Belek-Pamukkale-Kemer from "Armada Tour"
Yesterday I returned from a tour of Turkey (Belek-Pamukkale-Kemer) from Armada-Tour. I received an invitation from Russian Standard Bank. I'll tell you in order.
1. Representatives of Armada met in Boryspil, handed out documents, told what was happening, and escorted them to registration.
2. There was no food on the plane - there were only drinks. They arrived in Turkey as hungry as dogs. Conclusion: take sandwiches, they will come in handy))
3. In Antalya, at the airport, they waited for us with a sign "Armada Tour", placed in five buses, each organization ("Foxtrot", "Club 5", "Russian Standard", "World of Books", "Volya") has its own guide . I got to a very good and qualified guide Bulent. Firstly, he speaks excellent Russian, absolutely not conflict, knows how to defuse the situation, tells very exciting, organized everything at the highest level. All in all, he's a nice guy : )
4. We changed the program - first we went to Kemer, the Catamaran hotel - cozy, with a beautiful green area, 2 swimming pools, a sauna, a hammam, a gym. Perhaps not particularly drawn to 5 stars, but it's all subjective. Food - so-so, a little monotonous, especially breakfast. They immediately offered to buy lunches ($70) and dinners ($140) and optional excursions - about $200. Those who did not buy food went for breakfast with bags and small vessels))) - the Turks laughed. Personally, I ate in the city, because. the word "buffet" makes me want to never eat anything. I am not the first time in Turkey, so I was only in Pamukkale, because. this is a mandatory tour. It is very tiring to go on all the proposed excursions, given that you need to get up early - at 6-7 in the morning. I went with a different purpose - to relax my soul and body, so I acted according to my program. In Kemer, I advise you to go shopping if you are interested in textiles, Turkish sweets, souvenirs and everything else. in places where guides will take you, everything will be 2-3 times more expensive. For example, I bought towels - $ 10 for 4 large ones, and $ 5 dollars for 4 small ones, at a textile factory in Pamukkale - $ 20 and $ 10, respectively. Bargain and communicate everywhere, the Turks are sociable people, but cunning, they will not miss their own, so you need to deal with them in an amicable way, with a positive, but stand your ground dead, then everything will be “hockey”. My friend and I, for example, came to the store, chose the right things, said that we had such and such an amount with us, offered to get along on it. As a rule, they agreed, they were also treated to tea to chat)) By the way, the “Turkish bath” can be ordered at the tour desks, which are located along the road in Kemer, for $ 12-15, while the hotel staff and guides offer for 35-40 $, and everyone says not to buy from others)) I advise you to go - an indescribable pleasure, it seems that Turkish masseurs feel every cell of your body.
5. On the 3rd day we left Kemer and headed towards Pamukkale. Distance - 280 km. On the way we visited a winery, where they organized a tasting of Turkish wines (blackberry, mulberry, cherry and pomegranate), the wine is delicious, drinkable, with a pleasant fruity aroma and a long aftertaste, the price is $ 25, in the city the same $ 8 . . As for me, the trip is hard. It's not even about the distance, but about the format of a collective herd, which personally tires me - the guide had to answer the same questions, explain, argue... Our people will roll anyone you want ! ! Kapets! ! It was raining in Pamukkale, it was cool. We were offered to swim in the Cleopatra pool for $16. Those who refused were sitting on the bus. We got to the hotel late in the evening, hungry and tired, without any special impressions and with a “pretty” prospect of getting up at 6 in the morning. The hotel is bad, old, the rooms are smelly, there is a thermal pool (water - 39 gr. ). I have the impression that this is the same source as in the Cleopatra pool, the current is free))).
6. The next day, departure to Belek, we visited a carpet factory, where we were shown the whole process of making handmade carpets and offered to purchase (prices - from 800 . . ). Of course, carpets of indescribable beauty. Well, the price is appropriate)). On the way, we stopped in Antalya, walked around the city, looked at the waterfall...
7. When we arrived in Belek, it turned out that it was not exactly Belek, but a town between Belek and Side - Boazkent. The area is rural, there is nowhere to go. Hotel Duodom, 5 stars, but pulls a maximum of 3-4, rooms with some kind of incomprehensible smell, many asked at the reception to change the room, food is also not very happy, prices are generally higher than the roof, towels are issued on a deposit of 7 bucks, a tennis court is free, but rackets with a ball will cost you $ 15))), the table for small tennis is all kind of clumsy, the rackets are peeled (well, who cares), the sauna is good, it’s better not to go to the hammam - the stones are cold, and the smells are not please. There is an indoor pool, however, without heating - after the sauna, what you need. Many Germans and French, ours is less. The animation team worked professionally, entertained with games and contests.
8. Results. In principle, the trip is not bad for the money, there are some drawbacks, of course, but they can be, even if you pay $1000, not $350. You need to understand where you are going and why. If you just want to lie on the beach, swim in the sea and drink beer, then choose another tour. If you like getting up at 6 in the morning, shaking on the bus, seeing the sights and waving at the window to the Turks - this is your option. As for excursions and shopping in Turkey, think for yourself: you can travel with a guide to all the places offered to you and overpay 2-3 times, or you can show a little ingenuity and initiative and communicate with the Turks on your own (fortunately, many people know Russian, English too) , buy the right things and at the same time be satisfied with the price. Personally, I am not impressed by acquisitions if I know that I have overpaid (I am such a zhlobster)). You decide!!
9. I hope that from my report you got an idea about this tour and will be able to determine for yourself whether you should go or not. . Have a good rest and bright impressions! ! See you live!! %))
