We tell you which countries are worth traveling to in the last month of summer, and our friends from Banki.ru explain how Russian tourists can pay abroad and not be left without currency.
Turkey
Budget for two: for accommodation and air tickets – about 110,000 rubles.
In August, the average cost of a flight to Turkey and back is 80,400 rubles (for two), and 5 nights in a hotel of the most popular category 2* and below will cost travelers about 29,500 rubles.
How to get there?
Direct flights are open between Russia and Turkey. Flight time from Moscow to Istanbul will be about 5.5 hours. To enter the country, Russians do not need a visa; they only need to present a passport. The PCR test and vaccination certificate are no longer required, but some passengers may be subject to random testing upon arrival.
What a vacation it will be?
Turkey is a colorful country where not only different cultures, but also types of recreation are organically combined. Fans of a relaxing pastime will enjoy a large selection of comfortable beaches on the Mediterranean coast and all-inclusive hotels, among which we can recommend the Kleopatra Micador Otel in Alanya. Adventure seekers and bright impressions will find many interesting activities here to explore natural attractions: for example, you can fly in hot air balloons in Cappadocia to admire the picturesque rocks from above.
What for the money?
In Turkey, the easiest way to pay is in cash. At the same time, let us remind you that you cannot take more than $10 000 abroad. Dollars and euros can be easily exchanged for lira in Turkish exchange offices. Rubles can too, but you will need to look for an exchanger, and the rate will not be in your favor.
Another option is the “Mir” multicurrency card, for example, Tinkoff Bank. You can open accounts in 27 different currencies with the card and switch between them through your personal account. But it’s not that simple. Yulia Lishchenko, head of banking content at Banki.ru, warns about restrictions and double conversion:
“In the application «Tinkoff» Now you can buy only the most popular currencies – dollars, euros, pounds and yuan. The bank explains this by the high volatility of exchange rates, which makes it impossible to guarantee a good conversion rate for a number of currencies. Therefore, it is not possible to buy Turkish lira at Tinkoff Bank now. If you withdraw a currency from the card that is different from the account currency, the money will be converted twice: first from the account currency to dollars, and then from dollars to the transaction currency. Because of this, there is a risk of losing a lot of money on the difference in rates. If the account is initially opened in dollars, there will be only one conversion – from dollars to local currency.”
In Turkey, five banks operate with the Russian Mir payment system: Ziraat, Vakıfbank, Halkbank, Iş Bankası and Denizbank. They allow you to pay in stores and issue cash. But there are situations when Russian cards are not accepted in a store, despite the presence of a terminal of the desired bank. This usually happens when the terminal has not been updated – you can try to make a payment through another device. If you don’t want to get into this situation, look for “Peace” stickers in stores or ask sellers questions.
Armenia
Budget for two: for accommodation and air tickets – about 84,000 rubles.
In August you can fly in both directions for 61,800 rubles. Book a hotel in the most popular category – three-star – for approximately 21,500 rubles (5 nights for two).
How to get there?
There are direct regular flights. The flight will take about 4 hours. You will not need a visa or COVID documents to enter. You can cross the border using a Russian or foreign passport.
What a vacation it will be like?
Armenia is a country of traditions. Go on a tour of ancient temples, visit monasteries, go to restaurants serving national cuisine, so you will take away with you the best impressions. Hospitality, by the way, will also be remembered for a long time – it reigns everywhere, including in hotels, for example, in the Cascade Hotel in Yerevan. And don’t be upset that there is no sea here. You can swim in Lake Sevan, the purity and beauty of which surpasses the quality of many famous and larger reservoirs. And don’t forget about Ararat! Geographically, it is not located in Armenia, but it is from here that a stunning view of the majestic mountain opens up.
What for the money?
You can safely travel to Armenia with a “Peace” card. The Russian payment system has entered into an agreement with the national interbank system ArCa, which unites fifteen banks. You can pay with the card at retail outlets or withdraw drams from it at an ATM. Cash is useful in small shops, cafes and outside large cities. In Armenia, a Russian citizen can open a bank account and receive a Visa or Mastercard, which can be used to pay anywhere. Read more about the card tour to Yerevan.
Kazakhstan
Budget for two: for accommodation and air tickets – about 79,000 rubles.
You can get to Kazakhstan by plane for 57,000 rubles – this is the average cost of round-trip air tickets for two. For a 4* hotel, which is most often chosen by travelers here, you will spend from 21,500 rubles if you rent a room for 5 nights.
How to get there?
