Low season in Vietnam: is it worth flying and what to do there? Is it worth flying on the Turkish low-cost airline Pegasus? Why you shouldn’t be afraid of airplanes

Flying is an unpleasant change of scenery. From familiar conditions a person finds himself in a new environment over which he has almost no control. But thoughtful preparation and moving forward with a personal plan creates a useful feeling that you are, at least in part, in control of the situation. This helps dispel unnecessary worries.

A couple of days before your flight, make, for example, a list of all the things you plan to take with you and the tasks that need to be completed before and during the flight. As you complete items, cross them off your list.

2. Learn more about aircraft

People often experience fear of the unknown and things that are unclear to them. Perhaps you are afraid of flying precisely because your knowledge about airplanes is formed mainly by tragic news stories and Hollywood blockbusters.

Understand how aircraft works, at least in general terms. Take a look at the same Wikipedia. Learning, for example, that airplanes are statistically the safest mode of transport and some turbulence is normal, will likely calm your anxiety. Remember, informed is forearmed.

3. Arrive at the airport early

Haste is a stress factor. In order not to worry about possible delay, it is better to calculate the time so that you can manage everything. Ideally, always arrive at the airport early. This way you will insure yourself from unnecessary worries and save strength for the flight.

4. Pamper yourself

While waiting for your flight at the airport, take a moment and treat yourself before boarding the plane. Buy a drink or food that you wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. Depart from the framework and rules that you strictly adhere to in everyday life. Relaxing (only without alcohol!) is always useful in such a situation.

5. Take your mind off the source of your fear.

Fear of flying makes us become tightly fixated on one thought like: “Oh my God, I’m kilometers above the ground!” By endlessly frightening yourself with such a mantra, you risk having a nervous breakdown before the plane is even halfway there.

Try distracting yourself with music, a book, a podcast, or a mobile game - all of these will help you stop panic from approaching. Before boarding the plane, you can call your friends or family. If you are flying with relatives or friends, start a conversation with them on an abstract topic.

6. Think positively

Focus on the purpose of the flight. Remember why you are flying, to whom and what awaits you when you step off the plane. You are probably heading to a resort, to a new country for you, to visit your family or friends, to a desired internship or to study at a university where you have always dreamed of going.

7. Think about the people around you

Tens, hundreds, whatever - millions of people - fly somewhere every day, even though they don’t always like it. Look around on the plane or airport: there are so many of them nearby. Knowing that you are not alone and that others share your fear and overcome it is very calming.

8. Pray or meditate

If you are a believer, try mentally turning to God for support. Surely this will give you strength to fight fear. If prayers are not for you, meditate: drown out all thoughts and try not to think about anything as much as you can. This practice helps you relax.

9. Act with confidence even when you're scared.

Smile at your neighbor in the chair, even if you yourself are shaking with fear. Who knows, perhaps a conversation with your fellow traveler will become a lifeline and help you get distracted. In all your actions, proceed from the message: “What would I do if I were not afraid of flying?” And act as if you are really not afraid, try it: at first it will be difficult, but you will get used to it and understand that 99% of your fears were completely in vain.

Perhaps you are flying with children or a spouse who are also having a hard time. Find strength in yourself for their sake and help them cope with fear.

10. Control your body's biochemistry

Do not drink coffee, strong tea or energy drinks for at least 24 hours before departure. This way you will minimize the presence of caffeine in your body, which means you will reduce your susceptibility to anxiety.

In moments of excitement, breathe deeply. Remember that intensive oxygen exchange is one of the best remedies for anxiety.

If you are so afraid of flying that you start to panic, take a few drops of valerian tincture or another sedative. You can also try a mild sleeping pill. But first consult your doctor about this.

We were supposed to fly to Turkey on September 22. But my husband got sick. There is no travel insurance. The travel agency Tui said that the tickets were non-refundable and they were gone: “Buy new tickets.”

1. Night flight. Lots of light

The closest flight was the Turkish airline Pegasus. It is the second largest airline in Turkey after Turkish airlines.

Some general figures about Pegasus airlines. The company is 27 years old and employs more than 5 thousand employees. Pegasus owns almost half of all shares of the Kyrgyz airline Air Manas.

