Started sales of tours to Veliky Ustyug: how much is a trip to Santa Claus
Tourists, following the proverb “Prepare a sled in summer, and a cart in winter”, now significantly save on the purchase of vouchers in the winter. Great Ustyug.
Travel agencies have already opened the sale of tours with a visit to the patrimony of Santa Claus for the winter holidays. What new offers are available to travelers, what is the cost of tours and how much can you save if you book a holiday in September?
Great Ustyu
Great Ustyu It is rightly called Suzdal of the Russian North. A huge number of monuments of historical stone and wooden architecture are concentrated here, and the city center is recognized as an open-air museum-reserve.
Great Ustyug was founded in the XIII century at the mouth of the Yuga River, which gave it this name. The prefix “Great” appeared in the era of Ivan the Terrible, when the city was included in the number of oprichny territories – regions that served as donors for the state budget.
Over time, trade routes moved to the Baltic Sea, and Ustyug lost its importance at the imperial level, becoming a provincial town. However, after the opening of the residence of Santa Claus in Veliky Ustyug and the annual influx of hundreds of thousands of tourists attracted by a special New Year atmosphere, a developed infrastructure for recreation and entertainment was formed here.
Early booking
“Now is the best time to book a trip to Veliky Ustyug. Later, a visit to Santa Claus will cost much more, notes the company Intourist, commenting on the start of sales of New Year tours to the main winter wizard.
In 1999, thanks to the initiative of the mayors of Moscow and Vologda, Veliky Ustyug received the official status of the homeland of the Russian Father Christmas. This marketing move was so successful that within a few years, the small northern town became a center of family tourism. However, the Great Ustyug is not only a spectacular advertising image. It is truly an ancient and original city with a rich history and unique architecture.
Winter tours to Veliky Ustyug are now available with an average discount of 20%. As the holidays approach, the cost of remaining vouchers will increase, primarily due to rising hotel room prices.
However, the problem lies not so much in the price of the holiday as in the upcoming shortage of seats and tickets. As noted, since mid-November, it is usually extremely difficult to buy a tour to this direction: popular rooms in hotels are occupied, and railway tickets are completely redeemed.
Travelers begin to book vouchers for the most popular dates - the end of December and the days of winter holidays. As a rule, they immediately book visits to the residence of Santa Claus, as well as festive events and excursions to Veliky Ustyug.
Cost of tours
New Year trips to Veliky Ustyug are traditionally focused on family holidays, usually last only three to five days, but are inexpensive. Over the past year, vouchers have risen in price by 10-15 percent due to rising prices for hotel rooms, entertainment programs, flights and railway tickets.
The most budget option is a two-day tour costing from 34 thousand rubles per person. It includes meals, accommodation and one night of accommodation. This is a visit to the birthday of Santa Claus on November 18, from which the thematic programs begin. But the meeting of the New Year in Veliky Ustyug will cost much more - from 109 thousand rubles per tourist. This price has a four-day tour with meals, entertainment, travel to the CV or compartment and accommodation (two nights in the hotel, two on the train).
In the pre-New Year period tours are cheaper. For example, the “Moroz-Express” from Moscow is a two-day trip for 45 thousand rubles per person.
You will be greeted in the great city of Ustyug.private guidesand will offer individual, individual tours, andtravel agenciesThe cities of Great Ustyug will offer their services and organizetourInteresting excursions for travelers.
How to save money
It is possible to reduce travel costs, taking into account several important factors.
It's not New Year's holidays.
Tours at the beginning of the season, for example, on the November birthday of Santa Claus, can cost 45-70% cheaper than visits during the winter holidays. In addition, you do not have to spend money on banquet and show programs.
Book your trip in advance.
The best prices are available between August and October, according to Coral Travel.
Compare prices.
Sometimes it is more profitable to pay separately for a hotel and train or plane tickets, rather than buying a ready-made tour.
Choose programs with accommodation on the train.
This is cheaper because it saves money on a hotel room. Moreover, closer to the New Year, accommodation prices are rising. In addition, there are few hotels in the city, and family rooms are disassembled first of all, ATOR warns.
Prefer short tours.
The optimal duration is three days. During this time, you will have time to explore the city, visit museums and the patrimony of Santa Claus.
How to get there
Most of the tourists get to Veliky Ustyug with a transfer in Cherepovets or Vologda. If you travel from Moscow by car, the journey will take about 13 hours, and from St. Petersburg - about 15 hours.
Train
You can travel most of the route by train to the stations "Yadrikha" or "Kotlas" (for example, on the night train "Polar Arrow" from Moscow - from 2800 rubles per seat). Then there will be 60-70 km to Veliky Ustyug by bus or taxi.
Plane.
There are no direct flights, only with transfers. The cost of air tickets from Moscow to Veliky Ustyug and back - from 20 thousand rubles. Alternative option: flight to Cherepovets (about 15 thousand rubles), and then by taxi or passing car.
Railway tours
Most guests prefer special train tours. Two new programs have been prepared for them this year. So, on December 19, 26 and 27, tourists will be able to go to Veliky Ustyug, where they will not only meet with Santa Claus, but also visit the “Dachu Baba Yaga”. The organizers promise that she will “discover the secrets of eternal youth and sing with you funny songs.” The cost of the tour is from 49 thousand rubles per person, meals are included.
You will be greeted in the great city of Ustyug.private guidesand will offer individual, individual tours, andtravel agenciesThe cities of Great Ustyug will offer their services and organizetourInteresting excursions for travelers.
Text and photo: personalguide
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