Traditionally, May is a busy time for both tour operators and tourists themselves. Indeed, it is a sin to spend these long weekends (which can also be increased by taking a short vacation between the two holidays) in the country, delving into the beds, or worse, at home in front of the TV.
Where to go for the May holidays in 2018? Our small tourist guide will help you with this, in which we tried to cover all the possibilities - from the most budgetary (vacation in Russia, traveling by car) to the most exotic (at sea and in the ocean).
Budget holiday options for the May holidays
5. Country pension
One of the most convenient options can be found and very inexpensive. Pluses - does not require preparation, time costs and long trips, and on the spot you will be provided with everything you need. And since everyone is traditionally grilling kebabs on holidays, take your own barbecue just in case - who knows, maybe they will already be taken to your arrival.
4. Bus tour to Europe
In spring, Europe is good - there is no summer suffocating heat, and the weather is warm enough for comfortable sightseeing. You can choose a variety of ideas - from the more expensive and long France and Italy to cheap and small tours to neighboring Poland.
3. Baku, Yerevan, Tbilisi
If you want to try something new, but there is no desire or opportunity to leave far from Russia, then the capital of the former republics of the USSR is a very good option. They are quite exotic, and local cuisine and Caucasian hospitality are unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. And for the curious - architectural monuments, many of which are more than a thousand years old!
2. Czech Republic and Hungary
Traditional and inexpensive ideas for holding May holidays for Russian tourists. Magic Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and food and accommodation prices are quite affordable for the average Russian. And the local cuisine, in addition to many varieties of delicious beer, will delight gourmets. Budapest is not yet as popular with tourists as Prague, and there are many ancient and very beautiful sights. For example, the Basilica of St. Stephen, Vaidahunyad Castle and the majestic Royal Palace.
1. Montenegro
Want to go abroad, but at the same time original and inexpensive? Montenegro is a good option (given that you do not need a visa to travel there). In the capital of the country, Podgorica, there is something to see - ancient architecture of the period of Turkish rule, ancient Orthodox churches and monasteries and, of course, very beautiful nature. A hotel stay will be cheaper than a night at a hotel somewhere in Moscow or St. Petersburg.
Traveling to Russia for the May holidays
5. Elista
Let's start with the option that few will decide - it is too far away from traditional tourist routes. We are talking about the capital of Kalmykia, Elista - surprisingly exotic for the average middle-class resident who decided to spend the May holidays in Russia: Buddhist temples, shamanistic rituals and unusual local cuisine.
In addition, tulips bloom everywhere in early May in Kalmykia. Imagine a huge steppe field, completely covered with tulips, red, yellow, white. For the sake of this spectacle alone it is worth choosing Kalmykia. True, perhaps it’s impossible to precisely guess the time, because tulips bloom in just a couple of weeks.
4. Bashkiria
If you want to hide from the noise and crowds of a big city, then one of the best places is Bashkiria. You can go to a ski resort, go horseback riding to the most beautiful places in Bashkiria, or just stay at one of the camp sites. A five-star service there is hardly to be expected, but peace, tranquility and excellent food are provided to you.
3. Black Sea resorts - Sochi and Crimea
In May, the Black Sea has not warmed up enough for a comfortable swim. But besides the sea there is still so much all sorts of interesting things! Historical monuments and wonders of modern architecture, blooming rhododendrons and flowering chestnuts, excursions and outdoor activities - hiking trails and river rafting. And for children there are attractions, a water park, an aquarium and much more. If you still really want to swim, then you can use the pool with heated water - good, there are a lot of them in Sochi.
2. Kaliningrad
It seems to be Russia, but with a European touch - the ancient architecture of the Kaliningrad region resembles small German towns. And there is one of the most beautiful places in the world - the Curonian Spit with its unique flora and fauna, where a strip of light sand crosses the bluish-gray waters of the Baltic Sea. In spring, this is a real paradise for bird lovers, just above the scythe there are ways of their migration from north to south and back.
