Sitting on the Suitcase and Coins in Fountains: Russians Reveal Their Travel Rituals

A survey by the hotel and apartment booking service Ostrovok, seen by Lenta.ru, has revealed which superstitions Russians hold and which rituals they follow before and during trips.

The most common pre-trip tradition is sitting "for the road" - chosen by 81 percent of respondents. Nearly half (49 percent) said they look in a mirror if they have to return home for something forgotten, while 13 percent try not to go back at all. Almost one in four (23 percent) tell no one in advance about an upcoming trip, and 21 percent tidy their apartment before leaving.

Only 11 percent take a talisman or charm on their travels, and 8 percent avoid starting a journey on a Monday or Friday the 13th.

Bad omens can change plans: 17 percent have cancelled or postponed a trip because of a sign, and 11 percent have done so more than once. Another 21 percent have at least once felt like abandoning a vacation over a bad premonition but went anyway.

On the road, 64 percent make wishes at "places of power," 53 percent toss a coin into a fountain, sea or other body of water to ensure a return, and 42 percent touch a monument or sculpture believed to bring luck. A third (32 percent) mentally thank the place where they vacationed before leaving, and a quarter (26 percent) buy a talisman or souvenir "for luck."

Earlier, Russian travelers shared their planning habits, typically building their own routes and choosing sights rather than buying ready-made tours.