Some European destinations are open if you have your PCR test - Istanbul Airport Has the Tests

A few weeks back I went through Istanbul, and because of a long layover I rented a room in the "airside" of the airport hotel. It wasn't cheap (something less than $200). The room was sold as something like a "pod" so it was fairly represented. They crammed a queen bed, toilet and shower into about 150 sf. The bed back raised up so you could lay there and watch the TV, and so you could walk past the end of the bed. Otherwise it was difficult to walk past it and the tv. But it was spotless, new, well appointed and served the purpose very well. The bar was free as was breakfast. In the morning you walk out the front door and to your departure gate. First time I ever arrived someplace without jetlag, so what i dreaded having to do, worked out really well. Add to that your PCR test will be very current and Turkish Air connects to most of the world with good fares, its not a bad thing at all.

Im taking my daughter someplace in December (depends on what is open) and I suspect we will go through IST.

Istanbul is a destination of itself - very much one of my favourite places I have visited. I wish the politics weren't currently so difficut.

The other disappointment is the new airport. The old Ataturk site was great. When we had a long haul (usually out to Southern Africa) we could get the 10am flight out from London, arrive in Istanbul mid afternoon, fight our way through immigration (never fun) hop onto the underground, then tram and be in Eminönü and onto a ferry just as the sun started to set. Sunset

I just love the ferries along the Bosphorous. Two hours to grab a meal in Karaköy, then retrace our steps back to the airport in time to get a midnight flight out.
Unfortunately, the new airport is too far out to do this.

As much as Turkey wants to be in the EU and in Europe, it isn't. So, how do you figure it is a European destination?
I have been there and the people are lovely as well as the scenery and historic sites, but I have no desire to visit there now with Erdogan the dictator in charge. He has ruined the country.

I knew better than to trust Wikipedia!!!

Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental
country located mainly on the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia,
with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeastern
Europe.

Oddly enough the aforementioned airport is in Europe and I doubt anyone on either side of the Bosporus is thinking about Turkey joining the EU these days.

I've been there recently and in the past, can't see much difference from a tourism point of view.

Geography dictates at least part if Turkey is in Europe. The EU is not the “definition of Europe”

Fine. Whatever you want to think. Turkey just isn't European, nothing about the country is European.

That would rule out Albania ... and def Azerbaijan. But wasn't the topic PCR tests?

Definitely could be an option down the line.

Turkish Airlines tends to already have fairly decent rates from US to Europe, though those flights require going out of your way a bit to a layover in Istanbul. Not the end of the world, as the airport itself is a pretty nice one to have a layover in, rates can more than justify it, their European business class is quite good, and so on. So being able to get a PCR test done there on layover to get you in to your final destination safely isn't a bad deal at all! Fairly clever for the airport in Istanbul to have done this.

My last couple of trips, during COVID, ON Turkish Air weren't impressive. But "satisfactory". Rates are good though.

One piece of good news, I saw a report on a test of airplane air quality and it came in at 5 to 6 times better than an operating room. Looked like a good test with managing with sensors on a plane, then they sprayed some sort of aerosol to measure its dissipation. I can see the flaw if its the guy next to you who is coughing but still better than the worst fears.

Add to that faster testing in airports and its looking better.

I guess the EU is still out of bounds, but there are a number of nonEU countries opening with and without testing and the PCR tests.

I'm planning a trip with my daughter for late November or Early December and my options are looking good. Places I've been in the past and would like to see more of. As everything is fluid, I think the trick is to book the Istanbul flight early, and the are selling out, then the second leg closer to departure date.

For my trip planning I found
No test required:
Turkey
Albania
Kosovo
N. Macedonia
Serbia
Armenia

With a test
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Montenegro
Croatia
Ukraine
Egypt
Morocco
UAE

But this can change at the drop of a hat