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A thread on our experience of holidaying in Turkey during the Covid pandemic. This is a bit of a long read, but might be of interest to some: 1/
Before I go any further, I’m not inviting criticism of my wife and I taking our daughters away. We thought long and hard about cancelling, before being told we couldn’t, and would lose our payment. 2/
Yes, we could have written off the money we’d spent; but in the end, we decided we would be no more at risk there than here. I believe we were right. 3/
First stop: Manchester Airport. This was 4pm on Saturday 1st August - Terminal 1. Weirdly creepy, as anyone who’s been through here before will appreciate... 4/
On the Lufthansa flight - running at 25% capacity to allow for social distancing; or, at least, as much as A is possible in what is essentially a metal tube.
Airlines run on a profit margin of, I’m told by a pilot, ~£8 per passenger. Easy to see why they’re struggling. 5/
Airlines run on a profit margin of, I’m told by a pilot, ~£8 per passenger. Easy to see why they’re struggling. 5/
And here’s Munich airport. Not a single shop, restaurant or bar open. The place was deserted. 6/
On arrival in Turkey, we were all temperature-checked at border control, and had to complete a track and trace form - as expected. We also had to complete a digital form within 48hrs of returning to the UK. 7/
Arriving at the hotel, only one person was allowed in to the reception to check-in. Masks are compulsory EVERYWHERE inside - and EVERYONE wore them without question. We’d all worn one from arrival at Manchester airport to arrival at the hotel in Turkey. 8/
Pandemic measures the hotel had in place included:
- Compulsory face masks inside - even in the restaurants, UNLESS you were seated at a table;
- The buffet was protected behind glass screens, served by staff in face masks, visors, gloves, and head covering; 9/
- Compulsory face masks inside - even in the restaurants, UNLESS you were seated at a table;
- The buffet was protected behind glass screens, served by staff in face masks, visors, gloves, and head covering; 9/
- Guests were regularly temperature-checked as we moved around the hotel throughout the day - on entering the restaurant, the bars, pool areas, and at random. This was not intrusive, and was accepted by most without complaint. Those that I saw take issue with it were English. 10/
- Sun beds around the pool were limited, and spaced out to allow for social distancing. Signs everywhere reminded everyone to keep apart, unless they were part of a group travelling together.
- All customer-serving staff wore face masks, even if outside. 11/
- All customer-serving staff wore face masks, even if outside. 11/
- All towels, bedding etc. were provided in sealed plastic bags. Not ideal for the environment, but understandable.
- Eating areas, sun beds, tables around the pool etc. were regularly disinfected. The pool area daily.
- Hand sanitiser dispensers were everywhere. 12/
- Eating areas, sun beds, tables around the pool etc. were regularly disinfected. The pool area daily.
- Hand sanitiser dispensers were everywhere. 12/
In summary, the hotel and its staff were doing everything they could to keep people safe. Of course, this was reliant on the guests following the rules. Most did. There were no reports of a covid case at the hotel whilst we were there. 13/
We witnessed a number of fights breaking out at the hotel over the two weeks, for reasons involving, apparently, stolen sun beds, kids pushing on the slides, and people acting like idiots after too many shandies.
A few involved Turks; unsurprisingly, ALL involved English. 14/
A few involved Turks; unsurprisingly, ALL involved English. 14/
Tensions were high at times - people obviously stressed about things at home, work, health, finances, cabin fever from lockdown and other reasons. Most dealt with it well and felt lucky to be away - a minority turned aggressive. “The English abroad”, as one friend put it. 15/
Our youngest daughter (8) caught a minor ear infection, 5 days in to the holiday. She didn’t have a temperature, but the doctor insisted she and I spent a night in hospital for observation. They were apparently being very cautious with any type of infection or illness. 16/
She was put on an antibiotic IV at 8hr intervals, had to provide blood for various test, and was incredibly well looked after. She was discharged the next day, with two bracelets and some colouring books as gifts from the doctor “for her and her sister”. 17/
I chatted with the attentive interpreter whilst we were at the hospital, and he told me that if there was the slightest sign of a covid spike anywhere in Turkey, the area was immediately locked down; no one in, no one out. 18/
When I told him about the recent “lock downs” in areas such as Greater Manchester, and the lack of travel restrictions, he thought I was joking. When I told him I wasn’t, he gave me a look of complete disbelief. 19/
We didn’t venture out of the hotel complex much; when we did, it was evident what effect the pandemic was having on the tourist industry there. A taxi driver told us the season is usually April - October. This year, it’s been no more than a few weeks. 20/
In summary, it was a strange, but, all things considered, a great holiday, and we feel very lucky to have been able to go, and enjoy ourselves with great friends. At no point did we feel unsafe or at risk. 21/
The Turks are dealing with this pandemic much more effectively than we are in the UK. And they’re making every effort to care for visitors.
Striking that the country the Brexiters (falsely) warned us might join the EU, is making our covid response look embarrassingly poor. 22/
Striking that the country the Brexiters (falsely) warned us might join the EU, is making our covid response look embarrassingly poor. 22/
Flying back via Frankfurt, a man checking our passports as we boarded saw our eldest’s new “blue” passport, and gave us a sympathetic shrug. “I can’t get used to these new passports”.
“Neither can we”, my wife replied.
“Hopefully it’s not too late for the UK” he said.
Ends.
“Neither can we”, my wife replied.
“Hopefully it’s not too late for the UK” he said.
Ends.
