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Russians associate winter with skating, skiing, building snowmen and playing snowballs, and the traditional celebration of the New Year comes down to a plentiful and protracted feast under Soviet films, round dances with Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden around the Christmas tree. But more and more compatriots, contrary to stereotypes, go on New Year's holidays to hot countries in order to spend their holidays bright and unforgettable, New Year meet by the sea, with dances around a palm tree, and instead of snowmen, build sand castles. What could be more pleasant than to "challenge" the harsh Russian winter and go to the tropics for a couple of weeks?
But in fact, there is a lot of interest in winter period Russian tourists also show their interest in trips to ski resorts, such as the Alps. After all, it is not necessary to radically change the climate zone in order to have a great New Year's holidays. A few decades ago sports tourism was not so widespread, and the level and equipment of ski centers did not meet modern requirements. Today, skiing is one of the most popular sports in the world.
Another option for spending the Christmas holidays is sightseeing tours to Europe, which are suitable for lovers of classic European holidays. The popularity of excursion routes is high due to the variety of programs, developed infrastructure, and high level of service.
Preparing the sled in the summer: early booking
When choosing the type of holiday that suits you for the New Year holidays, it is important to decide in advance on the direction, and not to postpone the time of booking the tour, or all services separately (air ticket, hotel, insurance, visa), if you prefer independent organization recreation. For early bookings, the discount on tour packages is an average of 30%. This is a good savings, given the increased cost of the tour for this period. How long is considered an early booking? Many tour operators put up tours for the new year almost in March, i.е. more than half a year, but most of the offers of tour operators for the new autumn-winter-spring season usually come out in the summer or in September after the tourist exhibition. In general, if you are definitely planning to go abroad for the New Year, prepare a sleigh in the summer, start looking through the offers of tour operators in August-September. In this case, you will have enough time to calmly decide on the direction, a wide selection of resorts, hotels and at attractive prices.
If you book tickets separately, then the most expensive fares will also remain closer to the departure date, or there will be no seats at all for the flights you need. Therefore, start working out the route and make the necessary reservations more than six months in advance.
How else to economically relax on New Year's holidays?
Prices for package tours increase significantly during the New Year holidays, but there are some tricks that will help you save money. First of all, it is worth noting that the prices for tours with a departure close to the date new year's eve(December 29-30) is higher than, for example, with a departure on December 25, by 50-70 percent, which is associated with the employment of the majority of working Russians at the end of the year, and, consequently, less demand. Therefore, if they can do without you at work 1.5-2 weeks, then you can safely buy a tour on the 20th of December. But you need to agree with the management in advance, in high period New Year holidays and Christmas are more stringent cancellation conditions, in case of cancellation of the trip, you can lose the entire cost of the tour. In addition, Catholic Christmas is celebrated on December 25 among Europeans who prefer to celebrate it at home, so there are usually good offers for tours departing on December 24-25. Knowing such features, you can quite economically relax during the New Year holidays.
Many tourists think that tours with a departure on January 2-3 are cheaper than December 29-30, guided by the fact that they will celebrate the New Year at home or with relatives, and then the next day they will fly to rest on vacation at the resort, and it will be cheaper cost. But this is a mistake! The reason for this is the high prevalence of such logic, and, consequently, increased demand, and hence a higher price. In many cases, tours with departures in early January are even more expensive than at the end of December. But this is not always the case, with early booking prices are usually the same for departures on December 29-30, and on January 2-3. In each case, you need to compare prices and consider all possible options.
In addition, it is a good omen to celebrate the New Year on a trip, which will certainly initiate changes for the better in your life!
Top 10 most popular countries for the new year
1. Egypt- one of the most popular countries for a beach holiday during the winter holidays and the celebration of the new year. It is worth noting that cold winds sometimes blow in Egypt in January, especially in Hurghada, but in most cases weather here are suitable for a beach holiday, and you will return home with a beautiful tan. You can consider the less windy Sharm el-Sheikh or Marsa Alam.
In Egypt, New Year's Eve on December 31 is not customary to celebrate, however, tourists will not be left without a holiday. Gala dinners and entertainment programs are prepared by hotels in their best restaurants, inviting to participate and Russian stars. During the New Year holidays, animation programs, discos and water sports await guests. Why not start the new year with a new hobby? Anyone can take diving courses in certified centers in Egypt. The Red Sea is the best place for scuba diving.
In addition, Egypt is considered a more democratic country in terms of prices than, for example, neighboring Israel or Jordan. The average cost of a 5 * hotel in Egypt with "all inclusive" will cost 50-100 thousand rubles ($ 1500-3100) for two for a week (for departure on December 25), subject to early booking in September-October. You also need to take into account the cost of a mandatory New Year's Eve dinner of $100-150 per person and a fuel surcharge of $40-80. For comparison, the cost of a similar tour with a departure on December 30 will cost a couple of adults 100-150 thousand rubles ($ 3100-4600), depending on the chosen hotel, respectively.
