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Where should a Russian tourist go (part 1)
Serbia: visiting the 'cousins'
If life without traveling around Europe is still not a joy, a great alternative to Western European countries is Serbia, friendly in every respect. The flight takes only two and a half hours, no visa is required, hotel prices pleasantly surprise tourists with modest means, and in Serbian banks you can exchange rubles for local dinars. An important aspect is that most Serbs understand Russian.
Winter holidays in Serbia can be both sightseeing – fortunately, in terms of the number of architectural monuments and picturesque places, this small state is in no way inferior to its more 'promoted' neighbors – and purely sporting, at the ski resorts of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.
Kopaonik is considered the largest ski center in Eastern Europe. It is located at an altitude of 1770-2017 meters (Pančićev Vrh). The total length of ski slopes is 55 kilometers. Hotels in Kopaonik are available for every taste and budget.
You can get to the ski center by public transport (by bus), but it is best to rent a car in Belgrade to be able to drive around the picturesque surroundings of Kopaonik. The distance from the Serbian capital to the resort is only 290 kilometers.
Serbia is one of the most budget-friendly European countries for tourists, especially when it comes to food expenses. The average bill in a good restaurant in the center of Belgrade for two is about 30 euros (including alcoholic drinks), and Serbian chefs are generous with portion sizes. You can also enjoy delicious Balkan dishes right on the street. Serbian fast food is meat in a flatbread with vegetables, costing only 2-3 euros.
Senegal: the land of baobabs
West Africa is not yet popular among Russians, although the resort season here lasts all year round. Senegal has the most developed tourism infrastructure, with over 30 four-star hotels, some of which operate on an all-inclusive basis. On the beaches of Senegal, you mostly meet French people, but tourists from other countries can also be found.
There is no direct air service from Moscow to the Senegalese capital; you will have to travel with a transfer, taking about 18 hours in total. A ticket costs about 35,000 rubles. A visa is obtained at the embassy for 20 euros. Before visiting the country, you need to get a yellow fever vaccination and undergo antimalarial treatment (take pills).
Senegalese are a friendly and open people; they value and respect tourists. However, it is still not recommended to travel around the country independently, as there is a risk of falling into the hands of local separatists from Casamance. Although overall, compared to other African countries, Senegal is quite safe and comfortable.
Wealthy Europeans have already begun to take a closer look at Senegal. The travel industry is booming in the country. In particular, hotels are being built and restaurants are opening that are certainly no worse than Moroccan or Egyptian ones.
The most popular tourist center in the country is the town of Saint-Louis. It has everything tourists are used to: swimming pools, casinos, riverboat rides, a yacht club, taxis, banks and ATMs, bookstores, souvenir shops, medical facilities, and expensive hotels. Nearby is perhaps the most promoted Senegalese brand – the natural reserve la Langue de Barbarie. Here reign pink flamingos and mighty baobabs – symbols of the country.
Food in Senegal is for every taste: from traditional cuisine rich in fish and seafood to French restaurants. Tourists who have visited the country recommend focusing on Senegalese cuisine. Prices in restaurants, by the way, are very affordable. In Senegal, you can buy wonderful souvenirs and gifts. Women will surely like wooden jewelry and sand paintings, while for children you can safely bring traditional African tam-tam drums and shaman rattles. It will be fun and very noisy. As a business gift, high-quality maps of the African continent are suitable, which, by the way, are not so easy to get in Russia.
The list of countries favorable to Russians for vacation is much longer than it might seem at first glance. If you take the issue more seriously, Belarus, Abkhazia, Argentina, China, and India immediately come to mind. If hospitable Minsk or shopping Shanghai do not attract, you can always consider countries where any tourist is just a guest, regardless of geopolitics and personal sympathies. There are many such countries whose economies heavily depend on the travel industry. We are sure you know them without us.
Daria KLIMOVA.
«Lenta.ru»