2026
The new KOSTAAIR: where the journey begins
Every journey begins long before the airport. First comes an idea, then dozens of open tabs — tickets, hotels, visa rules, routes, reviews, tips, articles. Sometimes preparing for a trip feels like a
May 31, 2026Summer starts tomorrow. Where travelers are actually heading in 2026
June 1 — and we're off. Summer 2026 is already here. Turkey is back on top. Antalya, direct flights, all inclusive — the familiar formula that still works. Egypt is close: Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada,
May 30, 2026Aeroflot resumes UAE flights from 1 June 2026
Good news for fans of the UAE: Aeroflot has announced the resumption of regular flights between Moscow and Dubai from 1 June 2026, and tickets are already on sale. Through June flights will operate on
May 30, 2026Bali rice terraces: more than a postcard view
A calm route through one of Bali's most atmospheric landscapes and the subak irrigation system.
April 6, 2026Russia and Saudi Arabia launch visa-free travel from 11 May 2026
Russia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to mutually waive visas for short trips by citizens of both countries. The visa-free regime takes effect on 11 May 2026 and applies to holders of ordinary internati
April 2, 2026Russia–China: more flights, no visa needed
Flying to China in 2026 has become easier — and I can feel it in my own tickets. Visa-free stays of up to 30 days are already in place: Moscow to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hainan, plus flights fro
April 1, 2026Aeroflot pulled UAE from sale until end of May. What to do?
You open booking — and Dubai is gone. Aeroflot has suspended sales to the UAE until the end of May 2026. No need to panic, but it's not 'nothing changed' either. If you've already bought a tour, watch
March 29, 2026Flights are longer and pricier. What to do?
If you're flying in summer 2026, don't delay your tickets. Some routes have already been lengthened, and prices on certain destinations may rise 10–20% — not everywhere, but noticeably. Planes are fly
March 15, 2026Aeroflot turns 103 — up to 50% off. Two days only
On 17–18 March 2026 Aeroflot is marking its birthday with a sale: up to 50% off economy — Light, Optimum, Budget (China and Kyrgyzstan). You can fly from 18 March to 7 October, covering spring, summer
March 10, 2026🚆 Russia and China are linked by train again
🚆 Great news, especially for residents of Eastern Siberia and Transbaikalia: after a six-year break, passenger rail service between Russia and China has resumed. The first train departed on 8 March o
March 9, 2026Shanghai opens its big cherry blossom festival
Spring in Asia is cherry-blossom season. Many think of Japan first, but you can see thousands of pink trees elsewhere too. On 9 March, Shanghai's big cherry blossom festival opened and runs for almost
March 8, 2026The Middle East is tricky now. Where to go instead
Some Middle East flights have been cut. Emirates, Etihad, Qatar — not everything flies as before, and the usual connections through the region have become unreliable. You don't have to cancel your hol
March 8, 2026Happy Spring Holiday
Happy holiday to all women 🌷 I wish you the simple, important things: enough sleep, loving and being loved, finding time for yourself without guilt — and more moments in life worth remembering.
February 8, 2026Chinese New Year: why it's best not to visit China now, even in transit
Chinese New Year sounds like a traveller's dream: red lanterns, festivals, fireworks and vivid traditions. In practice it's one of the worst times to visit China — especially for ordinary tourism or a
February 8, 2026We keep postponing life — and travel with it
A personal note about why trips should not always wait for the perfect moment.
February 6, 2026Nihao China: finally proper QR payments in China
In China, without a QR code you're as stuck as without a phone — 86% of payments go through WeChat Pay and Alipay, while cash and cards are rare. Nihao China solves the tourist's pain: link a UnionPay
February 6, 2026Fresh notes from the road: what's new on KOSTAAIR
Hi, friends! On KOSTAAIR I post the freshest things from my trips: short reports from the road, lifehacks, finds on tickets and lodging, and answers to your questions. These are quick notes that compl
February 4, 2026Irkutsk Airport — a short trip back to the 1990s
A personal travel note about an airport that feels frozen in time.
