How to quickly and comfortably get to Anapa by car

Who is interested in a trip to Anapa by car 2021 , our report on the trip from Moscow last year. This trip turned out to be spontaneous for us. After all these quarantines, pandemics and general madness, I really want to just relax in silence at sea. Where to go was not a question. We have already been to Crimea (here you can read a report about a trip to Crimea by car ), we didn’t want to drive along the serpentine road to Sochi. And Anapa is closer, it’s easier to get there. And the sea and sun are the same everywhere. But oddly enough, air tickets to Anapa are more expensive than, for example, to Sochi.

Of course, the road to Anapa by car is long, but it has its advantages. For example, these are beautiful natural landscapes, the opportunity to see the sights along the route (there are a huge number of them in Gelendzhik), and of course, a section of the route along the sea coast.

Baggage

Things for the trip are packed based on the needs of each traveler.
In addition to the traditional set of clothes and shoes, hygiene products and towels for the Black Sea resort, you can take your favorite tablets and even a laptop with you. If you do not stop overnight and drive, changing the wheel, it is recommended to take a couple of pillows and blankets with you. A wonderful thing is an inflatable pillow that fits around the neck. You should move the things you need on the road from the trunk into the cabin. Drinking water, candy, and napkins should always be on hand.

Photo "Pillow"

Of course, you can eat on the road at gas stations or roadside cafes. But for undemanding travelers, dry rations will be enough:

• instant cereals;
• instant noodles;
• crackers;
• tea bags;
• instant coffee;
• sugar, candies and cookies.

If you have a thermal container, even perishable foods will be stored in it for a long time. But it is necessary to place cold accumulators in it - for example, bottles with frozen salt solution.

In addition to the above set are napkins, dry and wet, paper towels, disposable plates and cups. Garbage bags are a must! It’s so easy to put everything in a bag and then throw it in the trash bin at the nearest stop. Unfortunately, not everyone shares this opinion, preferring to throw empty bottles, cigarette packs and other garbage out the window.

What you need to know

Some items should definitely be put in the trunk in case of an unexpected breakdown. We also recommend that you think about what products you need to take with you on the road - there are very few cafes and canteens on the M-4. And there is only one large grocery store that does not require leaving the highway - AUCHAN in Mega-Aksai.

The number of gas stations along the entire route of Anapa also cannot be called significant. And even, probably, sufficient - south of Voronezh you will have to carefully monitor the remaining fuel in the tank.

It is necessary to calculate refueling points with a reserve - over the course of 70-80 km you may not encounter any at all. As for branded ones, we categorically do not recommend refueling modern cars with other “non-names”.

There are also surprises, such as the lack of A-95 fuel at gas stations of a certain network. We are no longer talking about 95+ and 98-100 - such gasolines are not very common in the Rostov region and Krasnodar Territory.

Prices gradually increase as you move south. So, closer to the finish line, you will have to overpay for fuel up to 1.5-2 rubles per liter.

As for speed cameras, stationary ones are present on the maps available in almost any navigator. And the mobile ones - “tripods” - get up for duty early - at half past seven in the morning you can already see the people setting them up.

A relatively recent scourge should be recognized as systems that control compliance with the speed limit in areas under repair. Where the stream flies, completely oblivious to the yellow temporary signs. And even existing warnings about the presence of video recording.

Note that although the number of cameras on the highway does not go off scale, the very length of the road and its direction (sea - recreation) implies some relaxation of the driver. As a result, when you return home, you may well receive a bunch of “chain letters”.

© Ashore.ru

Where to visit in Abkhazia by car?

For tourists asking the question “what is needed and what unusual places to visit?”, there is useful information. Gagra (resort accommodation) is traditionally considered the best region for families with children due to its warm climate, suitable for beach relaxation. And in general, the nature here is breathtaking. And what about the various cave fortifications and fortifications, temples, castles, watchtowers and much more?

What to see in Abkhazia by car on your own:

• Ritsinsky relict national park;
• Blue Lake Lake Ritsa;
• Anakopia fortress;
• New Athos cave and monastery;
• Castle of the Prince of Oldenburg;
• Waterfall "Men's Tears";
• New Athos Cave;
• Mountain village of Auadhara;
• Restaurant "Gagripsh";
• Waterfall "Maiden Tears";
• Sukhumi monkey nursery;
• Patriarchal Cathedral in Pitsunda;
• Pskhu-Gumistinsky and Pitsundo-Myussersky reserves;
• Sukhumi Botanical Garden;
• Mount Mamdzyshkha;
• Gegsky waterfall.

These are the most interesting places in the republic that are worth seeing if possible during your stay in the region. Thus, you can combine several vacation options at once, for example, beach and ecotourism. Taking into account all of the above, tourists should not have any questions about where to go on an excursion by car in Abkhazia?

Trip Nizhny Novgorod – Anapa on the M4

After the section along the A108 highway, at the exit to Kashirskoye Highway in the direction of Rostov-on-Don, there is a “Welcome” sign, it looks like a circle with the numbers 130. The limit on Kashirskoye Highway is 130 km/h. The slippers hit the floor and they flew, the road is good, the only negative is quite dense traffic, a lot of cars, but you get used to it quickly.

After 20 minutes we stopped at a roadside cafe for tea. The time was 15:30. It seemed that we would not get to Voronezh by evening. After the Kashirskoye Highway the highway smoothly flows into the M4 and the limit here is already 110 km/h. The road is good. Toll sections begin.

Toll sections on the M4

We met 5 of them in total, but one more is in the process of being completed (it’s free for now). The fare is 50 rubles, 50 rubles, 100 rubles, 60 rubles and 35 rubles. It is difficult to judge the length of each of them, but taking into account the quality of the road and the speed limit of 110, it was worth it.

Getting to the terminal is quick, the cost is written on the road signs in advance, and there are opportunities to enter the free section and they are spelled out quite clearly. At the toll section, take the receipt and keep it. We had a situation on the 4th section, which cost 60 rubles, in that there were terminals both at the entrance to the toll section and at its exit. And upon departure you were required to present a receipt. By the time we dealt with the operator, who was stubborn about returning the money for a late check, about 5 minutes had passed, which made us a little more alert from the arguments.

Before Voronezh we stopped to have a snack at a cafe, donuts and drink tea. Time was approaching sunset. After we drove around Voronezh along the toll section, the traffic increased and it got dark. But as we left the city, the road became clearer and it was decided to get to Losevo, a place that is known for the fact that there is always a big traffic jam and it is better to drive through it at night.

Overnight on the M4 highway

At 21:30 we were in the center of Losevo

and stopped at a roadside hotel. The cost of a triple room is 1600 rubles for the 2015 season (the season is already open). For a single room - 1200, for a four-bed room - 1800. In the room we had a shower, toilet, TV, double bed, and a sofa that could also be converted into a double bed. The five of us were accommodated quite comfortably. The car is in a closed parking lot in the yard.

There was a cafe nearby, tea 20 rubles, coffee 25 rubles, prices for food were not very high either.

Everything was quite well organized and left a pleasant impression.