2. Thailand- Guaranteed wonderful weather and wonderful impressions of a holiday in an exotic country for the new year. The Thais themselves do not celebrate the new year on December 31, but all the conditions have been created here for tourists: from the New Year tree to the enchanting fireworks. Thailand is the most popular country in Southeast Asia, not only among Russian tourists, but throughout the world. BUT winter months perfect for holidays or New Year's Eve. Incendiary discos and vibrant shows in lively resorts or the calm romance of the islands, the clearest sea and white sand or the lights and colors of Bangkok, as well as excellent shopping, amazing sights, lots of juicy fruits and fresh seafood, and a lot of entertainment for every taste.
Apart from great weather, gentle sea and interesting excursions, prices for tours to Thailand for the New Year and Christmas holidays are not exorbitant for high season if you book the tour in advance. For example, a combined tour of Bangkok + Phuket with a departure on December 25 and accommodation in a 4 * hotel for 10 days will cost a couple of adults 118-130 thousand rubles ($ 3600-4000), with a Gala dinner included. But the cost of a similar route with a departure on December 30 will fluctuate in the range of 146-158 thousand rubles ($4500-4900).
3. Turkey invariably breaks records in terms of attendance by Russians, but mainly in the summer season. For the New Year and holidays, many also prefer to go to their favorite hotel on the Antalya coast. mediterranean sea, despite the cool weather, not conducive to a full beach holiday. All hotels, in an effort to attract as many tourists as possible for the New Year holidays, organize interesting programs for a comfortable and fun holiday on New Year's Eve, arrange concerts with congratulations from pop stars, champagne splashes and gifts from Santa Claus, prepare delicious treats for guests. Even in the most expensive luxury hotels of the Antalya coast, the prices for tours are simply amazing with their economy - 50 thousand rubles ($ 1500) a tour for two at the RIXOS 5 * hotel in Antalya for a week from December 26th. The price includes airfare, accommodation with meals "Ultra All Inclusive", honey. insurance, transfer. In the high summer season, prices are significantly higher - 3-5 times, so you can take advantage of this offer and have a great New Year and spend the New Year holidays in one of the best hotels in Turkey. Other 5 * Deluxe class hotels are also quite interesting in terms of cost - 55-100 thousand rubles ($ 1700-3000) with the same parameters - Ela Quality, Cornelia De Luxe, Amara Dolce Vita, Delphin Botanik, Susesi Luxury, etc. Prices for tours to Turkey with a departure on December 29-30 is 20-30% more expensive.
Turkey is also a unique historical treasury, where traces of ancient civilizations are found everywhere: Roman and Greek ruins, luxurious palaces and mosques, as well as the first Christian churches. In the winter months, the attendance of tourists to the greatest city of Istanbul increases for educational and excursion purposes and for shopping. The Christmas holidays are perfect for this.
Turkey is a Muslim country, but the tradition of celebrating the New Year with a Christmas tree is quite common here, especially in large cities: Ankara, Antalya, Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa. Streets are decorated in a New Year's way and shopping centers, there is a festive atmosphere everywhere. A charge of positive emotions for the whole year is guaranteed. Ski resorts in Turkey continue to gain popularity among skiers of all levels thanks to great variety ski slopes in Turkey, the favorite all-inclusive hotel system, and at the same time not high prices. Gentle slopes and good infrastructure are created for skiing with the whole family on winter snow in Turkey.
Cost example: a tour to Erzurum to a brand new hotel Xanadu Snow White 5 *, Xanadu chain, known for its high level of service, will cost 85 thousand rubles ($ 2650) for two adults with Full Board meals.
4. Finland is a particularly favorite country for traditional winter tourism. And it is not surprising, where, if not to the homeland of Santa Claus, should you go on New Year's holidays? Not only children, but also adults dream of getting to Santa's residence on New Year's Eve, because it is on this magical holiday that miracles happen and cherished desires come true. Finland is turning into a fabulous world of New Year's fun, and Christmas begins its procession throughout Europe from Lapland. Shops are filled with New Year and Christmas gifts and souvenirs in advance, and on the street you can easily meet a fairy-tale character. But the most interesting thing is participation in a unique entertainment program with colorful Finnish traditions and history. One of the most famous Christmas customs in Finland is the evening sauna, after which the whole family sits down at the table. An obligatory treat for a plentiful festive table is vinaigrette, national flatbread, baked pork and mulled wine. Santa Claus (Yolupukki) congratulates the children, gives gifts, and the children, in turn, lead round dances, sing songs. The holiday passes quietly with the family, and the next day mass festivities begin, sleigh rides, meetings with friends in restaurants.
Fans of skiing will appreciate the ski resorts of Finland: Rovaniemi, Levi, Kuusamo-Ruka. The purest air, virgin nature and the famous ski slopes of Finland will appeal not only to beginners, but also to professionals. From winter entertainment in addition to skiing, reindeer or dog sledding is popular. The average cost of a tour to the ski resorts of Lapland is 2000 Euros for two people (flight by charter flight, accommodation in a 4 * + hotel, breakfast meals, medical insurance and transfer), visa, ski equipment and excursion program are paid separately.
5. China- a huge multinational country, with a rich culture, traditions and history. Climate zones in China, due to the large area of the country and its length from north to south, they are very diverse, which allows you to find yourself from winter to summer, for example, on the island of Hainan.
