News

Kanye West’s concerts were scheduled for October 10th and 11th in St. Petersburg. Some reports suggest this has increased hotel prices in St. Petersburg. For those unfamiliar with Kanye West, this may seem strange and uninteresting, but we (albeit belatedly) decided to check whether the news had any impact on prices and availability.

In short: for these dates, 4- and 5-star hotels in the very center of St. Petersburg are indeed less available, and prices are higher. However, if you look beyond the “1 km from the center” factor, there are plenty of hotels, and prices are the same as for other dates.

More details:

October 3rd to 4th. 181 properties found, priced from 2900 rubles.

October 10th to 11th, 2026. 128 properties found, priced from 2900 rubles.

October 17th to 18th. 183 offers were found, starting from 2900 rubles.

We looked at hotels on a popular booking website.

This means that if we looked at hotels a short distance from Nevsky Prospekt, we didn’t notice any price increases for those dates. Some hotels near Palace Square did have more expensive rooms available than for the following weekend.

The tourist season in Antalya actually lasts until November. In the future, Antalya could become a year-round resort. Impossible? Why not!

Kaan Kavaloglu, head of the Mediterranean Association of Hoteliers and Tour Operators, believes that the tourist season in Antalya is not limited to July and August, and that September and October should be considered an extension of the summer season. This is also facilitated by the warming climate. (Although rains can spoil the fall and winter seasons.)

Some argue that the image of Antalya as the capital of beach tourism in Turkey does not fully capture the tourist appeal of Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Antalya’s “sea-beach-sun” concept could be expanded to include other types of tourism, such as sports, golf, conventions, wellness tourism, gastronomy, and cultural tourism. Event tourism (festivals and concerts) could also be developed.

The tourist season in Antalya could be extended until November or even longer. Autumn is a crucial period in Antalya’s transformation into a year-round tourist destination.

The challenge facing Antalya’s tourism industry is to maintain tourist flow during the peak season and strengthen demand in September, October, and subsequent months. To transform Antalya into a tourist destination with a longer season and, ultimately, a year-round destination.

Ski resorts have made Sochi (Russia) a year-round resort. Antalya also has potential. The winter resort and ski center of Saklikent is located 45 kilometers from Antalya. The ski season there lasts from approximately mid-December to April.

Turkish hoteliers would also like to compete (with other countries) not through low prices, but through high quality. Lower prices lead to lower profits. To attract more affluent tourists, high quality must be maintained.

Foreign tourists will have a more convenient time in China. Shanghai is installing information kiosks that support ten languages, including English.

China is a very interesting country for travelers, but traveling there is associated with certain challenges. These include the language barrier and potential difficulties with paying for goods and services. However, China is making efforts to simplify travel for foreign tourists.

The first batch of 100 tourist information kiosks has been installed in Shanghai. Tourists can receive information in 10 languages, including Russian. This is very convenient.

The new system reportedly combines Hu Xiaoyu’s artificial intelligence (AI) agent and MeetChina’s national-level payment kiosks for foreign cards.

The MeetChina payment kiosks for foreign cards are reported to provide convenient payment services for foreign visitors, eliminating the need to download apps, register accounts, or link a bank card when making payments. Unfortunately, we don’t yet know how the payment system will work and can’t tell you how convenient and useful it will be.

Shanghai is a very popular tourist destination in China. In the first half of 2026, the city received 5.31 million foreign tourists, a 27.8 percent increase from the previous year.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been to China yet, but I hope to find the opportunity to travel soon.

A bear killed a tourist on the night of August 19 in the Altai Republic (Russian Federation). The tourists had pitched a tent at the source of the Biya River on the shore of Lake Teletskoye. That night, a bear approached the tent, pulled the woman out, and disappeared into the forest with her. This reportedly happened in front of her fiancé, but we are unable to verify this.

Other tourists attempted to scare off the bear, but were unable to save the victim. A gamekeeper and law enforcement officers reportedly arrived at the scene shortly afterward and attempted to scare off the animal by firing shots into the air, but this was unsuccessful.

According to an eyewitness, the bear continued to hold the woman’s body. The bear then dragged the body across the river and buried it in the forest.

The tourist who died in the bear attack was 29 years old. Following the incident, a high-alert regime was declared in the village. Until further notice, tourists are prohibited from pitching tents in the forest and along the riverbank. A curfew has also been declared. It will be in effect from 8:00 PM to 10:00 AM.

