Sochi is a great place to relax, regardless of the season. The numerous beaches of the resort are in no way inferior to the Mediterranean coast. And just an hour's drive from here are located the ski resorts of Krasnaya Polyana, allowing you to get from summer right into winter. In addition, Sochi Black Sea coast is considered the best spa resort in the country.
About city
Today, Sochi is considered the largest Russian resort, and the length of its coastline is 145 km. It offers tourists rest for every taste: beach, ski, active, recreational, cultural, business tourism, etc. Mountain-forest landscapes surrounding the city are recognized as one of the most picturesque in the world.
At the service of guests here are opened luxury hotels, multi-resort, children's camps, cozy recreation centers. The excellent climate, combined with a developed infrastructure, allows Sochi to compete with world famous resorts. The city has many green areas, entertainment centers and attractions.Therefore, during the rest tourists will not be bored.
How to get there?
The most convenient way to get to Sochi is air transport. The minimum cost of a flight from Moscow to Sochi is 5,000 rubles. However, finding a ticket for the price is not easy. Basically, airlines offer a transfer for a higher cost. If you decide to fly to Sochi by plane, then the ticket should be booked in advance, as it is problematic in the summer to find tickets even for 14,000 rubles.
Much more time to travel will take a trip to Sochi by train. The price of a seat in a second-class car is on average 2,800 rubles, in a coupe - 5,000. It is also better to book them in advance.
The least comfortable way to get to Sochi is the bus. Take advantage of it only to those who live in neighboring regions.
Current prices
The cost of housing in Sochi depends on the option you choose. The cheapest place in the city are hostels. During the day you stay in it you will have to pay an average of 400-500 rubles. Usually this option is chosen by students and single travelers. Some hostels, for example, "Central" offer their guests double rooms for 1200-2000 rubles.
Among the options for accommodation is to provide mini-hotels and guest houses. The average cost of a double room in them ranges from 1,500 to 4,000 rubles per day.
The cost of a night stay in a three star hotel will cost at least 3200 rubles. 4 star hotels offer rooms for 6000, and 5 stars - for 12000 and more.
Those who go on vacation family or a large company can rent an apartment. For a day in a one-room apartment they ask for from 2500 rubles.
A good alternative would be housing in the private sector. Recently, guesthouses have become very popular. Their feature is the presence of a common kitchen, where vacationers can cook their own meals, while saving money on food. Among the advantages of housing in the private sector are: the presence of a sauna, a cozy courtyard with entertainment for young children, barbecue, etc.
Those who want to relax in a quiet environment and at the same time save on housing can rent a house on the outskirts or even outside the city. Among the advantages of such places is a small amount of rest, prices are much lower, and the sea is cleaner. The minimum cost of such housing is 1500 rubles per night.
Some vacationers consider only housing options near the sea. In this case, you do not need to spend time on the road to the sea, and the main entertainment infrastructure is within walking distance. The cost of an apartment in the central part of Sochi starts from 3500 rubles per day.
For lovers of VIP vacation in Sochi rent villas. Their cost starts from 35,000 rubles per day.
Speaking about the prices of food and nutrition in Sochi, it is worth noting that the cheapest meal will cost in the dining room, where its price is about 200 rubles. Budget cafes offer a full meal for 400 rubles. A dinner in an average restaurant will cost guests 1-2 thousand rubles. It must be said that in establishments located directly near the sea, prices are much higher than in cafes that are far away from the coastline.
If you rent a house with a kitchen, you can save on meals by preparing meals on your own. Supermarkets are open everywhere in the city, where you can buy inexpensive products. The average cost of some foods is:
- meat - from 300 rubles per 1 kg;
- sugar - from 60 rubles per 1 kg;
- chicken eggs - from 60 rubles for 1 dozen;
- milk - from 40 rubles per 1 liter;
- buckwheat - from 80 rubles per 1 kg;
- white bread - from 25 rubles.
Traveling by minibuses in Sochi costs from 19 rubles and depends on the route. The average cost of a trip in a taxi is from 150 to 250 rubles. Those who do not want to depend on public transport have the opportunity to rent a car. The cost of this service starts from 2 000 rubles per day of use.
