Russians were offered strange options for trips to the sea for the New Year

This year, the majority of Russians have already abandoned the idea of ​​going on vacation to warm seas (according to tour operator statistics, only 10% of our fellow citizens will meet 2024 under a palm tree compared to last year’s 77%). The reason on the surface is “biting” prices. Those who would like to take their children on vacation from winter to summer, but have not scraped together the money, are consoled on the first day of winter by domestic tour operators by telling them where they can fly on a budget on a last-minute tour – that is, purchased within a week before departure.

When studying the ratings from tour operators, the first thing that catches your eye is that in their understanding, cheap is what is cheaper than the market, and the tourism market today is such that many cannot afford even the cheapest trips.

Thailand topped the hit parade from the tourism industry, which awarded prizes both in terms of price/quality ratio and the availability of special New Year’s offers for families with school-age children. It has also become the absolute leader in demand among Russians – that is, among those 10% who go to warmer regions for the New Year in principle. And here is an example of a budget last-minute tour from the compilers of the rating: “package” tour for 6 nights to Pattaya, 3-star hotel, breakfast, flight included – from 216 thousand rubles. for two.

– Do you think this is a cheap vacation? – I’ll check with a travel agency specializing in Thailand.

“Yes, of course,” answers Thailand manager Inna. – This tour package with departure on December 29 is one of the cheapest, it was sold out in November. But if one of those who have already booked this tour experiences force majeure and cancels a week before departure, we will sell it for 200 thousand, which for Ty is considered completely free.

– But what do children have to do with it? Families with children are unlikely to buy tours at the last minute.

– In this almost week-long tour, for only 200 thousand for two with included flight to the room, upon request, they will be allowed to add a third bed for a child. That is, you will only pay for the third air ticket.

Let’s see how tempting it is. For independent tourists without a “tour package” – that is, flying not at the prices of the block of seats reserved by the tour seller – the price for a flight from Moscow to Bangkok and back starts from 115 thousand rubles.

“This is the cost of a round-trip ticket, its formation is influenced by the departure date, if it is before the New Year, then it is more expensive,” agrees the manager for Thailand Inna. – The reverse date also matters, a couple of days before the end of the holidays is more expensive.

– That is, a couple who grabbed a last-minute tour of 200 thousand for two must pay the same amount for an air ticket for a child. A free third bed in a room no longer seems like such a gift.

– Well then, mom or dad can fly together with the child! – suggests manager Inna.

This way of putting the question, of course, does not appeal to married couples, especially since New Year is a family holiday.

“We are like a wolf, a goat and a cabbage,” laughs 36-year-old Marina from New Moscow with her sixth-grader daughter. – We have enough for a trip to Tai together. But they couldn’t decide who not to take with them – mom, dad or daughter?! In the end, they spat and met us at home.

In the ranking of the tourism industry in terms of price/quality/offers for children, Indian Goa took a confident “silver”. A package tour to a Goan two-room apartment for 10 days with a departure on December 29 will cost 228 thousand rubles. for two (flight included, and the two-room apartment is in Arambol, the most party place on the entire coast).

But if someone changes their mind about vacationing at the last moment, then from December 27 this tour will “flare up” to the same red price as Tai – 200 thousand for two, but in the Goan case three nights longer. Children are also promised a free third bed in the room. True, those who have already been in Goan two-room apartments assure that there is simply nowhere to put it there, except perhaps to hang a hammock. And tickets to Goa on New Year’s Eve start from 100 thousand per person round trip.

On the 3rd step of the podium among domestic tour operators is Sri Lanka: a “package” for two in a two-room apartment for 6 nights – from 240 thousand rubles. for two, direct flight included. If you believe the predictions of the rating compilers, if you cancel a week before departure, this tour will drop to the same 200 thousand for two as Goa and Tai.

A third bed in a room is not a problem on the island of Ceylon, but prices for air tickets for individual travelers from Moscow to the capital Sri Colombo, even on connecting flights from December 25, exceed 100 thousand rubles. There and back again. And for a direct flight from the national carrier on the first day of winter, the last ticket for December 30 was sold for 240 thousand rubles. — that is, an air ticket for one for the cost of a six-day tour for two.

“It’s cheap to figure out for three, as they suggest, if you have a magic carpet,” sums up Muscovite Andrei, the father of a seventh-grader. – For example, in Goa, the hotels included in the “packages” can be rented on the spot, they cost on average 25 thousand rubles in terms of rupees. for two in 10-12 days. Generally for nothing, although, frankly speaking, the hotels there are so-so, but the beaches are excellent. But the flight from Moscow to Goa and back has already exceeded 100 thousand today, and it will be more by the New Year. And a free third bed will not save us here.