Route calculation

Contrary to the tradition of studying forums and reviews on the Internet before the trip, we limited ourselves to independent study and plotting a route in Yandex.Maps. The only thing we took advantage of was the advice of friends not to go through Krasnodar, but to turn off the M-4 Don earlier. So, our route:

1. St. Petersburg - Moscow. We leave at about 5 pm so that we have time to pass the “ring” in Moscow before the morning traffic jams. Bypassing Vyshny Volochyok and Leningradskoye Highway along M-11 makes it possible to be on the Moscow Ring Road as early as 5 p.m.
2. There are no traffic jams yet, and without incidents or delays we get onto the M-4 Don.
3. Along the Don we go through Voronezh and Rostov-on-Don.
4. Before reaching Krasnodar we head to the village of Kanevskaya. This is a right turn in the Kislevskaya area.
5. Then through Timashevsk and Slavyansk-on-Kuban we go to Anapa.

You have to stop often - every two hours. Drink coffee, visit the WC, just warm up.

Gas stations and fuel costs

You need to approach the choice of gas station thoroughly. No cheap gas stations - only trusted operators. For example, Gazprom and LUKOIL.

The cost of fuel on the highway was slightly higher than in St. Petersburg. The average cost of 1 liter 95 gasoline was 41 rubles. 50 kopecks

We spent almost 21,000 rubles on gasoline round trip, including filling the tank until it was full before leaving.

Photo "Gazprom gas station"

All gas stations have toilets with warm water, but there can be queues, especially when a tourist bus arrives. In the cafe you can snack on hot dogs and enjoy some surprisingly decent coffee. Mineral water and carbonated sweet drinks are expensive - the price is one and a half times higher than in stores in St. Petersburg.

We had a lot of water with us: an incredible amount of 600 ml bottles of water, carbonated and plain, frozen and not, a 5-liter canister of tap water. Since stops were made not only at civilized gas stations, but also on the roadsides, where there was only a M/F house and trash cans, such a supply of water made it possible to carefreely water your head and clothes, douse your face and hands, escaping from the heat of the day.

Toll sections of the route

When what is at stake is a comfortable ride without traffic jams and on a good road surface, but for money, or for free, but on a broken road and in a crowd, many choose the first. From St. Petersburg to Moscow along M-11, along M-4 “Don” - along toll sections. This saves time and, more importantly, nerves. And, of course, driving on smooth asphalt at a constant speed is a plus for the safety of the car’s suspension, components and mechanisms. There is no transponder - keep a sufficient amount of small change coins and small bills so as not to be delayed in front of the barrier.

Transponder vs cash

The T-Pass transponder is a device that is attached to the windshield of a car and allows you to pay for travel automatically. For vehicles with a transponder, dedicated T-lanes are organized at the toll point (toll collection point). Valid on all toll roads, including M-11 and M-4.

We didn’t bother purchasing a transponder, but in vain. We would save 30 percent on paid sections. And not only money, but also time.

Cars transit through the transponder corridors of payment points without stopping. Of course, if everything is in order with the balance on the card. You can top up your account in different ways: for example, through your personal account on the website or using a mobile application. There were queues in the rest of the corridors: I stopped, paid, received a check, the barrier opened, and passed through. It takes a few minutes, but in total, a lot of time is lost on several PVPs.

It makes sense to buy a transponder if you plan to frequently use toll roads. Its cost in the Avtodora online store is 1,000 rubles. For one-time trips, it is better to rent the device for 2 (two!) rubles per day. But you need to clarify the method of replenishing the balance; it may not be possible to pay online. Therefore, you need to calculate in advance how much money you will need for toll travel and rent, and contribute it with a reserve. At the end of the rental, unused money is returned.

You can sign a lease agreement at Sales Centers and Service Offices. The list is large, you can find it on the Avtodor website.

Photo "Payment point"

Travel at night is 30–40% cheaper. In total, we pass nine toll points on the M-4: the most expensive section in the Tula region is 180 rubles. The rest average 70–110 rubles during the day, 50–75 at night. The total amount was 1,350 rubles, including 450 rubles for travel on the M-11. Several more sections of the M-11 have now opened, so travel will cost more.

Nuances to pay attention to

“Evil” traffic police post in Voronezh

Four years ago we lost more than two hours at this checkpoint. We approached Voronezh already at one o'clock in the morning, accidentally jumped off the M4 and drove through the city. And there at the checkpoint they stop everyone and force them to take a rapid test for drug use. Let me make a reservation - male drivers. If I had known, I would have gotten behind the wheel. Because an hour before, they made a stop to “recover and smoke.”

And since our driver “recovered,” he had to drink mineral water and wait more than an hour until he “got there,” otherwise he wouldn’t be able to pass the test to the required extent. Knowing about this treacherous place, this time we carefully followed the road and signs using the navigator, so as not to leave the highway again. We toured the post.

Traffic jams in Losevo

Every year the situation on the road in the area of ​​Losevo, Voronezh region, is getting worse and worse. It is best to travel this section at night, but the route is sometimes constructed in such a way that travelers end up in Losevo in the middle of the day. Yandex.Maps signals a traffic jam; you can stand in a traffic jam for two or even three hours. Don't want to stand? Welcome to the detour. There is even an information board installed on the side of the road: bypass the traffic jam to Losevo via Kamenka.

Turn off to Liski, then Kamenka, from there to Rossosh. Then you can choose two paths: one shorter through Novaya and Staraya Kalitva, the other through Kantemirovka (35 kilometers longer). After Kantemirovka return to M4-Don almost immediately after Boguchar. If we count by mileage, then directly along the M4 from the exit point in Liski to the return point is ~170 km. The detour through Kamenka is 295 km (past Kantemirovka) or 260 (past Novaya and Staraya Kalitva).

The path seemed endlessly long, although not without charm. The endless expanses of Kuban, golden fields of sunflower and rye, endless drafts, up and down. The road, by the way, is decent. Two-lane, with normal asphalt. Speeds of 99–100 km/h can be maintained, or even a little higher. There are few oncoming cars; overtaking oncoming cars can be complicated by the terrain and closed turns. I don’t know what’s better: “drive further” or “stay closer.” In the heat, I would rather prefer the first one.

Photo “Detour Losevo”

Summary: due to the Losevo bypass, the mileage to Anapa was 2,292 km.

Moving to Timashevsk

Congestion at the railway crossing in Timashevsk is another problem. If you pass Timashevsk, villages and Slavyansk-on-Kuban at night, then there will be no traffic jams either at the crossing or on the way. During the day it is more difficult: the road is narrow, two-lane. Overtaking is difficult and congestion occurs at the crossing. There are several prerequisites for this:

• the crossing is closed while trains are passing;
• the speed of vehicles is low due to uneven road surfaces;
• The road passing through the railway tracks has a complex geometry, which further complicates the movement, especially of heavy vehicles.

If the traffic jam is large, you should go around it through the city; if there are not too many cars, it is better to wait for 15–20 minutes.

Photo “Timashevsk crossing detour”

How to save time?

In order to save yourself a little time, you can drive the first hundred kilometers from Moscow on the highway. Motorists claim that there are practically no checkpoints or traffic cops there, so you can safely accelerate to 140 kilometers per hour. On the way to Voronezh, stock up on food and keep your gas receipts.

Fill up only at large chain gas stations

When you leave the gas station, please note that there are boards installed there that show how many kilometers are left until the next gas station

If you believe the reviews, it is very important to calculate your route and amount of fuel in advance

Travel tips

1. — before the road, check the condition of your car.
2. — observe the speed limit, along the way there will be four stationary traffic police posts and video recording cameras.
3. — refuel only at well-known gas stations.

