Turkey a top destination to escape the eurozone
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The article published in the Guardian suggests that holiday goers may prefer Efes to Pompei, Corsica to Kaş (pictured) and Taurus Mountains to Chamonix.
With the European economic crisis affecting the whole world, the strong euro has ruled out many traditional holiday destinations for bargain hunters. The Guardian has published a list of vacation destinations for those who would like to get out of the eurozone. Swap the Canaries for Morocco or Croatia for Greece, and your spending money will go much further, writes Annabelle Thorpe.“If you’re after a historical or archaeological break, but the price of a trip to Pompeii seems prohibitive, it may be time to look further afield. Ephesus in Turkey is a hugely impressive Roman site, with colonnaded streets, a vast theatre, the remains of shops and houses and a unique atmosphere. Located close to the resort of Kuşadası, it is easy to combine spending time at Ephesus with the chance to relax by the sea and indulge in a lazy (and affordable) lunch or two,” the Guardian article reads.
Thorpe also recommends Kaş, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. “Chamonix has long been Europe’s extreme sports capital, but Kaş in southeastern Turkey is a far more affordable option. Ideally located by the sea (for kayaking, windsurfing and jet-skiing), it’s also a short drive to the Lycian Mountains, where canyoning, trekking along the Lycian Way, rock-climbing and mountain-biking are on offer. In spite of its small size, Kaş has a surprisingly lively nightlife, with dance bars that offer Chamonix-like possibilities of partying till the small hours,” the article reads.
Spa Holidays
The Guardian also recommends the Czech Republic for less-expensive spa treatment holidays. “A thermal spa holiday can be perfect for an indulgent, couple-y break: days spent floating in hot pools and lazing on loungers,” the article says: “Vichy, in France, might be Europe’s most famous thermal spa, but Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic has an equally long history as a health resort and the town is crammed with stunning belle-epoque architecture. Its most famous hotel, the five-star Pupp, recently starred as the casino-hotel in Casino Royale, but there are plenty of affordable options overlooking the winding streets.”
The article suggests Turkey’s Taurus Mountains as a stand-in for inland Corsica: “tranquil, unspoilt and offer[ing] a feeling of real isolation.”
“Behind Turkey’s busy coastline, the Taurus Mountains offer the same sense of escape: sleepy hamlets with just a mosque and a café, towering peaks, total peace. The village of Gökçeovacık is just 20 minutes’ drive from the busy port of Göcek, but feels a million miles away, surrounded by forests, terraces of olive trees and fields of herbs,” reported the article.
Short holidays
Swap Ibiza for Zadar, the article suggests: “It might sound surprising, but Zadar in Croatia has one of the hippest club scenes in Europe come the summer months. Like D’alt Vila, the atmospheric old town in Ibiza, the polished cobbles of Zadar are crammed till the early (or late) hours with partygoers moving between venues such as the Garden and the Arsenal (www.arsenalzadar.com), which stages art and fashion shows alongside the club nights. If you’re looking for a Pacha equivalent try Porat (www.poratclub.com), run by renowned Croatian promoter Sergej Ludovic -- where drinks will cost considerably less than the Pacha-average.”
Now that Slovenia is part of the Eurozone, its delightful capital city is off the list for a budget break. But, the article suggests, a possible replacement for a short-hop couple of days is the Albanian capital of Tirana, which despite decades of neglect has managed to retain a buzzy Mediterranean atmosphere and has some original Ottoman houses and a restored bazaar as well as several mosques. Roadside stalls sell crisp, delicious lakror (meat- or cheese-filled pastries) and rotisserie chickens for under a pound.
