Photo by Valentina Kovalchuk
Turkey
This sunny country has long been preferred by most of our tourists. This year, since the beginning of winter, there has been a struggle between domestic tour operators and Turkish hotels, which have turned away from the weakening dollar toward the euro. With eastern cunning, the Turks offer a choice: either switch entirely to euro settlements or increase dollar prices by 15-20%. However, the final result in any currency threatens to make vacations more expensive by 15-25%. And if we consider that our citizens are used to going to Turkey as they once went to Sochi or Yalta - with children, nephews, grandmothers, and other relatives - then the blow to the wallet will be more than serious.
However, major Turkish tour operators are not panicking yet, claiming that the situation may change more than once depending on the activity of Western partners. After all, such zeal on Turkey's part is linked to great hopes placed on a sharp increase in the number of German and Italian tourists in the upcoming season.
Bulgaria
“A chicken is not a bird, Bulgaria is not abroad” — this saying remains relevant today. Visiting our neighbors on the Black Sea, our tourists feel at home: there is no language barrier, the level of service is similar to ours, and in general the atmosphere is not foreign. Some try to avoid such a not-quite-foreign vacation, but many remain faithful to the Bulgarian Golden Sands precisely because of this.
So this summer, get ready to shell out: the Bulgarians have stopped paying attention to the dollar and have completely converted all prices (from hotels to fruit at the market) to euros — a price increase of 20% or even more. The Bulgarians also decided to classify their beaches. All coastal zones have been assigned category A, B, or C, depending on the level of service. Category C is the lowest in this case.
Crimea
Crimea is also traditionally popular among residents of the former Soviet Union. A vacation on the southern coast of the peninsula is still associated by our compatriots with prosperity and the elite. However, many prefer to choose boarding houses in Sudak and Alushta rather than hotels in Yalta. The sea is just as warm and clean, and the cost is significantly more modest.
Spain
Our domestic tourist cannot be frightened by anything. On the contrary, upon learning of an emergency at some resort, our people immediately ask how much tours to the ‘hot spot’ have dropped in price. Nevertheless, most tourists planning to go to Spain this summer can breathe a sigh of relief. At least this season, they need not fear for their vacation at the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada resorts, thanks to the truce officially declared by the Basque ‘people’s avengers’. So one can expect a certain increase in demand for the Catalan coast, which previously was constantly under the threat of terrorist attacks.
Perhaps the beaches and the sea here are not ideally clean, but it is very convenient to get to Barcelona, France, and duty-free Andorra from here. Beach, excursions, and shopping are excellent components of any vacation. The main thing is to maintain reasonable proportions. Still, the recent terrorist attack in Madrid will surely scare some people away. In this regard, the Spanish authorities have strengthened security measures at the resorts.
Cyprus
Now, in order to get to Cyprus, our tourist needs to obtain a visa. But another misfortune has attracted more attention to this country: in March, the Cyprus Tourism Department warned of possible problems when visiting the northern territory of the island, which is not controlled by the legitimate government. In other words, if you go, for example, to see the Castle of Saint Hilarion or the picturesque ruins of Bellapais, located in the northern part of Cyprus, you do so at your own risk.
It is still difficult to predict exactly how these circumstances will affect the number of tourists heading to Cyprus. But the wealthy public, already accustomed to refined leisure in five-star hotels in Limassol, or the golden youth who have explored the entertainment centers of lively Ayia Napa, are unlikely to change their summer plans. And a health and wellness course at a spa center using mud, seaweed, and aromatic oils is best arranged back home when purchasing the tour - it will be cheaper and more reliable.
Greece
The holding of the Olympic Games this year in their historical homeland led to a completely predictable increase in prices for tours to mainland Greece. Thus, sometimes the price per night in a four-five-star hotel in Athens jumps from 160 euros to 1,200.
One can easily assume that tourists who are not part of the thousands-strong army of fans will spread out across the Greek islands. Speaking of the most famous islands among our vacationers, it is worth naming Crete, Corfu, and Rhodes. The climate of Crete, the largest Greek island with an ancient history and culture, is considered one of the mildest and healthiest in Europe.