Pegasus now has more than 80 aircraft, which is much more than most Russian airlines. For example, Russia Airlines has 64 aircraft in its fleet as of the summer of 2018. The Turkish low-cost airline has purchased many completely new aircraft in recent years.

PURCHASING TICKETS. We were unable to fly out on time with the Yamal charter. Read about it. And we bought tickets on Aviasales for the nearest direct flight to Dalaman. 3 tickets two days before departure cost us 32 thousand rubles. At first I thought it was a regular Pegasus flight from Moscow. But then I found that it was a tourist charter. A large Russian tour operator has purchased flights for the entire summer and autumn.

FLIGHT ON PEGASUS. Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The interior is not old, it looked normal inside. I didn’t look up the aircraft’s age based on its tail number, since we were flying from Domodedovo at night, in the cold and strong winds.

The seats seem to be at a standard distance, but the legroom, as always, is almost flush. True, it can be worse. The plane's interior is quite normal, but... Even before takeoff, I went into the tail toilet and it was already smelling unpleasantly. But we just got on board. The flight is a little over 3 hours. It is absolutely clear that the toilet in Moscow was not cleaned. I think that the Turks save money and do not order normal cleaning at our Domodedovo upon arrival. They clean it in Turkey, it’s cheaper for them. For the company - savings, for passengers - a big minus.

The TEAM was all Turkish: pilots and flight attendants; the passengers are all Russian tourists.

The mandatory announcement about evacuation was somehow loud and sluggish at the same time. The voice on the radio read everything in Turkish (not a single Turk on the plane) and loudly in English.

2. My logbook in Turkish was quite wrinkled. Found another one

The flight attendants are tall, beautiful Turkish women and one guy. They feel strange. They seemed to smile, but without enthusiasm or interest. I think it would be more comfortable for them to fly with their Turkish family.

We took off 25 minutes late. Not very critical. Strong wind at the airport. We took off with full light. Despite the deep night and everyone's fatigue, the lights were not turned off for more than an hour until a "light breakfast" was served. A guy with a red bag walked by, showing a sandwich, with a silent question: “Do you want it?”

3. Late Night Snack: Cheese Muffin

Sandwich is too strong a word. An elongated bun, cut in half, inside there are two pieces of cheese and thin, very, very small (the size of a fingernail) pieces of sweet pepper. The cheese is normal, that's all I ate. Pepper... well, there's nothing to eat there. Swallowed it.

Then girls walked by with a cart and handed out water, juice, and Coca-Cola. No hot coffee or tea. There are too many problems with boiling water. 1.5 hours after takeoff, the overhead lights were finally turned off and it began to look a little like night.

4. Water and juice on board

It was hot. I had to go to the flight attendants and ask them to make the air not so hot. They seem to speak English, but understanding each other is not 100%. I told them that there was “hot air” on the plane, but for some reason they kept telling me that it was cold on the plane. Well, yes, the southern residents don’t care about the heat, they probably freeze. Still, they answered that they would pass it on to the pilots, and after about 15 minutes it became better.

Before the flight, I read how the air in airplanes is regulated. Cold air is drawn in from outside through the engines. Then pilots can cool or heat it, and regulate it through certain systems.

We flew for 40 minutes with minimal light. People were dozing, then suddenly all the lights were turned on and the flight attendants were running around. Maybe someone felt unwell. Well, soon the decline began.

In Dalaman the runway is right next to the mountains, so at night planes usually land from the sea. We turned 180 over the sea and landed softly. Applause.

Russian tourists, as always, ran off the plane. It feels like everyone has a car parked at the airport and is now rushing home in traffic jams. Hurry, hurry, we have to make it!

I've been to Dalaman more than 10 times and was in no hurry. There's still passport control and suitcases.

The steward suddenly began to urge me on, although I didn’t bother, I was just leaving the plane last, and suddenly he spoke in Russian: “Faster, faster.” I somehow didn’t really like it, given the fact that during the flight I couldn’t hear any Russian words from him. Maybe they learned one word for evacuation.

We received our luggage quickly, since the airport was empty at night.

RESULTS. The airline was more or less, but I did not experience any delight, and the smelly toilet, not the most friendly staff and overcooked air in the middle of the flight spoiled the experience. And the best part was that the plane was not fully loaded. I sat down alone and stretched my legs.

