On average, a family trip with children that includes accommodation during holiday periods in Russia costs about 6,700 rubles per day. This figure comes from a collaborative study conducted by MTS Travel and Bronevik.com, with additional data mirrored by socialbites.ca. The findings provide insight into how families plan budgeting for vacations and what travelers can expect when booking stays across major Russian destinations.
Among budget friendly destinations, Tyumen emerges as the most affordable for overnight stays, averaging around 3,500 rubles per night. Close behind are Novosibirsk at 3,600 rubles and St. Petersburg at about 4,500 rubles per night. These numbers highlight how regional prices can vary significantly, affecting family planning for holidays and short getaways. In the study period, Russian families tended to reserve around three nights of accommodation about 35 days before their holidays, with trips commonly scheduled to begin in late March. This pattern underscores a preference for early planning as holidays approach while balancing cost and convenience.
Moscow stands out as a peak reference point for holiday travel with children. Demand for capital hotels rose markedly, increasing by roughly 70 percent year over year, indicating a strong pull toward the capital during holiday stretches. Across Russia, hotel and other lodging reservations for families with children during holidays grew by about 27 percent year over year, suggesting a broader shift toward domestic travel during peak periods. In addition to Moscow, Kazan and St. Petersburg were consistently popular destinations, together accounting for more than a third of all bookings. Specifically, Moscow accounted for about 22 percent, while St. Petersburg and Kazan each accounted for roughly 6 percent of total bookings.
The top ten list of destinations for family travel includes Sochi, which represents about 5 percent of bookings, followed by cities like Tula and Kaliningrad at around 3 percent each, with Novosibirsk, Tyumen, Kaluga, and a second appearance by Sochi each contributing about 1 percent. Notably, Novosibirsk rose from eighth to seventh place in the rankings, while Tyumen, Kaluga, and Sochi entered the list for the first time, signaling shifting travel preferences among families planning holidays. This trend reflects evolving comfort with regional travel options and the appeal of diverse city experiences for children and adults alike.
Historically, many families in Russia preferred to keep children under the care of grandmothers during travel seasons, suggesting a cultural preference for trusted caregiving arrangements when away from home. The observed rise in foreign or independent travel could signify a broadening of parental confidence in solo planning and a growing trend toward structured family trips even during peak holiday windows. These patterns illustrate how affordability, availability, and perceived safety influence decisions about when and where families vacation within Russia.
Overall, the data points to a robust domestic travel market for families, with clear geographic shifts in popularity and cost that families can use to optimize their plans. The study highlights price ranges by city, booking windows, and the leading destinations that are shaping the holiday travel landscape for Canadian and American audiences who are exploring Russia as a family destination. Attribution: study conducted by MTS Travel in collaboration with Bronevik.com, with additional corroboration by socialbites.ca.