Vacation for a penny: residents of the Black Sea resorts shared life hacks for a cheap vacation

If you believe the experts of the domestic tourism industry, as well as your own eyes, looking at the prices for tours to the domestic Black Sea coast, holidays within the Russian Federation only become more expensive. So, according to experts, this summer, in comparison with the past, the cost of both tours and renting private housing in Russian resorts has increased by 15%.

But, despite this, the demand has also grown, and especially for the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory, where Russians began to purchase vouchers and book accommodation almost twice as often as a year ago. Health resorts and private owners of especially sought-after locations on the Black Sea coast responded to this with new price hikes: in Gelendzhik and Adler, prices increased by 15% (4,756 rubles / day – the average Gelendzhik price tag, 4,388 rubles / day – Adler). And in Lazarevsky, the cost of one day by the sea has grown by as much as 27% – in mid-July, the price tag starts from 3,740 rubles / day.

– We are not even talking about Sochi and Anapa now, – they say in the capital’s travel agency, – this summer they are in demand, despite inadequate prices in places. Moreover, private traders sometimes bully them cooler than resort complexes and sanatoriums.

At the same time, a considerable number of those who live near the Black Sea permanently are even offended by the inattention of tourists. Oddly enough, among them are residents of Novorossiysk.

“For some reason, everyone’s crowded Anapa seems to be smeared with honey,” complains Valentina Dmitrievna, a resident of Novorossiysk, who rents an apartment in the center of her native city to holidaymakers, “but they don’t really come to us, although our beaches are no worse, and accommodation is cheaper. I don’t know, maybe they’re afraid of the port. But I don’t like the port, I got on a bus and went to Abrau-Dyurso, Kabardinka, Myskhako or Yuzhnaya Ozereevka. It’s even better than in Anapa.

In Novorossiysk, indeed, in addition to the resort infrastructure, there is an important industrial port. But, as the locals assure, the active port life does not affect the purity of the water and the surrounding beaches. And the prices speak for themselves.

“With us, of course, you can also find a villa for 7 thousand rubles a day or a room for 4 thousand plus a day, as in Anapa,” says Vitaly, an ex-Muscovite who bought a house in the wine-growing village of Abrau-Dyurso, 20 km from Novorossiysk. – But you can agree on 2 thousand a day from private traders. From the Novorossiysk railway station, buses run to us every hour, the sea is excellent, the wine is delicious, but I can’t say that there is a rush here. Personally, it’s only better for me, I don’t give up anything, but, as they say, it’s a shame for a small homeland.

In Abrau-Durso, in addition to the sea itself, there is also a picturesque mountain lake Abrau. Tourists come there, but mostly on excursions from Anapa, where they are actively sold. Many who stay in Anapa stay in Abrau for the night, in a local guesthouse room it costs 2,500 rubles. per day, and in the camping it is 300 rubles per night. At the same time, if you believe the locals, just come to the “guest” or camping Abrau comes to the mind of a few.

– And if people are by car, then they can generally combine: a few days in Abara, then Kabardinka, and the rest of the rest in South Ozereevka, advises Vitaly. “At least that’s what the southerners themselves do. They do not sit in one place on vacation, but travel along the coast.

On the so-called “Novorossiysk Riviera” there is also Myskhako – the southern suburb of Novorossiysk, famous for its own winemaking. On this Novorossiysk outskirts, locals rent out urban-type apartments in high-rise buildings, townhouses and cottage settlements to vacationers. It’s hard to believe, but in July in Myskhako you can find a guesthouse right on the beach… from 800 rubles per day. And apartments in apartment buildings near the sea – from 1 to 3 thousand rubles / day, depending on their size.

– We ourselves always have a rest in Yuzhnaya Ozereevka, – admits 39-year-old Andrei, the father of a family from Krasnodar with two children 5 and 7 years old. – There are few people there, and there are many mini-hotels. The sanatorium is good, old school. Usually we parents in a sanatorium, and we ourselves shoot nearby. The water is very clean, the only thing around the rocks. Ozereevka is located in a mountain valley. But the beach is long.

– And how much do a day in South Ozereevka cost?

– We pay 1300 for a very nice spacious room with all amenities, where it is not crowded for four. But you can also find it cheaper. And we also have our own life hack on how to eat tasty and cheap.

– Do you cook yourself?

– That’s it, usually everyone thinks so! Buy products in the market and cook from them yourself. But my wife also has a vacation and she wants to relax, and not cook for four.

We go to canteens. The trick is that most tourists are afraid of them, considering them a Soviet relic. Without even looking there, they assume that it is “dirty and tasteless”. But in fact, canteens are just the place where they will give a full meal with compote, suitable for the whole family, tasty and nutritious.

And since this catering establishment is not called a restaurant or even a cafe, the prices there are normal. Just no extra charge for any little things: more expensive dishes or alcohol on the menu. For example, a dinner of vinaigrette, borscht, beef patty with buckwheat, bread and compote for one at the height of the season costs 200 rubles per person. And the portions are generous.