Five Ways Tourists Waste Money at Russian Resorts, According to a Travel Blogger

Russian travel blogger Elena Liseykina has identified common expenses that drive up costs for tourists at domestic resorts. In her blog “Travels with a Camera” on the Dzen platform, she shared a list of overpayments she says travelers can easily avoid.

First, Liseykina points to airport water purchases. Passengers often drop 300 to 400 rubles on a bottle, not realizing many airports have free drinking fountains or water coolers. Savvy travelers bring an empty bottle and fill it after security.

Another big money drain: airport taxis. “At southern resorts, the price difference between a taxi waiting at the exit and one booked through an app can be huge,” she writes. “And that’s not even considering public transport, which in many cities is cheaper and faster.”

Tourists also overpay for excursions booked through hotel tour operators. Liseykina notes these can cost far more than the same trips found online or through coupon sites. “Sometimes you end up on the exact same boat,” she warns.

Her other tips: don’t pay for beach loungers—order something at a café and use them free. Skip beachside drinks with ice and cut fruit; buy them at a store and bring your own. Get SIM cards in town, not at the airport, and use Wi-Fi instead of pricey temporary data plans.

Finally, she highlights a missed opportunity: many hotels offer free items like ice, hot water, dishes, needles and thread, chargers, extra blankets, beach umbrellas, luggage storage, cribs, kettles, toothbrushes, or slippers. “Most tourists never ask and just buy everything themselves,” she says.

Earlier, another travel blogger, Tim, warned about scams in Thailand, noting that locals often target Russian tourists. One common trick: a woman claiming to want English practice invites a traveler to a restaurant with no menu prices, then presents an enormous bill.