At the end of November, 70% of rooms for New Year’s Eve and January holidays in Saint Petersburg were booked or sold, local industry experts said to the press. Two first weeks in December are likely to see an increase to 80% with a further rise to 90% toward the end of the month (and the year). That’s a strong jump from 70% last year.
If you are still going to visit St. Petersburg to celebrate the New Year’s arrival here, then you will probably enjoy with a hotel out of the downtown or have to pay inflated accommodation prices, since rooms in the city centre are nearly sold out. A four star hotel room starts from 7.000 rubles ($115). And, please, remember that we saw some overbooking in St. Petersburg hotels in the summer this year. For those who are struggling to find a decent room for a reasonable price we’d recommend to consider the option of living in a hostel.
Interestingly, that bookings are being made earlier this year, first birds came flying in October, while in previous years the process tended to start at the end of November – in early December. Experts say the reason behind this is a drop in incomes of Russians who used to spend their long winter holidays in warm Egypt or strolling through the streets of Prague or Gent or somewhere else, but now they are forced to choose Russian ruble-priced destinations.
Though, some other nations are coming here in increasing numbers just as well. First of all, Chinese are dominating as they have been doing throughout the year and will be doing in 2017. Among other big segments are Germans, Americans and Italians. They are joined by more and more Iranians, Indians and South Koreans.
Holidays in Russia last from 31 December 2016 till 8 January 2017.