Turkey, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Thailand and Armenia have emerged as the top five international destinations for Russian travelers planning autumn trips during the 2026 velvet season.
According to research from Russian accommodation booking service Otello, published by news site Lenta.ru, Turkey captured the single largest share of foreign hotel bookings for the early autumn period, accounting for 2.4 percent of all reservations.
Hotel room rates vary considerably among the top five foreign destinations chosen by Russian holidaymakers. Turkey registered the highest average nightly cost among the group, with travelers paying 11,500 rubles per night for hotel stays.
Armenia ranked as the second most expensive destination among the top five, with hotel accommodation averaging 8,400 rubles per night. Belarus recorded a nearly identical average rate, with rooms costing travelers 8,300 rubles per night.
Thailand and Uzbekistan provided more economical alternatives for early autumn stays. Hotel rooms in Thailand averaged 7,300 rubles per night, while Uzbekistan offered the lowest average rate among the top destinations at 6,300 rubles per night.
Shift in autumn travel destinations
The study highlights significant shifts in consumer preferences between 2025 and 2026. During the 2025 velvet season, Kazakhstan and Georgia were featured among the top five international choices for Russian holidaymakers. However, both nations were replaced in the 2026 rankings as interest grew in Thailand and Armenia.
The velvet season is a well-established concept in Russian travel culture, referring to the warm weeks of late summer and early autumn from September through October. During this period, sea temperatures remain mild and intense summer heat subsides, making coastal and cultural destinations attractive to holidaymakers seeking quieter travel conditions.
The study was prepared in late August 2026 based on anonymised customer data from the Otello platform. Analysts examined hotel bookings made for stays between September 1 and October 11, 2026, comparing the figures against reservation data from the same calendar period in 2025 to trace changing demand.
Affordable beach alternatives and market background
Earlier industry evaluations conducted ahead of the late summer period identified alternative budget seaside locations for travelers looking for coastal holidays. That analysis highlighted Sochi on Russia's Black Sea coast, Batumi in Georgia, and Izmir on the Aegean coast of Turkey as the most affordable beach options.
Otello is a major Russian digital platform specializing in hotel and lodging reservations across domestic regions and popular international routes. The service regularly compiles travel analytics based on user booking metrics and accommodation pricing.
