Turks, did the Greek islands become more popular the last two years with the new "Easy-Visa" Scheme for Turkish citizens? Have you visited, how do they compare to the Turkish Coast?
Posted by freddo_expresso@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 157 comments
blumonste@reddit
Millions of Turks visit the islands and the mainland in a year. Cheaper everything.
freddo_expresso@reddit (OP)
I can't wrap my head around the fact Turkey is more expensive than Greece. I mean, it doesn't make sense.. How do you guys afford these prices, we BARELY afford them in our own country and from what I know your wages are lower.
Pretend-Technician64@reddit
We are stronk.
Significant-Ad-7182@reddit
By eating pasta and bread that tastes like cardboard.
At least that's how the poor people survive. You have to keep in mind there are MANY islamic cults in Turkey that provide support to the poor and keep them alive. Alive but not well-off.
In return these poor people join in as cultists themselves, sometimes providing children as brides to higher cult members. Sometimes they get jobs from companies owned by the cult. Sometimes they get jobs with government pay. (most if not all the islamic cults in Turkey are Erdogan supporters, it's less about faith and more about a mutually beneficial relationship, similar to American MAGA churches)
SimicAscendancy@reddit
This sounds awful
Significant-Ad-7182@reddit
Some people say Atatürk was too harsh on islam and islamic cults etc... I think (and many others) He wasn't harsh enough.
Cr7TheUltimate@reddit
Big difference between Islam and Islamic cults though, Malaysia for example certainly does not have similar issues. Restricting freedom of religion is oppression.
Visible_Sun_6231@reddit
Removing religion from government is not oppression.
I don’t think the previous commentator was saying that personal beliefs should be restricted.
Cr7TheUltimate@reddit
The previous commenter said Atatürk didn’t crack down on Islam hard enough and it’s quite obvious that he or she meant that as in cracking down on Islam in society. Because Atatürk definitely did more than what most secularists would consider ”enough” when it came to government.
Visible_Sun_6231@reddit
No it's not obvious. To me also Ataturk could have cracked down on islam in government even more firmly . He left the roots untouched for the weeds to grow back as we see today.
Gaelenmyr@reddit
Malaysia is not next to the Middle East and does not face Islamic terrorism.
Cr7TheUltimate@reddit
Still a majority Muslim country though, proving my point - Islamic extremism is a cultural/geographic issue rather than something wholly connected to Islam as a religion.
haroldstree@reddit
Malaysia and the rest of the SEA countries suck up to capitalism hard. Turkey's fight has for the most part always secularism vs religious extremism. Malaysia did its fight against communism and "won". Malaysia never had to face the conflicts Turkey faced. The only time there was ethno-religious turmoil they kicked Singapore out anyway.
Cr7TheUltimate@reddit
Yeah… further proving my point??? Their issues are not rooted in Islam. Sounds like we agree
geniuslogitech@reddit
malaysia is muslim country but it's not islamic country like middle eastern countries or indonesia
Cr7TheUltimate@reddit
Malaysia is an Islamic country.
miffebarbez@reddit
No, it was a hot bed for daesh and ISIL and you also had Al-Ma'unah... Probably some Malaysians involved in bombing southern Thailand too....
miffebarbez@reddit
No, there certainly is Islamic extremism in Asia too...
miffebarbez@reddit
"Restricting freedom of religion is oppression." So it's ok to suck a baby's dick?
Gigalian@reddit
they will eventually.
Cr7TheUltimate@reddit
And what makes you say that? They are clearly good at preventing people from twisting the religion and forming cults. Do you think the people wanting to form cults will try to manipulate laws or anything else in a way that they can legally operate?
TNT_GR@reddit
There are several terrorist groups in Malaysia and plenty of terrorist sympathizers so I am not really sure if it’s all sunshine and rainbows over there.
Cr7TheUltimate@reddit
But the government keeps them under control, rather than letting them gain power, let alone supporting them like the Turkish government seems to be doing.
