The holiday season will soon begin.

There are few options left for Belarusians to get to the sea.

Thus, ticket prices have risen by at least a third compared to the "before" times.

Let's figure out where and for how much Belarusians can go on vacation this year.

First, there are no flights from Minsk to the once popular European resorts where Belarusians loved to vacation - to Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Italy, Spain, Cyprus and others, and secondly, visas are required.

Therefore, it is problematic for many to get to Europe on vacation or to fly further by low-cost flights even through the once very popular Vilnius and Warsaw airports.

The Chairman of the Board of the Republican Union of Tourist Associations,

, warned on his website the other day that due to restrictions and various sanctions, as well as a small number of destinations and transportation opportunities, the Belarusian tourism business will not be able to satisfy the demand of Belarusians for vacations in 2023.

Even despite the rather high prices compared to neighboring Lithuania and Poland.

"And this is even taking into account the fact that the cost of vacations has risen, as well as logistics have become more complicated and more time needs to be spent on the road," Ruslan Segyanyuk noted.

Turkey: a ticket to a budget hotel from Belarus is 1.5 times more expensive than from Poland

For comparison, we took prices from the Coral Travel company, which specializes in tours to Turkey, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.

The tour includes accommodation, tickets, transfer, insurance.

Turkey, mid-May.

Prices for accommodation in a three-star hotel on the second and third lines from the sea start from 3,600 rubles per week for two (approximately $1,272).

This is the cheapest option.

As for the prices for travel tickets to Turkey in the Polish branch of Coral Travel, a flight from Poland and 7 nights in a hotel start from PLN 1,800 per person.

Thus, a ticket for two from Poland will cost 3,600 zlotys (that's $818).

About one and a half times cheaper than in Belarus.

Moreover, you can travel to Turkey from almost all large and even small Polish cities: Bydgoszcz, Katowice, Lublin, Rzeszów and others.

And if you look for discounted tours from Poland, the so-called "hot" ones, you can find them even cheaper.

Turkey, "high" velvet season, mid-September.

Departure from Minsk - 7 days for two in economy class, standard room "all included" - from 4100 rubles.

It is almost 150 dollars more expensive than in May.

The representative of the tour company, which organizes tours to Turkey and the UAE, advises those willing to take care of the tickets in advance.

"Belarusians have always been divided into two opposite parts.

There are people who plan their vacations in advance and reserve tickets almost a year before the trip, and, of course, have significant discounts.

The second category waits until the last, and then, when the season ends, they think that they will jump on the last train and, on the contrary, get a discount.

This year it is unlikely to "roll".

First of all, due to the limited number of charter flights," the interlocutor explains.

Tours to the UAE and Egypt from neighboring Poland and Lithuania can also be found almost one and a half times cheaper than from Belarus.

But again Schengen is necessary.

Georgia: cheap by bus, but almost 6 days round trip

In pre-war and pre-war times, the most budget-friendly options for seaside vacations for Belarusians were bus tours to Odesa region and Crimea.

All this became irrelevant because of the war.

Some Belarusian travel agencies offer fairly cheap bus tours to Georgia: through Voronezh (with an overnight stay there), the Georgian Military Road, through Tbilisi - Barjomi - Kabuleti.

Enticing on the way with various excursions, beautiful photo sessions of landscapes on the sol.

Of the 16 days of travel, 9 nights at sea are promised.

Depending on the comfort of the hotel, such tours cost 350-370 dollars plus 250 Belarusian rubles (a little less than 500 dollars in total).

Georgia can also be quickly reached by plane from Minsk: to Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi.

A flight from Minsk to Tbilisi, then Kakheti and a vacation at sea in Batumi (or in Kabul) will cost from $810 per week.

However, representatives of travel companies suggest that those who wish to take care of their vacation in advance.

"For example, last season, 2-3 Belarusians applied for one place at the resorts of Georgia, and it was not possible to transport all those willing by plane.

This trend should continue this year, as the number of planes at "Belavia" will not increase, and the number of destinations is also unlikely to increase," says the representative of the travel agency.

According to official data, there are currently 29 aircraft in the fleet of "Belavia" company.

Belarusians who have learned to travel and rest independently, without the help of travel agencies, can organize their own vacation: buy plane tickets to Georgia in advance, book accommodation through popular services.

Travel and vacations can be significantly cheaper as a result.

Thailand, Cuba, India, Maldives, Dominican Republic, Tanzania - everything is possible.

But it is also cheaper from Europe

Belarusians also have the opportunity to go to the most exotic countries.

The only question is the price.

The options are very different.

To Cuba, India, Thailand, Tanzania, Zanzibar - through Russia.

To the Maldives - through Turkey or the UAE.

We tried to find out how much a trip to Cuba would cost.

When buying a ready-made tour in Belarusian agencies, tourists are offered one of the charters of Russian airlines that fly to the main resorts of the country - Varadero and the island of Cayo Coco.

The "Voyage Tour" operator asks to wait, asking about the date of travel and wishes, and promises to calculate the amount.

Later the agent reports:

"I advise you to fly to the Maldives - it will be much cheaper."

A flight to Cuba is very expensive, and a tour for two per week (full package) will cost at least 5 thousand dollars.

In the Maldives - 4 thousand.

And not through Russia, but through Dubai or Istanbul.

Although everything depends on the hotel in the Maldives, it can be 5,000 or 6,000 dollars.

The Polish travel agency "Ithaca" offers tours to the Maldives for two in June for a week for 8,000 to 11,000 zlotys (from 1,800 to 2,000 dollars).

"By the way, you can also fly to Cuba via Istanbul.

But the prices of Turkish Airlines "bite".

It is easier and much cheaper to fly through Madrid - if you have Schengen.

Three airlines fly to Cuba from Madrid at once, and you can "catch" tickets for 600-800 euros there and back," shared his experience of an avid traveler who plans and organizes his trips independently.

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