Fly in about 4 hours. Upon arrival you will not need a passport. They will also not be asked to present COVID documents, and Russian tourists do not need a visa.
What a vacation it will be like?
Come here for contrasts that you can admire endlessly. On the one hand, there are endless uninhabited steppes and ancient mosques, on the other, the architecture of the buildings is striking in its modernity. In some places, Eastern traditions will be observed so much that you will wonder if this is really not time travel. In others, for example, at the Baikonur cosmodrome, you will see technological progress in all its glory. You can also alternate between relaxing and active holidays: if you want, enjoy relaxation on Lake Issyk-Kul, or if you want, catch adrenaline in the mountains. Or spend some time in the city and then head to a beachfront hotel like the Renaissance to really enjoy the sea.
What for the money?
Four banks work with the Mir card in Kazakhstan: VTB Kazakhstan, Sberbank, Halyk Bank, Bank CenterCredit. If the outlet has a terminal of one of these banks, then pay for the product or service with a Russian card without any problems. You can only withdraw tenge from ATMs. If you come to Kazakhstan for a long time or often, then you can open an account in a local bank and get a card from the international Visa and Mastercard systems.
Georgia
Budget for two: for accommodation and air tickets – about 123,000 rubles.
If you are going to Georgia together, the flight will cost you 103,200 rubles in both directions, and accommodation in a 3* hotel will cost you 19,000 rubles, provided that you book it for 5 nights.
How to get there?
Those who chose a plane will have to make a transfer. For example, in Yerevan, Baku or Istanbul. Land borders are open – you can enter the country through them. When entering, you only need a foreign passport; a PCR test or vaccination certificate is not required.
What a vacation it will be like?
You will be received here as a member of the family, whom they have known for a long time and love deeply. And it doesn’t matter where exactly you go: to Tbilisi to walk along small cozy alleys and streets, to Batumi with its pleasant Black Sea beaches or to Borjomi to strengthen the body with mineral waters and admire the views of the mountains (they can be seen here even from hotels, for example Borjomi Aisi). Georgia is also one of the best countries for gastro tours. And without tasting national dishes, a trip can be considered incomplete: after all, cuisine is the real pride of this country.
What for the money?
Mir cards do not work in Georgia, just like Russian Visa and Mastercard cards. You need to take rubles, dollars or euros (no more than $10 000). Exchange your currency for lari on the spot (the exchange rate for rubles is not the most favorable). You can send yourself money through the payment transfer system (Golden Crown, Unistream) and receive dollars in cash in Georgia. The systems allow you to transfer no more than $2,000 at a time. Let’s figure out which transfer system is the most profitable.
UAE
Budget for two: for accommodation and air tickets – about 158,000 rubles.
A flight for two will cost 107,600 rubles in both directions. Booking a four-star hotel for 5 nights (this category is the most popular in the country among Russian tourists) will cost an average of 50,000 rubles.
How to get there?
The direct flight will take you 5.5 hours if you fly from Moscow. You do not need to obtain a visa; your passport will be stamped at the airport of arrival, and you will be able to stay in the country for up to 90 days. You must have insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment, a PCR test, or a vaccination certificate. Before traveling, you must print a health declaration form and a form confirming that you will download the COVID-19 DXB app (available from the App Store or Play Store).
What a vacation it will be like?
The UAE is very different from the rest of the world, even from the Arab countries. There are also ancient castles and fortresses here, oriental flavor reigns everywhere, many natural attractions and huge mosques. But the mere understanding that quite recently there was a desert here, and now there are skyscrapers, takes your breath away. And you will not experience this in any other country. By the way, about deserts. In the UAE they are fabulous, you can even try to live with the Bedouins when there are ultra-modern cities next door. Then move on to the calm waters of the Persian Gulf – swim and relax on its wonderful beaches. In Sharjah, for example, there are good resort hotels, such as Coral Beach Resort – you can see the beautiful bay right from its windows.
What for the money?
In the UAE, Russian Mir, Visa, and Mastercard cards do not work. Some tourists reported that they were able to pay for purchases in Duty Free stores, but nothing would work outside the airport. What to do? The first way is cash. Dollars are best. The dirham is pegged to the dollar, so the exchange rate does not fluctuate. Euros are a little more difficult to exchange, rubles are even more difficult and even less profitable.
If you don’t have enough cash, you can open a UnionPay payment system card or a UnionPay + Mir co-branding card in any Russian bank. You can pay with such cards almost everywhere, but you won’t be able to withdraw money from them. Where to apply for UnionPay.