In the summer in Anapa you can encounter traffic jams due to the influx of guests.

Tourists usually travel around the city to nearby places on foot, and by car they go on excursions outside the city and the surrounding area of ​​Anapa. When leaving your car in the city, carefully look at the signs so that your baby is not taken away by a tow truck. There are many one-way streets in the city, and the rules for driving on them may change during the season, so watch this carefully.

Purposes of the trip to the Black Sea

First of all, we decided to study the market of tourism services provided in the south of Russia. It just so happens that I am more familiar with Crimea and Abkhazia than with the cities from my distant childhood: Anapa, Gelendzhik or Sochi. Such a gap in personal experience required a quick correction, and that’s what I decided to do on the trip.

In addition, I often argue that holidays abroad are cheaper than domestic holidays. We intended to analyze the prices and quality of holidays on the Black Sea while traveling by car. I admit that we really liked some places in the Krasnodar Territory. Some were disappointing. But the trip itself turned out to be fascinating, since we were able to see, even if briefly, a huge number of places.

Time

In the morning, they all rush to leave early to avoid traffic jams. And therefore, closer to 9-10 in the morning, the village highway - the one that begins after the exit from M-4 near Kislyakovskaya - turns out to be completely clogged with traffic.

Since it is far from entirely composed exclusively of Muscovites eager to go to sea. After all, residents of million-dollar Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar also want to get to Anapa, Gelendzhik and Sochi, and Crimea. Tens of thousands of cars from other Russian cities also move in this direction during the season.

Naturally, we cannot do without freight transport. Often calmly cruising at a speed of 40-50 km/h, emitting clouds of naturally black diesel smoke.

Overtaking on this section is a task with many conditions. Just one lane in each direction, very dense traffic, constantly appearing solid, doubled with signs prohibiting overtaking - get ready for a long drive.

Naturally, and nervous. After all, “pilots” who rush headlong, forgetting about the rules and even common sense, are a given in stanitsa areas.

You will almost certainly be supported from behind by citizens who are in too much of a hurry. Also, those who tend to care more about than obey traffic rules.

In general, leaving the hotel at 5 am, you will arrive at the place 7-8 hours later. If you don't get stuck in a traffic jam at a railway crossing in Timashevsk. Or you won’t think to get around it, using the – in this case, wise – tips from your online navigator.

The total travel time by car on the Moscow-Anapa route reaches 30-32 hours. If you move in a moderate hurry, do not forget about stops for rest and lunch. And then spend the night in the vicinity of Rostov.

We recommend, like other authors, to leave the capital at 5 am

Only in this case will you be able to escape from the Moscow ring without turning gray in the dense traffic. And, having gained a decent speed, overcome Voronezh, and then the ever-memorable Losevo-Pavlovsk segment before noon.

Table of contents. Traveling to the resorts of the Krasnodar region by car

• Part 2 (Anapa, Vityazevo, Blagoveshchenskaya, Supsekh, Sukko, Bolshoi Utrish)
• Part 3 (how to find the Dolmens of Gelendzhik, beginning)
• Part 4 (Kabardinka, Gelendzhik, Divnomorsk, Praskoveevka)
• Part 5 (how the Dolmens of Gelendzhik held us)
• Part 6 (Beregovoe, Krinitsa, Betta, Arkhipo-Osipovka)
• Part 7 (Dzhubga, Lomonosovo, Tuapse)
• Part 8 (Shepsi, Magri, Ashe)
• Part 9 (Lazarevskoye, Solonniki, Anchor gap, Vardane)
• Part 10 (Loo, Dagomys, Matsesta, Kudepsta)
• Part 11 (Sochi)
• Part 12 (Krasnaya Polyana)
• Part 13 (Adler)
• Part 14 (The dolmens of Krasnaya Polyana again disrupted our plans)
• Part 15 (the village of Golubitskaya on the Sea of ​​Azov)
• Part 16 (country of the soul - Abkhazia)
• Part 17 (People traveling around the Krasnodar region)

While traveling by car around the Krasnodar Territory, I wanted to see as many places as possible. Perhaps you will find the right one for yourself. Many people dream of living by the sea. Someone wants to move into the warmth. Someone to be able to swim every day. Some people are attracted to fruits and vegetables that grow without any problems. However, not everyone imagines this life. Before moving on forever, it’s better to study it a little from the inside.

There are many reasons for the trip, but the main ones are easy to see: the love of traveling in your own car and curiosity are the main driving forces behind this trip.

So, the basic rules of our trip by car from Moscow:

• We are driving our own car, two drivers: me and Nastya
• We pick up travel companions on BlaBlaCar or just on the road
• We visit every residential bay of the Black Sea, study the resorts: housing, food, sea
• We are gradually moving towards Sochi and Abkhazia
• Share your impressions (table of contents above)
• Sunbathe, swim, have fun

Traveling with a child

Traveling long distances with small children is always more difficult and makes adjustments to the overall traffic pattern. In this case, how long to travel to Anapa depends on the age of the baby, and on how he tolerates the road, whether he sleeps or whether a stop at a motel or hotel is needed.

A child cannot experience restrictions in movement for a long period of time while restrained in a child seat or in a car seat. On the way to the south, there are cafes and gas stations with playgrounds, playrooms and other attributes of a “happy childhood”; you should not neglect to stop in these places and let your child run around, frolic and take his mind off the monotonous road.

Another piece of advice from experienced travelers is to stock up on new toys that your child has never seen before setting off. As soon as you get tired of one (and this will happen very quickly), you can offer your baby another.

For older children, it is better to take gadgets with games, puzzles, and books downloaded into them.

In the cabin of the car you should always have the most necessary medications, a supply of drinking water, lollipops if the baby gets motion sickness, snacks (cookies, snacks, muffins). But in any case, experts recommend stopping every two hours.

Trip to Bulgaria by car in 2022:

How much money should you take with you?

The amount directly depends on how long it is to travel to Bulgaria by car. According to ViaMichelin calculations, the route through Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia to Sofia will be 3040 km, requiring approximately 300 euros. That's travel expenses and gas, add food and hotel or camping. If you go to Varna through Ukraine (the shortest route), then the costs will be significantly reduced.

Many European countries have their own currency, but some countries use the euro. A small amount in euros will not hurt you. In Romania, when crossing bridges and ferries, payment is made in lei. It is worth changing them in advance in large populated areas, the exchange rate is better there. In other cases, you can pay by bank card. Just in case, it’s worth getting a couple of cards and notifying the bank that you are traveling abroad.

Gasoline prices, where is the best place to refuel on the road?

Traveling to Bulgaria by car on your own involves long distances. A spare canister is not enough, and prices will rise as we approach the next border. But the cost of gasoline in Belarus is lower than in Russia: 35 – 46 rubles per liter. In Ukraine: 68 – 75, Romania ~ 88, Bulgaria ~ 86 rubles. Whatever route you choose, gas stations are common.

Which road?

There are a lot of options for getting to Bulgaria by car from Moscow, Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities. The road depends on the route, and the route can be short, spectacular, fast, bypassing Ukraine and simply original.