Significant-Ad-7182@reddit
Our minister of education is from one of the cults in Turkey. That's how much intertwined the two are.
Cr7TheUltimate@reddit
That’s insane, I hope your situation gets better inchallah
Playful-Alfalfa5729@reddit
The guy is bullshitting, don't listen to him.
More_Ad_5142@reddit
Ne saçmalıyorsun yabancı sub’ında? Yok Türkiye’de insanlar kızlarını millete peşkeşe çekerek karınlarını doyuruyorlarmış da? Yok millete ekmeği tarikatlar veriyormuş da? Sen nerede yaşıyorsun? Burda Yunanlara milletini satarak mı Tayyibe olan nefretini bastırıyorsun? Az biraz gururunuz olsun
Significant-Ad-7182@reddit
Tarikat üyeleri üye sayılarını arttırmak için üye olan ailelerin kızlarını veriyor. Bunu hiç duymaman benim sorunum değil senin sorunun.
Tarikatlar direkt "ekmek" dağıttıkları kadar "zekat" adı altında, iş ve pozisyonda sağlıyor. Bu onların yaptıkları bir yatırım bir nevi. Ileride bu insanlardan birşeyler isteyecekler, bazen oy olabilir, bazen kız çocuğunu bazen başka birşey.
Adamlar özellikle zor durumda olan insanları hedef alıyor zaten ve kendilerine bağımlı hale getiriyor.
Öz eleştiri ve durumu kabullenme milleti satmak mı oluyormuş vay be bunu da yeni öğrenmiş oldum.
Bulunduğumuz boktan çıkmanın ilk adımı bokun içinde olduğumuzu kabullenmek. Sen ülkenin bulunduğu halden gurur duyabiliyorsan ne mutlu sana.
More_Ad_5142@reddit
Evet bokun içinden çıkmanın ilk şartı da herhalde Redditte Türk nefretiyle ünlü bir sub’da abarta abarta atıp tutmak. Görsen 85 milyon nüfus kızlarını tarikatlara pazarlıyor, değil mi? Üç beş yobazın yobazlığını 85 milyona mal etmek mi senin gerçeklik algın?
Significant-Ad-7182@reddit
Pardonda yazdığım yazının neresinde 85 milyon için yobaz dedim ben? Yazdığım yazının hiçbir yerinde bütün millet bu şekilde yaşıyor demedim.
Fakir ve zor durumda olan insanlar için konuştum burada. Adam da sormuş nasıl geçiniyorlar diye bende cevap verdim böyle bir durum var diye. cevabımın hiçbir yerinde de tek geçinebilmelerinin yolu budur da demedim.
AKP'nin kömür makarna hikayelerini hepimiz biliyoruz. Onu da yazabilirdim ama aklıma ilk bu geldi bunu yazdım bende. Yurtdışında FETÖ'nün varlığından ve yaptıklarından haberi yok çoğu yabancının. Ama Tayyip'i herkez biliyor.
Bu şekilde tarikatların tehlikesi de konuşulmuş oluyor. Sen bide yazdıklarımı sanki Türk milletini aşağlamışım gibi anlamışsın da bu senin kendi alınganlığınla alakası var. Verymeye çalıştığım mesaj islam tarikatlarıyla ve nasıl o.ç olduklarıyla ilgili.
Sen niye buna böyle alınganlık gösteriyon onu bilemem. :D
Sana kalsa hayır yok kimse aç değil herşey güllük gülistanlık biz memnunuz halimizden aga diyecen lol.
Murky_Setting1898@reddit
Dude what the fuck are you talking about. Yes, extreme islamic cults, their nepotism and disgusting practices are not a new thing. Your portayal of this is a major over-generalization and simply delusional. Poor people survive by government subsidies and other social subsidies, they are "surviving" not living. Situation is bad. However saying that people live off by offering themselves to cults is just plainly wrong.
taloschat@reddit
He exaggerated a lot. İslamic cults are not that strong. He should have say what you said. Government gives pasta, coal, cheap healtcare, free education. Thats why they are reelected again and again.