This is the first bear attack on a person here. Be careful when outdoors. Not only bears pose a danger, but also snakes and ticks. Small animals (foxes, squirrels, mice) are also dangerous – they can carry infections.

How can you protect yourself from a bear attack? They say aerosol cans with a predator-repellent gas are effective. The most reliable way is to stay home.

Recommendations:

• Bring deterrents with you. Suitable options include pepper spray (spray in front of the bear’s muzzle, aiming the stream at the eyes and mouth), smoke flares, or fire flares.
• Make noise while in the forest. Bears try to avoid encounters with humans, but to do so, the bear must be able to hear you beforehand.
• Do not approach bears. Female bears with cubs are especially dangerous.
• Don’t go alone. The risk of aggression is significantly lower in a group.
• Don’t turn your back on the bear.
• Don’t try to run away; the bear runs faster than you.
• Don’t stare. A bear perceives a direct gaze as a challenge or a threat.
• Try to appear larger by raising a jacket or backpack above your head.
• Back away slowly, without making any sudden movements.

We don’t know how to reliably defend yourself against an attacking bear. It’s best to avoid the predator altogether.

I saw mentions of a new travel trend – coolcation. I was curious – what is it?

Coolcation vacations are reportedly becoming increasingly popular in Europe. This is due to the unusually hot summers in many southern countries. Therefore, many people want to beat the heat in a cool place and are looking for a cool destination – a coolcation.

In fact, there’s nothing new about this. Many residents of northern regions don’t want to go on vacation “south” in July and August because it’s too hot. It’s best not to leave the hotel during the day. It’s better to choose another time for a summer vacation on the southern coast.

Why would you want to go to the Mediterranean beaches in July or August? You don’t like suffering from the heat, do you?

Just as residents of northern regions would like to spend their vacation on the shores of a warm sea, many residents of hot countries would like to spend the summer in a cooler and more comfortable environment. And such opportunities exist!

Northern European countries offer a refreshing alternative. You can enjoy pleasant temperatures of around 20-25°C in the middle of the day. You can be surrounded by green landscapes instead of parched, sun-baked nature. You can explore new cities at any time of day. This is what coolcation is – a new trend in tourism.

Just imagine the pleasure of renting a boat and sailing along the shore of a lake, enjoying the peace and quiet of nature. The bright, northern nights also offer new emotions. It’s a pure respite from the hustle and bustle of the heat.

Where? For example, in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Russia.

Who might be interested? Not only residents of the Arabian Peninsula, but also residents of France, Germany, Spain, and other European countries.

We invite you to the north on your next summer trip.

Finland has repeatedly been named the happiest country in the world. It’s a country where happy people live! You’d think it would be possible to be any happier? It turns out, it can!

Many Alko stores recently received permission to open on Sundays. (Only Alko stores are allowed to sell strong alcohol in Finland.)

A report from one of the Alko stores this Sunday: As soon as the doors opened at 12 noon, a huge crowd of happy shoppers poured in. The first item purchased was a bottle of Koskenkorva vodka.

“We’ve been waiting for this for 35 years,” says the gentleman who bought the bottle. This is definitely something to celebrate.

How can you be so happy, Finland!

We’re joking, of course. If you love to travel, we definitely recommend visiting Finland. Finland is worth a trip not only in winter! The Finnish Lake District is a wonderful place for a summer vacation. Here you can escape the heat on the shores of a cool lake.

#FINLAND

The United States was the only major country to experience a decline in international tourism last year. The World Cup was expected to attract many tourists this year, but something went wrong. It turns out that a number of cities are actually experiencing a decline. Perhaps the situation will improve closer to the knockout stages?

The tournament was expected to help overcome the post-pandemic decline in international tourism to the United States. FIFA’s initial forecasts assumed 40% of tournament attendees would be international tourists, but it appears the number of international tourists is slightly lower than expected.

Several factors have converged: the international situation, significant visa delays, and exorbitant hotel prices.

It’s worth noting that the situation is quite uneven across cities. For example, in major cities like New York and Miami, the number of hotel bookings on matchdays is lower than during the same period last year.
However, in Kansas City (for example), there has been a real surge in tourism. All hotel rooms were either fully booked or 80-85 percent occupied. Short-term rental revenue doubled.

We can’t assess the situation objectively. A closer look reveals a clearer picture.
Greedily hoping for windfall profits, some hotels in major cities initially jacked up room rates by as much as 500%. The United States is already quite an expensive destination for travelers from many countries, and such high prices made trips to the matches unaffordable for many. Yes, hotels were forced to lower prices, but it was too late. Business travelers didn’t travel during these days, and football fans didn’t either. Something similar happened in New York.