• The original route involves traveling through Ukraine, and in Kharkov the car can be put on a car transporter train to Odessa and travel on the same train to Odessa. Savings on time, mileage, gasoline, hotel. Transporting a car will cost 2,143 rubles, plus train tickets (476 rubles per ticket) and loading/unloading. In the morning you are in Odessa. Then you can drive along the coast, there are only 750 km left to the Sunny Beach resort. But the optimal route passes through Planca, Causeni, Chisinau, Cimislia, Comrat and Cahul. Entry into Bulgaria via Vama-Veche or Negru Vode. The second checkpoint is more deserted.
• Short route. It passes through Ukraine, more precisely through Zhitomir, Chernivtsi and Suceava in Romania. There are few border crossings and a good road on this route.
• Entertaining. May include attractions of different countries, seaside holidays or ferry crossings.

Important! Calculate your route so as not to go through border crossings from Friday to Sunday. Highway A1 (Sofia-Burgas)

Highway A1 (Sofia-Burgas)

Where is the best place to stop to eat?

A car trip from Moscow to Bulgaria also includes major cities. There will be no problems with food. Prices are not higher than in Moscow.

Passing the border, what documents are needed

What documents do Russians need to enter Bulgaria?

Minimum:

• driver's license,
• vehicle registration,
• insurance (green card),
• RUS sticker
• and Schengen visas for all passengers.

In addition to documents, you need to take into account some features in the rules of different countries.

• At the Romanian border there is a shift change from 7:00 to 8:00 in the morning and evening, cars are not allowed through.
• EU countries. The import of meat and dairy products is prohibited; you can take some for food on the road. From November to March, the car must be “shod” in winter tires. Studded tires are prohibited. It is prohibited to transport children under 12 years of age in the front seat.
• In Bulgaria. All passengers must wear seat belts while traveling. The driver is required to turn on low beams during the day.

Resort Balchik

Route from Rostov-on-Don: the most convenient options

The road to Anapa may pass through different settlements and you need to decide exactly how to go to the resort, passing Rostov, at the travel planning stage.

There are three options in total:

• through Krasnodar and Krymsk;
• through Timashevsk and Slavyansk-on Kuban;
• through the village of Varenikovskaya.

The shortest road lies through Krymsk, but it is also the most stressful. Here you can stand in traffic jams for 3-5 hours, sweltering from the unbearable heat and wasting time on the road.

On the one hand, when looking at the map it may seem that this option is the shortest, but in fact, during the high season it can become the longest.

If you turn onto Azov and move towards Timashevsk and Slavyansk-on-Kuban, you can bypass all the traffic jams and get to the sea faster.

In terms of mileage, travel time increases by 40-50 minutes, but in reality the finish will be faster than those who stand in traffic jams on the road from Krasnodar to Novorossiysk.

Experienced travelers believe that the optimal route to the sunniest city on the banks of the Black Sea goes through the villages of the Krasnodar Territory. In Korenovsk you need to turn towards the village of Kislyakovskaya and follow to Timashevsk.

The road is deserted, often completely calm without many other road users. But you shouldn’t count on driving at high speed here - the road surface is bad, and bumps and potholes force you to constantly press the brake.

Forced march Anapa - Moscow in 15 hours

The reason for the race was personal; I really needed to be on time. This time was achieved due to the simultaneous implementation of the following points:

• verified timing;
• I drove;
• perfect weather;
• toll roads with transponder;
• toilet and buying food only at the same time as refueling the car.

Timing is important. Please note that Rostov and Moscow have 24-hour traffic jams

You can't come here in the morning or evening. During the day it’s also not advisable, but not critical. I left Anapa at 23:00. It takes almost the same time to get to Krasnodar as it does to Rostov, so it’s better to take the shortcuts via P251-P268 straight away. On an empty road at night, although not the most direct, after 5 hours I was already driving through Rostov, and at the same time I refueled. Around 4 am I was greeted by this wonderful sunrise.

I usually drive 130. Exceptions: cameras, closed turns and the car ahead until I overtake it. I was lucky with the weather; I wouldn’t risk it in the rain. In dry weather, it is enough to have a good radar detector.

There are many toll roads on the M4, so you won’t even get fined for 129. And the presence of a transponder allows you not only to pass payment points faster, but also to drive along the only free lanes, when all other cars can stand for 15-20 minutes.

There were three gas stations along the road. I prefer Gazprom Neft (not to be confused with Gazprom!) and Lukoil. At the same time, a trip to the toilet was made, as well as a purchase of food and water, which was taken into the car and consumed while driving.

Comparison of free and toll roads

The cost of travel on the toll road, including fuel, will be approximately 13,069 rubles. or 12,255 rub. and time savings of at least 5 hours . On a free road the costs will only be on fuel, but it will take much more time. If you are not in a hurry and have the goal of traveling around Russia, then take the free road. Bypassing some areas and using the bypass. If the task is to get there quickly with a minimum of stops, a toll road will significantly speed up the pace of movement, especially if there is a transponder. And regardless of the route you choose, we wish you a safe journey!

Swimming and beaches

In Blagoveshchenskaya, from the moment of our arrival until our departure, there was mud in the sea. Fortunately, it doesn't stink, as some people write. The mud ended fifteen to twenty meters from the shore.

Many adults simply swam away from the shore, and children had to swim in it. However, the water in Blagoveshchenskaya sea, despite the presence of mud near the shore, is at least visually better than in Sukko or Taman. Reviews from vacationers in Anapa regarding the beaches and sea, by the way, are also not so hot.

Dolphins swim into Blagoveshchenskaya almost every morning from 9 to 12. We saw jellyfish in the sea only during a boat trip. Several times I saw some fish fry in the sea. In any, even the most abandoned pond in the Moscow region, there are several orders of magnitude more fish (small things). I even bought a diving mask, hoping to catch at least one crab to show my child, but I didn’t catch one! Crabs need to be caught there in other places where there are rocks at the bottom.

Fruit prices are slightly cheaper than in Moscow. Among the local vegetables and fruits we liked were tomatoes, peaches, some varieties of grapes and melons. I didn’t like the local watermelons

Recreation center

I can’t write anything good about “Vinogradnaya” itself either. Its main advantage is that it is located just two hundred meters from the sea. It’s more convenient there, only in comparison, than living in tents.

The water in the showers and washbasins is also salty and mostly cold. As a result, on the penultimate day, after taking a cold shower in the evening, I caught a cold. And he went to Moscow sick, from this “forge of health,” as it was written on the shabby facade of one of the buildings on the road from Blagoveshchenskaya to Anapa.

Anapa

You can relax in Anapa on a budget. For example, three meals a day for three people cost us 800-1000 rubles. Sometimes even less, because I didn’t want to eat in such heat.

From our place of residence to the beach is 10 minutes at a leisurely pace. But the sea has everything for children. Animators, various attractions, trampolines, photos with animals - in a word, there is something to do.

Among the shortcomings: we did not come across a single trash can on the coast. Every five minutes shouts were constantly heard: “Beer”, “Shrimp”, “Baklava!” — a little tiring, to be honest. I was also surprised by the local market, which is located not far from our hotel - of course there is a large selection, but the prices are really Moscow, and in some places even higher. The “local color” deserves special attention - they swear, drink, yell at children. But you can’t hide from such people anywhere.

In Anapa you need to take guided tours to get at least some information about the city and attractions. For example, you can take a walk around Anapa itself using a mobile application , or visit the protected Utrish with a guide.

