Travel Expert Sees Unexpected Price Shift for European Summer Getaways

Maya Kotlyar, founder of the travel agency MAYEL Travel, reports that European destinations are re-emerging for Russian travelers this summer, thanks to new convenient flight connections through Istanbul and Yerevan. In a post on her Telegram channel, 'Tourism with Maya Kotlyar,' she expressed clear surprise at the current pricing.

'Two years ago, the cost of flights and visas made us flinch,' Kotlyar noted. 'Now, there's a sense that the situation is softening.' She points to Greece, Cyprus, and Italy as the top choices for the season.

Specific routes illustrate the shift. A ticket from Moscow to Rhodes or Cyprus with a layover in Yerevan now starts around 65,000 rubles, including checked luggage. Flights with Turkish Airlines from Moscow to Sicily via Istanbul are priced between 93,000 and 95,000 rubles with baggage.

'Not long ago, airfare rarely dipped below 110,000 rubles,' Kotlyar stated. 'The change is definitely for the better.'

The observation follows her recent comparison of costs between Sochi and Turkish resorts, which she described as staggeringly in Turkey's favor. She found a high-end, all-inclusive stay in Bodrum could cost less than a similar holiday on the Russian coast, highlighting a broader recalibration in travel economics.