Every sandpiper praises his swamp, the saying tells us. Moreover, he praises him with knowledge of the matter! Sandpipers are one of the record holders among migratory birds in terms of covered distances, and some subspecies can boast of almost circumnavigating the world.
Seasonal migration is gradually becoming commonplace not only among birds. Remote workers and pensioners from countries with cold climates are increasingly following the example of storks and swans. In the USA, even special "bird" terms have appeared to describe this social phenomenon - snowboarding (translated from English as "snowbird") and glowering (from the English word glow, light, radiance).
Berding's motives are not only intolerance of low temperatures and personal predilection for heat, but sometimes purely medical. A separate fashionable topic, mainly among zoomers, is the fight against seasonal depression, that is, caused by a lack of sun.
Often people tend to winter in the south for economic reasons, especially Europeans, who suffer from rising gas and electricity prices. And in general, life in many southern countries is cheaper; at least you can save on buying warm clothes and shoes, since you won't need anything more than a windbreaker and sneakers. However, with regard to expenses, everything is individual and, of course, strongly depends on the chosen direction and region.
Egypt
"Distant cottage", that's what pensioners from Novokuznetsk call their accommodation in Hurghada, who spend 3-4 months at the resort every year. A Russian-speaking company has already been formed here. There are a lot of Western Europeans coming to Egypt for the season. There are young people whose office fits in a laptop, there are families with children. A separate category is professional athletes. Volleyball players, cyclists, tennis players, runners train in comfortable conditions, while the weather does not allow at home.
Why is Egypt the number one winter destination?
Climate. Pleasant weather for those who are not thrilled by the sweltering heat. The air temperature in November and March is around + 20 °C. It doesn't rain.
Flight. Direct flights from several cities of the Russian Federation. It is relatively short to fly from Western Europe.
Rent. For 150USD 200 per month, you can rent an apartment (bedroom + living room) in a compound with a swimming pool and a well-maintained territory.
The cost of living is low compared to other world resorts. A family with one child can live on $1,000 per month, including rent.
We do not feel the language barrier. Many Egyptians know Russian and English. By the way, it will be much cheaper to take English courses in Hurghada than in Russia.
«Protect tourists in every possible way!» This is about what the installation adopted at the state level sounds like. The country is trying to attract more foreigners, so they are not pressed here.
What about visas? Russians apply for a 30-day visa upon arrival at the airport for $ 25. Then you can extend it for another 2 months. If you want to stay longer, there are two options: a visa or an extension of the visa for another 9 months for $ 65.
Remote work. You can work remotely for a foreign company, that is, as a digital nomad, open a business or provide services as a self-employed person. There is no close control over this.
What to do in Egypt in winter? Fishing, diving, snorkeling, traveling around the country and studying ancient history. Young people practice kitesurfing and wakeboarding.
Purchase of resort housing. An apartment on the Red Sea can be purchased for only 15,000–20,000 dollars. If you get bored of coming by yourself, you can rent it out. A rough calculation of how much an apartment will bring in a month: the cost of the property is divided by 100, that is, 1% of the investment amount. So, apartments for 15,000 are rented for about $ 150, and a villa for 250,000 for $2,500.
What are the disadvantages of Egypt? Anyone who has been to this country, perhaps, will name three points on the spot. Some locals from the service sector tend to cheat a foreigner and in general are "a little bit" intrusive. Transportation is a long-standing problem, although the authorities are trying to solve it both on a large scale and locally. And finally, Egyptian cities do not suffer from perfect cleanliness.
Another point is, of course, it is cooler in Egypt than in Southeast Asia, and the water in the sea is invigorating in winter.
Indonesia, Bali
Wintering in Bali has been a classic among creative people and nomads since the very time when modern nomadism was just emerging as a phenomenon. Excellent ocean waves, second only to Portuguese, and a special relaxed atmosphere attract surfers, hangouts and enlightenment from all over the world.Climate. All year round +28–32 °S. As such, there is no heavy rain season. Heavy rains occur in November and January, but usually not long. Although the winter of 2024-2025, according to the forecast, promises to be rainy.
