Where to go to rest instead of Georgia? The political situation has spoiled many tourists' plans for the full program, almost all air tickets have been returned, vouchers have been canceled, local guides have already returned money for planned excursions. But not everything is so bad, some travelers still travel on their own and write to us that everything is calm at the resorts.
So, let's consider more acceptable places where you can relax in the summer in Russia and abroad in the same conditions, with the same prices, gastronomic preferences and service. Finally, let's add a couple of suggestions from ourselves, where you can spend your vacation no worse than in Georgia and better in terms of emotions from what you see.
The choice of a resort where to go depends not only on personal preferences, distances, or even financial resources. Inevitably, attention has to be paid to foreign policy complications. One of them just happens in the summer of 2021. Therefore, tens of thousands of people will have to decide where to go to rest instead of Georgia. Let's characterize 5 Russian and 2 foreign analogous directions.
Sochi
The old center of Russian Black Sea tourism is not inferior to the health resorts of the southern state in terms of the attractiveness of sea recreation. Climate, landscapes, landscaping and even distances for flights, ground trips are the same. Therefore, there should be no problems.
- You can buy a tour to Sochi from Moscow for 26-27 thousand rubles. For this amount, even trips to hotels in Krasnaya Polyana will be available. For the amount of 30 - 35 thousand rubles, large tour operators will offer a visit to the Imereti Valley.
Having paid for one plane ticket to Adler from the Russian capital for one person in August, you will have to pay a minimum of 3059 rubles.
There are few valuable attractions within the city limits. But in addition to swimming and staying on the beach, you can see the oceanarium and arboretum, two parks, an old boulevard, waterfalls, caves, a boxwood grove, be sure to go on an excursion to Abkhazia. We mentioned all the places worth visiting on vacation in Sochi in the summer in a separate review.
The sea water is warmed exactly for pleasant swimming. On average, Sochi August is similar to July, the air warms up to 25 degrees. But in the first two decades, the heat often sets in. It is cool at night in the city (no higher than 20 Celsius). It is worth keeping in mind the potential danger of thunderstorms and sea storms. Inspection of natural reservoirs will help to get rid of the obsessive heat.
Elbrus
If you are not allowed into Georgia, but you want to see the mountains, you should go to the vicinity of Elbrus. By the beauty of the mountains, these areas are close. Having gone there on an organized tour, travelers will pay 14,800 rubles (when staying at Hotel Alpina for 6 nights). Hotel "Balkaria" is more expensive (23,000), but they organize two meals a day, and not just breakfasts. Cozy Ozon Cheget 3 * in the mountains will be ideal for lovers of clean air and family holidays.
The cost of plane tickets depends on the airline. So, direct flights to Mineralnye Vody will cost 6100 rubles on board the "Pobeda". Utair planes will take tourists there for 4,700 rubles. But these are not the lowest possible prices for a year. Having set out on September 1, you will have to pay 3200 rubles to Pobeda or 4100 rubles to Utair.
Even those who do not like skiing will be delighted with walks through the coniferous forest, views of the magnificent mountains. And narzan is in no way inferior to Borjomi (especially because of the undermined quality of the last drink). If you don't want to just walk, then horse and car tours will definitely suit you. Mount Mashuk, Hot Mountain, aeolian gazebo and a number of other places are incomparable. During the day, an average of 28.9 degrees, 17 degrees at night.
Baikal
The vicinity of the glorious lake is another worthy answer to where to go instead of Georgia to have a summer vacation in Russia. A place that is a distant analogue, but with a huge number of natural attractions that will charge you with energy.
Rest on Lake Baikal is not cheap, of course you can find inexpensive tourist centers with amenities on the street, but the conditions want to leave the best, so we will recommend you only good tourist centers. You will have to pay for the tour on average from 10,000 rubles for 3 nights. But a full acquaintance will require a lot of money.
So, you can organize a tour to Olkhon for 50,000 for 7 nights in a good hostel, a trip to the Small Sea - for 43000 for 7 nights. Which camp sites to choose? We have already prepared an overview of proven places with our travel experience:
Direct air and railway communication on the route "Moscow - Baikal" is not organized. We'll have to get through Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. An average ticket costs 15,000, and on the railroad it costs 5,000 rubles one way.