January 28, 2026Russia and Myanmar launch visa-free travel
No more visas — mutual visa-free travel took effect on 27 January 2026. From that date, citizens of Russia and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar can travel without a visa, using an ordinary interna
January 27, 2026AirAsia Pass: a win for some, a trap for others
Heard about the AirAsia 'single ticket' and dream of crossing Asia for pennies? Stop — let's look at it without the marketing foam. The AirAsia Pass isn't unlimited. You buy a pack of credits (1, 2, 4
January 27, 2026The 'Useful articles' section has been fully revamped!
Hi everyone! I've done a big job and completely rebooted the site's main section — 'Useful articles.' It used to be scattered tips; now it's a clear system for planning the perfect independent trip fr
January 27, 2026How to start your first independent trip: a step-by-step guide for beginners
Send this article to friends who 'always dreamed' but keep putting it off. And you — read it and act. The first step is easier than it seems.
January 27, 2026Budget travel isn't boring: where to save and where to splurge
If you think 'budget' means 'sit in a hostel and eat instant noodles,' you just don't know the recipe. Here's how to travel where saving money is part of the fun, not a punishment.
January 27, 2026How to travel more often: 5 real strategies on a normal schedule and budget
Stop waiting for a 'special occasion.' The special occasion is your life — it's happening right now. Here's how to fit travel into your rhythm.
January 27, 2026A travel-idea generator: how to choose a country and route when you don't know where to go
Feeling stuck in front of the world map? Let's fix that. Forget boring 'top 10 countries' lists — we'll find what hooks you specifically.
January 27, 2026The 'anxiety suitcase': what to pack for your first trip so you forget nothing
Panic before packing kills the buzz. Forget ten-page lists — here's your no-fluff checklist of the essentials.
January 27, 2026Solo travel: a guide to your first trip alone
Scared? Of course. But it's exactly the kind of fear that turns you into a different person — confident, self-reliant and wildly interesting to yourself.
January 27, 2026Independent travel vs. a package tour: where there's more freedom, and where a ready-made envelope
The choice between a tour and independent travel isn't 'expensive' vs. 'cheap.' It's 'made for me' vs. 'made for everyone.' Let's compare not prices but the thing that matters most — the experience.
January 27, 2026Without leaving the sofa: how to save on flights and lodging with no magic
Discounts don't fall from the sky — you hunt them. Here's how to become a pro deal-hunter without overcomplicating your life. I've gathered all the proven tools for this hunt in one place.
January 26, 2026Phuket tightens checks for flights from India
Phuket has tightened screening for passengers arriving from India after an outbreak of a dangerous virus in the east of that country — several cases, with people in quarantine. Early symptoms resemble
January 26, 2026A spontaneous trip to Shanghai
How an unplanned journey can become the most memorable part of a route.
January 24, 2026KOSTAAIR has fully redesigned the site
We've completely redesigned KOSTAAIR while keeping all the content and logic — the site now reads faster, works better on any device and looks visually cleaner.
2025
Cyprus simplifies visas for Russian tourists
🇨🇾⚡️ Cyprus has announced a simpler visa procedure for Russian citizens. The new rules let Russian tourists get visas faster and more easily; for trips of up to 90 days the visa is issued under a st
December 5, 20252025: the year we stopped waiting for package tours
For me 2025 was the year the traveller stopped being a passive buyer of a package and became the author of the trip — choosing the route, the dates and the experiences. AI, maps and social media are t
December 4, 2025Minsk: three days in the heart of Belarus — a personal route from the Basilian Curio hotel to draniki and herbal liqueurs
A spontaneous long weekend in Minsk: the Trinity Suburb and Upper Town, the grand Independence Avenue, hearty Belarusian food, and a calm, orderly city that quietly makes you want to come back. A pers
December 1, 2025One more visa-free country for Russian tourists
🇸🇦⚡️ Russia and Saudi Arabia have signed an intergovernmental agreement on the mutual abolition of visas. It will take effect no sooner than 60 days after domestic procedures are completed, in parti
November 23, 2025KOSTAAIR now has its own logo
We're glad to present the new KOSTAAIR brand logo, which reflects our philosophy of travel and the energy of discovery.
November 10, 2025Headphones banned in checked baggage
Air New Zealand, EVA Air and other airlines have banned wireless headphones in the cargo hold due to their lithium batteries.
November 10, 2025China rolls out an electronic arrival-card system
From 15 November 2025 China is introducing a new electronic arrival-card system that will simplify border crossing.