Road Moscow - Anapa

We left Moscow on August 2 at 7-15 in the morning (we planned at 6, but the morning that day, and the whole day somehow didn’t work out). The road from Moscow to Voronezh along the reconstructed M4 Don took 10 (ten) hours! From Moscow to Voronezh there are now 5 (five) toll sections (the 6th, bypass of Voronezh, will open soon).

Having driven about 30 minutes from the Moscow Ring Road, we got stuck in a traffic jam in front of the first toll section and stood there for about 30 minutes, then it turned out to be even worse. Again, a thirty-minute drive and already about an hour of standing in line at another toll section. As a result, our average driving speed for the first 500 km to Voronezh, plus standing in front of each toll point, was 50 km/h! It was so slow, and I’ve never driven in 35 degree heat before.

Many consider the M4 Don one of the best roads in the country! Wow, these are the “best” roads! The biggest advantage of such a toll road is that there is a dividing barrier on it, and no one will “fly” into the front from the oncoming traffic. There were no normal toilets along the road, and there are none, only at some gas stations. There are also few “normal” shops and cafes. I didn’t even think about the fact that such problems could happen on the road, and in vain!

There were also problems on the road in the Rostov region at the end of July. The problem areas of the road, in addition to passing all the toll points to Voronezh, are almost the entire road south of Voronezh, especially in the area of ​​the village of Losevo, the city of Pavlovsk and the road bypassing Rostov-on-Don.

Travel time

Eventually! Traveling by car from Moscow to Anapa can be called almost extreme! The road to Blagoveshchenskaya took us almost 30 hours! It took 20 hours to get back to Moscow, 10 hours of which were to Rostov, and in the second ten hours I traveled from Rostov to Moscow.

Initially we planned to spend the night somewhere in the Rostov region, but in the end I really didn’t want to sleep, so I drove to Blagoveshchenskaya. We stopped for a couple of hours to swim at one of the rivers in the Voronezh region.

Stanitsa Blagoveshchenskaya

We didn’t book a place to live in Blagoveshchenskaya anywhere on the Internet in advance. There is a lot of negative information when choosing housing based on photos and reviews written by someone who doesn’t understand, and upon arrival at the place everything turns out to be not at all as good and beautiful as described on the Internet. We decided to take a look upon arrival, after reconnaissance on the ground.

We had no problems with the search. About an hour and a half after entering Blagoveshchenskaya we moved in. Everything possible is available for rent there. There are advertisements for housing for rent on almost every house. Even in the first days of August (during our visit) there were a lot of options. We didn’t have any special requirements; we are all quite unpretentious.

We looked at a couple of options in private houses, prices were 400 (with air conditioning) and 350 rubles. (without condo) per person with “conveniences” on the street and a shared kitchen. From the nearest houses on Blagoveshchenskaya it was about half an hour's walk to the sea by foot.

Note that in 2022 there will most likely be much more tourists - few will go abroad. And therefore, inexpensive and good options like the Marlene mini-hotel will run out first. Judge for yourself:

• about 2.6 thousand rubles per night for three at the end of June
• spacious swimming pool
• 10 minutes to the coast...

Naturally, local businessmen installed a barrier in front of the beach. And they organized an entry fee of 150 rubles. and of course, without any responsibility for the car left in this parking lot.

We didn’t like the prospect of going to the beach every time (there were also a lot of people there), and so we decided to further look at housing at bases that are located along the sea towards the Bugaz Spit, at a distance of 200-300 meters from it. We decided to stop on the third of them.

Bugaz Spit

The base where we decided to stop was called “Vinogradar”. Housing on it consisted of detached panel houses.

They had beds and bedside tables in the room, and an air conditioner that made more noise than cooled the air, as it turned out later, a small refrigerator made in the USSR and a wardrobe in the small hallway. In the hallway there was a table and two benches, which could be taken outside if desired.

On the base there was a common kitchen with three gas stoves. We and all the other residents prepared our own food. Also on the territory of the base there were two houses with showers, in one of which the water was constantly cold, and in the other, sometimes warm, and two small buildings with toilets.

I didn’t have to stand in lines for the kitchen and showers, well, just for the showers, I had to wait 10 minutes a couple of times during the week. This “pleasure” costs 600 rubles. per person per day. For an additional fee of 100 rubles per day you could rent a TV. However, we returned ours a day later.

We had a problem with the antenna, but we had no desire to figure it out and adjust it. Everyone parked their cars next to their houses. On the territory of the base we had a small store where almost everything you needed could be bought. For children, of all the entertainment on the base, there were only a couple of swings.

Wild tourism

It was two hundred meters from our house to the sea. On the territory of the base where we stayed, vacationers lived in tents under almost every tree. The neighboring base across the fence from us is completely populated by tent campers. A day's rest in 35-degree heat in a tent is not at all to be envied. On weekends, the number of campers in tents increases significantly.

It is not clear when this base was built, but its appearance is not at all attractive. By the way, the windows in the houses do not open. If the air conditioner dropped the temperature inside the house at least a little during the day, then at night for some reason it was even cooler outside than in a house with a constantly running air conditioner.

I won’t say that it was completely uncomfortable to sleep, but if it were a little cooler it would be better. Not once during the week of our stay did I see anyone cleaning her territory or watering the trees.

Maybe they only cleaned it during the day; we left somewhere every day. However, there were no special deposits of garbage on the territory either. Once, I saw that they were removing abandoned bottles and garbage between the territory of the base and the sea.

Route Moscow-Gelendzhik/Sochi

If you are not in a big hurry, then you can easily rent a normal one-room apartment on the outskirts for 1500-2000 rubles (I recommend an apartment in Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don), and a comparable hotel will cost twice as much.

As an option, plan a route with only one overnight stay, for example, leave Moscow during the day, get to Voronezh in the evening, spend the night in a hotel in front of it, and from early morning move on straight to the sea. Or plan a single overnight stay before Rostov, where the route passes through several settlements where there are motels and private housing.

Unpretentious travelers can even spend the night in a tent in forest belts, while “truck drivers” can drive for 18-25 hours without resting or spending the night. I personally don’t want to take risks, so I try not to do long hauls as I get tired and lose concentration, especially at night. Yes, I could drive these 1500 km in one sitting, but I don’t see the point.

Most of the M4 is now like this. Along the road there are often motels, cafes and other services

If the final goal is Sochi, then driving along the Tuapse-Sochi section without a preliminary break is not very pleasant, there are serpentines, traffic jams, and this section can take quite a lot of time, 2-3 times longer than usual (when compared with flat sections). Ideally, drive along it early in the morning, while there are still few cars, or at night. My average speed was 45 km/h, there were sections with one-way traffic (repairs), plus, although trucks sometimes let through on the uphill slopes, overall I still couldn’t drive fast. Only closer to Sochi and after it the speed is normal. In populated areas (and there are plenty of them there) the speed limit is often 40 km/h, on the highway it’s 70 km/h.

I usually go to Gelendzhik through Dzhubga, I like it there better, it’s a calm road, but there is an option to go through Novorossiysk. It’s better to go to Anapa by leaving the M4 highway 100 kilometers after Rostov to the village of Kanevskaya, and then driving through Timashevsk, Slavyansk-on-Kuban, sticking to the Temryuk direction, but the road there is so-so. After Slavyansk it will be necessary to go to Anapa.

Travel time

As I wrote above, it all depends on how many overnight stays you want along the way and whether you want to at all. We all went to the sea together, so we spent 2 nights, and in the end the journey took 3 light days at a calm pace.

