Not so long ago I had a trip to Turkey for 10 days. Now, I am back, well, since last week actually. I just found some time to tell you about it, although it's summer - it doesn't mean that I'm not doing anything at all.
Day 1.
Our flight was early in the morning on 23rd of June. It continued for about 4 hours, during which we were freezing at the the plane. But after landing it was so nice to breeze in cool fresh sea salt air. We arrived at the Sunland Hotel at about 7 or 8 in the morning, and were really glad that they gave us a room immediately - so we didn't wait till the check in time which was at 2 afternoon. Though we were kinda tired we went to look what the hotel was. We found a big pool, little water-park for kids with 5 waterslides. Then, lots of bars outside with nice constantly flirting barmen and free drinks.Btw, they have a great SPA.
There was a buffet restaurant that had a fine variety of goods, though there were no pork at all(poor bacon) apparently coz of the muslim religion they won't cook it even for tourists. Our fruit-expectations were so high that we felt a little disappointment. We were hoping that in Turkey there will be so many different, even exotic, delicious fruits. But... sometimes even the watermelons were not sweet.
At 2 afternoon, or earlier we met our guide and signed up for excursions. The whole awfulness of this meet I will explain later.(in the end of the post)
After lunch we had a nap and at 4, my mom sent me to the belly dance courses.It was really awesome so I'm glad that I went there in last second.
Before we had dinner we went to look at the sea - there is an underground way for it, so it takes less than a minute to get to the beach.
It was a quiet day after all and we went to bed at 9 o'clock, so we would have some energy for the next day.
The (big-fat liar) Guide Situation
I believe that this information will be very useful for you if you ever decide to go to Turkey.
I am afraid that situation is the same with "fresh" tourists from all over the world.
Sure there are different tour agents and stuff but as a usual on the first day of your vacation you have a meeting with your guide(agent). He does some formal stuff with documents( you don't have to get visa if you are going there less then for 60 days, but they have to do some registration somewhere) and then tells you about Turkey and suggests you some excursions.
Now, all things that he will tell you there is a LIE.
Firstly, he will tell you that you shouldn't use tour-agencies on the street. Because if anything happens your healthcare won't work and probably this is the one reason, but your guide could also add something like "our excursions are the best".
Well, if you are really scared of being in another country and that something will happen to you - go ahead buy his excursions, but if you are interested in saving some money, say "Go to hell" or find some polite phrase for it.
In reality, excursions might be not as interesting as your guide says and later (in a couple next posts) I'll tell you my story about it. Also, they are much more expensive. Forexample, a day on a yacht could cost 20-30$ while your guide will sell it to you for 65$. And this is real! My mom and I had a chance to be sure of it, unfortunately.
In case he would say "I need your answer right now", don't let him manipulate you. It's his job to be there for you, so he must be there(or another agent from your firm) everyday. Of course some excursions are not everyday, but it also doesn't mean that you'll sign up for something on your second day in Turkey.
Next, your guide will tell you that at the end of your vacation you will visit a factory, where you can buy sweets to bring them back home. A person from the company will give you discount cards so you could buy "5 pounds(2 kg) of rahat lokum for 10$" (that what our guide told us). The main argument will be that you would be able to bring home fresh sweets. The same story with fruit wines(God, those are delicious! I am able to tell you that, because Russians are aloud to drink alcohol since 18. Besides, Turkish fruit wines are light, sweet and remind some sort of a juice). He would also say that they have special trips for souvenir, fur and leather shops, where you no doubt will get a good discount (btw, those discounts depends on the prestige of your hotel).
In reality, he lies again.
My mom and I bought rahat lokum for 7$ per 1 kilo(2,5 pounds) on a street market and it was great, because In the "factory" Sorbet that we've been before our flight, those 2,5 pounds costed 18$!
If a tourist believed his guide what did he have left to do? He didn't have sweets or something else for souvenirs, so he would have to buy some there. What's more he would have to make some decisions about amount of sweets immediately and quickly, because there is not so much time that they give to "walk around" in this shop.
The same story is with wines. You could buy them on the street market for 8-10$, while in the "special" shops they cost up to 25$(same brands). What about textile and fur - just go to the street market.
Street market is a great opportunity to try sweets(for free), wines and to bargain/chaffer(*not sure which one of this words is fine).
Your guide will also advertise you Hamam. This is a Turkish sauna. They advertise it for tourists because that's how "you will get a perfect tan".
Now, if you really want it, remember - Hamam is free. Your hotel SPA has it. But what they would suggest you - a peeling, massage and mask for your face in addition to Hamam is not free. In our hotel it was 50$ for 45-50 min. Your guide will suggest you that for 35$. I am not sure how much it will be on the street agencies, but that thing will suck anyway(it's the same place where your guide will take you). If you really want this spa procedure, do it in your hotel. Those trip that your guide will suggest you is just..gross. I've seen the pictures and heard that from people. Firstly, there are men and women at the same place!!!! Then, there always lots of people so you would have to wait for a massage person. Not fun.
To sum up, don't believe your guide(or any other shop assistant) if he tries to establish good relations with. It's not that they like you, it's called "you think I like you so you'll thin that I care". And shop assistance - they just hope that you will be ashamed to bargain* with them. Except young Turkish guys, those will always ask you to marry them(if you are a young lady), and give you great discounts.