Citaku357@reddit
Which cults exactly?
Significant-Ad-7182@reddit
They have weird ass names that I don't bother remembering but one of them is menzil, another one that I remember is called ismailağa.
There was also Fetö but they left Turkey after their coup attempt and are largely operating from US atm.
LowPsychological6734@reddit
dude what ? :D
PeriodontosisSam@reddit
Thats the worst case lol. Thats not happening in every day life
Dull_Cucumber_3908@reddit
It makes 100% sense. Imagine how expensive Greek would be after the pandemic if we didn't have Euros but a national currency.
freakybird99@reddit
Turkey turned from the cheap place where bulgarians go for shopping to the place where its residents go to greece for cheaper holidays real fast
Existing_Increase_87@reddit
When did this happen?
Minskdhaka@reddit
Since 2022 or so.
tokalper@reddit
I remember the days that Edirne was %60 Bulgarian %40 Turkish in daytime. 80-20 in malls
areyouguysaraborwhat@reddit
I don't know day to day living, but touristic places and hotels are def cheaper. Our people's greed is worst than Jafar from Aladdin.
EmreTaptukYunus@reddit
Because the dollar is still being suppressed against the Turkish lira. The lira is still overvalued against the dollar, and the government does not want it to reach its true value—at least before the elections. This also significantly increases the cost of living in Turkey for citizens.
KurptonX@reddit
Dexer Shawn is following his masters' orders to ruin our country so we can suffer.
Spaciax@reddit
because our country is being run by opportunistic scammers, charging exorbitant prices for the most basic stuff.
when Turks visit Greek islands, small producers and other flavors or scammers here say "don't support the enemy! buy from us instead! support us instead!" and when you look at their prices you realize they're worse than the so-called "enemy".
SingularityPanda@reddit
Their monetary and economic policy got ruined many times. Their currency is super weak and has huge inflation swings.
Went from an EU-candidate to Russian-tourist only hell.
Mnd3333@reddit
Here is the thing we can barely afford to live too. But it is gotten SO EXPENSIVE that other countries are much cheaper. This includes other countries in Europe too. It's not that the other countries are too cheap, it's that our prices are too expensive.
brucebay@reddit
Turkey is a large country. Even if half the population lives below the poverty line, there would still be millions who can afford vacations to the Greek islands without making a dent in their finances. On a global level, it is disgusting that a wealthy minority is able to pay exorbitant prices, forcing everyone else to struggle to catch up. It is a common business mentality to serve fewer but high paying customers rather than a larger volume of lower income consumers, as seen with companies like Apple, Chipotle, and Nvidia. In any populous capitalist country, there are enough wealthy individuals to easily support luxury services for millions of people. I bet, if you look at top 10 million people (size of greece) in Turkey, their average wealth would be far higher than average wealth in Greece.
Several_Score_4278@reddit
That’s true, but it’s not the only reason. Fifteen million wealthy people could fill all of Greece, but they might also choose to go to another country. The fact that people can get better service for the same vacation budget they’d spend in Turkey—and feel like they’re not being ripped off—is what’s driving them in this direction.
Mestintrela@reddit
In the past the Turkish coast had also such excellent service. At least near Izmir. We used to come to visit spas and 5 star hotels. The people were so friendly and eating out so cheap. (Except drinking).
Now even if you go to the Bazaar in Aivalik or Izmir is more expensive than here.
And the funny thing is that many of the merchandise sold in the Greek islands are actually imported from Turkey. But the Turks come here to buy them....
tokalper@reddit
Our value added tax + profit margins of resellers in total makes them more expensive than export tax + import tax of Greece+ reseller & retailer profit margin. Especially for alcohol lol. If i apply to visa every year and buy my alcohol in bulk from greece with the money i would've spent in turkey i can stay 4-5 days in Thassos
dallyan@reddit
Yup.