I hope that my review will be useful to you. Have successful flights and soft landings.

“A plane is the safest way to travel. The fatality rate on airplanes is significantly lower than on trains or cars.” You can repeat to yourself these phrases you read in magazines or on Internet resources as much as you like, but for some reason this does not make your fear of flying any less.

How not to be afraid of flying on an airplane and what to do to reduce fear? Read about it below.

So, here is a short list of reasons against fear of flying:

1. Remember that the aircraft is designed in such a way that even in the event of some kind of malfunction or breakdown, it has every chance of landing successfully and safely.
2. Almost all systems on the aircraft are duplicated, and some have 2-3 duplicates in case the first ones malfunction.
3. The crew of any airliner is well trained and knows perfectly well what to do in case of any emergency.
4. Any aircraft is perfectly equipped with the latest technology.
5. Believe me, any airline is also interested in ensuring that all its planes fly properly and without failures. After all, the plane costs many millions of dollars, and compensation will also have to be paid to the families of the dead passengers. Not to mention the fact that few people will want to fly with these airlines later. Therefore, every plane is carefully monitored.
6. Before each flight, the aircraft is carefully checked by the mechanics, and then by the first pilot himself.
7. The plane has at least two engines. Even if one of them fails, it will be able to land safely. You can learn how an airplane takes off and flies
8. The cost of one engine is about 10 million dollars, so they take care of it almost like a small child. The likelihood of it breaking is negligible. Engine failure can occur at 2 million flight hours.
9. 1 person in 12 million does not return from flights, and there are tens of thousands of such flights a year.

Even with some problems, the plane can land successfully.

You are not convinced by these arguments, and you are still thinking: “I’m afraid to fly on an airplane. What to do?" Then read on.

Aerophobia

Almost all passengers experience discomfort and discomfort before and during the flight. But this is not aerophobia yet.

Many passengers are afraid to fly. Fear is a natural reaction of our body!

Do not rush to diagnose it in yourself without having objective evidence. Aerophobia is already a mental disorder, which is characterized by the presence of the following characteristics:

• on an airplane you grip the armrests tightly and your hands become sweaty;
• during the flight you peer into the faces of the flight attendants;
• you listen to the noise of the engines and other sounds made by the aircraft;
• you experience fear, panic, internal discomfort before and during the flight;
• you can't bring yourself to look out the window;
• you are afraid of the confined space on the plane;
• rapid, uneven breathing;
• increased heart rate;
• during turbulence you experience an acute attack of panic, which is difficult for you to control;
• before the flight you must drink alcohol or sedatives;
• you have completely given up traveling by plane.

It can be combined with other phobias - claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) and acrophobia (fear of heights).

In this case, you need to comprehensively and gradually get rid of such fears. Between 15% and 30% of the world's population suffer from this disorder.

Main! In the acute stage of aerophobia, be sure to consult a specialist. Don't be shy and don't be afraid of judgment from other people. Do you go to the doctor if you have a stomach or throat pain? So it is here. You need to pay as much attention to your mental health as you do to your physical health. Otherwise, without proper treatment, your disease will only progress.

Below are some simple tips to improve your emotional state before and during your flight.

Don't read about plane crashes before flying.

Remember that, as with any other disease, it takes time and patience, as well as faith in your own strength and the success of treatment. You need to start with small steps and gradually increase them.

What to do before the flight

Before the flight:

Try to keep yourself busy with something during the flight.

If you are flying on an airplane for the first time, then you can find some useful tips

What to do during the flight

During the flight itself:

