Where to go in the summer: 10 ideas of a beach holiday for reasonable money
In summer you can survive in the city, but according to tradition, I desperately want to at least briefly escape the sea. It is a pity that desires do not quite coincide with the possibilities: the specific economic situation, together with the dollar and euro rates, do not spare anyone. But if you really want, then you can - especially if you approach the issue rationally and with restraint. We talk about ten seaside resorts, where you can have a good rest not in a big way and not feel deprived.
When it comes to Abrau-Durso, the first step is to remember the eponymous factory of sparkling wines. It is worth going on a guided tour only if you are not afraid of the huge flow of tourists: to avoid the crowds, it is better to go to the first excursion (10 am) or in the afternoon - at 4-5 in the evening. But they love Abrau-Durso not for champagne, but for untouched nature and beautiful wild beaches. At the height of the season, instead of the crowded beach in the village of Dyurso, it is better to go a few kilometers from the center, to the “Star” boarding house area: it’s not easy to enter the water because of sharp stones, but there is a pier. A little further, behind the beach boarding house, there is a place with a good entrance into the water - those who rest with tents like to stay here. If you want to live in a quiet place away from tourists, you can choose a slightly more expensive accommodation option - the “Round Lake” estate, which has recently opened and which is about one and a half kilometers from Lake Abrau.
About a month ago, the MARS Audiovisual Art Center, a branch of the Moscow Center, opened in Abrau-Durso. The organizers promise to continue the line begun in Moscow and present the works of audiovisual artists from all over the world - so there will be time for the cultural program.
In the past year or two, Russian tourists are increasingly paying attention to Abkhazia: the untouched nature, the relative cheapness of the trip, and the visa-free regime are bribing. You can get to Sukhum by train (it will take a day and a half), and you can come from Sochi - there is a regular bus from the city center to the border. Choosing Abkhazia for the trip, you need to be prepared for what awaits you: there is no developed infrastructure and resort services, and even after more than twenty years you can still see traces of military actions that are especially visible in Sukhum. Among the attractions of Sukhum is an excellent botanical garden, a monkey nursery preserved from Soviet times, which, however, leaves a sad impression, and Bagrat Castle, which offers a beautiful view of the city.
Restricting a trip to one city is not necessary: from Sukhum you can get to the famous alpine lake Ritsa, as well as to New Athos and Gagra. Seasoned tourists advise to look for a clear sea and air on the outskirts of the village of Ldzaa, in the area of the former fish factory: unlike in neighboring Pitsunda, here on wild beaches it is quiet and not crowded even at the height of the season. A separate point of the program is the famous beach with the Pitsunda pines.
Bulgaria is one of the few countries where Russian tourists have been traveling for a decade for an inexpensive vacation. The famous Bulgarian resorts Golden Sands and Sunny Beach will suit you only if you are not afraid of the attributes of the resort area and beach holidays surrounded by tourists. Opportunity to opt for a less popular and more comfortable Sozopol, from the other similar resort towns it is distinguished by the historical center. In order to get around the old town, half a day is enough, but from it it is easy to get to Nessebar, Varna and even Istanbul - provided that your visa allows you to enter Bulgaria more than once.
Instead of urban beaches filled with tourists, it is better to go to the clean sandy beach of Kavatsite, located near Sozopol, you can reach it by taxi or by a small train that goes from the city. Tourists also love Kavatsite, but there is always a spot on the beach. It is better not to dine at beach cafes, but at a campsite nearby - prices are lower there. The peculiarity of all Bulgarian beaches, which is worth considering when planning a trip: in July and August there can be a lot of seaweed and jellyfish in the sea.
A big plus for Montenegro: there is no need for a visa, which means you can get off the road at the last moment. Instead of the crowded beaches of Budva (although it is also worth a look and spend at least half a day to inspect the historic center of the city), you can choose Perast, a tiny city for recreation - it is less adapted for traditional beach holidays, but there are an order of magnitude less tourists. In quiet Perasta there are few attractions: you can go to the Maritime Museum, look at several city churches and climb the 55-meter-high bell tower, which offers a great view of the city. Perast is quite far from tourist places - the easiest way is to rent a car here so that you can easily reach them on your own, but there is also public transport. From here it is good to explore the Bay of Kotor: look into Kotor, Herceg Novi, Risan. If you still want a classic beach holiday, you can go to the beach of Ploce near Budva - they love it for clean water and free pools with sea water. You can reach it by car or by bus from Budva, which runs every half hour.
Near Perast there are two islands: the closed island of St. George and the man-made island of Gospa od Škrpela (Madonna on the Reef), built over the reef. You can get to the second island in 7-10 minutes by boat departing from the pier of Perast. If you are near the island on July 22, you can take a look at a local holiday: traditionally, city residents traditionally throw stones into the water near the island - this helps to stop the erosion of the island by the sea.