SinancoTheBest@reddit
That, and the cost of living crisis in Turkey, coupled with shrinkflation and enshittification really affected the quality of life of the large middle class in Turkey and for them if they don't already have summer homes there, a week trip to a popular sea resort like Antalya, Bodrum, Çeşme or Fethiye is quite unaffordable, comparatively Greek islands offer similar, if not better quality much lower costs.
So interestingly I'd say the trips to Greek Aegean islands has become a much more accessible and encouraged vacation for middle/ upper-middle class, whereas the exorbitantly rich are the ones preferring all-inclusive resorts within Turkey or more status destinations further from the cost like Mykanos, Santorini etc
freakybird99@reddit
Holiday in greece is cheaper than holiday in turkey currently
Certain_Refuse_8247@reddit
This.
theboltT@reddit
The difference between Türkiye and other eu countries is distribution of wealth. In eu countries majority of the people shares same economic power , it’s like average of general economy of country. In Türkiye , 35-40% of the population (which means almost 30 million people) holds 80% of the wealth of the whole country.
kr4cken@reddit
There are 80+ million Turkish citizens. Even if only 10% can afford to have such holiday that's at least 8 million people. Since the same population now finds having a holiday in Turkey expensive, Greece seems a much more viable alternative. Obviously going abroad for a holiday is not possible when you earn a low wage.
dallyan@reddit
It’s really crazy how things flipped. My mom has a beach cottage in Çeşme and tourists used to come to us from Chios for good deals. Now Turks are flocking there.
AST360@reddit
While most people are earning around 600-1k usd family income, most people are living rural, simple and peaceful lives where they can find "ok" rentals for around 400 usd in inner Anatolia but most people own their houses anyway. Groceries cost around 20-30 usd per visit to market in Anatolia and people often live by the land. Those people often do not aspire for expensive things like new phones. Also a lot of people in Anatolia receive government subsidies, that often helps.
In big cities, like for example things are different, poverty is much more rampant, groceries cost 30-50 usd per shopping spree and rentals start from 500 usd at best. Yet people often also have higher averaged wages (while still most are earning up to 1k usd total family income which is crippling) a family of 2 teachers for example earns around 2k usd monthly and one can find a nice 3-room rental for around 1k usd. A family of two university profs for example earn 5-6k usd family income, an engineer earns 1-2k usd, a doctor earns 2-4k usd. And those are the people that afford to visit the islands, yet the majority that is earning 600 usd minimum wage are surviving by living simple lives, visiting their hometown for holidays etc.
shiwonozomu_majochan@reddit
Average household income isn’t around 1000 USD, that’s the average individual income. In larger cities (and especially in Istanbul) the median individual income is probably closer to 1400-1500 USD (60-70,000 arası) lowe per month but it still is quite low compared to the cost of living.
erdyvz@reddit
That's the neat part. We can't.
blumonste@reddit
Excessive indirect taxation to make up for tax avoidance and for debt service. (İnterest payments). A certain portion of the population has very high income unchecked by direct taxation, this also adds to demand and increase price level.
Low income people suffer. Since they are unable to take a vacation or take part in visible flashy consumption, they are invisible. Ruling party doesn't care about them. Unfortunately majority of low income people still support the ruling party...
P-l-Staker@reddit
Whaaaaa...?! 🤨
blumonste@reddit
I joined a day trip by bus last January to Alexandropoli. The only shoppers at Lidl in the morning were Turkish people who were bussed to the city. Maybe 250 people within an hour. Workers looked tired and unhappy because of the deluge of people. Jumbo was another stop. Then electronics and clothing/shoes/cosmetics shops and restaurants and cafes...
P-l-Staker@reddit
I met a guy from up there when I was serving. He told me people cross the border into Bulgaria and Turkey regularly to buy cheaper stuff.
blumonste@reddit
That was several years ago when the Lira was undervalued, it is overvalued now. The opposite is true these days.