Communication. A large international community. There are many Russians and people from other post-Soviet countries.
Flights. Direct flights from Moscow to Denpasar have recently appeared.
What to do in Bali in winter?Work remotely without attracting the attention of local authorities, catch a wave, do yoga, get acquainted, relax, travel around the island and neighboring islands, swim with dolphins and whales, admire wildlife.
The cost of living. On average, two people will need 2,000-3,000 per month, including rental housing and a bike.
What about the visa? Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians need a visa on arrival to visit Bali, which is issued at the airport for $ 35. It is issued for 30 days with the possibility of extension for the same period of time. The total is 60 days. Then you can make a visa and get a visa again on arrival. There are other varieties of single and multi-entry visas that are suitable for those who want to stay up to six months or longer. A special digital nomad visa has recently been introduced, but the income requirements for the applicant are quite high - $ 60,000 per year.
Rental housing. Renting a 2-bedroom guest house with a swimming pool in Changgu will cost about $800 per month.There are also more affordable offers of apartments and houses, starting at $300 per month.
Purchase of resort housing. Real estate in Bali has risen in price over the past 1.5–2 years and continues to grow in price. A 2-bedroom villa in Changu, Bukit or Ubud costs 250,000–300,000 dollars. Apartments are also gradually appearing on the market. Studios or 1-bedroom apartments start at $90,000. The rental yield is higher than anywhere else - up to 12-15% per year, but the choice of an object is important.
What are the disadvantages of Bali? The year-round heat is tiring – it's one, traffic jams and chaos on the roads add stress – it's two, riding bikes is basically unsafe – it's three, many underwater inhabitants are not harmless – it's four, medicine is expensive – it's five, yes and the cost of living is generally high - that's six. In a word, Bali is an island for an amateur, but there are plenty of lovers!
Yes, and one more thing. The island is crowded with expats and is interested in wealthy and perfectly law-abiding foreigners.
Thailand
A long-known, much-loved destination for wintering. People from Australia, America, and Europe come to Pattaya, Phuket, and Koh Samui to warm up. Traditionally, there are many Russians and residents of the CIS, especially in Phuket. For example, a family from Krasnoyarsk has been fleeing to Thailand for the winter for 12 years in a row and during this time has managed to travel all over the country.
Climate.+30 °C all year round, always great warm water in the sea. The period from November to March, when those fleeing frosts arrive, is high season.
Remote work. You can work remotely on your laptop, because thisactivities are difficult to control, but minor services to compatriots, hairstyles, manicures, for example, or plumbing repairs, are dangerous, they can be fined or even deported for this. You can't take bread from Thais!
What to do in Thailand in winter? You can: enjoy the sun and incredible beauty, overeat mangoes, passion fruit and other durians, do yoga, surf, travel around the country, go all out to study local cuisine and culture, even go to the mountains and into the forest.
What about visas? For Russians, there is a 60-day visa-free period with the possibility of extending it for another 30, which the Thai authorities have made indefinite. A total of 90 days, that is, it is enough to overwinter. The visa-free period varies for citizens of different countries. If it is short, 30 days, you can immediately apply for a tourist visa for 60 days at home, with the possibility of extending it for another 30. The tourist multivisa will allow you to stay in the country for 6 months with one departure or 7 months with three departures. A nonimmigrant visa (for example, a study visa) will be required for a longer stay.
Flights. Planes from many Russian cities fly to Phuket and Bangkok.
Cost of living: an average of $500 to $1,500 per month per person, depending on lifestyle. Phuket and Bangkok are considered more expensive. It is cheaper in Chiang Mai, a large city in the north of the country, and in Pattaya.
Rental housing. From $ 200 per month for modest housing to $ 1,000 for a spacious apartment in a condominium with a swimming pool, gym.
