Anapa Bookings Soar, But Don't Expect Last-Minute Deals

With nearly two million trips already sold for the summer season, the Russian resort city of Anapa is heading for a busy year. Industry officials say that popularity, coupled with its existing status as the most affordable major spot on the Black Sea, means travelers shouldn't bank on prices dropping.

"Anapa is already the least expensive resort on our coast," said Sergey Romashkin, Vice President of the Russian Association of Tour Operators. "It's roughly 15% cheaper than Gelendzhik and 20% below Crimean resorts. There's simply no room left to bring costs down further."

Romashkin also addressed the fuel oil spill that affected the city's central beach in mid-April, contaminating about 170 meters of shoreline. Cleanup crews have been working since, and authorities now aim to have beaches ready by June 1st. Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev recently stated that only 10% of the contaminant remains on the beaches.

"We need to let the city and the cleanup team finish the job," Romashkin noted, expressing confidence that the season would proceed well once the work is complete. For now, the message to travelers is clear: if you're planning an Anapa holiday, book what you see. The window for a bargain is closing fast.