Sochi
Of course, it is difficult not to get upset if you have already looked after a nice hotel in Antalya and imagined how you will walk along the sea, but here it is … But there are still options for a vacation! We tell you what alternatives to rest in Turkey are available to Russians.
By the way, if you have already bought tickets to Turkey, do not worry – many airlines allow you to change your destination or return your ticket for free. They told you what to do if you have a ticket for canceled flights. Read on and then choose a new direction from the ones below!
This city is the very first that comes to mind and, undoubtedly, is one of the most important destinations for rest among Russians, only Moscow and St. Petersburg are more popular (but we want to go to the south sea, right?). Sochi has long promenades for walking and beautiful mountains just half an hour’s drive from the coast. It’s too early to swim in May – in Turkey, by the way, too – but you can enjoy the sun and warmth, go hiking or explore local attractions.
Our blog has several interesting texts about Sochi and the surrounding area. For example, here you can read about free entertainment in the city, and here you can spy on ideas of where to go for a couple of days if you have a car.
How to get there : the most convenient and fastest way to get there is by plane. A ticket from Moscow and back in May will cost from 6,000 rubles, direct flight, a little over two hours on the way *.
Where to live : everything is very good with accommodation here, there are a lot of options: from hostels and apartments for 500 rubles per night to large world famous chain hotels, where you can stay for 15,000 rubles *.
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Baikal
In May it is calm and warm here, however, it is still too early to swim and walk in shorts. This month is the height of the ice drift. The spectacle is amazing and worth giving up on a beach holiday for its sake. In addition, Baikal is a unique nature, postcard views, the opportunity to see seals and taste fish delicacies (you will not be offered fresh omul anywhere else, it is a local endemic).
Last summer, we wrote in detail about what to see on the great lake – nothing has changed in a year.
How to get there : most of Lake Baikal is located on the territory of Buryatia, but the most popular and species points are in the Irkutsk region. A ticket from Moscow and back will cost about 15,400 rubles, on the way – 6 hours non-stop *.
Where to live : in the vicinity of the lake, accommodation is expected mainly in guest houses, but prices are also reasonable – from 1,500 rubles per night *.
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Gelendzhik
People come here mainly in the summer to swim and sunbathe, so the city has the glory of a crowded, noisy and hot place that not everyone will like. But if you go on a trip in the low season (for example, in May, when it is just beginning), and concentrate on exploring the natural beauty, you will see a completely different Gelendzhik – with wild beaches, tall pines and white rocks.
Our blog has an interesting article about what you can see in the city and its surroundings – with a detailed itinerary. You will surely enjoy this kind of vacation.
How to get there : an air ticket from Moscow and back in May can be found for 8,000 rubles. Direct flight, on the way 2 hours 20 minutes.
Where to live: There are several hundred housing options available in the city. Prices for highly rated guest houses start at 600 rubles per night, and you can stay at a hotel for 1500 rubles.
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Crimea
In summer, the beaches of the peninsula will not be crowded, and you can find a calm measured rest only in the mountains. We want to show you that Crimea is not only lying on the sand by the sea, but also many interesting places. Now is the time to rent a car and explore them all.
Look for a description of the unusual, even mystical Crimea in our blog article.
How to get there : an air ticket from Moscow to Simferopol and back costs from 7600 rubles. Fly 2.5 hours non-stop *.
Where to live : in large cities like Sevastopol or Yalta, there are many options (prices from 2000 rubles per night), but in the villages on the coast you can find housing, sometimes even cheaper *.
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Mexico City
Far away? Yes. But well, it is very unusual, and such a vacation will be remembered for the rest of your life. The capital of Mexico is a maze of streets that harmoniously blend colonial architecture and Aztec heritage, while simple eateries sit side by side with chic five-star hotels. This vibrant city has something for everyone.
We’ll show you where to look: in a blog article, we describe a detailed route around Mexico City and the surrounding area.
How to get there : prices for tickets from Moscow and back in May start from 73,000 rubles, fly with transfers (there are no direct flights) *.
Where to live : but you can save on housing – good options near the city center are already for 1000 rubles *.
Rules of Entry : An electronic entry permit will be required on the Mexico Migration Agency website. It is free and is valid for 180 days. If there is a Schengen area, this document is not required. More good news: you don’t need a coronavirus test either.