Where to visit? It is worth exploring the Baikal-Lensky Nature Reserve, the National Park, Cape Burkhan, Barguzinsky Bay. The August weather on a Siberian lake favors bathers' designs. You just need to take into account the winds and study them in advance.
Azov
A place where to rest instead of Georgia can be found on the shores of the Azov Sea. It is even safer there, since the depths are shallow and a trip with children would be an excellent offer.
But rare travel agencies offer a trip there. Therefore, you will have to find out the cost of the tour additionally, first finding out where it is. In most cases, independent tourists rest here, booking accommodation through booking without intermediaries, it is cheaper and faster.
Train travel will cost 2700 rubles on average. Flight by plane - 3,500 rubles to Vityazevo airport, plus transit costs (45 km to the sea).
In late summer and autumn, the weather is comfortable for family holidays, there are no excesses. Tourists visit the Alekseevsky Gate, climb to the observation deck, inspect the old powder magazine and a number of monuments.
Evpatoria
When choosing where you can go instead of Georgia, you should focus on places that are not subject to bad nationalism. Evpatoria is one of them.
You can rent a room for two for 5 nights in a sanatorium for 19-20 thousand rubles. But this is in a good scenario, during the season the bulk of the proposals are much more expensive (from 30 to 40 thousand) and there are few places.
Flights from Moscow to Simferopol will cost at least 2,244 rubles. Utair and S7 planes fly along this route.
This resort, which is close in characteristics to Georgia, is pleased with the abundance of old monuments and cultural heritage in general. In the evening, travelers will find an alley with 50 illuminated fountains. The embankments, the Gezlevsky gate, the dolphinarium and the water park are just a few of the places that can be seen in Evpatoria and its environs.
The August weather at the resort directly adjusts to enjoy the bright sun and warm wind. The probability of getting caught in the rain is close to zero. But consideration of Russian proposals alone is impossible. You also need to know what can be used to replace Georgia in the far abroad.
Armenia
Yes, this country is not suitable as an answer to the question of where to rest at sea. But the beautiful mountain peaks and unique nature are similar there. There is no sense in characterizing the tours, because 90% of tourists travel to the Armenian territory on their own, without the help of professionals, to see unique sights.
Sevan is widely known outside the country. But the color is expressed in the charms of the Tatev monastery, in the majestic mountains, in their pearl - the Ararat peak (although visible only from afar), in the Sanahin monastery complex.
A 7-day tour will cost 15-21 thousand rubles. A ten-day trip to Yerevan will cost 34,000 rubles. Selection of tours.
Apart from sightseeing, it is worth enjoying the thermal balneological resources of Jermuk.
The temperature in August in Jermuk is 15.3 degrees, and in Yerevan - 19 degrees.
Bulgaria
In terms of the cost of recreation and the quality of work of leisure facilities, the Bulgarian territories are far ahead of Georgian competitors. There is real Europe, and not a miserable semblance of a modern resort, formed in a backward Transcaucasian country.
A tour in a single room (including the flight) for 7 days at the Zlaten Rog hotel will cost 31,400 rubles. A trip to the Varshava Hotel (with a sandy beach) - 32,200 rubles.
On average, in August, you will have to pay 11,000 rubles for a ticket. In September, the rate will be around 8,900 rubles.
Tourists are waiting for the "Stone Forest" located 20 kilometers from Varna, the old (founded in 1959) disco Yalta Club, the festival of Damascus roses, the Bulgarian "Atlantis" (Nessebar that has sunk under the water). The strangest multi-storey residential building in the world, which rather resembles a colossal snail, deserves attention. Visitors to the Black Sea coast of the Balkan country will also be delighted with the expanded water sports offer. Here they are still slightly inferior to the leading world centers, but they are noticeably "catching up".
The weather creates a pleasant feeling for relaxing in the beach resorts of Bulgaria all summer long. The air in any part of the country is warmed up at the end of summer to an average of 27 - 28 degrees. The water temperature is 25 degrees. But in the mountains it is 10 - 15 degrees colder.
