Turkey is reportedly witnessing a 'massive' decline in tourism, with Turkish resorts appearing 'empty' as tourists opt for Greece over the past few years.
On my first and undoubtedly last visit to the country, I followed suit.
I had never visited Turkey (or Turkiye as it's now referred to), and in an attempt to tick off every country Jet2 offers budget flights to, my partner and I decided to give Turkey a go and see if it truly lives up to its reputation.
As it turns out, we weren't particularly fond of Turkey. In fact, we abandoned our Turkish holiday midway and escaped to Greece, mirroring the experiences of many other British tourists.
Our journey took us to Marmaris, situated along the Turkish coastline. This alone was a tale of two contrasting resorts, reports the Express.
The upper part of Marmaris is filled with gated, shaded upscale resorts boasting expansive grounds, overlooking the mountains and the sea.
The lower end, closer to the city, is quite the opposite. It features run-down water parks, Pirates of the Caribbean themed booze cruises and drag acts.
While there's nothing inherently wrong with these attractions, it felt somewhat like 'Blackpool-on-Sea'.
In a memorable incident, we found ourselves in a seafront restaurant expecting a quiet meal. However, at exactly 9pm, just ten minutes into my main course, loud music began to play and the waiters suddenly removed their shirts.
Unbeknownst to us, this seemingly lovely restaurant also featured male table dancers. I've never consumed a spaghetti bolognese so rapidly.
Reports suggest that during the first 10 days of April 2024, the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Rhodes collectively welcomed 20,690 Turkish tourists. Many of these visitors may have previously holidayed in their home country when visas were harder to obtain.
This situation has raised concerns among tourism representatives in Turkey, with some calling for the cancellation of express visas.
We followed suit. By the third day of our holiday in Turkey, we had booked a ferry to Rhodes, costing around £80 each - and the transformation was immediate.
Stepping off the boat, it was clear why so many others are making the same choice. Rhodes is a stunning island boasting an impressive historic old town.
The castle walls encircle the medieval city centre, just metres from the picturesque marina. The old town itself is brimming with charming restaurants, intriguing shops and captivating culture.
My main recollection of Turkey's retail scene was the aggressive salesmen trying to push 'free' Turkish delight samples into my hands, then demanding payment, and the endless fake designer clothes shops. And oddly enough, every other shop was named Asda or Tesco, despite having no connection with the British supermarkets.
In contrast, in Rhodes, we indulged in fresh gyros, delicious local yoghurt and honey, and discovered some unique handmade Rhodian jewellery.
We then strolled around the castle walls, admiring the Greek architecture, all while basking in the mid-30sC heat that was just as intense as Turkey's Marmaris (both were a tad too hot at times, truth be told) but at least there was a refreshing breeze.
On our return journey, we noticed another oddity: a group of about four men all brandishing PS5 consoles they'd purchased in Rhodes. It seems Turkey has slapped a hefty tax on video games, sparking an entirely new cottage industry: games cruisers, who take ferries across the water to buy cheap games consoles tax-free and bring them back to Turkey.
This undoubtedly injects more money into neighbouring Greece and drains hundreds upon hundreds of Euros/Lira from Turkey's economy.
Yes, Rhodes was pricier, but it's true what they say - you really do get what you pay for - and next time, we'd bypass Turkey and head straight to Greece.
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