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Kenya
How about a safari? Kenya is the closest country to us, where, after the Sahara, savannahs begin, besides, it is very beautiful here and many speak English. If you can hardly imagine what awaits you, remember the cartoon “The Lion King” – its action takes place in one of the national parks, where anyone can get on an excursion. Yes, there will be lions too!
For more information on Kenyan safari, see our blog.
How to get there : a ticket from Moscow to Nairobi and back in May will cost from 52,000 rubles, there are no direct flights, the duration of the flight depends on the connection *.
Where to live : there are not so many options in the parks area, but you can stay in very atmospheric campsites (prices start from 1,700 rubles per night) *.
Entry rules : first you need to get a visa (cost $ 50) – via this link or at the airport upon arrival. You will also need an official certificate (in English) from a medical laboratory about a negative test for COVID-19 (the test must be done a maximum of 96 hours before arrival in Kenya). In addition, you need to fill out the online form on this website in advance. At Nairobi airport, all passengers have temperature measurements, and if there are no symptoms of COVID-19, they can move on freely.
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Greece
As they say, there is everything in Greece? And now the rest for Russian tourists – the country has seriously relaxed the rules of entry. So a chance to eat tzatziki and moussaka and start your day with a friendly “Kalimera!” quite a lot.
In the low season, when it’s still too early to swim, we advise you to go to Athens, especially since we have an interesting article about what to see there – not obvious tourist attractions, but the city through the eyes of local residents. And here is a text about five reasons to go to the capital of Greece during the low season (just the beginning of May).
How to get there : in May, tickets from Moscow to Athens and back can be found for 23,000 rubles, flight with a transfer *.
Where to live : there are many housing options, a hostel can be found for 1000 rubles per night, a hotel room for 2000. Before booking, we advise you to read the article in the blog, there is a list of areas worth staying in *.
Entry Rules : From May 14, Greece has opened its borders to all tourists. You need to have a negative PCR test for COVID-19 coronavirus with you, taken no more than 72 hours before arrival in the country (in English). In addition, you will have to fill out an electronic form on the travel.gov.gr PLF (Passenger Locator Form) website, indicating your contact details in Greece the day before arrival in the country.
Tourists vaccinated against COVID-19 (including the Sputnik V drug) are exempt from the PCR test. The second dose of vaccine must be received no earlier than 14 days before travel.
In addition, travelers who have provided a certificate of a previous illness are also available to enter the country.
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Cyprus
Did you order a beach holiday in May? In Cyprus, you can already swim in some places – for example, in Larnaca the water is already warming up to +21 ° C, and in Ayia Napa (where, by the way, the best beaches are) – up to +23 ° C. At the same time, the season is just beginning, which means there are fewer noisy tourists, and there are more chances to have a great rest and see all the sights of the island in a small company.
We advise you to take a car to see all the fun: drive to Nicosia, the capital of the island, explore the ruins of ancient cities, walk along the Lara Beach and Troodosu nature reserve.
How to get there : in May you can fly from Moscow to Larnaca for 30,000 rubles (round trip ticket price, direct flight) *.
Where to live : Prices vary by city or resort. In Larnaca, for example, you can find good housing options for 2000 rubles per night *.
Rules of Entry : Russians need to undergo PCR testing for COVID-19 before boarding (no later than 72 hours) and immediately after arrival. Tourists vaccinated with an EU-certified vaccine are exempted from providing tests, although Sputnik V is not yet included in the list.
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Croatia
It’s not hot in May yet, and the swimming season opens only towards the end of the month (but only for the bravest) – the perfect time to see all the fun. We advise you to fly to Zagreb, which is usually not very interesting for tourists: the sea is far away. Meanwhile, it is a beautiful historical city with museums, palaces, theaters and restaurants of local cuisine. You can also relax in nature, in the huge Maksimir park.
How to get there : you can fly from Moscow to Zagreb for 22,000 rubles with a transfer *.
Where to live: housing is not too expensive – a hostel with excellent ratings can be found for 1000 rubles, and a hotel room for 3000 rubles *.
Entry rules : tourists must present a certificate with a negative PCR test, made no earlier than 48 hours before arrival, as well as a voucher for accommodation. In addition, entry into the country is available with a vaccination certificate, including the Sputnik V drug (14 days after receiving the second dose), or a certificate of a previous illness. Before departure, you must fill out a special form.
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* Prices are valid at the time of publication
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