As for Kansas City’s success, there’s speculation that Lionel Messi was responsible for the “game” (hotel occupancy). The city hosted the match between Argentina and Algeria, and South American fans of Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team filled the hotels. (The role of personality in history and business?)

Let’s not look for failures in this truly great celebration for millions of football fans around the world. We couldn’t come either, but we’re enjoying watching the matches on TV immensely.

The most exciting days of the World Cup are still ahead! It’s believed that in all the host cities, this summer will still be better for hotels and restaurateurs than last year.

Russian citizens submitted over 679,000 Schengen visa applications in 2025. This is a 12% increase compared to the previous year.
618,800 applications were approved.
Applicants were denied visas in nearly 43,000 cases. According to statistics, the Schengen visa refusal rate for Russians is decreasing annually: 10.6% in 2023, 7.5% in 2024, and 6.3% in 2025.

Applicants pay a consular fee before submitting their application. If their application is refused, this money is wasted. It is estimated that rejected Russians will lose over €3.3 million in 2025.

Applicants pay not only the consular fee but also the visa application center service fee. It is impossible to estimate these losses.

Italy issued the most visas to Russians, approving over 161,000 applications.
France ranks second with 156,500 visas.
Spain issued over 123,300 visas to Russians.
Greece ranks fourth in Schengen visa issuance to Russian citizens.

Schengen countries primarily issue single-entry visas to Russians. Multiple-entry visas are issued less frequently than before.

I was born in the USSR. Traveling to other countries was impossible for the vast majority of people at the time. No one could have imagined that everything would change, but it did. I received a two-year multiple-entry visa and traveled without restrictions. I visited Finland most often. But history has come full circle, and obtaining a Schengen visa has become impossible again.

However, Russians still have many opportunities for international travel. Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, and Vietnam are among the most popular countries.

Chinese tourists are quite common on the streets of central St. Petersburg. We’d love to know what interests Chinese tourists in St. Petersburg, but there’s a problem: none of the administrators on this website speak Chinese. So, we asked AI for advice. Here’s what it told us (with our corrections).

Judging by comments on social media and forums, Chinese tourists in St. Petersburg have created their own “must-visit” list. It seems Chinese tourists are most interested in “Imperial St. Petersburg,” its beautiful palaces and sites. Chinese tourists are also interested in where to eat authentic Chinese food in St. Petersburg.

Here are the top places Chinese travelers recommend to each other:

Imperial palaces and parks. These are a must-see in St. Petersburg. They are the city’s calling card, without which no trip is complete.

The Catherine Palace in Pushkin. The main attraction here is the famous Amber Room. Be prepared for lines at the entrance to the palace.

Peterhof. The Grand Cascade of Fountains makes a lasting impression on all tourists – the abundance of gold and flowing water is always beautiful. Strolling along the park’s shady alleys also sets the mood. The park offers many spots for beautiful photographs.

Pavlovsk Palace and Pavlovsk Park. This place is recommended for a relaxing stroll.

Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. It’s hard to believe, but AI believes this place is very popular with Chinese tourists due to its connection with the poet Alexander Pushkin, who is supposedly well known in China (his name sounds like “Pu Xijin”).

Rivers and Canals. A boat ride along the rivers and canals is a must. It’s recommended to do this both during the day and in the evening – the experience will be completely different. A reminder: the White Nights season in St. Petersburg runs from approximately late May to mid-July.

Russian Museum. Unlike the Hermitage, which can be too large, Chinese visitors recommend the Russian Museum for experiencing authentic Russian art, especially for older visitors. (In my personal opinion, the Russian Museum is much more interesting than the Hermitage for those interested in painting.)

The Arctic and Antarctic Museum. This is truly unexpected, but on Chinese social media (for example, on WeChat), this place is being discussed as very unusual and memorable. Maybe you have enough time to fly to northern Russia? Teriberka, the Solovetsky Islands. There’s also the opportunity to take an icebreaker trip from Murmansk to the North Pole. (If you’re lucky, you can see the Northern Lights in winter.)

“Chinese Petersburg”: Where to eat and spend your free time. There are places in St. Petersburg where Chinese tourists can feel at home and eat familiar food. We don’t have the information and can’t offer advice.
The AI ​​suggests visiting Chinatown at 174 Ligovsky Prospekt.