P-l-Staker@reddit
Surely it's not worth more than the Euro. Surely...?
tokalper@reddit
Thats not the point
blumonste@reddit
Normally 1 euro equals around 55 lira. But nominal means nothing.
blumonste@reddit
ScanianTiger@reddit
If the raki is greek that looks excellent. Not hating, just that I really dont like the anis and anis-free raki in turkey was hard to find.
blumonste@reddit
The picture with coffee? That is water but the picture with the beer has a small bottle of ouzo. Poulomari or something that was good.
blumonste@reddit
P-l-Staker@reddit
Sorry, what am I looking at here?
blumonste@reddit
Leaving money in Alexandropoli...
P-l-Staker@reddit
Yeah, good for you.
I was just shocked you said it's cheaper. People from Greece (and the UK) say the opposite. And it makes sense considering your currency is cheap.
Mestintrela@reddit
No. I am a North Aegean Islander and we used to cross over to Cesme, Izmir and Ayvalik even to buy tomatoes.
Now the only thing worth buying is things you cant find in Greece or good quality wool linen because all the rest are at best same price at worst much more expensive.
Also in the Bazaar they see you are foreigner and they spike the price higher than to turks
P-l-Staker@reddit
Fuck me, things have changed then!
Hello, fellow N. Aegean islander! 👋
blumonste@reddit
The government is keeping Lira artificially appreciated against other currencies. İnflation is almost 60%, Lira's depreciation is 17% from last year these times and this has been going on for at least 4 years.
blumonste@reddit
Flashy-Country9777@reddit
I'm Turkish and I visit Greek Islands very often for the last 10 years, food is better, local wines are crazy good, shop owners don't want to rob you and prices are very reasonable.
NovaImperiumRomanum@reddit
Yeah nowadays some turkuah businesses use shitty material to lower cost but have a huge amount of marginal profit by putting unfair prices orospu cocuklari had a stockholm trip cheaper than having a trip and eating out in istanbul
Self-Bitter@reddit
Which Greek wines you enjoy best?
Sweet_Bridge_3001@reddit
Big time, i keep saying in this subreddit that Turks actually like Greeks, don't believe the politicians and clickbaiting news, look at opinion polls.
We share the same culture, same foods, and drinking customs, tourists feel at home in Greece.
bruhmanbruuh@reddit
Then surely that's reflected in the way they (Turks) vote , right?
Right? :/
Sweet_Bridge_3001@reddit
Foreign policy on Greece, positive or negative, is not an electoral issue for anyone in Turkey.
bruhmanbruuh@reddit
Of course it is . Both the islamists and the kemalists are nationalists , openly aggressive against Greece and anything Greek really.
Not that I expect them Turks to own their problems and vote better.
Sweet_Bridge_3001@reddit
Brother no one cares about Greece in Turkey, you are being rabid for no reason
rainincya@reddit
source?
HammerofLevi@reddit
We went to Rhodes last summer. Really easy visa progress tbh. You apply a week before your ferry and get in easily. Food was great, people were great. It would cost 3x in Turkey for a week.
HYBRIDLqTHEORY@reddit
Didn't those guys had massive beef for the whole time being?
tormentius@reddit
Politics is a shit show, people still like each other if they are not brainwashed idiots. Some of the islands are less than 3 miles from turkey shores so people there are very close since ages. Its mostly secular turks that visit greece and they are more or less the same like greeks, nothing to fight about
PeriodontosisSam@reddit
You know that this is a lie
tormentius@reddit
Why so?
PeriodontosisSam@reddit
People dont like each other if you dive deep. The wounds of war are still there and hatred on both sides. Of course not everybody but mostly both Greek and Turks think so.
tormentius@reddit
Thats why i mentioned secular. I have traveled to turkey and met a lot of turkish people in my life professionally as well as personal friends, none of them has any issues with greeks and recognize ther is bad blood due to hiatory but on the country level, not on personal. Of course this is my personal social bubble and can be the excelption.
meteora_tr@reddit
We mock each other for fun but we are NOT enemies.
I both love and hate Greeks. I will be in Athens this July.