1. St. Petersburg and Moscow
Two capitals - official and northern - traditional routes for the May holidays. The wealth of historical monuments, museums, exhibitions, cultural entertainment and the general aura of places - all this attracts tourists, both Russian and foreign. In St. Petersburg, the famous white nights begin, and the weather already allows you to spend whole days outdoors.
May holidays by car
5. Astrakhan
May in Astrakhan is very similar to summer in central Russia - 25-27 degrees, with warm nights, the weather is dry and calm. It’s worth going by car on May holidays if you want to bask in the sun and explore local attractions in a comfortable setting. If you want to relax by the water, you can choose one of the recreation centers on the seaside. And the most budget option is just a tent on the banks of the Volga. You can fish plenty!
4. The Golden Ring of Russia
You can, of course, go on an excursion by bus, but it’s much easier, more pleasant and cheaper to do it by car. Firstly, you can safely examine everything you want. Secondly, to save - because the hotels in the cities of the Golden Ring themselves are unreasonably expensive, but only 30 kilometers away you can find places cheaper and, possibly, even with the best service.
3. Veliky Novgorod, Staraya Russa
The concentration of historical and architectural monuments in these ancient cities per square kilometer exceeds all expectations, and the car will allow you to go wherever you want. Do not miss the Museum of the Novgorod Kremlin, the murals of Theophanes the Greek, the ancient Rurik settlement, try the mineral water from the springs in the sanatorium of Staraya Russa and visit the Dostoevsky House Museum.
2. Karelia
Not a city-museum of Kizhi is one rich in Karelia. This is a great place for outdoor activities if you like to climb into the wilderness and calmly indulge in fishing or picking up the first spring mushrooms. And for spending the night you can rent a cottage, even with a sauna. If you are tired of forests, you can go on an excursion along the Mannerheim line, visit Vyborg or the Korela fortress.
1. Kazan
Kazan is one of the most beautiful, interesting and well-groomed cities in Russia. The capital of Tatarstan has its own special flavor - a mixture of Europe and Asia. You should definitely visit the pearl of the city - the Kazan Kremlin with the ancient Syuyumbike tower and a beautiful modern mosque.
Where to go to the sea in May
5. Egypt
If the Mediterranean Sea is still cold, then the Red Sea has reached 25 degrees, this is quite enough for a comfortable swim. It is worth hurrying - the weather in May in Egypt is getting hotter, and at the end of the month the air can warm up to 40 degrees.
4. Spain, Alicante
The beach season in Spain has already begun, so there is already a fairly warm sea waiting for those who wish for the May holidays and luxurious spacious beaches of fine sand. In May, there are still no crowds of tourists, so you can swim and enjoy the sights with comfort.
3. Israel
An excellent alternative to Turkey and Egypt both in price and in quality of service. In May, the air temperature in Israel for every taste - from 35 degrees in the south of the Red Sea to 25 in the north of the country. And the water in the Dead Sea is able to warm even the most frozen tourist - it reaches 30 degrees.
2. Dominican Republic
In search of summer, it’s worth crossing the ocean and basking in the warm rays of the sun on a fine sandy beach with fine sand. Most of all, the Dominican Republic is suitable for those who prefer to relax on the "all inclusive" system - by the way, alcoholic beverages also enter there. Anyone who wants to can go on an excursion to admire the local nature, but nevertheless, Dominican hotels are best suited for a simple lazy beach holiday.
1. Indonesia
Indonesia in May is magnificent - pleasant warmth that does not turn into suffocating heat, a vast ocean and the wonderful fragrance of flowers. Rains will not spoil the mood of vacationers - in May, the country has a dry season, unlike other popular resorts in South Asia, where it is already getting wet. In addition to a beach holiday, you can visit national reserves, attend local religious festivals and admire the wonders of a very peculiar Indonesian architecture.
You should not arrange a holiday at home on the May holidays - there is always where to go!
