Turkey has been a very popular summer vacation destination for residents of many countries, including Russian citizens. But COVID-19 has changed the plans of all travel lovers. Turkey has become one of the few countries where Russian citizens could go on vacation in 2020. How it was - based on the personal experience of one of the regular readers of the site.
Turkey imposed a ban on the entry of foreign tourists on March 27, 2020. Flights from Russia to Ankara and Istanbul resumed on August 1. The Russians had the opportunity to go to the resorts of the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea (Antalya, Alanya, Marmaris) from August 10, 2020.
This is information about a vacation trip to Turkey of one of the regular readers of our site.
The tour to Turkey was bought online. It is more convenient and safer than visiting a travel agency.
Tour for two people, duration 10 days, 5 * hotel, "All inclusive" cost 80 thousand rubles (about 900 euros).
At first glance, the cost of the tours has not changed compared to last year.
Tour to a five-star hotel, Side (this is between Antalya and Alanya), "All inclusive".
At the Pulkovo airport (St. Petersburg) all passengers were checked for temperature.
Almost all the seats on the plane were occupied. On the plane they were given a form to fill out with information in which hotel the passenger will live.
At the Antalya airport, the body temperature of the arrivals was checked using a thermal imaging camera (remotely). No COVID-19 certificate is required at the airport.
Safety masks are needed everywhere: at airports, in hotels, on public beaches.
The organization of service in restaurants has changed. (Our tourists had an All Inclusive tour.) The staff imposes food in the hotel restaurant. (In the past, restaurant customers applied food themselves.)
Food in the hotel restaurant and alcohol are available in sufficient quantity and variety, but hookah smoking is prohibited in public places. (Perhaps this is important for someone.)
Protective masks were available at the hotel (free of charge).
There were quite a lot of tourists in the hotel, mostly citizens of Russia. There were few visitors at the ova Mall (Manavgat).
The weather in September on the Mediterranean coast was hot, the sea was very warm, but (by the end of the vacation) waves began to increase on the sea.
(In Turkey there are places that are separated from the open sea by islands. In such places, strong sea waves are rare. For example, Marmaris.)
In the photo: a view of the city of Antalya from the plane.
Upon returning to Russia, all Russians must pass a COVID-19 test (PCR test) within three days (as of September 2020.)