Cut-price winter sunshine

[CrazyExpat]

While the number of Russians flying abroad for winter holidays has recovered from last year's low, many sun-loving tourists are turning away from the previous top destination, Thailand, to more affordable Egypt.

Encouraged by discounted tickets, 34 per cent more Russians flew abroad this January than a year previously, according to figures from the Federal Air Transport Agency.

Egypt overtook Thailand as the most popular getaway, with cheaper diving and trips to the Pyramids beating the more costly attractions of the southeast Asian country.

"There was a slip on all destinations last year," said Maya Lomidze, executive manager of Ator, a Russian travel agencies association. "Egypt was first to adapt its prices to the crisis, and this made it even more popular."

Goa is another popular destination for Russians seeking to escape the winter blues, attracting downshifters, yoga and meditation-lovers. Some tourists choose to chill out in the Indian state for several months in between jobs.

"I love this country because I feel free there," said Ksenia Belova, who likes travelling in India. "It's a carefree country and people are very nice and easygoing."

Moscow News - News - Cut-price winter sunshine

From February, however, Russian tourists visiting India will have to have health insurance due to food poisoning and other health risks.

For the last few years Thailand was top of the pops for Russian sun-lovers, with Russians' enthusiasm surviving even a bout of bird flu in the country in 2004.

But this winter public unrest in the country forced tour operators to cut back on flights there.

Recently Cuba and Dominican Republic have become more popular with Russians, but flights to the Caribbean have been badly affected by the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and Haiti's earthquake this winter.

"The main problem with Caribbean countries is a lack of flights there, because air carriers are not interested in flying that far," said Lomidze.

Even the Haiti quake did not put off Russians travelling to the next-door country, the Dominican Republic, which shares an island with Haiti, instead taking advantage of half-price deals.

For Russians looking for sightseeing rather than beach sunbathing, another favourite, Turkey, also draws tourists in winter. The key attractions for walking around are Istanbul, the centre of the historic Ottoman Empire, the city of Edirne and Antalya on the Mediterranean. This January 37,000 Russian tourists visited Turkey - 15 per cent more than the same time last year, Ator reports.

Israel, with its large Russian-speaking population, has had visa-free entry with Russia since September 2009, which has made it easier for Russians to visit religious sites, family and friends there.

Tour operators say going abroad became 15 per cent cheaper this year, due to helpful currency fluctuations.

Some European countries hit by the economic crisis, such as Greece and even Britain, could be up to 20 per cent cheaper to visit this year, say tourism experts.

And for those looking for a budget Mediterranean-style experience, visa-free travel to Albania - available for the first time this year - is experiencing an upsurge of interest, say tour operators. Tour packages to Albania, with its picturesque Adriatic coastline, come in cheaper than those to Italy, Greece and Montenegro.