Experts gave tips on weekend travel planning

To reduce travel time and get vivid impressions, you should plan short trips to cities that take no more than two to three hours to reach. This approach will also reduce costs by choosing less hyped destinations and a flexible approach to booking accommodation, Ostrov service specialists told Izvestia on February 20.

At the same time, travelers are advised to pay attention not only to popular centers, but also to small towns with a rich cultural program. According to experts, small towns often offer a more relaxed atmosphere and a lack of queues. An additional advantage of such destinations are affordable prices for entertainment and accommodation. The gastronomic routes and picturesque nature in such places may not be inferior in quality to well-known tourist locations.

When choosing a home, experts recommend using search filters to immediately note the availability of necessary amenities: parking, a separate kitchen, a swimming pool, or charging for electric vehicles. It is also important to check the freshness of the reviews and pay attention to the comments from the last few months. This helps to get up-to-date information about the quality of service and the condition of the facility.

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The lack of hotels and overturism were also mentioned among the main problems inside the country.

"At the same time, you should not consider only hotels for accommodation. Apartments with a kitchen are often more profitable than a regular hotel room. Savings are obtained not only due to the lower cost of living, but also due to the ability to cook independently, reducing food costs. At the same time, apartments usually have more space, so they are suitable for families and groups of friends," the experts noted.

To reduce vacation expenses, experts recommend planning trips for periods immediately after the holidays or during the off-season. Prices for accommodation "on the second line" or 10-15 minutes from the historical center can be 20-30% lower than in the heart of the city. Loyalty programs offering bonuses in the form of free breakfasts or late check-out bring additional benefits.

"Many accommodation facilities offer discounts for early bookings. However, favorable offers may appear at the last moment: if unsold rooms remain on the eve of arrival, hotels often lower prices. At the same time, it is important to take into account not only the price, but also the cancellation conditions, as well as possible additional payments: resort fee, city tax or cleaning fee," the experts said.

Among the suitable destinations for cultural recreation, experts single out Yaroslavl, Tula and Vladimir. In Yaroslavl, the average cost of a night in 2026 is 6800 rubles, and in Tula — 5800 rubles. Vladimir attracts with its compact center, the average price of a night here is 6,500 rubles.

Kolomna, Suzdal, Tarusa and Ivanovo are recommended for gastronomic trips and non-standard walks. Kolomna is known for its pastille and kalacha museums, and Ivanovo for its constructivist architecture. The most expensive of the proposed options remains Suzdal with an average cost of 11,400 rubles per night, while Ivanovo is the most affordable — 5,400 rubles.

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On February 13, Evgenia Anokhina, Director of Commerce and operations in the field of hospitality and wellness at the Green Flow network, said that the new hotel operating rules, which will begin operating in Russia on March 1, may strengthen the interest and inspire confidence of tourists from other countries in the Russian destination. These standards are a tool for increasing competitiveness in the long term, Anokhina noted.

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