In China, as well as around the world, they celebrate the New Year on December 31, and not only on lunar calendar, the Chinese sincerely love this holiday, but still the Chinese New Year is the main one for them. On the squares of large cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Haikou on the island of Hainan) concerts and all kinds of entertainment are held. Instead of traditional Christmas trees, Trees of Light are dressed up here, and multi-meter dragons take to the streets. Everyone strives to plunge headlong into this holiday, so it can certainly be argued that you will not see such a large number of people anywhere as in large cities of China during the celebration of the New Year. One of the most beautiful traditions of the Celestial Empire, without which the celebration of the New Year is indispensable, is the festival of lanterns, the essence of which is that the most cherished desires are written on paper lanterns, lit and launched into the sky above the water surface. This bewitching action takes place after the chiming clock and fantastically beautiful fireworks. The tradition of fireworks is deeply rooted in the historical past of China, when it was believed that creating noise and lights in the sky on New Year's Eve would help drive away troubles and troubles.
The average cost of a combined tour to China for the New Year, for example New Year's Beijing + Hainan, is $ 2,000 per person in a 5 * hotel for "breakfasts", but please note that this is a tour with a long air flight, lasting 2 weeks, and with an excursion program.
6. Germany turns into a fairy tale land on Christmas Eve, the lights-decorated streets smell of macaroons, gingerbread, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, adding to the festive atmosphere of wonder. During the Christmas markets and bazaars, so beloved in all cities and villages, locals and tourists buy Christmas decorations, traditional souvenirs and, of course, products for the festive table. This is accompanied by musical concerts and performances at the fairgrounds. The most colorful Christmas markets are held in the largest metropolitan areas of the country: Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Cologne. You can get to such a large-scale event within a reasonable budget by booking a tour in advance. And for those who want to spend their holidays in nature, there is a huge selection of ski resorts where you can practice various sports. Fans of sightseeing tours are waiting for interesting programs with the opportunity to visit several countries during the New Year holidays. The average cost of such a program with a railway crossing ranges from 500-700 Euros per person, a similar program with air travel from 1200 Euros per adult.
7. United United Arab Emirates - one of the most developed countries of the East, and at the same time preserved the Arab culture and the traditional way of life of the peoples of the desert. Here the sun always shines brightly, and the doors of the most luxurious hotels in the world are wide open. Going to the UAE, you can fulfill your old dream of an exotic New Year and find yourself in a real oriental fairy tale away from the cold and snow, many Russians who are tired of frost do just that. In addition, the world-famous Shopping Festival kicks off in early January, marking the opening of official sales.
For a beach holiday, you can choose one of the hotels on the coast of the Persian Gulf in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah or go to Fujairah on the Indian Ocean, but you should take into account unstable weather conditions in January. You may be able to bask in the sun and sunbathe, but the sea may be too cool for a comfortable swim. Therefore, you can use the hotel's heated pool, and for a more fun pastime, go to one of the water parks in Dubai. This city is especially interesting for tourists during the new year, the brightest and most interesting entertainment events and excursions are concentrated here. The largest shopping centers in the world are the Mall of Emirates, Dubaj Mall, "gold bazaars" with classic and unusual decorations from precious stones and metals at attractive prices, bewitching skyscrapers with the tallest Burj Khalifa at the top, Ski Dubaj ski complex for those who have time to miss the snow. Night safari in the desert will leave a vivid impression with an exciting jeep ride through the dunes, entertainment, Arabic dances and dinner. But the most interesting thing is sleeping in sleeping bags under starry sky or in tents, in front of which the guides tell stories about the inhabitants of the desert.
The celebration of the New Year in Dubai or Abu Dhabi is very bright, at midnight from December 31 to January 1, the whole sky is lit up with the lights of a chic fireworks display, the largest hotels, as if competing in the richness of the colors of the salute, let up a star stream for joy local residents and numerous tourists.
The cost of a tour to Dubai in a 4 * city-type hotel on the basis of "breakfasts" is 58-68 thousand rubles ($ 1800-2100) for two with a departure on December 25. Tours with departures on December 29-30 with the same holiday parameters will cost 75-85 thousand rubles for two ($ 2300-2600). The cost of a tour to more expensive 5 * hotels in Dubai in Jumeirah with a departure on December 29-30 will be 124-175 thousand rubles ($ 3800-5500) and more, depending on preferences. Many hotels organize a New Year's Eve gala dinner for their guests with entertainment for an additional fee.
8. Czech Republic- one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, ideal for celebrating the New Year and spending holidays. Everywhere, wherever you go, colorful bazaars and fairs, folk festivals and traditional fun await you. On New Year's Eve, people from all over gather on the Old Town Square in Prague to hear the old chimes that announce the change of years. According to tradition, you need to go to Charles Bridge and, after making a wish, touch the famous statue of John of Nepomuk. Here you can also watch the annual fire show in honor of the New Year. During the New Year holidays, you can visit ancient castles and even take part in a themed ball with medieval costumes. Tourists are offered the most interesting excursion programs for the New Year holidays, which will leave the most pleasant impressions for the whole year. Approximate prices for a week-long tour with a departure on December 29-30 to Prague with accommodation in hotels categories 3-4* will be around 700-900 Euro per person.