Because of the rather expensive air ticket of Morocco, it is difficult to call a really budget tourist destination, but this country is gradually occupying a niche left by Turkey and Egypt. Essaouira is a little like other Moroccan cities and more like Europe. Because of the strong wind, swimming is more difficult here than in the touristy Agadir, but high ocean waves are especially popular with surfers: the season is open from April to August. In order to get around the historical center of the city and the main sights, half a day is enough - at other times you can wander through the narrow streets, bargain for a bitch (local market), watch the fishermen in the port and enjoy the views.
In the morning early in the fish market you can buy fresh seafood, which, if desired, for you immediately cooked on the grill. A must-see item is to try orange juice, which is prepared in front of your eyes with the help of a press (life hacking — if you choose your favorite juice merchant and walk only to him, he will give you sweet oranges for free). If you want to feel the spirit of Morocco, you should stay in the riads - traditional Moroccan houses with a courtyard, converted into hotels. From Essaouira it is easy to get to other Moroccan cities - Marrakesh and the traditionally resort Agadir, where tourists from Russia mainly buy vouchers; between the cities run convenient buses. You should not resist the desire to save even more, it is better to choose buses of large companies: Supratours and CTM.
After the well-known events, the path of the Russians to Odessa, as well as to other Ukrainian cities, is difficult and thorny (in order to avoid problems at the border, it is very desirable to get an invitation from someone from the local), but tourists continue to strive there for the unique Odessa atmosphere and image the city for years. If you still choose Odessa for your vacation, there are several points of the obligatory program: look at the Cathedral Square with the Transfiguration Cathedral, look into Shevchenko Park, which offers a great view of the sea, walk the Potemkin Stairs, look at the famous Privoz and bargain . It is worth looking into the Literary Museum, located in the former palace of Prince Gagarin: there you can agree with the guides on a private thematic tour of Odessa - especially the guests of the city love literary tours.
It should be borne in mind that at the height of the season it is crowded even on the paid Odessa beaches - local residents are advised to go to the beaches in small coastal villages such as Gribovka, Zatoka and Sergeevka. In the same place, tourists often stop with tents right on the seashore - though you can’t call these places deserted.
The biggest Greek island is dearly loved by tourists: there are not only excellent beaches, but also a lot of attractions (you probably remember about the famous Knossos palace and myths connected with it from school history lessons). But here you can find unobvious places and routes: for example, by renting a car, from Chania you can get to Suya, a former fishing village that has been a favorite hippie holiday destination for a long time. Now Suyu is loved primarily for untouched nature, and many still come here to spend the night in tents. In addition, Souya attracts lovers of hiking and trekking: from here begin scenic routes to the ruins of Elyros and Lissos.
On the ferry from Suya you can swim to Ayia-Rumeli and walk along the Samaria Gorge - the trekking route is quite gentle here, but you should choose comfortable shoes and still grab trekking sticks. The route is quite long, so it is important to calculate the time and effort to catch the return ferry. It is worthwhile to take care of accommodation in Suye in advance, as there are few accommodation options in a small village: Booking.com, for example, offers only 7 hotels.
With the current euro rate, Spain cannot be called the budget direction, but this is still offset by Spanish democracy (which also, of course, varies from city to city). If you have already been to Barcelona and its environs, you can head south to Malaga - an Andalusian resort that the Spaniards themselves love. True, it should be borne in mind that in hot climates the average water temperature here does not exceed 22 degrees, and the locals practically do not speak English. In Malaga, you should pay attention to the XI century fortress towering over the city and the Picasso Museum. Last year, a branch of the Russian Museum opened in the city: an exhibition dedicated to Marc Chagall and his contemporaries will open here on July 20.
In the middle of August, an annual fair takes place in Malaga, which lasts a whole week: in the afternoon, city residents take to the streets dressed in national costumes, sing and dance, and at night they go to ride the rides. It should be borne in mind that city-wide merriment has a downside: during the fair, many establishments are closed, and in order to find a working pharmacy, you may have to go around half the city. From Malaga, you can get to Seville and Granada, and if you want to save money, feel free to choose an intercity bus instead of a train - go longer, but the road will still be comfortable.
When planning a vacation, it should be borne in mind that a trip to Croatia will cost more than a holiday in neighboring Montenegro, and the sea in June can still be quite cold here. If you still decide to visit Croatia and do not want to live in Dubrovnik, chosen by tourists, you can opt for the port city of Split. The main attraction here is the palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian, which has been well preserved to this day and, together with the historical center of Split, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to the historical center, you should pay attention to the cozy Veli Varos district, which tourists undeservedly deprive of attention. From the city center you can walk to the Marjan Park, which is located on a hill: there are several observation platforms from which you can enjoy a great view of the city and the sea. You can leisurely stroll through the park on foot, or you can rent a bike. It’s not easy to get up in the heat, so it’s best to bring plenty of water with you and take care of comfortable shoes.
If Split is bored, you can try to get to Krk National Park, Plitvice Lakes and other cities: Sibenik, Trogir and Omis. If you want to see more wildlife, from the Split bus station you can get to Brela - a small village drowning in pines with picturesque nature and minimal infrastructure. The village is most suitable for a quiet holiday, and basically families with children live here - it is worth considering that at 10-11 o'clock in the evening most of the establishments are already closed. Uncrowded beaches should be sought away from the center of Brela.
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