Celebrating New Years abroad an attractive alternative for many

New Years is a family holiday for Armenians. We prefer to celebrate its arrival at home, surrounded by friends and close relatives. Lately, however, there has been a growing trend in Armenia to spend the holidays at hotels and various vacation spots.

Armenian women seem to be taken with the new fad. They no longer have to sweat over a stove, wrapping dolma, cooking the ever-present pork leg and preparing an assortment of pastries.

Even pricey local hotels are fully booked

But not all Armenians have the luxury of celebrating New Years in a swank hotel, being pampered with all the creature comforts and live entertainment. If it takes an average of 200,000 – 300,000 AMD to celebrate at home, it would take several times this amount for a family of four to get away for the holidays. We talked to the staff at a few vacation spots to see what types of holiday package plans were being offered to prospective customers this year. Hotel Rosiya, in Tzaghkadzor, told us they had a seven day package starting at 650,000 AMD for two people. This amount rises to 1.6 million if you request a larger and more luxurious room. The hotel’s rooms have all been booked two months ago; even the two prestigious sounding “Luxe Presidential” suites. These suites, especially designed for visiting dignitaries. You can snap up one of these for 1.8 million for six days. The hotel says each can accommodate a party of four holiday revelers. Off season, a person can sleep like a president in one of these rooms for a mere 100,000 per night. All the rooms at the Riba Health Resort, also in Tzaghkadzor, were booked way in advance. None of the sixty rooms are available from December 31throughouut the first week of January. Riba offers a three day package starting at 90,000 per person. Step up a bit in terms of room quality and you’ll have to shell out 120,000. They told us that meals were included. You won’t find any vacancies at the Voskeh Getap resort house in Aghveran. The manager told us that there was no set price list and that sometimes prices were offered customers on a personal basis. On average, a party of two would have to pay 250,000 AMD for five nights. Arturs Aghveran Resort offers a holiday package from December 31 to January 3. This place was also fully booked back in November. Double rooms were going for 450,000 AMD. The price includes breakfast and supper. Vahagn Kaytzakyan, the Sales Manager, said that most of the hotels clients were 35-55 years old. Harsnakar Hotel in Sevan told us that they had been flooded with holiday inquiries and that the place is booked solid as well. You can rent a mini-cottage for two for 28,000 AMD per day. Cottages for four people will cost you 90,000 per day. Economy rooms in the hotel start at 35,000 – 45,000 and the rooms classified as Luxe will cost you 90,000 per day. You only get breakfast. Like I said, they’ve all been booked. The hotel also stages a New Year’s show. Adults fork mover 45,000 AMD and kids up to ten, 35,000. The hotel manager said that most of those booking rooms for the holidays this year have been local Armenians, but that in previous years, the hotel also had overseas guests. Harsnakar is owned by MP Ruben Hayrapetyan. Yulya Yakovlevan, an employee at the Impulse Health Resort in Dilijan, told us that their package rates haven’t gone up this year. “We haven’t booked any rooms at advertised rates. There are always discounts to be had,” said Yulya. A double room goes for 170,000 AMD for four days at Impulse. Rooms accommodating six go for 400,000 for the four days starting from December 31. Impulse is also fully booked for New Years.

Vacancies in Vanadzor

Hotel Gugark in the town of Vanadzor is off the beaten track a bit and offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of the better known vacation hotspots. Edik, the manager, told us by phone that the hotel wasn’t offering any package deals this year because bookings have been scare. Prices at Gugark are quite reasonable in comparison. A double room can be had for 9,000 per day. At this price you don’t get hot water. This luxury will cost you another 3,000. “Our best rooms go for 15,000 per day. We can accommodate 36 guests right now. But where are they?” Edik complained. Why cook? Many prefer eating out. Restaurants are also attracting their share of New Year’s party goers. Tables at the classier spots also have to be booked well in advance. Management at the Bellagio, a restaurant owned by MP Grigori Markaryan, told us a reservation for one on the 31st has a 45,000 AMD price tag. Families with kids will be able to admit two youngsters for the price of one. The Bellagio staff also told us that “as long as customers are standing” we will remain open into the wee hours. Tour operators in Armenia also tell us that celebrating New Years locally, at the country’s hotels and resorts, is an expensive proposition.

Overseas holiday getaways – Turkey, Dubai, Egypt

Lideria Tour’s Astghik Tatryan said that many Armenians with the “travelling bug” prefer Dubai and Egypt as holiday destination to unwind and relax. “Sure, many remain in Armenia for the holidays but the prices here are outrageous, especially in Tzaghkadzor,” she said, adding that one could spend ten days of quality time in Dubai or Egypt, all inclusive, for just $1,000 - $1,500. Ani, the manager over at Bagrat Tour, is offering a holiday package in Antalya, Turkey, as an alternative to the high prices in Armenia. She says that a number of Armenian “stars” will also be singing at the New Year’s festivities in Antalya. Ani also said that due to the overwhelming number of Armenians who wanted to book a reservation, they had to charter a second flight to accommodate them all. All the spots are booked. Bagrat Tour has lined up two 5 star hotels for an eleven day stay. Those booking the deluxe package paid $1,500 per head. The basic package went for $1,000. Almost everything is inclusive, including transport to and from the hotel and three meals a day. When I asked what Armenian “stars” would be performing at the New Year’s gala party, Ani confessed she didn’t know exactly. “But I can tell you that the program will be fantastic. There will be a number of Armenian and foreign performers on stage that special night.”