9. Austria turns into real winter fairy tale eve of Christmas and New Years. Decorated with toys, garlands and Christmas trees, the neat cities of Austria themselves become like fairy-tale toy settlements. Christmas markets are held in the city squares, which mark the beginning of the holidays. City Hall Square in Vienna, Mirabell Square and Cathedral Square in Salzburg. Also, in all major cities, costumed parades or processions with colorful masks to the sound of a bell are held to celebrate the outgoing year. The main center of all New Year's festivities is concentrated in Vienna. The season of the famous Viennese Balls opens at the Hofburg Palace. And applications for visiting the Vienna Philharmonic must be sent on January 2 a year before the event, however, the broadcast of the New Year's concert of the famous orchestra can be watched on January 1 at seven in the morning at the Town Hall Square. A truly fabulous Christmas event not to be missed is the Vienna New Year's Trail, which starts from the Town Hall Square and winds through the streets of the Old Town. Waltz sounds on every corner, to which you can learn to dance right there, and restaurants and bars offer punch and delicacies to everyone. A traditional Austrian dish on the festive table is Christmas carp or pork, as a symbol of prosperity. The main popular drink in Austria is Feuerzangenbowle hot punch, which is made using rum, red wine, citrus juice (orange or lemon), cinnamon and cloves.
Having met the New Year brightly and loudly, you can safely go to the mountains for skiing, which are so fond of Russian tourists. riding on ski resorts can be combined with drinking light mulled wine and eating strudel. The average cost of a tour to the ski resorts of Austria during the New Year holidays will cost a couple of adults in a 3 * hotel 80-100 thousand rubles (2000-2500 Euros), depending on the option chosen. 4* - 100-130 thousand rubles (2500-3250 Euro).
10. France. What could be more romantic than New Year's Eve in Paris? New Year's Paris offers a lot of entertainment, fairs and colorful bazaars, discos and walks along the Champs Elysees, decorated with lights, and Christmas sales are waiting for shoppers. Since French cuisine is the hallmark of the country, it is worth starting New Year's Eve celebrations with dinner at one of the traditional restaurants in Paris. The French themselves traditionally celebrate Christmas with their families at the festive table, and New Year's Eve in a large and noisy group of friends in restaurants. After midnight, everyone takes to the streets in fancy dress and showers each other with confetti. During the New Year holidays, you can have a very interesting time in Paris, go to Disneyland, or choose an exciting combined program that allows you to see other cities in France. Ski lovers can have a great time with the whole family in the ski resorts of France, which deserve the attention of tourists from all over the world. Trails of all difficulty levels for skiers and snowboarders, breathtaking alpine landscapes. And on New Year's Eve shows and fireworks. There are a lot of offers for holidays in France during the New Year holidays, the main thing is not to put off choosing and booking a tour so that you get the best option.
Thanks Russian government, which once decided to make the first ten days of the new year days off.
Out of habit, adults, like children, began to call them holidays. Now there is an opportunity to New Year's decade with benefit going on holiday with the child. The top most popular places for families with children in the world have already appeared.
Where to spend the holidays - the top most popular places
Most of our fellow citizens can afford to rest only in. That's why in the top five includes Veliky Ustyug, Sochi, Moscow. Mostly parents with children or children's tourist groups come to these cities.
Moreover, they live in Sochi on average for a week, and in St. Petersburg or Moscow for 5 days. This is due to the cost of meals, excursions, etc.
Among foreign cities top head , Prague, .
But there is more top five most wanted for New Year trip countries. These are European Finland, France, Czech Republic, Norway, as well as Asian Thailand,.
Where to relax on winter holidays in Russia?
- Homeland of Father Frost and Snow Maiden. Because the winter holiday fall on new year holidays, the child will not refuse a meeting with Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden. Therefore, it is worth making a trip to - the birthplace of Father Frost and Kostroma - the birthplace of the Snow Maiden.
- Veliky Ustyug- it's not just a city, it's a real New Year's fairy tale. All the sights here are associated with the name of the main resident of the city - Santa Claus. He has his own Residence, post office, souvenir shop and entertainment complex "Father Frost's Estate". All these places are open to visitors during the holidays and, of course, are not empty.
- The birthplace of the Snow Maiden is considered Kostroma. The Snow Beauty lives in a fairy-tale house, where every day during the New Year holidays she arranges meetings with the children. Domovoy and Domovikha, the cat Bayun and other fairy-tale characters help her. There is something to see in the Snegurochka's tower. What is worth one Ice Hall, where all the furniture and household items are made of ice.
A trip to Kostroma can take place according to an individually compiled program, which includes a visit to the ethnographic museum, moose farm, Ipatiev Monastery and other memorable places.
Where to go to rest in Russia - in the following video:
Tours to Europe - where to fly?
This is where the choice of Christmas entertainment is truly limitless! And even if it is winter in Europe, it is much warmer than in Russia. The streets of ancient cities are brightly decorated. On every corner there are shops with New Year's souvenirs. The atmosphere is festive.
