Seasonal situation: country holidays have become year-round
The demand for holidays in rented country houses or hotels has become more uniform: if previously they booked only summer and New Year, now they are increasingly choosing autumn or spring, the booking services told Izvestia. The leaders in demand were the Moscow, Kaluga, Ryazan, Leningrad and Vladimir regions, as well as the Krasnodar Territory and Karelia. The trend for year-round country holidays was formed after the Pandemic and, experts believe. About where and for how long they restore their strength — in the Izvestia material.
When choosing a country vacation
Russians began to choose country vacations in hotels and rented houses throughout the year, and not just for the summer and New Year holidays, booking services told Izvestia.
Four years ago, 36% of bookings occurred in July–September, and another 28% in April—June, according to data from the Cuva country hotel gift certificate service. But now the picture has become more uniform: if the second and third quarters (from April to September) account for 30% of bookings, then the first and fourth quarters of each year account for 20% of bookings.
— Country vacations are no longer perceived as an annual reward for burnout. It has become a conscious habit — a way to maintain a state of resource throughout the year. People plan vacations the same way they plan other things, regularly and according to their own rhythms of life," said Anton Lagun, CEO of Cuva.
Most of the time, he said, country hotels are booked for one or two nights.
Cottages and guest houses are still more popular in the summer, but there are several spikes in bookings throughout the year, according to data from the 2GIS Othello hotel search and booking service.
"The Krasnodar Territory has become the leader in bookings of cottages and guest houses throughout the year," the service noted.
The second most popular period after summer is autumn, which accounts for about 21% of bookings of houses and cottages, according to the Ostrovok service.
Where to book a country house
This summer, the demand for accommodation in Russian cottages and holiday homes remains at the level of last year, Ostrovka added.
The Krasnodar Territory, Karelia, Leningrad Region, Dagestan, Moscow, Pskov and Vladimir regions, and Stavropol Territory were named among the most popular destinations there.
Cottages and houses are also readily booked in Altai, Vladimir, Irkutsk and Kaliningrad regions, Othello added.
"Among these destinations, the lowest average cost of a night in cottages and guest houses in the Krasnodar Territory is 4.7 thousand rubles, the highest in the Vladimir region is 7.4 thousand rubles," they said.,
The average booking duration is three nights. A longer vacation is chosen in the Krasnodar Territory, on average it is five days. The longest cottage reservation has so far been recorded in the Krasnodar Territory, in Gelendzhik — for 31 nights starting in August.
Country holidays in hotels are most often chosen in the Moscow, Kaluga, Ryazan, Vladimir, Tula, Tver and Leningrad regions.
— These territories are united by a balance between accessibility, natural aesthetics and the development of tourist infrastructure. We see a steady demand for formats that combine privacy, comfort and local flavor," said Anton Lagun.
For those who consider organized tours as a country vacation, there are offers lasting from two days, added the head of the travel booking service for Russia and the world, Turslet (part of Fly.<url>") Ksenia Andriankova. She named Altai, Dagestan, and Karelia among the most sought-after regions for such trips.
— In these regions, there is an overwhelming concentration of natural locations and unique landscapes along the route of the tour group, which in themselves attract tourists, — the expert emphasized.
The trend for a short vacation
The trend for year-round country holidays was formed after the COVID-19 pandemic, experts noted. Then many people discovered that full recovery is possible not only abroad, but also in the immediate environment — in nature, in silence, in small hotels or cottages, said Igor Rastorguev, a leading analyst at AMarkets.
— Since then, the need for regular rebooting has persisted, and the habit of resting in "small portions" has become entrenched. This has become a kind of cultural norm for middle—class urban residents," the expert emphasized.
According to him, the choice of such a recreation format may indicate a redistribution of resources.
—The rejection of long vacations, especially in foreign exchange countries, has led to the fact that people more often allow themselves short trips for two or three days, which are perceived as an affordable way to relieve tension, spend time with family, and change the situation," he stressed.
Such small vacations, according to the expert, often perform a compensatory function.
— If a full-fledged vacation has become less affordable in terms of price, time, or logistics, it is replaced by frequent short trips. A country vacation here is ideal: it does not require long—term planning, minimizes stress associated with the road, and at the same time provides emotional relief," he stressed.
Guests began to choose more comfortable conditions more often — premium rooms, boutique hotels, locations with infrastructure for privacy and recovery, Anton Lagun noted.
— Rest becomes not just a pause, but an investment in well-being. People are willing to pay more if they get a sense of caring for themselves — through a place, nature, or service," he believes.
A place for a short vacation in the countryside is usually chosen so that it is possible to get to the object in one or two hours, said Aleksan Mkrtchyan, Vice president of the Alliance of Travel Agencies. At the same time, such facilities, according to him, are critically in short supply — demand is not even half saturated. Three times as many can be built around Moscow, and twice as many around cities of millions, the expert is sure.
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