Day 1.
Our flight was early in the morning on 23rd of June. It continued for about 4 hours, during which we were freezing at the the plane. But after landing it was so nice to breeze in cool fresh sea salt air. We arrived at the Sunland Hotel at about 7 or 8 in the morning, and were really glad that they gave us a room immediately - so we didn't wait till the check in time which was at 2 afternoon. Though we were kinda tired we went to look what the hotel was. We found a big pool, little water-park for kids with 5 waterslides. Then, lots of bars outside with nice constantly flirting barmen and free drinks.Btw, they have a great SPA.
There was a buffet restaurant that had a fine variety of goods, though there were no pork at all(poor bacon) apparently coz of the muslim religion they won't cook it even for tourists. Our fruit-expectations were so high that we felt a little disappointment. We were hoping that in Turkey there will be so many different, even exotic, delicious fruits. But... sometimes even the watermelons were not sweet.
At 2 afternoon, or earlier we met our guide and signed up for excursions. The whole awfulness of this meet I will explain later.(in the end of the post)
After lunch we had a nap and at 4, my mom sent me to the belly dance courses.It was really awesome so I'm glad that I went there in last second.
Before we had dinner we went to look at the sea - there is an underground way for it, so it takes less than a minute to get to the beach.
It was a quiet day after all and we went to bed at 9 o'clock, so we would have some energy for the next day.
The (big-fat liar) Guide Situation
I believe that this information will be very useful for you if you ever decide to go to Turkey.
I am afraid that situation is the same with "fresh" tourists from all over the world.
Sure there are different tour agents and stuff but as a usual on the first day of your vacation you have a meeting with your guide(agent). He does some formal stuff with documents( you don't have to get visa if you are going there less then for 60 days, but they have to do some registration somewhere) and then tells you about Turkey and suggests you some excursions.
Now, all things that he will tell you there is a LIE.
Firstly, he will tell you that you shouldn't use tour-agencies on the street. Because if anything happens your healthcare won't work and probably this is the one reason, but your guide could also add something like "our excursions are the best".
Well, if you are really scared of being in another country and that something will happen to you - go ahead buy his excursions, but if you are interested in saving some money, say "Go to hell" or find some polite phrase for it.
In reality, excursions might be not as interesting as your guide says and later (in a couple next posts) I'll tell you my story about it. Also, they are much more expensive. Forexample, a day on a yacht could cost 20-30$ while your guide will sell it to you for 65$. And this is real! My mom and I had a chance to be sure of it, unfortunately.
In case he would say "I need your answer right now", don't let him manipulate you. It's his job to be there for you, so he must be there(or another agent from your firm) everyday. Of course some excursions are not everyday, but it also doesn't mean that you'll sign up for something on your second day in Turkey.
Next, your guide will tell you that at the end of your vacation you will visit a factory, where you can buy sweets to bring them back home. A person from the company will give you discount cards so you could buy "5 pounds(2 kg) of rahat lokum for 10$" (that what our guide told us). The main argument will be that you would be able to bring home fresh sweets. The same story with fruit wines(God, those are delicious! I am able to tell you that, because Russians are aloud to drink alcohol since 18. Besides, Turkish fruit wines are light, sweet and remind some sort of a juice). He would also say that they have special trips for souvenir, fur and leather shops, where you no doubt will get a good discount (btw, those discounts depends on the prestige of your hotel).
In reality, he lies again.
My mom and I bought rahat lokum for 7$ per 1 kilo(2,5 pounds) on a street market and it was great, because In the "factory" Sorbet that we've been before our flight, those 2,5 pounds costed 18$!
If a tourist believed his guide what did he have left to do? He didn't have sweets or something else for souvenirs, so he would have to buy some there. What's more he would have to make some decisions about amount of sweets immediately and quickly, because there is not so much time that they give to "walk around" in this shop.
The same story is with wines. You could buy them on the street market for 8-10$, while in the "special" shops they cost up to 25$(same brands). What about textile and fur - just go to the street market.
Street market is a great opportunity to try sweets(for free), wines and to bargain/chaffer(*not sure which one of this words is fine).
Your guide will also advertise you Hamam. This is a Turkish sauna. They advertise it for tourists because that's how "you will get a perfect tan".
Now, if you really want it, remember - Hamam is free. Your hotel SPA has it. But what they would suggest you - a peeling, massage and mask for your face in addition to Hamam is not free. In our hotel it was 50$ for 45-50 min. Your guide will suggest you that for 35$. I am not sure how much it will be on the street agencies, but that thing will suck anyway(it's the same place where your guide will take you). If you really want this spa procedure, do it in your hotel. Those trip that your guide will suggest you is just..gross. I've seen the pictures and heard that from people. Firstly, there are men and women at the same place!!!! Then, there always lots of people so you would have to wait for a massage person. Not fun.
To sum up, don't believe your guide(or any other shop assistant) if he tries to establish good relations with. It's not that they like you, it's called "you think I like you so you'll thin that I care". And shop assistance - they just hope that you will be ashamed to bargain* with them. Except young Turkish guys, those will always ask you to marry them(if you are a young lady), and give you great discounts.
to be continued...
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