfast is good, nothing fancy, but everything was enough and everything was delicious. 2 types of olives, butter, honey, jams, tomatoes, cucumbers, 2 types of cereals, milk, cheeses, sausages, stewed or fried vegetables, boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, pastries, tea, coffee, drinks, only apples from fruits, here is a list of products served for breakfast.
The staff is friendly, not intrusive. I arrived at 8 am, and check-in at 2 pm, and longingly thought about the prospect of hanging out around the city until that time. I was immediately sent to have breakfast, and after breakfast they took me to my room, so I had the opportunity to relax after the flight.
I was going to rent a safe, but the administrator assured me that I had no reason to worry, cameras were installed at the gate, there was a duty officer around the clock, no stranger would climb in, and he vouched for the staff. So I left the documents and money in the room, and nothing bad happened to them.
Conclusion: the hotel fully justifies its 3 *, I can advise it to calm tourists traveling alone or as a couple. Fans of hanging out, noisy entertainment, discos have nothing to do here, except that in the evenings go on a raid on haunting places outside the hotel, there is enough of this stuff in Kemer, and return to the hotel to sleep. Children will also be bored here, there is no animation or playground, the child will also have to be entertained outside the hotel.
2. Excursion program (from the hotel guide)
Since I traveled around Turkey for the first time and alone, and after reading horror stories on the Internet, I decided to buy long-distance excursions (Pammukale and Demre-Kekova) from a hotel guide. My operator is ANEX TOUR.
Dear ANEX TOUR! Your tour service is just HORRIBLE!!
Firstly, your guides are not punctual. Departure for the excursion Demre-Kekova (1.10. 2013) was scheduled for 7.15. I was picked up from the hotel at 8:00. The girl responsible for this did not consider it necessary to apologize. The tour itself is not bad (I’m talking about service now), the tour guide, although he didn’t speak Russian very well, told a lot of interesting things. Of the forced shopping, there was only a wine cellar, and then on the way back. Basically tolerable.
But on the other hand, the excursion to Pammukale was “remembered”. Check-out time was set at 3:45. They picked me up from the hotel at 4:30. The guide reacted quite boorishly to my fair, albeit somewhat emotional reproach, I did not hear any apologies, but there are many excuses that there are many hotels, many people, etc.
The tour guide has very poor knowledge of historical information, I did not learn anything new about Pammukal and Hierapolis, except for what I read on the Internet.
Forced shopping was very stressful, an expensive textile store in Denizli, where we spent almost an hour, an onyx factory that stank of a toilet (30 min. ), And an invariable wine cellar, with wines at exorbitant prices (also about 30 minutes). Despite the fact that the guide himself was not distinguished by punctuality, but he demanded it from tourists, the phrase that the bus leaves the parking lot in Pammukale at 13.50, and will not wait for anyone for a single minute, was repeated 4 times. To my question, maybe at least +10 give me minutes, just in case, the guide again behaved very boorishly, said that I “ruined his mood in the morning” and “just try to be late for 1 minute, and I will leave you here with pleasure, you will go to the restaurant by taxi. ” I then sat on the bus on time, like all the other tourists,
but he was again late by 10 minutes. Needless to say, the time lost in the factories was not enough in Pammukale, I did not see even half of what you can see there, and it was very disappointing. The tour was 10/3/2013, bus number 202.
After an unsuccessful acquaintance with ANEX TOUR, I made the ascent to Tahtali with the "street" agency GINZA. There are no complaints here. The bus arrived to the minute, everything is clear and organized. It was not a pity for the guys to leave a tip.
I concluded for myself. Do not buy excursions from hotel guides, and in general it is very difficult to buy them only where it is very difficult to get on your own (in Pammukale you can easily go on your own). And if you buy, then on the street, the quality will certainly not be better, but at least it costs much cheaper.
3. Excursion program (independent)
The biggest plus in this method of sightseeing is that the tourist has his own time. I myself went 2 times to Antalya (Kaleichi and the aquarium), I also visited the ancient Phaselis. I took advantage of the local minibuses that run from the clock tower, and was very pleased. The Turks are very friendly and benevolent people, if you have lost your way, they will be happy to help, even if you do not understand what they are saying, the language of facial expressions and gestures is understandable to everyone. They helped me.
And finally, a few tips.
Dress as warmly as possible when climbing Tahtali!! ! Better then take off the extra sweater. Yes, and the pants will not be superfluous. And then, of course, there will be a lot of impressions, but also acute respiratory infections, bronchitis, cystitis will be provided. It's very cold and windy there!
If you are planning a trip to the church of St. Nicholas, take some of your crosses, icons from home, whatever you would like to put into the sarcophagus and pray. The icon shop there is very expensive!! ! And the guide will try to get you to the most expensive shop.
And yet, I do not advise you to visit the springs of Cleopatra in Pammukale. Wasted 18 dollars. Small swimming pool, sea of people, while you change clothes, and time is running out, there is very little time left to inspect the terraces and ruins of the city !! ! I floundered in the water of pure time for 10-15 minutes. In my opinion a very expensive pool. But if you go on your own, then please, at your discretion.
Eat fruits, drink ayran and fresh juices, it's all very tasty!!!
And have a nice holiday everyone!!
Natalia, Ukraine.