Crimea or Turkey - where is it better to go in 2021

Turkey and Crimea have long had their loyal fans who choose their sandy, pebbly and rocky beaches every year. However, there are tourists who have not yet decided on their preferences. For those who are faced with a choice of where to go to relax in the summer of 2021, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with information about two popular resort destinations.

Tour prices

The cost of the tours depends on the class and location of the hotel complexes, service, food and infrastructure. The table shows the approximate prices for summer vouchers to Turkish and Crimean hotels (adult accommodation with breakfast for 10 nights and flights from Moscow). For comparison, we have selected hotels on the first coastline within the boundaries of some of the most popular resorts (information from the Teztour and Travelata websites).

For your information! Due to the high demand for rooms in the Crimean complexes 3-5 *, it is currently difficult to find inexpensive options. It is possible to stay on the peninsula at the cost of a ticket to a 3-star Turkish hotel (35-45 thousand rubles) only in hotels located in small villages and at private owners.

Prices for air tickets to Simferopol:

Prices to Antalya:

Beaches and sea

For most tourists, summer vacation is associated with a beach holiday. In Turkey, the swimming season begins in early May, when the water warms up to 20-22 ° C, and lasts until November; in Crimea, the period allowing to swim in the sea is, in short, from the last week of spring, when the water warms up to 17-18 ° С, until the beginning of October.

The Turkish coasts are washed by four seas - the Mediterranean, Black, Aegean and Marmara. The first two are most in demand among vacationers. A large number of beaches in Turkey are marked with the "Blue Flag", which indicates their ideal cleanliness.

Depending on personal preference, tourists can choose the pebbly coastal strip near Kemer and Kanakli or the sandy beach areas of Antalya, Alanya, Side and Belek. All sites will be well equipped: Turkish beaches have a well-developed infrastructure, so you can stay there from morning to evening.

In terms of the comfort of a beach holiday, Crimea is inferior to Turkey. It can be difficult to find free places within popular resorts in the summer, and tourists have to go to the sea in the early morning to occupy a convenient site. Some people prefer to rent a car, gaining access to more remote and, accordingly, less crowded areas. The infrastructure of many beaches in Crimea does not correspond to the European level: not everywhere there are toilets and changing cabins, there are no cafes and other amenities.

Despite the lack of amenities, the Crimean coast has its merits. For recreation on the peninsula, you can choose the sandy beaches of Feodosia, Evpatoria and Alushta or the pebble Yalta shores. The latter are surrounded by juniper and pine forests, which make the air in the resorts healthy. In addition, Crimea is washed by two seas - the Azov and the Black; the first is shallow and absolutely safe for bathing small children.

If we consider the Crimea and Turkey for families with children at sea, then in May and October it is better to go to Turkish resorts, because the peninsula can present unpleasant weather surprises. At the beginning of the beach season, the water in Crimea is not warmed up enough, and in autumn the wind often raises strong waves. In terms of the availability of comfortable sandy beaches with gentle slopes into the sea, both directions are suitable for families.

Related materials:

• The best resorts of Crimea for adults
• Places for families with children in Crimea

Hotels

In terms of the level of hotel service development, Crimea lags far behind Turkey. Of course, there are decent complexes on the peninsula with developed infrastructure, all-inclusive food and quality service, but the cost of living in them is high.

For tourists on a budget, we recommend choosing Turkish hotels and All inclusive meals. Even in three-star hotels, vacationers have everything they need - a beach with free sun loungers and umbrellas, at least one pool, daily meals, entertainment programs for adults and children. Having paid the same money in Crimea, travelers are limited only to staying in a modest hotel and not always near the sea.

It is worth noting that the rooms are well equipped for families with children. In Turkey, especially in Alanya, there are many hotels with family rooms. The room has one large double bed and a bunk bed for children. At the same time, the area of ​​the room is not less than 35 sq. m., which is very convenient.

Do not forget about the entertainment on the territory, Turkey has amazing complexes with good water parks for their guests.

Crimean hotels close to the Turkish level include:

• Bristol Hotel, located in the center of Yalta;
• Riviera Sunrise Resort & Spa in Alushta;
• Yalta complex Levant Eco Hotel;
• Palmira Palace in Kurpaty;
• Rezidentsiya Krymskiy Briz (Park).

All properties scored highly (4.5 out of 5 or more) in Tripadvisor reviews. The tourists vacationing in them mention the high level of service, a varied menu and a well-developed infrastructure.

Where food is delicious

One of the important components of rest is food. Many tourists have the question of where it is better to have a rest in Crimea or Turkey in order to avoid the hassle of cooking or looking for a cafe, but at the same time use delicious and high-quality products.

Due to the popular all-inclusive system, most travelers choose Turkish hotels, in which guests not only have no attachment to meal times, but also have a large selection of dishes. It is also important that many hotels have a children's menu.

However, despite the offered assortment, tourists often speak negatively about the taste of meat products, sausages, cheese, as well as juices and local wine. In 3-star hotels, you may not find fish on the trays, and pure meat is rarely served. In addition, the declared children's nutritional concept does not always meet the expectations of parents who are trying to find porridge, boiled vegetables and soups for children, but receive fries, pizza and hamburgers.