- . Already from one New Year's decoration of Paris and other cities, both children and adults are dizzy. A visit to the Eiffel Tower will be unforgettable for a child, over which Santa Claus will fly on a sleigh. They go to Paris with a child to visit.
- . AT winter time very beautiful. It all shimmers from the festive illumination. In the old part of the city, there is such an atmosphere as if you are in medieval Europe, and a girl and a boy in wooden shoes are about to run out from around the corner. You definitely need to take your child to one of the city skating rinks.
- . Another Christmas tale is the city of Budapest. Here, too, there is a Santa Claus named Mikulash. Why Russian child not get to know him? And then you can visit the oldest zoo in the world, Aquapark, interactive museum or the largest aquarium in Eastern Europe.
- Finland. Those who do not like a sharp change in climate go to. It will always offer an interesting program for children and their parents, ranging from skiing to reindeer and dog sledding. And most importantly - a visit to Lapland, the birthplace of Santa Claus.
True, in the New Year there are long queues and high prices. And if visiting this famous entertainment complex will not take place, you can always find a lot of other entertainment.
With children to the ski resort
For downhill skiing, no need to buy expensive tours in the Alps or. In Russia, thank God, there is the Urals and the Caucasus - the main ones. The Caucasus is Dombay, Elbrus and Krasnaya Polyana in Sochi. In the Urals, the most best places for skiing in Bashkiria, Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions. Altai can be considered as an alternative.
The Elbrus region is not very suitable for children to ride, it is better to choose Dombay, Sochi or the Urals. A relatively new direction is the Khibiny in the Murmansk region. There are many learning trails here.
If they still beckon overseas ski resorts, there is a wide choice here. These are the Austrian Alps, and Norway, and the Carpathians, and the Spanish Pyrenees. If there were funds, there would be a resort.
Where to meet with small children?
If a we are talking about five year olds, then with them you can already travel safely both by train and by plane. Therefore, you can safely choose any Russian city for relaxation, since New Year's morning performances will be held everywhere. Yes, and snow or ice towns, which are very attractive to kids, are in any city.
Do not choose to stay with a child cruise because children do not tolerate acclimatization very well.
With younger kids in winter it is generally better not to go far from home, and even more so to fly abroad on vacation. Firstly, the parents themselves will not have time to rest, and secondly, the child is still too small to understand something and get unforgettable impressions.
How to save money on New Year's Eve?
- Try to save money first on air and train tickets. The less time left before the trip, the cheaper the ticket will cost. However, you can be left without tickets at all, as there are plenty of people who want to fly away or leave on New Year's Eve.
- Can save on accommodation. For example, rent a house from a private owner. And you can also join some online community where travel lovers can invite you for free or offer to exchange apartments in different cities for a vacation.
- Arriving at the final destination, you should not be fooled by the tempting offers of taxi drivers. They all take more early than if call a taxi by phone. The same Internet will help you find out the number of a taxi in any city.
- A lot of money is spent on lunches in cafes and restaurants. Why spend extra money on food when you can spend it on entertainment? And you can cook food at home from products bought in the supermarket, and take sandwiches and a thermos with coffee or tea with you for a walk.
- Save on phone calls You can if you buy a local sim card. Better yet, take advantage of the free internet and video chat.
Some hotels offer discounts for families, which can also be found online.
Visa: Needed (Schengen).
What to bring from the trip: sweets, beer, Bohemian glass and Czech porcelain, garnet jewelry, cosmetics, puppet, stationery.
Prague is the golden heart of Europe. Prague Castle, Hradcany, Stare Mesto, Mala Strana and the Charles Bridge connecting them - one day will not be enough to see the main sights of the Czech capital.
On the eve of Christmas and New Year, Prague plunges into the atmosphere of a fairy tale. The streets are full of illumination, the townspeople decorate their houses with mistletoe branches. It smells of delicious food, mulled wine and happiness.
The main festivities take place on the Old Town Square. The main Christmas tree of the country stands on it and the Christmas market takes place. Artists perform on the square, artisans work, and there is a brisk trade.
The first weeks of January are the perfect time for shopping in Prague. In addition to traditional Christmas souvenirs (Christmas tree decorations self made, painted mugs), you can buy Bohemian glassware, jewelry with the famous Czech garnet, high-quality cosmetics and excellent stationery.
Davidlohr Bueso/Flickr.com In Prague shops you will find many items of European brands. At the same time, the price tags are lower than in many other European countries, and the shop windows these days are full of signs Sleva, that is, “Discount”.
Grandvalira (Andorra)
Canon/Flickr.com Visa: Needed (Schengen).
What to bring from the trip: cheeses, wine, olive oil, stuffed olives, clothes, perfumes, jewelry, watches, gadgets, electronics, cigars and tobacco.
This is an ideal option for those who hate to lie on the couch during the New Year holidays and crave an active holiday.
Grandvalira is a valley that brings together several ski resorts: Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig, El Tarter, Soldeu, Encamp and Canillo. These are small mountain villages with comfortable hotels for fans of skiing and snowboarding.
