Russian tourists who want to relax by the sea and at the same time not leave the expanses of their homeland choose Crimea or Sochi as their “destination”. Who likes what. But most travelers try to find out before departure - which option is better? Well, everyone has their own answer to this question. To be honest, both in one and in another place there is something to see and be inspired by. People who have been there and there often think about which place is more interesting - Sochi or Crimea. Where it is better to relax, everyone decides for himself. Looking at the reviews, you can understand that both places are good in their own way. However, first things first.
Service
The first thing to note is this aspect. The vast majority of tourists stay in hotels and guest houses. People who prefer a more budget option decide to rent an apartment or a house. But still, if we consider the options for hotels, then Crimea is clearly losing.
First you needto say that the peninsula is large, but they go on vacation mainly to its South Coast (South Coast) and Sevastopol. A smaller part stops in Koktebel, Kerch, Sudak, etc.
So, there are not so many good and famous hotels in Crimea. Tourist sites give out 434 accommodation options for Sevastopol, while Sochi offers 750 different hotels. And this is only official. There are about 370 registered accommodation options in Y alta. What then is the point, if the number is almost the same? As a service. Sochi is a modern and actively visited city, which received a new round of popularity during the Olympics. There was a considerable influx of foreigners - no wonder why all the hotels have reached the highest level of service. In addition, the competition present in the hotel business has contributed to this.
In Crimea, worthy options include the Y alta complexes Intourist, Oreanda Premier, Mriya, as well as Sevastopol in the city of the same name, the relatively new Aquamarine and Sandy Bay.
Climate
Well, who wins in terms of service - Crimea or Sochi - and so it is clear. What about climate? In Sochi, it is humid, subtropical. It is hot in summer, and warm in winter, you can walk in a leather jacket. But in the Crimea, about 20 (!) Climatic subregions are distinguished. Despite its area of 27,000 km². This is explained by the influence of several seas, the altitudinal zonality of mountains and landforms. In summer it is as hot here as in Sochi (it can be even worse), and in summer it is quite cold, it often fallsa kind of snow that melts quickly as the cold doesn't last long here.
In general, the question of where it is warmer - in the Crimea or in Sochi - cannot be answered. Because the climate is about the same. True, Sochi is more unique in terms of weather. In winter, tourists can walk along the promenade along the sea, enjoying the moderate coolness, and then drive to Krasnaya Polyana in ~ 1.5 hours and ski there, admiring the snowdrifts.
Cost
Perhaps travelers are most interested in the financial issue. Cheaper Sochi or Crimea? Many are surprised, but if you want to save money, it is better not to go to the peninsula. Food, alcohol, accommodation - in the Crimea, for all of the above, prices are 1.5-2 times higher. You can verify this by walking around the shops. Why is that? The Crimeans themselves do not know. They explain this by the fact that everything is delivered to the peninsula through the crossing, and this is an extra waste. Perhaps, but Crimea also has its own production of many products. However, you can argue for a long time, but the fact remains that you can save money in Sochi. Although, if you go not to the resort epicenter (Y alta or Sevastopol), but somewhere in the picturesque Simeiz, you will be able to relax and more budget.
So, a good example. 7 days of rest in the notorious "Aquamarine" (with breakfast) will cost 100,000 rubles for two. In the Zhemchuzhina Grand Hotel, the conditions are far from the worst, you will have to pay 65,000 rubles for the rest - and this is with half board. In Mriya, a week of rest will cost 140,000 rubles (breakfast only). And even inin the fashionable Sochi resort complex known as the Radisson Lazurnaya (in terms of conditions superior to the Y alta option), the rest will cost 40 thousand less.
Reviews
In short, it is worth noting the attention and comments left by tourists who have been to the notorious resorts. Many say about Sochi that it is a city-fairy tale. Attention is attracted by palm trees growing everywhere, modern architecture, good and comfortable beaches, souvenirs and all sorts of interesting things at symbolic prices. The only negative noticed by tourists is the very hot temperature during the day. At this time, holidaymakers are advised to stay in a hotel, and if you want to go to the sea, it is better to swim in sunscreen beforehand.
Though there are no palm trees in Crimea, many people like rest on the peninsula. Attention is paid to beautiful nature, a lot of quiet and secluded places that can be found even in big cities, as well as historical sights.
Sights of Crimea
People go to resort towns not only to enjoy the sea and beach holidays. Many are also interested in sights. Which place in this plan wins - the Crimea or Sochi? Well, in this case, the peninsula comes out on top.