Btw, Baklava is Turkish 🇹🇷
dimtr9@reddit
Even the prime minister has said baklava isn't greek lmao. We don't really eat that stuff anymore, personally it reminds me of my grandma or sth. But my take on these things is that putting national flags on food that is local to the whole region of Eastern Mediterranean is ridiculous. All these dishes existed long before nations were made and people never referred to them as Turkish, Greek or Arab.
ps. Most of the food we fight over is just Persian or Levantine.
Senor-Marston389@reddit
So?
HYBRIDLqTHEORY@reddit
It's just as if USA suddenly would grant Russia an offer like that lol
SE_prof@reddit
Weeeeeell.... Give it some time...
TheMediumJanet@reddit
The US and Russia aren’t neighbours who have been culturally influenced by one another for centuries.
timisorean_02@reddit
Not quite.
Automatic_Rhubarb997@reddit
This is Bull 💩News
Comfortable_Bath5986@reddit
Everything in Turkey is a scheme nowadays
physoc@reddit
Turkish coasts are more expensive but the islands have started increasing prices in the last years. If they increase too much, they will not get visitors from Turkiye anymore like in the old days.
Chemical_Big5358@reddit
a lot of turkish people come over not only for vacation but for super market shopping in bulk! i guess imported items are more expensive in Turkey
Young_Owl99@reddit
Alcohol, the answer is alcohol :)
It is so overpriced in Turkey that buying from Greece even a more expensive country like Germany or France is way cheaper.
basedfinger@reddit
I was in Japan last month and alcohol was cheaper there too, so were groceries
nobody1568@reddit
I'd rather have huge taxes on the price of alcohol than on the price of gas like it is here.
lordkaann@reddit
I no longer live in Turkey, but l spent more on alcohol at a bar than l would in Paris. Buying alcohol from the grocery store is also cheaper here (everything is cheaper in general). I can see why some Turks would go to Greece lol
tokalper@reddit
If i get visa every year and buy my yearly alcohol from greece, with the money i would've spent in turkey i can afford 4-5 days of vacation in Thassos+ i still get my alcohol. So vacation comes for free
Loopbloc@reddit
Why can't the EU give them visa free access to Schengen ?
kr4cken@reddit
EU demands 72 criterias to be fulfilled from the Turkish side to grant visa liberation to Turkish citizens. Turkey filled 66 of the criterias, the last 6 are big deal breakers for the current Turkish government, so I doubt it will happen any time soon. Even in case of a government change, I doubt the new government will fulfill all 6 of the criterias, since one of those criteria is about counterterrorism. Such would definitely not go well with the general public.
tokalper@reddit
Yea why
Cheap_Grocery8634@reddit
It's wild how the price hikes at home are pushing people to look elsewhere, even for groceries. The Greek islands definitely seem to offer a more relaxed vibe compared to some of the overrun package tour spots here. It's a shame when you feel priced out of your own coastline.
Simple_Enjoyer1@reddit
It is cheaper to buy a castle in Italy than to buy a large apartment in İstanbul.
Sure it must be a cheap castle but still
Young_Owl99@reddit
Yes they do. In fact last year visitng Greek islands was a way to protest prices of Turkish tourism.
dallyan@reddit
My parents have had a beach cottage in Çeşme for many years. I saw Alacati go from a tiny village with maybe 2 or 3 restaurants into an enormous, bustling touristic center. And it only gets bigger every year. And most of the people there are turkish. I keep hearing about high prices and how people are squeezed but every time I visit there are more and more people spending money. I guess the elite will always remain but it always shocks me how many people are just ready to spend spend spend.
Young_Owl99@reddit
That’s called income inequality for you.
Rich get richer poor gets poorer but unlike some people in opposition think not only government allies are getting richer.
dallyan@reddit
And imagine you live in that bubble 24/7. Empathy gets completely obliterated.
LowPsychological6734@reddit
apart from the price difference i would not visit any touristic place in turkey. all of them are total assholes. if they can they will make you eat shit and charge you more than price of gold.
dallyan@reddit
I’m really sorry you had that experience. Times are definitely hard in Turkey but it’s no excuse to rip people off.
