Spring invites thoughts of summer travel, even as the world has faced years of disruption. After a long stretch of travel hesitation sparked by a global pandemic and ongoing geopolitical tensions, many people feel the pull to see new places, reset, and recharge. The urge for fresh experiences motivates plans, even when the path isn’t perfectly clear. This season, there are still small, hopeful plans forming for the months ahead.
Initially, the idea took on an ambitious scale. The traveler imagined a month and a half or two, crossing several borders and exploring diverse landscapes. The envisioned route started in Stavropol and ventured through Kabardino-Balkaria, Dagestan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, with possible extensions to Armenia, Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, or the Czech Republic. The plan even included a circuit via different routes to Europe, driven by curiosity about culture and scenery.
An acquaintance recently completed a business trip that touched Prague, reinforcing the notion that European travel via Serbia can be practical. The friend, who still owns property in the Czech Republic, offered a few on-the-ground considerations. When the traveler checked flight prices to Belgrade, the reality of high fares became apparent, forcing a quick reassessment of the initial Caucasus-centric plan. The potential border closures due to health measures and costly flights from regional hubs like Makhachkala narrowed the options almost immediately.
Flying costs remain a major concern everywhere. Advertisements from two airlines appeared in quick succession: one promoting a Russia-wide sale, the other pushing domestic tourism promotions. The traveler spent hours on their websites, not because of sentimentality, but to uncover the promised deep discounts. The search was frustrating; what once could be found for a fraction of the price now seemed inflated. It felt like the old days when Barcelona flights could be found for a song, yet now the push is toward expensive options with limited bags or strict cancellation policies and time-limited deals. The choices about where to fly shifted from obvious favorites to more pragmatic, budget-conscious options—with cities like Kislovodsk offering claimed savings, and options to travel to Sochi at lower price points in the off-season sometimes described as “specials.”
Meanwhile, deals from St. Petersburg to Irkutsk and flights to Chita or Barnaul teased more affordable possibilities, hinting at a renewed attempt to make distant regions accessible. Yet the accompanying costs of staying in those places often offset the savings on airfare. The Caspian and Altay regions were named as potential yet realistically challenging destinations; even a simple sea-side campsite could rival the price of a modest guesthouse in a popular resort town. The overall impression was that the two big costs—travel and lodging—had not kept pace with any appreciable improvement in service or infrastructure.
Regarding reservations, there is a general caveat about the reliability of online platforms. Booking and rental sites remained busy, but many travelers discovered inconsistencies in listings. Some hotels and apartments did not clearly indicate distance from the sea, the type of property, or exact pricing. A recurring reminder emerged: travelers often need to contact property owners directly to confirm details, as information on the platforms could be outdated or incomplete.
After the pandemic and the onset of broader economic strain, tourism prices showed notable increases in travel, lodging, and excursions. Some cost-saving strategies—such as trimming expenses in certain areas—were offset by other unavoidable increases. The household budget faced pressure, with real incomes in decline for many families. The market signature was a downturn rather than a recovery, with fewer signs of a broad uplift in service quality or infrastructure improvements.
In Europe, Turkish prices rose as inflation persisted and international events influenced travel confidence. Egypt opened to visitors again, but tour costs there were not the bargain they might have once been. Some travelers hesitated at Crimea and other sensitive destinations, and even popular routes to Baykal and Altay were hampered by accessibility issues. The northern regions remained alluring but often perceived as chilly and rugged. The most attractive option for some seemed to be a slower, autumnal or winter circuit along the Golden Ring, framed as an educational journey rather than a conventional beach holiday. The broader aim held steady: to explore the Black Sea coast, places like Adygea, Elbrus, and Dagestan, and to experience new cultures, landscapes, and people.
On the financial side, the only realistic changes for many families were adjustments in comfort and duration. The plan was not to abandon travel entirely but to stretch the trip to reduce daily costs. A longer journey distributed the expense more evenly, turning a week-long seaside break into a month of exploration with a lighter daily spend. The travel strategy favored practical modes of transport and simpler accommodations, avoiding splurges in favor of meaningful experiences and exposure to new surroundings. This approach allowed for a broader sense of discovery without dissolving the family budget entirely.
There are practical realities to manage. Long trips require ongoing attention to work tasks, even in a lighter mode, and a readiness to handle household chores away from home. The reality is that such trips resemble gradual movement rather than a full-on vacation, a kind of small displacement that still invites new sights and a different rhythm of life.
Thus, plans for the summer are shaped by common sense and genuine curiosity. Petersburg remains a base of connection to family and culture, while the journey may lead through the mountains of Kislovodsk, the stars above Stavropol, or the historical depths of Derbent and Dagestan. Weekend trips and shorter excursions offer a taste of variety, balancing exploration with the need to return home and manage daily life. The aim remains to enjoy the sun, the landscape, and the opportunity to experience another culture, even if the itinerary is modest and the budget constrained.
Ultimately, the choice to travel comes with a recognition of constraints. The family budget may endure more strain, and some trips may be smaller in scale. Yet the spirit of discovery persists: a preference for self-guided exploration, a willingness to travel by bus or share rides, and a readiness to be flexible. The idea is to avoid stagnation and find joy in the journey, even if it means staying closer to home while still embracing new experiences and scenery.
The reader should consider that individual experiences and outcomes can vary, and travel plans will reflect personal circumstances and available resources.