Why did the price fall on the beach
The native tourism industry has already admitted that it is not able to contain the inadequate increase in prices for summer tours, since it depends on the host. Many compatriots have already reconciled themselves — they have given up on vacation or, conversely, on the rationality of spending. And then suddenly a “lightning”: several seaside resorts unexpectedly fell in price precisely in the second half of June, so much so that from June 15 to July 1, you can relax together on some for only 20 thousand rubles. What are these places and what prompted them to suddenly reduce prices in the midst of the season?
The rating of the cheapest tours for the next two weeks from ATOR analysts is surprising and even alarming — Greece, Seychelles and Abkhazia are in the top five instead of the usual Turkey and Egypt. They got ahead according to the results of an expert comparison of prices for 10-day package tours for two with flights and breakfast included: Abkhazia — from 68 thousand rubles, Seychelles from 200 thousand rubles, Greece — from 240 thousand rubles. For comparison: the minimum price for a similar tour to Antalya and Hurghada is 130 thousand. But, judging by the tourist offers, from July 1, prices will again rush up. What's the matter? Maybe we have something to fear?
— We are now in the first month of winter, we are below the equator, — answers the question of why tours to the Seychelles could become cheaper, our compatriot who moved to Victoria (the capital of the Republic of Seychelles island, located on the island of Mahe — ed.). — The second half of June in the Seychelles is the most windy. This means that the waves in the ocean are such that you will not swim.
— And there now the water is knee-deep and everything is covered with algae. But the air temperature is now the most comfortable — no higher than 28-29 degrees, the humidity is below summer and the breeze blows. And tours have become cheaper, I think, because the locals were allowed to arrange mini-hotels from their own homes, and many of them are spacious here. And the big hotels sensed the competition. But as soon as the weather becomes bathing, they will spit on this competition.
After this, I wanted to ask a couple of questions to my acquaintances who permanently live in Greece. What if something is wrong with them in June?
— It depends on the specific place, — meet fellow citizens who have been working in Athens for several years. — There is no sweltering heat yet in June, but the sun is already aggressive, especially from 12 to 16.00. At the same time, the sea warmed up mainly on the islands, while in mainland resorts it is still cool. An inexpensive hotel probably doesn’t have its own beach, but since June, sunbeds on public ones cost 30 euros a day. And if you leave the beach for a couple of hours of the most scorching sun, leaving no one to “guard” your sunbed, when you return, pay 30 euros again. Well, for Russians, logistics with Schengen, of course, bite. The declared cost of the tour may include the flight, but all additional fees — visa, airport, transit — you will pay separately and in euros. With this in mind, even the cheapest Greek tour for Russians is never cheap.
But then what about Abkhazia, it's not the Seychelles, where to fly far, and not Greece, where you need Schengen and payments in euros? Moreover, since June 8, in addition to the ferry, two trains have been launched from the Russian side to the Abkhazian Gagra — from Sochi and from Adler Airport. To enter Abkhazia, Russians do not need not only a visa, but even a passport, and train passengers can quickly go through customs and the border at Veseloye station. From Thursday, June 8, trains from the Sochi region to Gagra run daily, stopping at all significant resort stations, including Khosta and Matsesta. The issue price is from 850 to 1000 rubles one way, depending on the class of the car, the journey time is 3 hours.
— Yes, everything fell in price in the second half of June, — they admit on the Abkhaz side. — An average of 30%.
— You call something expensive, in Pitsunda in the best boarding house for 10 days for two 27 thousand rubles, well, plus 2 tickets to Adler and the train to Gagra — still not 68 thousand. And in the former Soviet rest house, it comes out to 21 thousand rubles for two.
— It's cool here in June, the sea is only 20 degrees, the air is 25 maximum and it rains. According to forecasts, it will be so until the end of June, and therefore discounts. And because of the rain, the sea is also dirty.