Turkey coast in winter - New Year
I want to briefly share a review of winter Turkey. We have been going to Side - to Kumkoy for 2 years in a row (as an alternative to a rest house near Moscow). We take a 5 * hotel - we were in Crystal Sunrise Queen and Paloma Oceana. The food is excellent, hammam, heated indoor pool. On New Year's Eve it's just wonderful to spend 9 days on the seashore.
In Crystal, the food seemed more refined and varied.
The weather last year was sunny and almost rainless. +20 in the sun. We fished, we read on sun loungers on the beach. When it was raining, they wandered around Kumkoy - through small shops and bazaars. The year before last, it rained almost every night, but during the day it was sunny or slightly cloudy. Turkey in winter is a special flavor - no one bothers with shopping, there are no tourists and fuss. In the afternoon - until the sun - either walks along the sea, or a trip by minibus to Side or Manavgat. Kumkoy is an excellent choice - because. The beach is wide and warms up quickly. In summer, the heat is on - there are few trees, but in winter - that's it. The location is also - near Side along the promenade, about 30 minutes at a leisurely pace to Side. Side is an open-air museum city! Beauty is extraordinary. Cafes and restaurants overlooking the white marble ruins and the blue blue sea.
We are never bored in winter Turkey - walks along the sea, trips to Side or to the market in Manavgat (where we buy halva, butter, spices), in the evening a hammam and a swimming pool. In the evening we play board games in the lobby, drink hot tea with pastries and Turkish delight. We caught fish directly from the shore on a spinning rod. For 30 minutes, 13 fish were pulled out. The child (son 13 years old) was delighted. I went to the beach every day. They caught chicken. They took a raw piece in a restaurant, salted it and put it in the refrigerator - then they cut it for bait. This was suggested to us by our familiar Turks.
The Crystal heated swimming pool with glass wall overlooking the sea. The view is amazing. The sun is setting, it is already getting dark on the street at 5 o'clock - and we are swimming with a view of the sunset . . There are not many people, the Turks came at 31-1 - then there were a lot of people in the sauna, in the hammam. And so - the contingent - the Germans are pensioners. The water is warm and very comfortable. Plus a bar with pastries, tea, water. Here is ping pong. Played in the pool. In the afternoon, it was possible to go out on the terrace in a bathrobe and lie on a sunbed. In the outdoor pools, the water was drained, only one was. Swimming is cold. In Paloma Oceana - all the pools are open with water - it was very beautiful. Indoor pool - the water is also comfortable. The hammam is really not as nicely decorated as in Crystal Sunrise Queen. As for bleach - I don’t know how it is usually in the pool, they didn’t notice anything frightening. We did not take paid procedures in the spa. But massage, etc. everything worked. Someone walked. Prices in the SPA for massages and massage programs Balinese, Thai, etc. expensive, as always in 5 * hotels. Start from 50 Euro. In my opinion, the hourly program is about 120 Euros. All hotels are of good quality. Paloma is newer, the rooms are bigger. Our rooms were overlooking the side, almost on the road. Normally - the sun rose just from this side - they always sat on the balcony in the morning. But the territory is not so interesting in general. Crystal is a bit more shabby - but it does not spoil, terraces with cafes overlooking the sea, a panoramic elevator to the beach and food is more varied. Crystal is closer to Side, Paloma is further. The rooms are big too. The service is normal everywhere, they clean it, the mini bar is replenished. There is a kettle in the room and a coffee-tea set.
In terms of price = quality - we think it's excellent for the New Year. The cost for three for 9 days in a 5 * hotel with service, delicious food with fruits, lamb, etc. , a pool and the sea and the sun is almost the same as in the Moscow region for 3-5 days (without the sea, not always a pool, food is not comparable at all.
This year Aeroflot tickets are 25.000 round trip tickets. A double room is about 30.000 r for 8 nights (all inclusive). Rs 40.000 per person. for the New Year - quite a New Year's gift.