Israel
Budget for two: for accommodation and air tickets – about 180,000 rubles.
Air tickets for two passengers will cost approximately 130,000 rubles in both directions. Staying for 5 nights in a 2* hotel and hotels of a lower category will cost an average of 49,500 rubles.
How to get there?
Tourists must fill out a declaration and provide health insurance that will cover treatment for coronavirus. No visa required. On the way between Moscow and Israel (airport in Tel Aviv) you will spend about 8 hours, taking into account the technical stop in Mineralnye Vody.
What a vacation it will be like?
The capital of Israel, Jerusalem, is ideal for an excursion holiday, especially if you have long wanted to visit ancient religious shrines. Choose a hotel near the city center, such as the Avital Hotel, so that all the necessary infrastructure is nearby and you can easily get to the desired locations. You need to go to Tel Aviv if you dream of a seaside holiday: the Mediterranean coast is perfect for a beach vacation format. Eilat is also located on the sea, but on the Red Sea. It is known for its beautiful underwater world, so people come here to go diving or snorkeling. You can also learn.
What’s on the money?
In Israel, Russian Mir, Visa, and Mastercard cards do not work. The solution is cash, UnionPay cards, foreign cards issued by non-Russian banks, as well as cryptocurrency. In Israel, it is not considered a means of payment, but is equivalent to property. There are several Bitcoin ATMs in Tel Aviv where you can exchange Bitcoin for currency. Cryptocurrency is one of the ways to take more than $10,000 out of the country. Which crypto is better to buy and where?
You can also send a money transfer from Russia to Israel and receive dollars or shekels on the spot. The amount is limited: no more than $2,000.
Thailand
Budget for two: for accommodation and air tickets – about 152,000 rubles.
Of this amount, you will spend an average of 131,200 rubles on round-trip tickets, and 20,000 rubles on a four-star hotel booked for 5 nights.
How to get there?
There are no direct flights, you can fly with transfers. For example, if you are traveling to Phuket, your connection will be in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha. To enter, you only need a vaccination certificate or a PCR test 72 hours before departure (or an ATK express test upon arrival). Thailand Pass and health insurance are no longer required. A visa is not needed if you do not plan to stay in the country for more than a month.
What a vacation it will be like?
Most often, when thinking about a holiday in Thailand, we imagine its paradise beaches. And since you have decided to go to such a distant country, then they are definitely worth visiting. Choose Pattaya if you like to have fun and be in the center of the action, Phuket if you want to surf, Samui if you value calm resorts and privacy in a villa surrounded by tropical greenery, like Amaya Resort. But still, we recommend not to linger only on the beaches. You can go trekking through the jungle (it’s safe – there are signs there), go rock climbing or take care of elephants – you’ll bring back a lot of impressions.
What for the money?
Tour operators offer Russian travelers to make a deposit before departure: with the reserved money you can pay for accommodation and additional hotel services, the rest will be returned. A commission of 10-15% is charged for the service.
It’s more difficult for independent tourists: Russian cards are not accepted in Thailand. When traveling, you need to take dollars or yuan: these currencies can be exchanged for baht almost without problems. Another way is the UnionPay card. You can use it to pay in stores or withdraw cash from an ATM.
Abkhazia
Budget for two: for accommodation and air tickets – about 54,000 rubles.
You can buy round-trip air tickets for two for 36,800 rubles, book a hotel in the 2* category and below for 5 nights – for 16,500 rubles.
How to get there?
There is no airport in Abkhazia that can accommodate tourists. You will need to fly to Sochi and then get to the border (by taxi from the airport – about half an hour). No visa is needed, a Russian passport is enough.
What a vacation it will be like?
Here you can relax by the sea, which is always clean and warm, and walk through abandoned cities, where nature and architecture merge together, and visit sacred places, and you can even run through water meadows. Beaches are a must; they are much more spacious here than on the Russian part of the Black Sea coast, and are found in every city. It’s worth going to Gagra if you expect a more dynamic pastime. There are good guest houses here, for example, “Four Seasons”. In Pitsunda you will breathe healing air, saturated with the aroma of eucalyptus and relict pine trees. In New Athos you can go to the famous monastery and cave, and in the capital – Sukhum – there are many interesting establishments with national cuisine, as well as coffee shops, which are considered the highlight of the city. It’s convenient to go on excursions to Ritsa, Stalin’s dacha and natural attractions from any location.
What for the money?
It’s simple: if they don’t accept the Mir card, then you can pay in cash in rubles. And this is the most preferable method.