• If your fear of flying is combined with claustrophobia, then you don’t need to sit at the window. If you end up with such a place, then close it and don’t look there. Don't know which seat to choose on the plane? Then read;
• Divide the entire flight time into different intervals– takeoff, serving drinks, lunch/dinner/breakfast, landing. And so move along the list. This will make it easier for you to endure the flight time, and it will not drag on slowly;
• Keep yourself busy. Ideally, it is better to try to sleep. If that doesn't work, then read a book, watch a movie on your laptop/tablet, listen to music, play some stupid game on your phone. Anything goes;
• Drive away negative thoughts! Try to think about what you will do when you arrive. If you are going on vacation, then think about the sea, the beach, delicious food on the buffet, how you will spend your time there. If you went for work, then work through in your head the stages of your speech at a conference or negotiations with a partner;
• Act confident, and as if you are not afraid to fly at all. Gradually, the confidence instilled will become real;
• Think about other passengers. Watch them, imagine why they fly and what they are like. This will not only help you kill time, but will also help you realize that you are not alone, but are among the same people;
• Bring candy or chewing gum. Fear causes muscle stiffness, sometimes numbness in the arms or legs. When you chew chewing gum or candy, your body, absorbed in one action and pleasant emotions, will no longer respond to another, negative one;
• Drink more fluids, but not alcohol! Fear causes dehydration, so be sure to drink more juice or water;
• Do not drink coffee under any circumstances! It will only further overstimulate your nervous system, which is already on edge;
• Unfasten your seat belt, recline the seat a little. In general, take the most comfortable position. Let your body relax. Then it will be easier for your nervous system to return to normal.

During turbulence

Many passengers do not endure the flight itself so much as the turbulence. Although, when you are driving a car and the road gets rough, you don’t start worrying about getting into a fatal accident.

You try to double your vigilance. It's the same with an airplane. He simply ends up in air pockets that he couldn’t get around. The plane itself will not fly into the area of ​​thunderclouds, but will try to miss it.

The aircraft is not afraid of turbulence due to its perfect design.

Any aircraft is thoroughly tested before it is sent into service, so that it can withstand very heavy loads. What can we say about some thunderclouds or wind?

Sometimes the turbulence can be very strong. In this case, things fall from the shelves above, and the plane can even shake. This is no reason to panic!

What to do in case of turbulence

When turbulence begins, you need to do the following:

• follow the instructions of the flight attendants and fasten your seat belt;
• don't get up from your chair until the plane leaves the turbulence zone;
• follow the instructions on the board;
• you can do any breathing exercises - it can calm you down;
• If things fall from shelves, cover your head first;
• if something falls, even if it’s yours, do not get up from your place;
• Repeat to yourself that everything will be fine and you will land safely. Self-hypnosis is a great opportunity to calm your tense nerves.

Take the example of flight attendants - they remain calm in any flight conditions.

And finally, think about it. They fly almost every day. Even during turbulence, they continue to do their job and smile at passengers. Perhaps their example will give you courage.

Good luck with your flights!

If you are reading these lines now, then, most likely, you belong to 1/4 of the world's population whose heartbeat quickens and palms sweat at the mere thought of another flight. It is worth paying tribute, aerophobia is one of the most common fears on the planet, however, this does not mean that there is a reasonable basis for this. By the way, most often creative people suffer from this problem (they have an overly rich imagination) and successful people in high positions (high degree of responsibility). Calm, just calm! Three pillars of the fight against aerophobia: be as informed as possible, learn to control your body (read: nerves) and plan your trip correctly. First things first.

Adequately assess the risk

An optimistic start: Your chances of being injured in a plane crash are about 1 in 11 million, or 0.00001%. By comparison, you have a 1 in 5,000 chance of dying in a car accident. This means that the most dangerous part of your entire route is the car ride to the airport. People are much more likely to die from food poisoning, snake bites, lightning strikes, and falling while walking in the park than from flying, but they eat and leave the house with a smile every day, but panic when buying a plane ticket.

Be curious

Most fears come from simply not knowing what will happen next. Why does the plane fly so fast? Why does the wing move? Why did the flight attendant ask you to fasten your seat belts? When we find ourselves in unusual circumstances, our first instinct is to assume the worst. Research shows: 73% of people suffering from aerophobia are afraid of technical problems during a flight. To minimize these fears, try to learn as much as you can about the design of the aircraft and its operation. For example, the most basic thing - why can he even fly? He does this under the influence of four forces: gravity, aerodynamic drag, lift and thrust. As pilots say: “A plane is happier in the air.” Or this fact: at an altitude of 9000 meters there is about 9000 kg of pressure on the door, so it is closed more than reliably and cannot suddenly swing open.

Make friends with turbulence

We agree that when the sky starts to become “chattery”, it’s unpleasant. But this does not mean at all that your life is in danger at this moment. Turbulence occurs because rising and falling air currents have different pressures. When an airplane enters such zones, it begins to shake. Most often this happens while flying over mountains, ocean or sea. Turbulence is absolutely safe for an airplane - it cannot cause any harm to the airplane. You can get hurt if for some reason you do not fasten your seat belts or luggage falls on you.

