Editor: Irina
Fortune is the ancient Roman goddess of luck ... and a cheap holiday in Turkey in an unknown hotel. These are the first primitive associations with the word and, in fact, all the knowledge of the average tourist about such a phenomenon as a fortune holiday.
We were vacationing in Fortuna in Turkey in a four-star hotel - and therefore we decided to write an honest review, with all the pros and cons of such a system.
For those who are not at all in the subject - let's figure out what fortune in tourism is and what does Turkey have to do with it!
What is a Fortune Tour? Tour operator conditions
Fortune Tour is the cheapest tour from a tour operator; a system that offers a full tour package (which includes flight, accommodation and insurance), but without specifying the hotel. That is, before arrival, the tourist knows only the resort and the number of stars of the hotel, he will recognize the name on the spot.
You choose only the resort (there is also a combination - Alanya and Side), star rating (from 2 to 5 stars) and a food system (breakfast, half board, all inclusive or no food at all). Another name for such a mysterious offer from a tour operator is roulette.
- You will be notified about the hotel on the eve of departure, or upon arrival (which is more likely). You can change the hotel for an additional fee - at least $ 200 - subject to availability of rooms in another
- When booking trips, for example, for a group of friends, be prepared to stay in different hotels. Sorry, this is the host's right. But notify the tour operator in advance about your wish - they may take it into account
And what is this whole lottery for? For a reduced price! Such a voucher is cheaper than a specific one, as a rule, by 5 ... thousand rubles.
So, you can buy an all-inclusive fortune tour to a 5 * hotel in Alanya from Moscow for only 55,000 rubles for two for a week.
Where to look for fortune and inexpensive tours to Turkey?
We flew Biblio Globus across Fortuna to Antalya airport - we were lucky with the hotel
And without that inexpensive Turkey spreads fortune more often than others. Like really cheap tours, it does not always appear and not all tour operators. Therefore, it is more convenient to choose a ticket on online aggregators:
- Travelata
- Level.Travel
- Onlinetours
They compare prices from 130+ tour operators and display the lowest possible prices and the best quality hotels according to the given dates and wishes.
But how to find exactly the fortune? Much easier than you might think: in the "Country, city or hotel" column, fill in Fortuna and the name of the resort. For example, Fortuna Kemer or Fortuna Marmaris (the choice of regions is wider at Level.Travel). Then click on the required star rating - the aggregator will tell you which one is available. Correct the dates, departure city, number of people - and "search"!
Remember that if in the general window of tours in Side / Antalya / etc. the service shows specific hotels at a lower cost than fortune - which means that they are offered by different tour operators (put a filter on it, and the situation will clear up).
How to choose a Fortune tour?
For those who are not going to be on the territory of the hotel for the whole vacation, we can recommend the Fortune tours with the stars of hotels from 3 and higher. Especially if you are exploring the area by car, and the hotel is for you to sleep and have breakfast.
Tour operators distribute hotels according to the fortune system from their database. That is, if not very good reviews are often flickered on the whole line of hotels of a particular tour operator, you should not count on luck in terms of fortune, even choosing 5 *.
Despite the stamp “top secret, open at the airport”, there is a method for calculating the hotel (it is approximate, but it didn't help us at all, but we went to Greece). Jot down a list of the 5 cheapest hotels of the tour operator for your dates that meet the conditions of fortune, it will most likely be one of them!
Although, some travel companies offer tours on the fortune system with a specific list of hotels. Usually they don't talk about it, but it's always worth asking about (after purchase).
We would not advise choosing a ticket to Turkey exactly according to the fortune system in the season - in July-August. In the summer, all worthy options are crammed. Of course, it can be a bit cheer for you, and somewhere a good room in an excellent hotel will be empty, but why would he do that? 🙂 Most likely, during the season you will be met by a not very popular hotel with obvious jambs.
By the way, fortune is one of 10 ways to find a cheap tour. Interested in 9 more?
Our view from the Side Town Hotel - 4 stars flew Fortuna
Who assigns hotels according to fortune?
Fortune tours are formed by tour operators: when the rooms they have bought in hotels remain free, they need to be sold as soon as possible - this is where the lottery begins.
The hotels themselves can offer such a deal with the remaining rooms. In any case, which one will get you - the tour operator decides. If there are 2 or more hotels, then it is completely by accident, by random.
Reviews about the holiday tour "Fortune" in 2020-2021
We arrived in Side, Turkey for 10 nights on a fortune system. View from the hotel to the sea
Reviews of tourists can hardly be a decisive factor when choosing a Fortune tour. As in 45 you can look at both 18 and 81, so hotels of the same star rating may differ in service and "stuffing".
You can't guess in advance, but you can draw several conclusions regarding the choice of the country, if you are not afraid of the fortune tour. Reviews say that the risks are almost always justified in Spain - as the level / service of hotels is about the same. Greek vacation and fortune go well too. In Europe, you can take risks with 2-star hotels. But quite often there are responses that European fortune is noisy hotels where young people settle, who want not only to save money, but also hang out. Therefore, before you buy such a tour, think about whether you will be able to shake off the old days if you are suddenly "lucky".
We went to Turkey on the Fortuna system in May
and recorded a full review
In Asia, these savings are not particularly popular. Here, the roulette wheel only goes between the worst options. If you happened to be accommodated in a decent hotel - be sure to tell us in the comments!
Oddly enough, Turkey and fortune can be friends, especially in the off-season. The main thing is, if possible, not to agree to hotels below 4 * - everything, of course, depends on your "karma", but if the stars do not converge, spoil your whole vacation. In Turkey, fortuna 5 * reviews flicker, mostly positive.
Should you buy Fortune?
Rest Fortune will suit you if:
- you are without small children
- you have an adequate view of what is happening, and you are more an optimist than a pessimist
- you are not going to hang around the hotel for the whole vacation
- you have a small budget, but you want all inclusive or a vacation of almost half a month
The offers that you can risk, judging by the reviews, are 5 star hotels. Their usual price is not at all cheap for Turkey, but according to the 5 * fortune system, the cost will be like 3 *.
What fortunes are there in the resorts of Turkey?
Turkey is a country where 5 stars fortune is considered, first of all, with ultra or simply all inclusive, but at more reasonable prices than if you choose a specific hotel.
- Quite good reviews from Pegasus (someone even settled in a hotel with a star above), Biblio Globus and Anex. But, again, it all depends on the case!
- Tez Tour, which a couple of years ago flashed on the forums with its fortuna 5 * hotels with decent reviews, now does not perform as well
- Fortune sometimes turns away from those who buy a tour to Turkey from Sanmar. It is especially not recommended to consider hotels in Alanya, but luck awaits in hotels in Greece (like us - from 2 * without meals to 3 * at all :)).
- In general, Fortune is widespread in Kemer, Side and Alanya. It also happens "combined", ie. not a specific resort, but, for example, Side or Kemer.
Fortune 5 * in Turkey often pleases unassuming travelers who find themselves in hotels like Imperial Deluxe, Viking Star, Crystal Admiral, Laphetos Beach Resort & Spa.
Fortune 4 stars
Turkey and 4 * fortune may not be a good combination. You must understand that of all the rank and file fours - this will be the worst four (almost a "three"). But if the hotel is not the main thing, you are planning more walks / excursions / trips, then why not save some money!
More or less suitable hotels from the people that they come across: 4 * Erkal Resort, 4 * Pineta Club Hotel (this reviews are divided exactly in half - rely on your taste).