Firstly, there are two hero cities on its territory. These are Kerch and Sevastopol. In the second, there is also the main base of the Russian Navy. But this is not the main thing. In Sevastopol, you can go to Sapun Gora, where fierce defensive battles were fought during the war; visit a "piece of Greece" -Chersonese; go on an excursion to the Inkerman Vintage Wine Factory, where 1,050,000 deciliters of wine are stored; and also get acquainted with the panorama, diorama, go down to the defensive complex on the 35th battery and try to count the monuments, which are countless here.
Be sure to visit the famous Y alta Swallow's Nest and the Livadia Palace in Y alta (the former residence of Russian emperors), Chekhov's house (also on the South Coast) and the Massandra Palace. And this is only a small part of the interesting places that the peninsula can boast of. So it is not surprising why lovers of attractions, choosing Crimea or Sochi for recreation, stop at the first option.
Interesting places of the Olympic
But still, it cannot be said that there is nothing to see in Sochi. It's just that there are few historical sights. But there is a large amusement park, an arboretum, an oceanarium, Mount Akhun (from the top of which you can see the coast of Turkey in good weather), the Orekhovsky waterfall, the Navalishinsky Gorge and, of course, the modern AJ Hackett Sochi Skypark. A place where everyone goes, even locals. Which is not surprising, because this is an adventure park at a height and the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world. Its length is 439 meters. And the height is 207 m. Does it seem like a little? Then it is enough to imagine a 69-storey building. It will be approximately equal to this height.
In general, Sochi won't be bored either. But not for history buffs - they'd better go to the peninsula.
Living conditions
This is another point that should be noted with attention, talking about which resort is better to choose for a holiday - Crimea or Sochi. What is better in terms of conditions? Of course, the second option. And you don't even have to explain why. Sochi has been part of Russia since 1838. Actually, from the moment it was founded. Crimea, if you do not take into account the situation in 1954 (when Khrushchev gave the peninsula to Ukraine) - for almost three years.
Accordingly, its territory does not have everything that a Russian is used to. "Magnets", "Fix Prices", Sberbanks, "VTB 24", even "MTS" communication stores - everything is missing. And the vast majority of people who rested here complain about it. As well as the quality of communication / mobile Internet (there is no question of any presence of towers). And it really brings some inconvenience. If you need to withdraw money from the card, you will have to pay some amount as a commission, since there are only RNKB and Genbank ATMs on the peninsula. Not that they are bad organizations. It's just that they are commercial - there are no state ones in Crimea. And a network of more or less budget grocery supermarkets replaces PUD (former ATB), Novus, Furshet, etc.
So, which is better - in Sochi or Crimea? If a person is not put into a stupor by the absence of one or another of the usual amenities listed above, then, in principle, you can go to the peninsula.
Nature
It is impossible not to pay attention to this topic, talking about where it is better - in the Crimea or in Sochi. Nature is uniqueboth in one place and in another. In Sochi, these are the Boxwood and Crab Gorges, the Miracle Beauty waterfall, the so-called Dagomys troughs, the Vorontsov and Akhshtyrskaya caves, and the Matsesta waterfall. And of course, the Caucasian State Natural Biosphere Reserve. In size - the second largest in all of Europe. Its area is 280,335 hectares! And its highlight is the lakes, of which there are 120 pieces. Is it worth talking about the richness of flora and fauna? Here you can meet different birds (248 species in total), amphibians, fish, mollusks, reptiles and mammals - felines, hedgehogs, moles, jerboas, dogs, bears, etc. And the flora is even more amazing: 900 species of plants and 720 - mushrooms.
Crimea is no less amazing. What is only Mount Ai-Petri, from the top of which the entire South Coast is at a glance. An absolutely stunning sight is the Grand Canyon, the Silver Streams waterfall, the Skelskaya Cave, the Valley of Ghosts at the foot of Demerdzhi, the Gorge of a Thousand Waterfalls, the Baydarskaya Valley … The list is endless. It is insanely beautiful here - this will be the only correct conclusion, which is supported by numerous reviews of tourists.
So, Sochi or Crimea? Where is the best place to relax? There is still no answer to the question. You can tell a lot of interesting facts - whether Crimea or Sochi are the subject of discussion. What is better - everyone decides for himself. But you definitely won’t regret a trip to one or another place.