I traveled back alone (my family flew by plane) from Adler to Moscow. I got there in 26 hours, of which I spent about 5 hours sleeping in the car near a gas station. That is, the journey itself took 21 hours. Quite quickly I think. Somewhere around 20-25 hours is worth counting on, without taking into account long stops for sleep.

Useful gadgets

Navigation equipment

It is necessary to take into account that applications such as Yandex.Maps or Google Maps only work fully under conditions of good Internet speed, which is definitely not enough in the vastness of Kuban. Therefore, the best choice is a GPS navigator with updated maps.

Such a device is quite multifunctional: it warns of a decrease in speed when entering a populated area, signals that the speed limit is exceeded at the moment, and warns of approaching pedestrian crossings.

How to avoid speeding fines

We had with us a powerful walkie-talkie, like the kind truckers use, so we were always aware of the current road situation: traffic jams, traffic police crews working on the highway, mobile radar installation points, places where useful items were sold, and received other necessary and unnecessary information.

There was also a radar detector in the car, which, however, did not save us from a couple of fines for speeding in the Tver region - one radar “caught” us on the way to Anapa, the other - on the way back. Both are in the village of Voskresenskoye.

Entertainment on the road

In addition to the standard radio, if there is no USB port, it is worth taking an FM transmitter that allows you to play pre-recorded selections of your favorite tracks from a flash drive. This is for the driver.

Passengers have access to numerous pleasures in the form of watching movies downloaded to tablets, computer games and e-books.

Inverter: necessary or not?

To charge devices on the go, an inverter is a voltage converter. Several USB connectors, additional “cigarette lighters” and two 220-volt sockets with which the device is equipped will allow you to connect all your phones, tablets, navigator, laptop, and even boil water using a small old-fashioned boiler.

We have already purchased an inverter - powerful (1,500 W), with a cooling radiator, a little noisy due to the operation of the fan, but capable of providing power to all devices. Bought a long time ago and at an expensive price. Now it costs more than 5 thousand. If you are not going to boil water on the road, it is not worth spending money on it. And you can get boiling water at a gas station. Professional coffee machines can “dispense” boiling water, and in most cases this service is free for customers of network gas stations.

Theoretically, an inverter is not necessary, since the on-board electrical system of the car is quite capable of coping with the task of recharging smartphones and powering the navigator and recorder. You only need a cigarette lighter splitter (the price at car markets or electronics markets is up to 500 rubles) so that you can connect several devices at the same time.

Through the Don and Oka - to the beauties of Krasnodar

A trip from Moscow to Gelendzhik by car will take 20 hours if you are driving alone (or an experienced shift worker is with you in the car), you have important and urgent business in the south of Russia and you refuel no more than 3-4 times. With a family of four (with two kids), you'll be stopping every two to three hours anyway. And be sure to stop somewhere for the night. For example, in the longest Rostov region on the way (if you are moving slowly) or in the most picturesque Krasnodar region (if you want to get to the sea in the morning).

On the road to Gelendzhik you will cross the winding Don more than once. Photo: globallookpress.com

The first of the big rivers you will cross is the shallowed Oka. Then you will cross the winding Don more than once, as well as the Seversky Donets and Kuban, if you take the M-4 straight to Dzhubga.

Travel route to Crimea by car

The best route from Moscow to the southern regions is rightfully considered the M4 (Don-4) highway. In almost all areas, the road surface has been brought up to European standards. The distance to Kerch across the Crimean Bridge is about 1600 km, and to Simferopol you need to cover another two hundred km. The route runs through Yelets, Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don.

The Don-4 highway has a number of toll sections, travel costs 1 ruble/km, there are also free bypass roads everywhere, but experienced motorists do not advise saving in this way. The mileage and travel time increase significantly.

There are a large number of sections on the bypasses with a significant speed limit of up to 40 km/h, on which numerous video cameras are installed that record any speeding. Therefore, the fee is about 1000 rubles. for toll sections of the M-4 one way is not so high compared to potential fines and additional fuel consumption on detour routes.

Toll sections of Don-4 allow you to keep the speed limit at 100-110 km/h (the permitted speed is 90 km), the police here are as loyal as possible, and all cameras are known to navigation systems. But at the same time, there are also problematic sections on the route - the village. Losevo near Voronezh, the road in front of Rostov and the section in front of the city of Timashevsk. It is advisable to drive around them through neighboring settlements using a navigator.

How long does it take to get to Crimea by car from Moscow? This is not a question of distance, but of the goals and comfort of your trip. Rumor has it that some of the “experienced” managed to overcome the Moscow-Kerch route in 18 hours. But these are more like driver's stories. Even the most experienced driver will have to waste time at gas stations, make technical stops; no one is immune from road hassles associated with road repairs, registration of accidents or driving through populated areas.

Therefore, the estimated travel time is 21-23 hours. The road will be significantly simplified if there are two drivers traveling in the car, who can take turns behind the wheel. If there is only one driver in the cabin, plus you decide to go to Crimea on your own with children, it makes sense to spend the night on the road. This is not difficult to do. Along the route there are numerous motels, inns, and hotels. In high season, accommodation there for one night will cost from 1,500 rubles. for a double room in small towns. An alternative is to sleep in your own car, or your own tent somewhere in nature.

If you are ready to drive at night, you will receive a number of advantages: you will certainly be able to avoid hassles on the road, and tariffs on toll sections of the road are halved.

For tourists who decide to travel via ferry crossing, we recommend booking electronic tickets 5-7 days before departure on the GOSPAROM.RU website.

Toll section on the Don-4 highway

Preparing the car for the trip

There is no point in hoping that at any point along the route you will find a car service center where you can eliminate the problem that has arisen. Of the 2,200 km of route, 60% is in uninhabited areas and urban-type settlements. There is a risk of increasing travel time by a day or more if the car is not prepared for the trip.

A few days before departure, it is recommended to visit the mechanic who serviced the car and check:

• levels of technical fluids and the absence of leaks;
• chassis for excessive play;
• tire pressure (don't forget about the spare tire);
• state of electronic control units (diagnostic scanner);
• serviceability of lighting devices.

Costs for pre-trip diagnostics

Some car services offer a service such as checking a car before a long journey. Such work is estimated at an average of no more than 1,000 rubles and is limited to a visual inspection, hardware testing of battery charging and charging, measuring tire pressure and mechanical checking the tightening of wheel bolts, testing lighting devices.

Connecting a multiscanner is paid separately and costs from 600 to 1,500 rubles. If you want to check the chassis and the condition of the bottom, you will have to put the car on a lift. For this they may ask for another 1,000 rubles or more.

How to save money

You can reduce costs by entrusting the craftsmen only with those actions that cannot be performed outside the boundaries of the service station. Every car owner can measure tire pressure or determine the oil and coolant levels. How to find out whether headlights, lights, “dimensions”, turn signals and hazard warning lights are working. You can have someone help you check that your brake and reverse lights are working properly.

It is not at all necessary to go to a dealership service station, even if the car is still under warranty. During the inspection, no interventions are made into the components and mechanisms of the machine, so there is no risk of voiding the warranty. But the cost of diagnostic procedures in an authorized workshop can be unpleasantly surprising.