Each aircraft undergoes a thorough check

“What if they didn’t notice?” “What is this patch on the wing?” Questions familiar? Aircraft regularly undergo a lot of maintenance and repair procedures. Approximate ratio: 11 hours of checks per hour of travel. This means that if your flight takes four hours, the plane has been inspected for 44 hours to make sure everything is in order.

Learn to control your anxiety

Firstly, just because you feel anxious does not mean that you are in danger at that moment. In other words, you can shake like a leaf and still remain safe and sound. Secondly, people with aerophobia often refer to the fact that they are “used to being in control of everything.” But something tells us that a professional pilot keeps the situation in the sky under control much better than a panicked passenger. Thirdly, every person can learn to regulate the release of adrenaline with simple exercises. First, try to determine which part of the body is constrained by fear. Face? Legs? Ruk? For example, a feeling of nervous tension most often blocks our shoulders - the muscles become stiff. Take a deep breath, place your hand on your stomach and slowly lower your shoulders. Repeat 5-10 times. For the exercise to “work” in the sky, practice it on the ground for several months. This way, before the flight you will already have a serious “sedative”. Another express option: in moments of particular excitement, squeeze your left wrist forcefully - mild pain will help you return to reality.

Use your imagination

A rich imagination is a “tease” for aerophobes. Vivid pictures and possible scenarios for the development of events only intensify fears. Tame your imagination and use it for your benefit or, simply, occupy your head with extraneous thoughts. Think about a place where you feel happy. Where are you always calm? Cosy? Comfortable? Close your eyes and mentally transport yourself there. Focus on every detail. Another obvious option is to distract yourself with a book, a gaming app, or idle thoughts about “what do you want to try for breakfast” or “what souvenir will you bring from your trip.” Another form of “escaping” from fears is a carefree conversation with a fellow traveler.

Choose the right flight and seat on the plane

There are a few things you can do ahead of time to ease your travel pains. For example, try to take direct flights to your destination - the less time you spend in the air, the better. It is most comfortable to reserve a seat in the wing area - this area of ​​the aircraft is the most stable and least susceptible to shaking. Other priorities include sitting in the aisle or by the emergency exit, but not by the window (the temptation to check every 5 minutes whether the wings are in place is too great). For some passengers, the feeling of anxiety increases in the dark, so daytime flights are still preferable for aerophobes.

Make yourself comfortable

Comfort in flight is a very important factor. When traveling, choose comfortable and practical clothing that will not restrict movement or impede blood circulation. Favorite music generates positive emotions instead of negative ones.

Avoid news about plane crashes

Many aerophobes become obsessed with the topic of air accidents that are discussed in the press. You don't need to be a psychologist to understand how this news affects the nervous system and cultivates experiences. Avoid the temptation to regularly “feed” your own fears. By the way, this rule applies to both films and books about “scary flights.” Favorite TV series, glossy and entertainment publications work in contrast, with news about new details of the Jolie-Pitt family’s divorce

Spoiler: the country is good at any time of the year, the main thing is to choose the right vacation spot.

Season and off-season in Vietnam

Look at the map of Vietnam - the country stretches from North to South. Due to this feature, the climate in different cities differs. There are three main climatic zones - North, South, Center.

1. Resorts of the North: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Taun Chau Island, Do Son, Shamshon.
2. Resorts of the Center: Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Cua Dai, An Bang, Cu Lao Cham islands, Nha Trang.
3. Resorts of the South: Dalat, Phan Thiet, Mui Ne, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc Island, Doc Let, Kundao Island.

In North Vietnam tropical monsoon climate with strong influences from humid mainland Asia. There are 4 usual seasons here - autumn, winter, spring, summer. The rains begin in mid-April, but do not cause problems until the end of May. August-October are the wettest months. It is good to relax here in June-July. The air temperature rises to +30, but it can also be cool - thanks to the proximity to the high mountains in China.

In Central Vietnam You can relax from May to October. During these months it is quite dry and sunny. The rains begin only in November-December and continue until February. The sea is rough in winter and swimming is quite dangerous.

