Eternal struggle, where cheaper, in Turkey or Palanga: the answer is obvious

In fact, I’ve never been involved in this weird price comparison discussion because I seem to ask questions like “where did I taste better in Italy or Spain?” Or “where better in Germany or Austria?” It’s pretty stupid. After all, it all depends on human needs, hobbies, and tastes. As with prices in Turkey and Palanga, it all depends on what the tourist wants. Good hotel, sanatorium or just beds with grandmother in the apartment. Some will fit in a log cabin with no amenities, some need at least hot water and a separate toilet, and everything else can be anything. I would also meet people who are not on vacation if no one makes breakfast for them. That’s why they always book a room in a hotel with a restaurant and have breakfast there.

However, I decided to make a comparison between our summer capital and Lithuanians’ favorite holiday destination – Turkey. Just maybe a little unexpected. For a long time I put a worksheet where I wrote the prices of various services. Let’s say I compared the prices of the campsites, they are almost identical (tent place – around 5 EUR per night), I compared the chebureks of Palanga for 3 EUR (sold on the street and the beach of Basanavičiaus) with the Turkish kebabs by lavash for 1.5 EUR (sold in fast food restaurants in the resorts of the Antalya region), I compared the bike rental per day: in Palanga 12-15 Eur, in Turkey 5-10 Eur, I compared the price of one cup of coffee in popular cafes, the prices of vegetable and fruit market sellers, etc.

Taxi fares probably stood out the most: the beastly appetite of Palanga drivers and modest Turkish taxi drivers. Example: I called the Palanga taxi number, asked how much it would cost me to go from the new bus station to the church on Vytauto street (distance about 1.5 km) – the answer was received by phone – translating: “About ten euros, more less “.

Meanwhile, a journey of less than 5 kilometers in the Turkish town of Kemer by taxi costs 4-5 Eur. The differences in the prices of spa services were also striking. Massages, waxing, facial and body treatments on our beach are in most cases almost twice as expensive. Why is that? Apparently, the workforce in our country is more valued than in Turkey, and that is quite welcome. If only people could earn more.

In the battle for price comparisons between Palanga and Turkey, the absolute sadness stops when you look at the price lists of hotels, hostels and other places of accommodation. In the category of extremely expensive prices (comparing the best hotels), Turkey is the leader, here you can also find accommodation in the amount of more than 10 thousand. Eur, but I couldn’t find such an expensive place in Palanga. But chances are, the high-priced service package is quite different. What the most luxurious places in Turkey offer: The most luxurious hotels in Palanga are not yet available.

Comparing extremely cheap places, it is possible to announce a raffle, because you can spend the night for 5 and 10 euros both with us and with the Turks. Only one BUT … In Alanya, Turkey, I managed to find a hotel that rents a double room for 15 Eur per night, and I did not find any of that in Palanga. I even called a few places and asked what I could get for that amount. In one place he replied “breakfast”, in another he regretted saying “nothing”.

But let’s not go to extremes, most people are not looking for expensive or cheaper places. Traditional tourists want something mediocre, something clean, beautiful, in a good location, the advantage is good food and drink. And here, in the middle class, I declare victory in favor of Turkey. The hotel packages they offer lead in general to all of Europe, since our Palanga is already here. The magic words “all inclusive” are the eternal Turkish key to the hearts of tourists who diligently calculate vacation budgets. Not in Barcelona, ​​not in Nice, not in Sicily, not in Brighton, you will not get anything like such small sums.

If we add up the advantages of the all-inclusive Turkish package and calculate each food and drink in a separate amount, a vacation of this magnitude in Palanga would be incredibly expensive.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this essay, comparing incomparable things is pretty stupid. And my price tables, which I have compiled and presented responsibly, are worthless when travel agency advertisements offer offers to spend the whole week in Turkey for 175-200 euros and of course enjoy “everything included”. Add to that the fact that airline tickets are somehow included in this amount.

Of course, people will not buy a vacation for such amounts, to get this incomprehensibly low price you need a travel companion, so let’s calculate that a vacation for two will cost 350-400 Eur. And yet the amount is obscenely low, even before the simplest vacation in Palanga. Even if you stay in the cheapest hotel, eat in the cheapest cafeterias-canteens 3 times a day, drink alcohol once a day, eat fruits with red berries, use your car for transportation or arrive in Palanga by bus, it would be much more. expensive for two people a week, probably twice as much.

In the competition “where is it cheaper?”, Palanga would be leveled if a local businessman accepted and offered an “all-inclusive” Lithuanian package for 350 euros. We can divide this amount: accommodation for two with bedding, towels, with separate bathroom and toilet – it should cost 20 euros per night. This means an amount of 140 euros per week. Remaining amount: 210 Eur – for food and beverages. A meal would cost 5 euros per person. Let’s calculate that a total of 21 meals are needed per week, for two people. Hence the amount of food: 210 Eur. That price would still be good if it includes two bottles of alcohol and about five bottles of soft drinks. Also fruits and berries. Be as close as possible to a vacation in Turkey.

Pools and hammocks by the sea do not count. Let this be an advantage for Turkey. And the counterweight of Palanga is the wonderful sand of our sea, there really isn’t that in Turkey. Transportation costs need to be added to this package.

There is almost no possibility of getting such an exclusive offer in Palanga, but after all, not everything is determined only by the price. Admit to whatever the prices are on our coast, getting there for at least a week a year really wants to. If the summer capital can’t compete on price, each of us will likely find our own pros here. And that’s what the holidays are about.