Croatia
It is hard to imagine that the endless flow of tourists heading to delightful Croatia will ever dry up. And it is not only about the beauty of nature, extraordinary cuisine, and the hospitality of the locals. Croatia has been recognized as one of the most environmentally friendly places in the world: the Adriatic Sea can be seen off the coast to a depth of 50 meters, and Western European tourists highly value its unique climate.
In their opinion, the most prestigious resort area in Croatia is the Makarska Riviera in Central Dalmatia (the most actively promoted region of Croatia recently). Moreover, everyone without exception notes that the level of service in most hotels of this resort exceeds the number of stars assigned to them. Apparently, these advantages prompted Croatian hoteliers (mostly in Dubrovnik) to raise prices significantly - by up to 20%. But don't rush to be upset - tour operators promise to take this blow upon themselves and keep the cost of tours almost at last year's level.
France
With the onset of summer, the cities of France with their heat, dust, and stuffiness increasingly resemble our native metropolises. Demand for sightseeing programs is somewhat declining, and beach tours take up the baton. Of course, it cannot be said that French resorts are so popular among the broad masses of our tourists. Nevertheless, prestigious coastal places have been favored for years by wealthy citizens who, after many decades, have brought Russian speech back to the luxurious beaches of refined Nice, elegant Cannes, and flourishing Antibes. By the way, professionals recommend going there in June, when there is no summer rush yet. This advice is especially relevant if you are planning to undergo a thalassotherapy course.
Italy
And now information for lovers of elite island holidays. We are talking about Italian islands. It would be worth going to noisy, multifaceted Sicily for its unique cuisine alone, which is considered the most delicious in Italy. Many are also attracted here by landscapes rare in beauty and diversity: harsh rocks, wonderful bays, orange and lemon groves, as well as interest in the violent temperament of the famous Sicilians.
More restrained Sardinia carefully preserves its reputation as a holiday destination for the European elite, while Ischia is famous for its unique hot springs of volcanic nature (a health and wellness course usually lasts at least 12-15 days). In all cases, it should be kept in mind that island holidays are noticeably more expensive than continental ones.
UAE
Fighting established stereotypes is not an easy task, and the Arab Emirates have to make considerable efforts to dispel one of them - "summer holiday on the Persian Gulf coast is akin to death". So, in the period from May to mid-July (later, high humidity will interfere with a full-fledged holiday), you can not only survive in the Emirates, but also have a great rest. However, Arabs actively promote a year-round resort season, including the stuffy August. No one argues - of course, it is a bit hot: the air is consistently warmed up to +40, and the water in the Persian Gulf resembles warm milk. But this heat is easier to bear than our +30. In addition, all rooms are air-conditioned, and the water in the pools is cooled.
Local entrepreneurs also do not skimp on various promotions that can please and delight the summer tourist. For example, in Dubai, a shopping festival has been held for the third year, which previously took place in winter. This is both entertainment and profitable shopping with significant discounts. Finally, hotels become pleasantly cheaper at this time - for example, the luxurious Burj Al Arab gives a 50% discount.
Egypt
In Egypt, from June to August, the air temperature stays at +32-35 degrees, which overall is not such a catastrophe for us. However, to be safe, it is still worth preferring the more civilized Sharm el-Sheikh. If you choose the more disorganized Hurghada during such hot weather, the likelihood increases of running into, say, a room with a broken or poorly controlled air conditioner. Moreover, it is easier to bear the heat with a good level of service, which is what favorably distinguishes Sharm from Hurghada. Meanwhile, representatives of Egypt's tourism industry consider such incidents to be unfortunate accidents, claiming that the country is at the peak of tourist interest. For example, the tourist flow from CIS countries grew by 30% last year, and the number of hotels increased by three dozen.
And yet, summer in Egypt, as, in general, in the UAE, despite all the efforts of the authorities, should be classified as a pastime close to extreme.