In abundance on the tables of hotels of any level there are:

• olives;
• vegetables and fruits;
• rice, lentils, potatoes as a side dish;
• pastries and sweets.

Important! The range of food in different Turkish complexes is very different, and if in one they can serve a turkey once a week, in the other the daily menu includes several types of meat and fish. We advise you to give preference to the hotels of the Papillon and Rixos chains.

Following the tourist demand, the Crimean hotels strive to develop the concept of a buffet, however, only a few offer their guests All inclusive. As a rule, the cost of tours with this type of food is high, and therefore travelers prefer to choose accommodation with breakfast. For lunch and dinner, vacationers go to a cafe or canteen. The exception is made by the guests of budget sanatoriums, where modest three meals a day are served.

If we talk about the taste characteristics of food, tourists are satisfied with meat and dairy products, as well as seasonal fruits. Crimean wine is also in demand.

Related materials:

• The most interesting places of Crimea
• The best places for tourists in Antalya

Entertainment prices

Those who decide, Crimea or Turkey, which is better for recreation, will need information about the cost of entertainment at the resorts.

Many Turkish hotels offer an extended animation program for both adults and children: a variety of master classes, sports activities, spa treatments, evening shows, discos and more. On the territory of the complexes, in addition to the pools, water slides, sports and playgrounds are placed. Often, tourists do not go outside the hotels, which saves money on entertainment.

For active travelers, the cost of Turkish entertainment is presented in the table.

Prices are presented at the rate of $ 1 = 75 rubles.

The service of most Crimean hotels is limited to the provision of rooms and meals, so vacationers have to entertain themselves and their children on their own. However, compared to Turkey, the prices for entertainment on the peninsula are democratic.

Excursion prices

Crimea and Turkey are rich in historical, architectural and natural attractions. Since the Crimean peninsula is small in size, most of them are within a 1-2-hour drive from any resort. Availability and low cost make sightseeing tours in Crimea attractive for all categories of tourists, even those traveling with small children.

Most of the Turkish sights are concentrated in the capital or in places remote from the resorts, so one excursion can take 1-2 days (the cost of such tours is much higher than trips around Crimea). If the most popular places of the peninsula can be seen in a rented car in one trip, then in Turkey it will not work. Nevertheless, it will be interesting for Russian tourists in a foreign country to get acquainted with its history, culture and natural features. Below are the prices for the main excursion programs.

What to see

For those who decide, Crimea or Turkey, where to go on vacation in order to diversify their stay on the coast with sightseeing, we advise you to start from the budget. Getting to know the Turkish surroundings will require large financial investments, while traveling around the peninsula can be done in a rented car without significant financial expenses.

For tourists who decide not to leave the Russian borders, we recommend including the following in the list of must-see sites:

• Mount Ai-Petri with the nearby caves Geofizicheskaya, Yaltinskaya and Trekhglazka (Ledyanaya);
• Kizil-Koba cave;
• the castle on the rock Swallow's Nest and the famous palaces: Vorontsovsky, Livadia, Massandrovsky and Khansky;
• pink lake Sasyk-Sivash;
• Dzhur-Dzhur waterfall;
• ruins of ancient Tauric Chersonesos;
• Holy Dormition Cave Monastery;
• Grand Canyon with a suspension bridge (can be visited in August-September);
• Chufut-Kale (cave city);
• Nikitsky Botanical Garden and Paradise Park;
• Genoese fortress in Sudak.

Those who have chosen Turkey for their holidays, we advise you to start your acquaintance with exploring its main attractions. These include:

• Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar in Istanbul;
• Bosphorus;
• thermal baths of Pamukkale and Cleopatra's pool;
• Damlatash cave;
• Duden waterfalls;
• Cappadocia with unusual landscapes and underground cities;
• ancient Troy and Ephesus;
• Side (old town);
• Alanya fortress;
• Lycian tombs.

Crimea or Turkey - where to go?

The answer to the question of where it is better to go on vacation in 2021 - to Turkey or the Crimea, depends on several factors - the season of the trip, travel goals and financial capabilities.

• In the spring and in the middle of autumn, it is better to give preference to Turkey, where the water is warm enough at this time, it is especially worth looking to the side Aegean.
• If the purpose of your trip is to bask in the sun on a budget and go for a swim, we recommend choosing Turkish hotels with an all-inclusive concept. Good options are found in the villages of Kirish and Camyuva.
• For active travelers with a modest budget, a vacation in Crimea is more suitable (subject to car rental).
• Vacationing with small children is more comfortable in Turkey, however, it is easier to cope with unforeseen situations (for example, deteriorating health) in your country. In turn, in Crimea, we advise you to look for housing closer to hospitals, since on vacation with your child you will often visit it.

Important! At the time of this writing, those returning from Turkey need to pass two PCR tests for coronavirus. Because the average cost of each is 1800-2800 rubles, 3600-5600 rubles should be added to the cost of a trip for one person.

Traveling to both Crimea and Turkey allows you to devote time to a beach vacation, or combine it with an excursion. Both destinations are suitable for all categories of tourists, from young people, couples and ending with the elderly. The decision to choose a resort depends on personal ideas about the vacation and the associated spending.