Grandvalira has slopes for skiers of all levels, cross-country skiing, as well as halfpipe, freestyle and boarder-cross areas. On all routes there is a single ski pass for the lifts, which is very convenient.
Another "sport" practiced by tourists in Andorra is shopping. The Principality is a duty-free zone. Prices in local stores are 30-40% lower than in other countries of the Old World. During the Christmas sales period, this is just a fairy tale for a shopaholic.
Many people go to Andorra light on purpose to fill their suitcases to the maximum. Most shops in the capital Andorra la Vella. From Grandvalira to her within easy reach. In a dwarf country, where there is not even an airport, everything is generally very compact.
Most of the goods in the shops are brought from neighboring Spain (wine, olives, gold and silver) and France (fashion brands, perfumes, watches).
Cheeses are in great demand.
Canon/Flickr.com Due to the absence of duties in Andorra, you can profitably buy high-quality tobacco products, gadgets and electronics. As befits a ski country, Andorra sells good sports equipment at reasonable prices.
Varadero (Cuba)
Klaus Hegmanns/Flickr.com Visa: not needed (up to 30 days).
What to bring from the trip: rum (Havana Club, Carta Otro, Carta Blanca, Anejo), Guayabita del Pinar herbal tincture, cigars, coffee (Cubita, Serrano, Turquino), machete, spices, Mariposa perfume, coral jewelry.
If you wrote in a letter to Santa Claus that you want to be in paradise, then you need to go to Varadero. This is a small town in the Cuban province of Matanzas. Its highlight is the beaches.
20 km sandy coastline Varadero is recognized by UNESCO as one of the cleanest in the world. In December-January in Cuba +25 degrees on land and almost the same in water. You can spend hours basking in the sun, listening to salsa and sipping rum. Then swim, scuba dive to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean (Varadero has good diving clubs) and sip rum again.
Noisy New Year's parties are often held on the beach. Instead of a Christmas tree, Cubans decorate araucaria, and at midnight they clink glasses of champagne, make wishes and eat twelve grapes.
More fun in Havana's Cathedral Square. From Varadero to the capital of Liberty Island, only 140 kilometers. The meeting of the New Year there imperceptibly flows into the celebration of Cuba's Liberation Day on the first of January.
There is always something to see and do in Havana. You can go to the cigar factory and buy them as a gift to friends and colleagues. You can get acquainted with the history, taste and buy rum on the corner of Calle 63 and Avenida 1 in the "House of Rum" (La Casa del Ron).
Franx'/Flickr.com For coffee and chocolate, it is better to go to local shopping centers. You can safely take only all kinds of crafts from street vendors.
Emmanuel Huybrechts/Flickr.com Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Crazy Diamond/Flickr.com Visa: need (national).
What to bring from the trip: fur coats and other fur products, gadgets and electronics, silk, carpets, watches, perfumes, fashion brand clothes, gold, spices.
Fantastic, fabulous, luxurious, dazzling - the largest city of the UAE is called differently. The place is really unique. Half a century ago there was nothing remarkable there, and now Dubai is a major financial and administrative center with skyscrapers and man-made islands.
Having met the New Year in Dubai, you will never forget it. Every year there are great fireworks. You will hardly see this anywhere else. In 2014, the Dubai fireworks, which lasted six minutes, even entered the Guinness Book of Records.
Armin Rodler/Flickr.com On the rest of the New Year holidays, you can bask on the beach and wander around the shops. beach holiday and shopping in Dubai is great. In winter, the daily temperature is around +25 degrees, the water temperature is about +20 degrees.
Dubai is famous for its malls and oriental bazaars. The former are attractive due to the absence of VAT and profitable sales, the latter - the opportunity to bargain.
Ineke Huizing/Flickr.com In the "Mall of the Emirates", "Ibn Batuta Mall" and other large retail outlets, you can profitably purchase electronics, clothing and fur products.
Jewelry made of gold and silver can be bought at the Gold Market located in the Nasser quarter. For silk, it is better to go to the Textile Market, which is located near the Al-Fahidi fortress.
Phan Thiet (Vietnam)
Tri Nguyen/Flickr.com Visa: not needed (up to 15 days).
What to bring from the trip: pearls, silk clothes, belts, bags and other products made of crocodile skin, stone and wood crafts, fish sauce "Nuoc Cham", Vietnamese coffee and green tea.
This place will seem like a fairy tale for those who want to escape from the usual New Year paraphernalia. Are you dreaming about the exotic, so that no snow, Christmas trees and Santa Clauses, but is it better not to hear anything about the New Year at all? Fly to Phan Thiet! In December-January in Vietnam, the height of the high season, and before the Vietnamese New Year - Tet - is still quite far away (in 2017 it falls on January 28).
At the disposal of tourists is the 40-kilometer coastline of Phan Thiet, the gentle South China Sea, free beaches and gastronomic delights of local restaurants. There are few attractions, except perhaps a crocodile farm. The main attractions are windsurfing, wakeboarding and shopping.
For shopping, it is better to go to the central market of Phan Thiet "Phan Thiet Fair". There you will find all kinds of pearls, elaborately painted silk fabrics, crocodile bags, wallets and the like.