Climate
Almost 90% of the resort is occupied by mountains, foothills and deciduous forests.High mountains protect this place from cold winds, and warm, warming air constantly moves from the sea. Due to this and the fact that almost 300 days a year the sun shines here, Sochi is considered the warmest Black Sea resort.
Winter, as such, is not here. Even in the coldest time, the thermometer almost never drops below 0 degrees. In summer, the average air temperature is +28 degrees. Sea water warms up to +26 degrees. The swimming season in Sochi lasts from May to October. The ideal time for recovery are spring, autumn and winter.
Varieties of rest
In Sochi, tourists will find rest for every taste. Those who prefer an active pastime can go rafting, biking and jeeping. In Adler's Bay, they are trained in kite surfing. In Sochi, a huge number of diving clubs, where programs are offered, both for beginners and professional divers.
Hotel complexes offer vacationers to visit gyms, swim in the pool or play tennis. In the city there are football, volleyball and basketball courts for everyone. The beaches offer water skiing, scooters and catamarans, as well as go on a boat trip on a yacht or boat.
Numerous night clubs offer entertainment shows. Sochi has a well-developed entertainment and shopping industry. Every year various festivals and competitions are held in the city.
For kids, there are water parks and amusement parks.
Every year, millions of tourists come to Sochi to improve their health. In the region there are thousands of various resorts and health resorts.
Beaches
There are more than 130 beaches in Sochi. The most famous of them is the beach "Riviera", located near the sea station. Entry here is free. The shore in this place is shallow, therefore it is suitable for holidays with small children. The beach is well equipped for relaxation and entertainment.
Nearby is a free beach "Lighthouse". Conditions and infrastructure here is practically no different from the beach "Riviera". On the territory of "Mayak" is an open concert hall, water park and beach entertainment.
Entrance to the beach "Seaside" is free for all travelers. His landmark was the statue of Neptune. Therefore, annually here is held a cheerful holiday of Neptune with contests and entertainment.
Platform beach belongs to the VIP category and offers its visitors extreme conditions for recreation. The entrance here costs 600 rubles.
An ideal vacation spot for tourists with small children will be the free beach “Circus”, where a special zone has been created for little guests, with a depth of no more than 1 meter.
sights
During leisure, tourists can visit the numerous attractions of the resort. One of them today was the Olympic Park, where the 2014 Olympics were held. You can walk around its main objects on foot, or you can use a bicycle.
In the city arboretum you can see unique collections of tropical plants and listen to the singing of rare species of birds. Visiting the observation deck of the park you can admire the amazing landscapes of the sea and mountain slopes.
Riviera Park has long been an amazing place for walks in Sochi. His pride are pink alleys. The whole territory of the park is planted with rose plantations, which create incredible compositions.
3 km from the sea coast is Mount Akhun. You can get here by a specially equipped tourist trail. The slopes of the mountain are covered with relic trees and numerous caves. An amazing panorama opens from the observation tower located on Akhun.
One of the monuments of federal importance was the Sochi Marine Station. Its central tower is decorated with a long spire, and around are sculptures, each of which symbolizes a particular time of year.
Among the cultural monuments of the resort are the Winter Theater and the Art Museum. This is definitely worth coming lovers of art.
Pros and cons of the resort
In conclusion, I would like to point out the advantages and disadvantages of a vacation in Sochi.Among the positive moments can be identified:
- large selection of housing options for every taste and wallet;
- numerous entertainment venues;
- lots of interesting sights;
- amazing natural beauty;
- mild climate;
- clean sea coast;
- numerous and well-equipped beaches;
- excellent infrastructure of the city;
- numerous leisure options.
However, as elsewhere in Sochi, there are some drawbacks that you should also pay attention to when choosing a place to spend your vacation. These include:
- excessive prices for housing and food, in comparison with other resorts of the Black Sea;
- difficulties in finding housing in the hot season, as the offers may not always meet the demand during the large influx of tourists;
- a large number of holidaymakers, which creates a feeling of fuss.
About Sochi can talk for a long time. And, despite the shortcomings of this resort, it is still worth to come here at least once. In most cases, tourists tend to return here again and again.
