Upcoming May Holidays See a 19% Spike in Russian Accommodation Rates
so let's break it down:
Accommodation costs in Russian hotels have experienced an upward shift by approximately 19%
The burst of tourist activity during the May holidays has driven a significant 19% year-over-year increase in the average nightly rate for accommodations across Russia. That's according to a report by "Kommersant". The surge in demand can be attributed to travel by personal vehicles and a focus on popular city destinations.
top destinations
Around 70% of tourist trips are made by Russians within the country, with increased demand seen in Crimea, Dagestan, and small cities near Moscow and St. Petersburg, such as Ryazan, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Uglich, Vyborg, and Suzdal.
bookings and costs
According to the booking service "Ostrovok", the average cost of a booked night in Russia for May 1-11, 2025, was 6,300 rubles (approx. €70), representing a 19% year-on-year increase. Hotel bookings saw a 20% increase in the same period in 2024.
"Yandex Travel" reported an average increase in hotel prices of 18%, while OneTwoTrip saw a 12% increase. Accommodation in Sochi, Moscow, and St. Petersburg increased by 15-20% year-on-year, and in the Kaliningrad region by 30-40%, as reported by "Alena".
high-end hotels and demand
Experts attribute the increase in average booking costs within Russia to changes in demand structure and growing interest in five-star hotels. According to "Ostrovok", demand for this segment increased by 35% year-on-year, with a 18% increase in supply. However, 54% of guests continue to opt for apartments and hotels without stars.
tour costs and business travel
The average cost of a Russian tour during the May holidays was 84,000 rubles per person, a 16.7% increase year-on-year, according to Travelata.ru calculations. There has also been a 61% year-on-year increase in demand for business trips during the May holidays, which combine work and leisure.
travel within russia
With international travel becoming scarce recently, Russian residents have been forced to pay more attention to historical, cultural, and natural attractions within the country. Check out materials on our website from the project "What Have I Not Seen?".
additional insights
As foreign players like Airbnb and Booking.com have largely exited the Russian market, reduced competition has led to price surges on remaining booking services.[2] Locally-based services such as Zenhotels may offer better rates for travelers due to increased availability.[2] Prices on global platforms like Expedia may be inflated due to limited supply.[1][3] Hostels remain a budget option, but their availability is limited on international platforms.[2][5] Comfort-tier travelers now face approximately €60-€80 per day expenses (up from pre-2022 norms), primarily due to accommodation costs.[2]
- I'm not sure if opting for a local booking service like Zenhotels would be a more cost-effective choice for upcoming travels in Russia, considering the reported price surges on remaining booking services.
- During the May holidays, it seems that luxury accommodations, such as five-star hotels, are witnessing a significant increase in demand, with a reported 35% year-on-year rise as per Ostrovok's data.
- Russian travelers planning their upcoming May holidays should be aware that the average tour cost per person has increased by 16.7% year-on-year, according to Travelata.ru's calculations.
- It's interesting to note that with the exit of foreign players like Airbnb and Booking.com from the Russian market, there's likely reduced competition, potentially leading to higher accommodation prices on remaining booking services.
