Epress.am News from Armenia
The cost of spending the New Year’s holidays in resorts and high-ranking hotels in Armenia is a few times higher than the prices at similar establishments in the Czech Republic, the Republic of Georgia and Egypt. Epress.am compared the prices among hotels in Armenia and abroad — discovering that sometimes it’s cheaper to spend the winter holidays abroad (even including the cost of transportation) than in Armenia.
New Year’s Eve packages offered by Armenian hotels typically start at 450,000 drams (approx. $1,174 USD) for a short stay.
For instance, Arthurs Aghveran Resort is offering a Dec. 31–Jan. 3 package for 2 people at 480,000 drams (approx. $1,252 USD) — including a NYE banquet and entertainment program. Included are a banquet dinner on the 1st and breakfast on the 2nd with a performance of the Armenian reggae band Reincarnation at dinner.
The hotel’s indoor pool, exercise facilities, sauna, tennis, billiards and children’s play area will be available to guests for the duration of their stay.
Arthurs Aghveran Resort has also invited actors with the State Chamber Theatre of Yerevan and singer Arsen Safaryan to join them during these days.
The famous Armenia resort in Jermuk is offering a 7-day package for one person valued at 270,000 drams (approx. $705 USD), with children under 5 staying for free and a 5–10% discount for children aged 5–12.
On Jan. 3, visitors can avail of the health spa, which is included in the NYE package.
Ani Resort in Hankavan, a town in the Armenian province of Kotayk, is offering a Dec. 31 to Jan. 5 package valued at 500,000 (approx. $1,305 USD) and 550,000 drams (approx. $1,435 USD) for double occupancy rooms, including meals and holiday events.
The hotel complex is also offering guests cottages for four valued at 900,000 drams (approx. $2,348 USD) for the same period. Also available is the fitness room and a swimming pool, as well as table tennis and table football (foosball) upon request.
The Tsaghkadzor General Sport Complex is offering basic rooms for two people for Dec. 31 to Jan. 5 priced at 450,000 drams (approx. $1,174 USD), including three meals day, while deluxe rooms (which include a separate lounge and dining area) for two are offered at 500,000 drams (approx. $1,305 USD).
Prices at Arzni Health Resort are relatively affordable: single and double occupancy rooms from Dec. 31 to Jan. 6 are offered at 140,000 drams (approx. $365 USD).
The Nairi Hotel in Jermuk is comparably cheaper, where a five-day NYE package for one person costs 125,000 drams (approx. $326 USD), including three meals a day. NYE guests will be entertained by Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden the entire evening. Hotel staff, however, informed Epress.am that all their rooms were booked a month ago and there are no available rooms at this time.
Harsnaqar Hotel Complex on Lake Sevan, in turn, won’t be offering any special NYE holiday packages. Those who wish to attend the NYE entertainment program offered at the hotel can book tickets for 30,000 drams each (approx. $78 USD). Hotel staff informed Epress.am that this year is the hotel’s 10th anniversary, which is why the price was reduced from the original 40,000 drams (approx. $104 USD) per ticket. Rooms cost anywhere from 55,000 to 100,000 drams (approx. $144–261 USD) per night.
During the holiday program, guests will be entertained by clowns and singers specially invited for the occasion.
The hotel also informed Epress.am that it’s very difficult to obtain rooms at this time since they are already pre-booked. Those from Armenia make up a large part of their guests this year, they added.
Tsaghkadzor’s Multi Rest House is asking 720,000 drams (approx. $1,879 USD), which includes 3 meals a day, for two people to stay at the hotel complex from Dec. 31 to Jan. 6. There will be entertainment offered to guests every evening, and a pool and exercise facilities are also available. A shuttle service (free of charge) will take guests to the ski lifts.
Vacationing Abroad
Hotels in the Czech capital of Prague are incomparably cheaper. Two people staying at the Corinthia Towers (pictured above), a five-star hotel near the city center, between Dec. 31 and Jan. 6 (including breakfast) will cost 688 euros (approx. 344,000 drams, $899 USD).
More affordable yet are the four-star hotels in the center, where, for the same period, you can book a room for 500–600 euros (approx. 250,000–300,000 drams or $653–784 USD).
The prices would be cheaper too if you booked a month in advance. Airfare, also if booked in advance, for two people would cost 450,000 drams ($1,174 USD). Add the cost of tourist visas (mandatory for citizens of Armenia) for two people —120 euros (approx. 60,000 drams, $157 USD) — the total for two from Armenia to Prague including flight, hotel (7 days, 6 nights) and visas would set you back 760,000 drams (approx. $1,983 USD).
And for even cheaper, you can vacation in Egypt. For two people to stay in the five-star Pyramisa Blue Lagoon Resort in Hurghada (pictured above) between Dec. 31 and Jan. 6 will cost $128 USD (approx. 50,000 drams) per night, all inclusive, including free-of-charge pick up and drop off from the airport.
Also more affordable than hotels in Armenia are those in Georgia — particularly in the ski resort of Bakuriani, where a room for two (including three meals a day) will cost anywhere from $50–100 USD (approx. 20,000–40,000 drams) per night.
Main photo of Tsaghkadzor: Noyan Tour Armenian Tour Agency