Sochi’s resort season has begun with high prices, leading tourists to seek free beach space and impacting local businesses. Vacationers are facing significantly increased costs for beach amenities and entertainment compared to last year.

The central Adler beach “Chaika” has many free sun loungers due to a lack of demand, while most other Adler beaches are filled with paid equipment. Tourists are opting to lie on the narrow strip of sand between the water and the paid loungers. Maxim Ivashov, a tourist from Yaroslavl, noted that while the sea is still cold, prices for everything at the resort have risen. Renting four of the cheapest plastic sun loungers costs the Ivashovs 3,200 rubles per day. Rattan sun loungers cost 1,000 rubles, bungalows 4,000 rubles, and clam-shell beds 3,000 rubles, though they are mostly empty.

The “Mandarin” beach also has a half empty area, while the paid area with a swimming pool costs 3,000 rubles for adults and 2,000 rubles for children, with sun loungers costing an additional 700 rubles. Kristina Mayorova, a resident of Krasnodar, found the experience unsatisfactory, citing high prices and tasteless food. The free beach at “Mandarin” is now filled with paid amenities, including swings along the water’s edge costing 300 rubles per hour or 2,500 rubles for the whole day.

Beach entertainment costs have also increased, with short trips on an inflatable “banana” costing 500–600 rubles and “donut” rides ranging from 600 to 1,000 rubles. Fifteen minutes on a jet ski costs 1,500–2,000 rubles, and a short boat trip costs 900 rubles. More adventurous options include flyboarding for 6,000 rubles per hour, four hours of diving for 4,300 rubles, and two hours on SUPs in the open sea for 5,000 rubles per person.