How to save money on a May holiday: experts shared working tricks

The trend of increasing the turnover of domestic tourism, which manifested itself last year, will continue this year. First of all, foreign destinations available to Russian travelers have become much smaller. The high cost of holidays outside the country also increases the attractiveness of domestic routes. For example, trips to Turkey for the summer of 2023 increased in price by 30-60% compared to last year’s season, industry representatives reported. However, on the eve of the May holidays and the summer months, prices for tourist services always rise. Experts told which destinations are in demand among Russians and how to save money on holidays during the hot season.

Today, Russia has direct flights to 33 countries and it would seem that tourists have plenty to choose from. Almost all international destinations that have been the most popular in recent years, in particular Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, are still available and remain a priority for our travelers.

Meanwhile, new directions have appeared, in which Russians are showing massive interest, says Alexander Osaulenko, director of the Association of tour operators in the field of outbound tourism Turpomoshch. Tourists are increasingly considering the possibility of traveling to Abkhazia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Georgia.

As for domestic routes, according to Yury Barzykin, vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, tourist trains in Russia are in great demand. From Moscow for 2023, more than 10 excursion routes on tours per month. Another popular option is river cruises. And there are more than 1.5 thousand routes. Prices range from 18,000 rubles for three days to 500,000 and even more – that’s how much they charge for expedition cruises along the Yenisei and Baikal.

“According to forecasts for the May holidays, Sochi will receive 260 thousand people. Hotel occupancy will be about 90%,” the expert says. As for Crimea, 11 airports in southern Russia have not yet resumed their work. For this reason, last year the tourist traffic decreased. But in the 2023 season, everything will be better, market experts believe. Travelers have already come to terms with the fact that the air harbors are closed and think over routes in advance. Such directions as St. Petersburg, Tatarstan, the North Caucasus, the Kaliningrad region will also be in demand.

Meanwhile, according to Alexander Osaulenko, prices for trips to Kaliningrad, to put it mildly, increased during the May holidays. Even taking into account the fact that air travel is subsidized by the state. In order to save on a ticket, travelers buy tours with early booking promotions. Demand for them increased by 40% compared to last year. It is precisely the desire not to fly with the price that motivates consumers, since the earlier you buy a tour, the cheaper it will be (at least 20%). True, this does not always help.

For example, holidays in Sochi in 2023 went up by 20-30% due to a drop in Russian interest in Crimea, said Alexan Mkrtchyan, vice president of the Russian Travel Agents Alliance (ATA). According to Yuri Barzykin, the reason for the rise in prices lies not only in the greed of entrepreneurs, but also in inflationary pressure.

“All components of the tour package are becoming more expensive: tariffs, electricity, food, transport, etc. For this reason, the final cost of the tourist product becomes higher. You can, of course, go on vacation on May 1, but if you do it, for example, on the 11th-12th, after the holidays, it will be about 30% cheaper,” he concludes.

TOP 5 most popular holiday destinations for Russians for the May holidays of 2023:

1. UAE

2. Türkiye

3. Russia

4. Egypt

5. Thailand

Average prices for the May holidays (tours for 10 nights for two with a flight from Moscow):

UAE: 225 thousand rubles (4* hotel, breakfasts),

Türkiye: 145 thousand rubles (5 * hotel with all inclusive and heated pool),

Russia: 100-110 thousand rubles (4* hotel in Sochi with breakfast),

Egypt: 220 thousand rubles (hotel 5 * on “all inclusive”),

Thailand: 315 thousand rubles (4* hotel, breakfast).

Source: ATOR