So it’s enough to visit the nearest car service center. Moreover, all service stations have long been equipped with diagnostic equipment that is as close as possible to that of a dealer. Even garage mechanics have a chance of finding the appropriate devices. From this we can conclude that, against the backdrop of overall costs, the costs of a pre-trip inspection of a vehicle are as small as the chance that nothing will break in the car along the way.

Fortunately, my husband works in a car repair shop and prepared the car for the trip himself. This did not affect the vacation budget in any way.

What must be in stock

Bulbs and fuses must be in stock. Tools include a wheel wrench and screwdrivers. Be sure to take engine oil, antifreeze, washer fluid, a compressor, or at least a hand pump with you. The presence of an emergency stop sign and a fire extinguisher is required by the rules of the road. There are special requirements for a fire extinguisher: the larger it is, the better. Be sure to check that the cylinder pressure is correct and that the expiration date does not expire before you return home.

In addition to the required dressing materials, add to the first aid kit:

• medications you are taking;
• headache medications;
• chlorhexidine and hydrogen peroxide;
• enterosorbents.

Leave the first aid kit in the cabin - it’s cooler there than in the trunk, and you’ll always have access to medications.

What to see

"Safari Park"

9:00-17:00

Entrance

1000 rub.

It was not by chance that lions, bears, tigers, pumas and other wild animals ended up in the Safari Park. More often these are circus performers who can no longer perform. There are pets that were poorly cared for by their owners. Nothing reminds us of the animals’ past; here they are well fed and comfortable. Find out more

Microdistrict “Blue Bay”

Around the clock

Entrance

Free

Scientists are exploring the Black Sea here. Why don't you look into the depths? “Blue Lagoon” is one of the best diving spots in Gelendzhik. Classes are held for beginners and professionals. Beach lovers will appreciate the small pebbles and clean shore. Find out more

Entrance

100-200 rub.

The Adygs believed that these were the houses of dwarfs. The Scythians considered them tombs. The riddle of the dolmens still cannot be solved. How did they appear in the Caucasus? Why are there so many legends around them? And do you believe that the wish made here will certainly come true - you just need to ask the ancient spirits? Find out more

The first option is train

Russian Railways offers its passengers several direct and transit trains for a comfortable trip to Anapa.

Timetable

247A St. Petersburg - Anapa, which travels through Moscow, departs from Kursky station at 7:25 (1 day 12 hours 20 minutes on the road, on Thursdays)

012M Moscow - Anapa departs from Kazansky railway station at 10:20 (journey time 23 hours 30 minutes, daily)

156m Moscow - Anapa leaves from Kazansky station at 22:18 (1 day 6 hours 52 minutes, daily)

110M Moscow - Anapa departs from Belorussky railway station at 22:23 (journey time is 1 day 11 hours 52 minutes, regularity - even dates).

Where to buy tickets and their cost

The cost of a ticket for this type of transport is from 1,700 rubles to 1,900 depending on the date. I recommend buying tickets in advance; they can be booked 45 days before the planned trip, in some cases 60 days. You can obtain travel documents at the station ticket office, or on the Internet on the websites of official representatives.

On the way back

They did not ask for money for parking the car at the Lika guest house. Our “hog” stood for all ten days and became dusty. On the day of departure, before the long journey, we stopped at a car wash located in the passage of Soldiers' Mothers.

There is quite a lot of traffic on this street, and we had to get out and almost immediately change into the left lane for a U-turn. To make the maneuver, I had to step on the gas a little. We accelerated to a little over 60 km/h. Imagine our surprise when the fine was issued on August 30th. It turns out that the speed limit in that section is 40 km/h, and we did not take this into account when leaving the car wash area.

Photo “Car wash in Anapa”

On the way back, it’s worth buying some watermelons. The cost on the highway is 8 rubles. per kilogram. Trays with fruits, melons and watermelons stand right next to the melons.

There is no need to be afraid that the watermelons in the trunk will not withstand the heat. Freshly picked fruits are surprisingly resilient. They arrive from the Krasnodar Territory to St. Petersburg safe and sound.

Photo “Buying watermelons on the highway”, “Bakhcha”

On the return route, the road along the villages to the M-4 Don causes some difficulty. During the day there is very busy traffic. In addition to cars, trucks with harvest are driving slowly. The desire to overtake a slow-moving vehicle pushes you to rash actions. Judging by the memorial signs along the roadsides, accidents with tragic outcomes occur on the highway.

As a rule, accidents occur due to driving into oncoming traffic. Take care of yourself! A few minutes gained when overtaking are not worth a person’s life and health.

If you leave Anapa at noon, you have a chance to reach the Moscow Ring Road by the early morning of the next day. The main thing is to have time to leave the roundabout at least at 7 am, then you can bypass the dense traffic jams and jump out onto the M-11. We can consider this to be the beginning of the finish line to our native St. Petersburg.

Travel Anapa - Moscow by car in April 2022

The road beckons me. Since 2005, I often travel by car across the vast expanses of our country. And in April of this year I had the opportunity to travel from Anapa to Moscow.

The length of the route is about 1.5 thousand km. I drove through Slavyansk-on-Kuban, Timashevsk and the villages, and not through Krasnodar. I took the M4 in the Kislyakovskaya area. The road is not bad. There are no traffic jams like in Krasnodar. The exception is Timashevsk. Due to the busy railway crossing, there is congestion here both day and night. But there is a detour. But in Krasnodar, unfortunately, it is not there. Or I don't know him)

What's new on the M4 this year?

• A new paid section has appeared in the Rostov region. By mid-summer-autumn, several more will probably open - terminals have already been installed, and equipment for exits and exits is underway.
• A lot of repair work in the Rostov region. They make roads and bridges. During the peak holiday season there will likely be traffic jams.
• The number of cameras, in my opinion, has increased. The radar detector often notified me about them. But, on the contrary, I meet traffic police officers less and less every year.

This time I was traveling alone, so I stopped for the night in the Voronezh region. But early in the morning I drove through Losevo and Pavlovsk without traffic jams and did not stop on the Moscow Ring Road.

I refueled at Rosneft and Lukoil. These gas stations are the most decent, in my opinion, they have wi-fi, a cafe, and good toilets (not always). At the Lukoil gas station No. 441 (720 km) I even saw a children’s playground.

Sights of Moscow

In this city you can see a lot of new and interesting things even for tourists who have come here not for the first time.

Summer in the capital

Alexander Garden

This place is considered a green island of Moscow. There are many trees and flowers growing here. There are also several iconic landmarks. You can go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame.

The “Ruins” grotto always attracts interest among tourists in the park.

Arbat

Since 1986, this street has become completely pedestrian. According to tradition, artists often perform on Arbat in Moscow, artists draw cartoons and pictures, and in souvenir shops you can buy products with the symbols of the city. There are many old and remarkable establishments on Arbat. For example, the Prague restaurant, the sculpture of Pushkin and Natalie, Tsoi’s Wall and others.

Morning

Bunker-42 on Taganka

This museum is located in a former secret place of the USSR in the Tagansky ZKP, or GO-42. This bunker was built during the Cold War. Today here you can find out a lot of information about the inhabitants of Moscow in the 50s and 60s, about nuclear danger and the Cold War.

VDNH

Here you can go to the cosmonautics museum and look at the model of the Buran ship, look into the aquarium and the farm. Also in VDNKh Park there is a famous Ferris wheel, from the height of which the city is visible at a glance.