In the south of the country everything is wrong: there are two distinct seasons - wet and dry. In April the rains are not so heavy yet, so feel free to plan your vacation. But already in May, hurricane downpours and storms begin, which intensify until September. By the end of November the rains end. The wettest month in South Vietnam is September, the hottest is April. The air temperature is always at +30 degrees, there are no cold snaps at all. It is better to relax here in winter.

What are tropical showers?

When people talk about rain, we imagine gray, dull autumn, mud and warm scarves. But the tropical rains of Vietnam are not at all the same as the Russian rains. A stream of water pours from the sky, and umbrellas do not help at all. Rainfall may be accompanied by destructive hurricanes and typhoons. Pour the whole day or just 15 minutes a day. You never know what will happen in a couple of days.

The air temperature at this time is about 30 degrees and above. The weather is unpredictable: the sun shines in the morning, it rains by lunchtime, and in the evening it can be sunny again. Watching the forecast is a thankless task. At most, you can trust the weather forecasters for a couple of days in advance. During the rainy season, you shouldn't count on daily trips to the beach. You need to come up with an activity in advance in case of prolonged downpours.

Vietnam in November - where is the best place to fly?

In the north of the country By the last month of autumn, excellent sunny weather with rare rains sets in. The air temperature becomes close to winter - it drops to 22 degrees. It is already cold to swim in the resorts of the North at this time. In the capital of the country, Hanoi, the weather is still unpredictable: typhoons and precipitation are possible, if not, then sunny days with rare rains.

At the Central resorts- the peak of rainfall with air temperature not lower than 25 degrees, and water temperature - about 26 degrees. This weather is also typical for Nha Trang, which is located on the border of the South and the Center. Many tourists fly to the resort at this time, sunbathe and swim. The cost of travel at this time is lower than usual.

In the south of the country in November- the most comfortable weather. On land and at sea +28 degrees. The season begins at the Phu Quoc resort, so feel free to book your trips to the island in November. Prices have not yet reached their peak, but the weather has been beautiful with +30 degrees and very rare rains.

Beaches of Phu Quoc Island

What to do in Vietnam in the off-season?

1. Learn to surf. When the sea is too stormy and it’s dangerous to swim in it, it’s time to conquer the waves. From October to December it is best to come with a board to Mui Ne. If you don’t know how to surf, but want to learn, you will be given equipment to rent and taught how to catch waves in one of the surf centers on the coast. Are you afraid of not being able to cope with the elements? Go to Vung Tau - there are small waves suitable for beginners. It is better to study with a professional instructor - there are no lifeguards on the beaches of Vung Tau.

2. Go diving. In Vietnam it is very cheap and well organized. In the South China Sea there are colorful fish, beautiful corals grow, turtles and octopuses swim. The best place for diving is Phu Quoc Island with its pearl shells. Kundao with ancient sunken ships, and Nha Trang with a picturesque bay. To swim during the rainy season, you will have to move to a neighboring resort where the weather is dry. A good time for diving in Nha Trang is from February to October. For Phu Quoc Island - November-May.

3. Go on an excursion to Dalat.“Vietnamese Switzerland” Dalat is an ideal trip option while you can’t swim in the sea. The city is located far from the coast. There are beautiful waterfalls, quiet lakes, huge coffee plantations. You can see ancient pagodas and ride an elephant.

4. Go to the spa. A 30-minute drive from the city of Nha Trang is the Thap Ba Mineral Spring health complex. It is located on the banks of the Kai River. You will lose a couple of years thanks to the rejuvenating mud baths and mineral water pools.

5. Look at the fish in a huge aquarium. Tri Nguyen is a good option to wait out the bad weather in Nha Trang. It is only 5 km from the resort. The appearance of the aquarium resembles a sunken ship. Inside are predatory fish, turtles, colorful plankton and shrimp that swim around you as you walk through the tunnel. Sea water circulates freely in the aquarium, so the inhabitants feel at home. Several times a day there is a show with fur seals.

If you ask our opinion, we are FOR holidays in Vietnam in the off-season. The main thing is to understand what you are risking: during the rainy season, you can lose several days of vacation, but you can see a real tropical downpour. The main thing is to remember to drink water! Due to the increased humidity, you don’t feel like drinking at all, so there is a risk of dehydration.