Lucas Jans/Flickr.com The main visiting card of these places is seafood and Nuoc Cham fish sauce, which can be served with meat, poultry or vegetables.
How to make money on travel
It's up to you to decide where to spend the New Year holidays. We will tell you how to make money on trips. Sounds like a fairy tale? Nothing like this! Just new model shopping based on the peer-to-peer principle. Now you will understand everything.
When we fly abroad on vacation or on business, we are bombarded with requests from relatives and friends: “Bring me olive oil”, “Buy a smartphone”. As a rule, we agree to help loved ones and make purchases for them. And if an outsider asks you, and even offers a reward for your efforts?
Reverse situation. We often need things that are not in our country or region (or there are worse quality and for big money). Let's say you love pomegranate sauce. In Turkey, you can buy it for a penny. Who would go and bring?
Adding the need of one side and the opportunity of the other, we get mutually beneficial cooperation. But where can a traveler find a buyer, and a traveler's buyer? The place of such meeting is Grabr.
Are you planning a trip for the New Year holidays? Tell us where you're going in the comments.
The New Year holidays in 2017 will be shorter than usual: Russians have only eight days of rest instead of ten, from January 1 to 8. But a week is enough to leave Moscow, you can also take a few extra days of vacation for the New Year holidays to arrange a full-fledged winter holidays. The RIAMO observer studied offers for tickets and tours for the January holidays and chose 10 options for a budget holiday in Russia and abroad.
Life hacks for finding tickets
According to Skyscanner statistics, as the New Year approaches, ticket prices in Russia and abroad increase by up to 50% - 70%. Therefore, the most important life hack when planning a vacation is to buy tickets as early as possible.
For example, two months before the New Year on holidays, you can buy tickets from Moscow to Helsinki for 10 thousand rubles in both directions, fly to Verona and Prague for 12 thousand round trip. Of course, when booking tickets from January 1 to January 8, these prices are not guaranteed by any aggregator site, but if you try to play with dates, that is, use a flexible search, for example, fly away on December 28 with a return to Moscow on January 5 or 6, then save a couple thousand.
The best deals on tickets can be found at http://www.skyscanner.ru/ , http://www.aviasales.ru/ , http://www.momondo.ru/ , http://buruki.ru/ , https://www.anywayanyday.com , but keep in mind that low-cost airline sites do not fall into this sample. You should directly look at the websites of Air Baltic, Ryanair (does not fly from Russia, but you can watch connections), Wizz air and the domestic Pobeda, whose flight prices start at 999 rubles one way.
Russia and CIS
Per last years the majority of Russians have changed their usual tourist routes and, instead of Western Europe, they increasingly prefer neighboring countries and of Eastern Europe, and Russian resorts have become the most popular holiday destinations. So, according to Skyscanner pre-booking data, for New Year's dates, most of the bookings are for Russian cities. The average price of tickets in Russia is 11,600 rubles in both directions. The most economical options would be tickets to Kazan, St. Petersburg and Sochi, according to data from the travel designer Timescenery.
For example, tickets to Kazan with a departure from Moscow on December 30 and a return to the capital on January 7 from UTair will now cost 5,385 rubles. To save even more, you can go to Kazan by train: the cost of a reserved seat one way starts from 1000 rubles.
It is most profitable to fly to St. Petersburg for the New Year from December 29 to January 7. A flight on these dates by Nordwind Airlines will cost 4,800 rubles. You can save on travel if you go by train or BlaBlacar service - from 3000 rubles round trip.
As for hotels for New Year's dates, in Kazan 4 days of accommodation in a 4-star hotel will cost 15,000 rubles for two, in St. Petersburg for this money you can only live in a three-star hotel.
Fans of ski resorts should pay attention to Sochi, Dombay and Elbrus. The cheapest flight to Sochi from S7 and UTair with a departure on December 26 and a return to Moscow on January 10 will cost 6,000 rubles.
Travel designer Timescenery also advises Dombay and Elbrus, as the quality of services in these resorts has been improving in recent years, and prices, compared to European destinations, look very attractive, largely due to affordable flights.
True, in order to save money, you will have to go to Dombay or Elbrus on December 25th. Flying with Red Wings to Mineral water will cost 9,000 rubles with a return to Moscow on January 4th.
A double room in a three-star hotel with breakfast in ski resorts can be found for 15 thousand rubles for a week.
According to the tourist search engine Kayak, among the most affordable destinations in the CIS and neighboring countries are Baku (from 7,569 rubles), Tbilisi (13,227 rubles) and Yerevan (14,079) will cost more. The cheapest three-star hotel in Yerevan and Baku for six days will cost 10 thousand rubles for two, in Tbilisi - from 13 thousand rubles for two.
Inexpensive Europe
Those who want to spend the New Year holidays in Europe should consider a trip to the Baltic countries - Riga or Tallinn, as well as Budapest and Vienna.
Most a budget option- a trip to Riga. On an Ecolines bus, a round trip will cost 7,200 rubles. A trip to Tallinn will be a little more expensive - about 9,000 rubles. Of course, a night bus ride can hardly be called comfortable, but there is an opportunity to celebrate the New Year in a beautiful medieval city. A direct flight to Riga and Tallinn on New Year's dates will cost twice as much as a bus.