Bridge and cars

GUM

This is not only the most famous store in Russia with many luxury boutiques, but also a unique art object in Moscow. The building is made in pseudo-Russian style. In addition to shops, there is a cinema, Gastronome No. 1 and Canteen No. 57, where you can taste Soviet cuisine.

our car

It should be noted here that our car is a Mercedes S-Klasse, but not a modern one, but a retro one - the famous “hog” from the 90s, the 500th Mercedes. Cruise control made it possible not to get tired behind the wheel, the softness of the suspension contributed to a smooth ride, and climate control ensured a pleasant coolness in the cabin. Considering that at the end of July 2022 in Kuban the air temperature was over 30 °C during the day, traveling from St. Petersburg to Anapa in a car without air conditioning is the same as sitting in a sauna for two days.

Why by car and not by train or plane? There are two main reasons for this:

1. Expensive plane tickets. Plus, I didn’t want to limit myself in the number of things I took with me.
2. The long-distance train is cheaper, but I really didn’t want to travel “in the crowd.” Two days in the company of strangers without the opportunity to change the environment (don’t consider us snobs) is a burden for me.

Therefore, even a fully purchased coupe is not an option - the “vacuum” of the interior of a personal car can be called the optimal choice.

Photo “Car in front of Lika Guest House”

Do you need a car in Anapa?

Anapa is a small town with narrow streets, half of which have one-way traffic. Difficult passage and an insufficient number of parking spaces interfere with the full operation of the car.

It’s better to walk or take a taxi, which arrives within 5 minutes when called. If you divide the payment between three, it will be cheaper than a minibus in St. Petersburg. From the guest house to the pebble beach - 150 rubles.

Family trip cost

Let's estimate how much a trip to Sochi by car will cost in 2020, using as an example the trip of a family of three who drove to the resort in their car from Moscow.

Gasoline will cost about 14-15 thousand for the trip there and back, if you refuel at 44 rubles per liter and an average consumption of 10 liters per 100 km.

Your expenses at the resort will depend on where and how often you travel. You can get from Sochi to Krasnaya Polyana in an hour and a half, fuel will cost 300-400 rubles (70 km, AI-92 for 44 rubles).

Budget in advance for expenses on entertainment, carousels, ice cream and souvenirs. Photo: Tatiana CHERNIKOVA

Accommodation in a hotel or rented apartment will cost from 15,000 to 65,000 for 10 days. In the villages you can stay cheaper, in the center in a good hotel they will charge at least 5,000 rubles per day - with or without breakfast. There are camping options if your child is old enough for wild camping. Cost - from 1000 rubles.

Many of the natural attractions of the country's main resort can be seen absolutely free: this includes the Sea Terminal, the Riviera Park, dolmens, and waterfalls. However, it is better to budget a certain amount for tickets and excursions to paid objects; there are also many of these here.

Let’s say staying in a guest house in Sochi will cost 30,000 rubles for 10 days. A family of three will pay the same amount for food. If you add expenses on excursions, entrance tickets and souvenirs, as well as expenses on small things like buying ice cream and water, it will come out to about 95,000 rubles, including gasoline costs.

Trip Nizhny Novgorod - Anapa along Rostov and Krasnodar roads

Having left the M4, we found ourselves on roads that strongly resembled the Arzamas direction of the Nizhny Novgorod highways, where everyone tried to overtake each other, running into trucks going about 80-90 km/h. and tried for a long time to overtake them. The road is good, but driving on it itself was quite “ragged”; the cruise control was practically not turned on here.

To Anapa

we entered from the direction of Dzhiginka and the Airport, which was determined by the receiving party.
The time was more than 17:00, which did not stop us from getting to Dzhemete beach and taking a dip in the Black Sea
.

About the car we were driving and the tolerability of the trip

We traveled in a 7-seater Opel Zafira B, 1 seat was folded out of the third row, the children all rode in child seats. Children and adults endured the journey quite comfortably. In the evening, after visiting the beach, we went to the store in Anapa and back.

About gasoline and cameras

We filled the tank full for the trip and refueled for the first time on the M4, although we had to refuel with some TLT oil that looked like TATNeft in all but name. They poured in 200 rubles. We arrived at the TNK gas station and topped up some more. Afterwards, at Gazprom they filled the tank full again and added a little at the entrance. In total, it cost 4,500 rubles, plus or minus the error.

Violation cameras are basically posted on signs everywhere; just follow the signs. The signs are all visible, it is quite clear what speed should be observed. Throughout the entire period there were 3-4 portable cameras and then traffic police officers stood stopping the violators. 10 days after the trip, we had no fines in the traffic police online resource.

Things to do

There is not much entertainment in the village itself. And if you didn’t come by car, organizing your leisure time may be difficult. Yes, you can always go to Anapa. And from there, for example, with an excursion to Utrish, smelling of juniper - iz-anapyi-v-zapovednyiy-utrish.

But there's not much traffic here on public transport. And, for example, you can’t get to the blooming Lotus Valley in the Akhtanizovsky Estuary...

However, this is a digression - let’s give the author the floor again -

Where did you go this week:

We took the child on a boat ride.

Vityazevo

We took a ride to Vityazevo to the dolphinarium. At first we wanted to go to the dolphinarium on Utrish, but after we were told that on the way there we need to pay for two barriers (last year there was one) we decided not to go there.

And the main problem is to park the car itself in Utrish, since a lot of excursion buses come there, and there are almost no parking places, we decided to take the child to the Vityazevsky Dolphinarium.

It’s worth taking children to the dolphinarium. Maybe it’s no worse in Moscow, but somehow it didn’t work out for us to get to the Moscow one.

Sukko

We went to Sukko. We didn't like it there. It’s a very small beach and there were a lot of people there, even at eight in the evening. You won't be able to park your car right next to the entrance there either. Only in two small paid parking lots, and it’s not a fact that even there will still be free spaces.

On foot from any nearby place, I think it will also take at least half an hour. Swimming, walking and lying on a pebble beach is worse than on a sandy one. On a sandy beach it can only be worse in strong winds. The water in Sukko, even without the presence of mud in the sea, is dirty (at least it was there in the evening when we were there).

Anapa

We went to the Golden Beach water park in Anapa. If you have children with you, then you should definitely visit it too. The water park and the dolphinarium are the entertainment in Anapa where there were the most smiles on people’s faces. Unlike the water park in Maryino in Moscow, there is no such smell of bleach.

We took a ride to Taman. We visited the ethnic Cossack village of Ataman. It's worth taking your children there. Just choose a day that is not the hottest for this. The territory is large and in the heat, like we were at +35, it’s a bit of a pleasure to walk there.

We were on the beach in Taman, in the Kerch Strait, and we didn’t like it at all. The sea is dirty, there is a lot of grass. Entry to the beach by car, again with a barrier - 50 rubles. The beach itself is not worth it.

We took the child to a crocodile farm in Anapa. A ticket for an adult costs 600 rubles, a child ticket costs 500 rubles. Permission to shoot plus one hundred rubles. You don't have to go there! The area is very small.

We stopped at the Bugaz Spit. At the entrance you will be greeted by another barrier. No, in general, “well done” there, almost all the approaches to the sea are blocked. Moreover, it would be understandable if at least something was done behind these barriers. But no, nothing! You're driving along a dirt road and then bam! Pay! =)