LowPsychological6734@reddit
dude i am turkish :D
dallyan@reddit
Ahahaha I missed that somehow.
dallyan@reddit
Is Chios part of this scheme?
freddo_expresso@reddit (OP)
Absolutely it is
dallyan@reddit
Great! Maybe my friends and I can go this summer.
Roufianos255@reddit
Good bridge building initiative, I like it.
tokalper@reddit
I always think would be best friends if not for media / extremists / politics
venusinfurstattoo@reddit
Cheaper
GORDONxRAMSAY@reddit
They need to make all islands visa-free for 15 days. That would triple the visits for sure.
freddo_expresso@reddit (OP)
We don't want that many tourists omg 🫠
Few-Interview-1996@reddit
Greece has been granting Turkish visitors to some islands this sort of visa advantage for years, except during Covid.
No, I have not used this; I go to the mainland or elsewhere.
freddo_expresso@reddit (OP)
I'm not sure what the deal we made granted you, supposedly it made your entrance to 10 Greek islands faster and easier.
Zestyclose-Power-132@reddit
It is not something new, it has been available for a long time. At least 10 years i want to say. Also it is good for both Turkish citizens (cheaper and safer tourism) and for the islands such as Xios, i believe some of these islands economies highly took advantage of Turkish tourists.
Gaelenmyr@reddit
Longer than 10 years. I'm in my 30s and my family used to go to the islands through Kuşadası or İzmir when I was a kid.
IcyPepper680@reddit
Both the Turkish coast and the Greek islands have awesome places, really. We have a summer house literally overlooking Chios, it's almost in swimming distance. Problem is that Turkish tourist spots are priced for international tourists, so for most locals, they tend to be exorbitantly expensive, so people go to the islands very frequently for cheaper food, but also for more peaceful, quiet holidays as well as our spots tend to be very crowded during peak seasons.
I visited Greece a lot of times, Crete, Rhodes, Athens, Thessaloniki, and so on. Each time I visit I always feel saddened by the political animosity, not that there is much of it in Turkey's side anymore since Russia / Middle East pose much bigger geopolitical challenges for us than a Greece in the EU. It's still sad that there was any disagreements in the first place, since we are literally the same people. The conversations I have with Greek friends, the way people have fun and drink and eat, the passion people show rapidly for the stupidest of things, it's the same as home. So it always feels very fun to visit, it's like going over to your cousin's place to hang out.
Jazzlike-Moose3123@reddit
We have wild capitalism. Everything ''improved'' within time which means massive hotels,destruction of the landscape,''accidental'' fires where an hotel building might show up a year later, the rich buying off the coastline, sea and sand are commodities and they are expensive. I had a boss who worked in tourism he said greece is and always been the same. Boutique hotels, blue roofs, white walls, more easy going but not much improvement. We have mass tourism instead of boutique tourism. This effectively increased gpd but nothing done in mass can have very high quality. So tourism has been going uphill.
I havent visited Greece. My ancestors are originally from Selanik. The documents they ask for a visa are still absurd. It also costs a lot of money and in the end you can get rejected with no apparent reason. I cant plan my once a year vacation based on this.
Lastly I think tensions between us might end up causing a war in the near future. I dont want to support greece indirectly. Even though most people are friendly i know both governments are the problem.
chrstianelson@reddit
Yeap. It's actually cheaper for Turks to go to Greece for a vacation than go to Bodrum or Antalya right here in Turkey. Some even go there for their grocery shopping.
Inflation is a real bitch (not to mention the government that caused it).
The fact that it's so expensive in Turkey is partly why Greece is breaking tourist records recently.
SinancoTheBest@reddit
For sure. If anything they nice hotels, much better groceries and more abundant seafood at much lower price point. Even though I didn't personally need to use the visa on arrival scheme as I had a yearlong Schengen from another country, it encouraged me to plan a trip with my friend from İzmir without Schengen to Chios back in October and next month I'll be going to Rhodes with my mother doesn't have an active Schengen and doesn't want to bother with the paperwork of regular applications.
