February 2021

Osman is the lead consultant and Turkish product coordinator for Keytours Vacations, a US-based tour operator with a portfolio of global tailor-made experiences. Osman lives in Turkey and works to ensure that all Keytours' experiences on the ground there run smoothly, remain authentic, and are well-priced. 
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Q.  What should we know about travel to Turkey right now?
A. The Turkish government has been very strong in its efforts to combat the spread of COVID 19 since it started. The case numbers are very low right now because of the government’s very strong restrictions. Things are getting back to normal but we do have some curfews at night as well as over the weekends, although these are not applicable to tourists who are visiting Turkey at the moment. In the touristic areas, the population is very high. In Istanbul, we are at 16 million residents. Tourists can be out, as long as they are wearing masks. 

Q. What makes visiting Turkey better than before?
A. Turkey is a truly fascinating country and a great place to visit culturally and historically. Turkey is a modern country with a captivating blend of antiquity and contemporary, East and West. It is home to many places that are beyond your wildest dreams: ancient history and areas waiting to be discovered. Visiting this country is an unparalleled experience. There are millions of ways to fill your holiday with incredible things: beautiful nature, fantastic beaches, outdoor activities, vibrant nightlife, shopping alternatives, great tourist attractions, and more. And there are not many tourists. Right now, especially for Americans, the value of the US dollar is very high against the Turkish lira. If you are spending say, $5,000 US dollars for a trip to Italy and staying in 4-star hotels, you can do a longer trip, enjoy amazing history and culture, and stay in luxurious 5-star hotels. Turkey also offers 4 different seasons, with all-inclusive resorts down south, skiing up north. It is very easy to travel from one city to the other., and there are no internal travel restrictions. The longest tourist flight from Istanbul is Cappadocia and it’s only an hour and 20 minutes, so visiting different regions of Turkey is very easy. 

Q. What are the entry requirements for Turkey?
A. Since December 30th, a paper or digital copy of a negative PCR test (nucleic acid) results not longer than 72 hours prior to the departure flight from the country of origin are required. You actually are not allowed to board a flight without this. We expect this to continue to mid-March at least, although this may be subject to change. The government issues a public statement every day at 6 PM. The President gathers with the ministers every two weeks to review the case numbers; if they see the case numbers going down, then they look to remove restrictions. 

Q.  Are all tourist services/facilities/attractions open?
A. Yes, museums, shops, attractions are open and all travelers wearing masks have access to tourist facilities after they go through a temperature screening. Hand sanitizers are everywhere. The only exception I have to mention is the Grand Covered Bazaar and the Spice Market, which are open for visits only on weekdays; they are closed on weekends. All shopping malls are open for visitors, it’s really the total number of people that each store can accommodate. Every store, facility, museum, all have a maximum number of people posted at the entrance. So, for the Blue Mosque, say, t can admit only a certain amount of people at any given time. The rest must wait outside at distances between 1.5 meters to 2 meters -- depending on how crowded the outside area actually is -- until the previous group departs. Indoors, all areas within a facility are disinfected regularly. The ventilation systems are also be checked regularly. Social distancing rules apply in all common areas everywhere. 

We had people traveling in September and October. They were very happy, in fact, they were in the southern part of the country with the all-inclusive resorts, much like what you would find in the Caribbean. I spoke with them and they had no issues. The only thing they mentioned was difficult was wearing a mask on the flight the entire time. 

Q. What about hotels?
A. 70% of the hotels in Turkey are currently open, having been certified by the Minister of Health as complying with safety measures. Luggage is sprayed and sanitized before it crosses the threshold of the hotel, public areas have social distancing restrictions and some furniture in public areas of the hotel have been removed to facilitate social distancing.
 
Room service at hotels and minibars are available, and hotel guests can rely on the hotel restaurants. All outside restaurants are serving only takeaway, so hotel restaurants are where guests can sit and dine. Guests can also take the meals up to the rooms if they want but they can sit down in the restaurant and eat.

Q. What are some romantic things to do in Turkey?
A. Here, Valentine's Day is called “Lover’s Day” and restaurants and shops decorate with hearts and flowers. In Istanbul, it is very popular to dine in restaurants that are along the Bosphorus so you can see the lights of the city and Asia from the Europe side. Because of the restrictions that went into effect about a month and a half ago regarding the restaurants, pubs, and coffee shops, there is no outdoor or indoor dining, for the short term. It is possible to hire a boat and have a dinner cruise. Travel outside Istanbul, there is Cappadocia where you can enjoy a hot air balloon trip and stay in a cave hotel overnight. You get to see the fairy chimneys and the best part of the balloon ride is to see the sunrise. I’ve done it at least 10 times, it’s just something that I find very beautiful. Cappadocia is a very unique landscape and is beautiful during all seasons. Due to its impressive natural rock formations, historic sites, and luxurious hotels it has become more and more sought after by couples. It is an hour and 20 minutes’ flight from Istanbul which makes it even possible to it as a day tour if you don’t want to overnight there, although I don’t actually recommend doing this. I certainly recommend at least 3 full days/2 nights minimum for Cappadocia. I have come up with the best reasons why you can celebrate romance in Cappadocia. In any season, it should be a stop on your trip to Turkey!

• Peace Cappadocia can be an ideal choice for you if you want to get away from the big city life. It is full of peaceful scenery to enjoy.
• Romantic Hotels The best way to feel the charming atmosphere of Cappadocia is to stay in the cave hotels of the region. Decorated in a modern style with traces of the Roman and Byzantine periods, these luxurious hotels offer a great opportunity for couples to enjoy romantic moments in soft candlelight. 
• Easy Access There are many flights from Istanbul to Cappadocia every day, so it has become increasingly popular in recent times. 
• Time Since Cappadocia is a quiet and calm place, it is possible to say time goes by slowly here and every second you spend here you are able to enjoy it to the fullest.
• Historical and Natural Beauty There are so many sites of historical and natural beauty to visit in Cappadocia and they are all very close to each other. Travelers have limited time and you don’t want to be wasting it on the road; there is plenty of sightseeing and fun here!
• Wine Tasting Cappadocia is one of the regions where the most delicious and highest quality wines of Turkey are produced. There has been a wine culture in the region since ancient times and enjoying these delicious wines during a romantic dinner and soft candlelight makes the most of your time here.
• World’s best sunrises and sunsets Just imagine! The first rays of the day are slowly infiltrating into – or leaving the deep valleys... There are many hills in Cappadocia where you can watch this unforgettable scenery enhanced by sunset and sunrise with your love. 

Q. Anything else you'd like to add?
A. There were restrictions put in place recently for international arrivals by US citizens traveling back home to the States. Although there are no PCR test stations at Istanbul airport, there are many facilities in Istanbul where they can get the test, with the cost ranging from $35 to $40. 

With travel slowly picking up, we are revisiting some of the best images from years past.  Please #planethoppers your Instagram photos so we may follow your journeys when we are all traveling again!