The cheapest accommodation in Riga in a 3-star hotel near the city center with breakfast for a week will cost 17 thousand rubles for two, in Tallinn you will have to pay 25 thousand rubles for the same conditions.
Before looking for tickets to Budapest on aggregator sites, you should go to the website of the low-cost airline Wizz Air, which gives the best prices in this direction. Now the cheapest Wizz Air tickets with a departure on December 20 and a return to Moscow on January 2 will cost 10 thousand rubles. The hotel "3 stars" for these dates (14 days) will cost 35 thousand rubles for two.
For 11 thousand rubles there and back from December 27 to January 3, you can fly to Vienna. The cheapest tickets with transfers in Belgrade are offered by AirSerbia. A 3-star hotel in Vienna will cost 30 thousand rubles for a week for two.
Tours
Those who like to leave for the New Year in warm countries It is best to consider package tours. According to the Rambler / Travel travel service, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, India, the Maldives, and the Seychelles are very popular among the beaches for the New Year.
The best offer for today from Rambler is a tour to the Emirates to Ajman Beach with a departure on December 28 from Moscow for 7 days / 6 nights with accommodation at the 4-star Ramada Beach Hotel, with flights, breakfasts and insurance for 37,000 rubles from a person.
If you did not have time to book a tour in advance, you should not count on a vacation cheaper than 50 thousand rubles per person. For this money, you will be able to go to Thailand, Vietnam or the United Arab Emirates for a week.
As for ski destinations, European resorts are now competing on prices with Sochi. Krasnaya Polyana is almost all booked, the cost of tours in Sochi starts from 45-47 thousand rubles per person, Rambler / Travel notes.
For comparison, a tour to Austria for the New Year holidays to the resort of Bad Gastein at the 4-star Sanotel Bad Gastein & Residenz for 8 days / 7 nights with a flight, insurance and transfer will cost 33,200 rubles per person.
Russian north
Lovers of winter and northern beauties for the New Year can go to Karelia or the Kola Peninsula, where it is good to relax with children.
Favorable offers on tours can be found at RussiaDiscovery. You can celebrate the New Year in Karelia from December 30 to January 3 for 35 thousand rubles per person. The price includes accommodation in a cottage, three meals a day, entertainment, equipment rental, reindeer trips and dog sledding. True, you will have to buy train tickets separately (from 7,000 rubles there and back).
Another option for such a holiday is the New Year at the End of the World program, which begins in Murmansk, and then tourists are taken to the Kola Peninsula. The cost of the tour from December 30 to January 3 is 33,500 rubles per person. For this money you will be accommodated in a village house, three meals a day will be organized, sleigh rides reindeer, with the opportunity to see the northern lights. Separately, you need to buy train tickets to Murmansk (from 6,000 rubles round trip).
New Year in Europe… Agree, for most travelers it’s a fairy tale, but not in a very good way – the prices for air tickets, hotel rooms and car rental during this period fly up so high that it becomes scary for your expenses. But it would be so great to feel the real magic of the holiday in the New Year's markets, among the narrow old streets or even on the sunny beach, where instead of snow there is sand, instead of a Christmas tree there are palm trees...
We will tell you where you can go for the New Year 2017 inexpensively and where you can have a wonderful holiday.
December 26 - January 4, Moscow Domodedovo - Dusseldorf International, S7, round-trip from 13 thousand rubles.
If you are going to celebrate the New Year in Europe with children, then on the way to Mantova you can stop by the Gardaland amusement park. It is open just in time for the New Year holidays, the schedule is below:
Active New Year in Europe - ski resorts in Austria, Italy, Switzerland
For lovers of skiing and outdoor activities in general, there is no better gift than the New Year in Europe at some picturesque ski base. We offer several options:
- Moscow - Vienna January 1 - 4-5, from 15 thousand rubles. You can first walk around the elegant city, and then rent a car and go to Sauberberg (100 km) or any other base in the vicinity of Vienna. And on the way back, you can make a small detour and drop into;
- Moscow - Geneva, December 28 - January 6, from 18.5 thousand rubles. The nearest ski resort to Geneva is about 50 km away, and not just one - on the Swiss-French border there are dozens of ski resorts at different heights and with slopes of varying complexity and length;
- Moscow - Milan. If you look at the map, you will see that the north of Italy is, as it were, covered with a "cap" of mountains - they stretch along the entire northern Italian border. Therefore, you can fly to Milan not only for shopping, but also to go skiing or snowboarding. The ski base with one of the longest slopes - Breuli-Cervinia - is located 190 km from the city.
Marina Pitsun
Assistant arbitration manager, student, freelance translator and generally a very versatile person. Travel experience - Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria. I am inspired by every new journey, which seems to give me the opportunity to open my eyes and take a fresh look at myself and my life. The whole world longs to be explored, and it's a pity that people themselves consciously limit themselves to the boundaries of their small town somewhere in the wilderness. In general, my main inspiration is my husband :). Without him, none of the trip would have taken place.