The existence of the scheme leads to more common and streamlined ferry travels, some all year for major islands and makes me want to visit all of them in my bucket list. Either Lesbos or Samos feels like a great next destination for this September-October when the high tourist season subsides.
Mestintrela@reddit
This is nothing new.
We used to have this for many years in the past but it stopped due to Covid and then the EU didnt want to reapply it so the islands had to lobby hard to make it happen.
The North Aegean islands qre much cheaper than the Turkish coast and that is why thousands of Turks come. I am not sure about islands such as Rhodes that are more expensive.
The Turks amazing tourists.
They eat out, travel around, shop, dont create any issue or fights arent loud or obnoxious and the vast majority are family people . And that is with them buying a ton of alcohol to drink and to bring back.
tokalper@reddit
The price of Turkish coasts have become so bad that even the priciest is still cheaper than a vacation in turkey.
Mestintrela@reddit
The Turkish coast is still cheaper than the worst tourist traps in Greece like Santorini , Mykonos and some parts of Crete. There they charge even the air that your breath.
But Turkey doesnt border these so you are spared.
Final-Nebula-7049@reddit
Yes, far cheaper than a Turkish vacay since tourism industry likes to fuck Turks over
meyvesuyudnyasi@reddit
I will be visiting the islands 3rd year in a row. Half priced, better quality food/drinks + walkable/cycle friendly structure. Sign me in buddy
orhoncan@reddit
visited Athens in 2024, really liked it. not only the touristic places but all the area. would definitely like to visit again.
Kolonaki was nice, ate ice cream in Naepoli, saw Aegina island (so much cheaper compared to Turkey) along with Pireaus, went to Acropolis and all the historic areas, Plaka etc. are must see, took the sub everywhere but walked around Syntagma etc. stayed close to Monastriki area which had some shady streets but all was well :)
I may not recall the names or places correctly but all the people were really helpful, had a lot of common ground with us :)
enteralterego@reddit
Easy visa is pretty limited. You can't get a regular schengen and then go to Netherlands etc with a Greek island holiday visa
Minimum-Gap-8056@reddit
Yes and also western thrace and macedonia i was in nikiti last summer
freddo_expresso@reddit (OP)
Nikiti is in Macedonia, more specifically Chalcidice, did you like it?
anastis@reddit
Chalcidice, Chalkidiki, Halkidiki… this is getting ridiculous. We need to stick with one name, I don’t care which one.
freddo_expresso@reddit (OP)
Chalcidice, it takes its names from the city of Chalcis. It's the classical name, the rest are TRASH.
Minimum-Gap-8056@reddit
Yeah great city and destination sea was bit colder than the islands and my car got stuck in the sand in poseidi cape but was still good 👍
kostasnotkolsas@reddit
CHALKIDIKI MENTIONED 💪💪💪💪 LIKE CHALKIDIKI IT DOESN'T HAVE 💪💪💪💪
Significant-Ad-7182@reddit
Never tried it myself even though I stay at Ephesus during the summer. But I do know that a lot of people go to Samos from Kuşadası. If you asked me it's not worth it to make the trip just for a day. You have to stay there at least a night to enjoy it otherwise it's just a hassle.
sertack@reddit
I am studying in Izmir and Greek islands are very popular among students here.
1Kriptik@reddit
It’s a first step but, unfortunately the “easy-visa” is still not that easy… the Eagean coast is beautiful on both sides, Turkey has some great spots. The problem is not the coast itself, the problem is that hotels and other accommodations in Turkish side have spiked prices due to… well… points at everything in Turkey
Also despite being high price for locals it is still cheap for travelers from Northern Europe coming here with tours. And no disrespect to anyone but those people are the lowest of the low. No regard for their other people, leaving trash everywhere, loud… you get the idea. So the Turkish people who can afford it prefer Greek islands or at least the parts that are less crowded, better quality and good price.