Purchase of resort real estate. The range of offers in Thailand is very large: from $30,000 for a small apartment to several million dollars for a villa. Phuket is the most expensive region. Studio 30 sq. m. m with finishing will cost $ 100,000.
Disadvantages of Thailand. The constant heat is annoying; the roads are a mess, frequent minor accidents; not the most attractive insects (some of them are included in the diet of the locals); medicine is expensive, so it's better to take care of insurance right away. Let's add the language barrier, since not all Thais know English, as well as the fact that the cost of living in the promoted regions is already quite high.
Dominicana
We are moving from Southeast Asia to the Caribbean.
The Dominican Republic is a popular destination for wintering. People come here from the USA, Canada and Europe (mainly from Italy, Spain and France). Usually foreigners stay for 2–4 months in the period from November to April. It's high season in the Dominican Republic at this time. Many, by the way, eventually decide to stay longer or even move to the island to live.
Flights. There are no direct flights to the Dominican Republic from Russia right now. However, there is a fairly convenient route through Cuba (Moscow Havana or Moscow Varadero and then a short flight from Havana to Santo Domingo or Punta Cana), optimal in cost and does not require Schengen visas.
Which regions are popular with tourists and winterers? Of course, this is the most popular resort of Punta Cana, Sosua and Cabarete on the north coast, and the Samana Peninsula in the northeast - a paradise for lovers of wildlife and beautiful desert beaches.
Climate.The air temperature is from +25 to +30 °C all year round, the ocean is always warm.
Is it possible to work remotely from the Dominican Republic? Yes, it is quite possible to live as a digital nomad, but in some areas there are power outages, this must be borne in mind.
What to do in the Dominican Republic in winter? Enjoy a beach holiday, surf, kitesurf, play golf, fish and even compete in catching marlin, watch the spawning of whales, join local holidays and festivals, indulge in relaxation and fun to Latin American melodies.
What about visas? Russians and CIS citizens enjoy a 30-day visa-free travel. Then you can extend your stay through the immigration office. However, the simplest solution is to continue to stay and pay a small fee for the overstay upon departure. This is not a violation of the visa regime. Many foreigners use this option and have been living here for years without worrying about their status. If you do not plan to register a business in the country, you do not need to apply for a residence permit. For operations such as buying real estate, cars, and opening a bank account, foreigners only need to have a passport and a driver's license.
Rental housing is possible even from $ 250 per month. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in a gated gated community in Punta Cana will cost from $500, with two bedrooms from $650 per month. In less popular regions, the cost is lower, starting from $ 300. There are many options: from a rustic house for $ 250 to a villa for $ 2500-5000 per month.
The cost of living depends on the region and the habits of the family. The average is $1,200-1,500 per person, including rent. Here are some prices. If you cook at home, the cost of food per person will amount to about $300–400 per month. A dish in a medium-level restaurant costs $ 15-20, for a dinner for two with wine you will pay around $ 100. Electricity is expensive: at least $100–150 comes out per month with air conditioning, from $15–30 without air conditioning.
Purchase resort housing. For $ 60,000, you can purchase a new 1-2-bedroom apartment in a 15-20-minute drive from the coast. If we consider apartments in close proximity to the ocean in a privileged area with many advantages, such as a beach club, swimming pools, spa, gym, bars, restaurants, golf courses, then you need to focus on a budget of 200,000-250,000 dollars for a 2-bedroom apartment. The cost of the villas starts from $ 300,000 and tends to infinity.
The disadvantages of the Dominican Republic. A long and expensive flight (from the Russian Federation with connections), a language barrier (English is common in tourist areas, in the interior of the island most people speak only Spanish), a fairly high cost of living.
Thank you for your help in preparing the material:
Elena Antonova, director of the agency Dos Palmeras Inmobiliaria, Dominicana
To Valery Serebryakov, Director of the agency «Emerald», Bali
Anastasia Hee, director of the agency KIKO Real Estate, Egypt
Svetlana Kasatkina, Managing Partner of the agencyExotic Property, Thailand
Sources:
Photos used: Depositphotos.com
