Though Russia is often imagined as a country with great part of rural population most of its citizens today live in cities or big towns and the urbanization process even seems to come to its top point soon. Growing problems of big cities make more and more people to "run away" from these "giant anthills" to the countryside. Nevertheless, the comfort level of the countryside life in Russia is still very low (and is not going to change much in the nearest future), that's why almost nobody prefers to move away from her/his city once and forever. Most of people prefer some medium variant and choose countryside to spend all their holidays and most of weekends.
In recent 10-15 years the popularity of Karelia as a destination for countryside holidays has grown hugely. If to speak about the reasons there are two main ones. Firstly, Karelia is a region of Russia with no big cities and with astonishing and mostly untouched nature. Secondly, Karelia is situated not far from the two largest cities of Russia: Moscow and St. Petersburg, and not too far from the central part of Russia where the density of its urban population is the highest one.
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| Karelia on the map of Russia and Europe (see the top right of the map) |
Though some people buy houses in various places of Karelia, most of those who wish to have a rest here choose to rent a house/cottage or just to stay at a small countryside hotel.
Here I'd like to point out two first typical features of all these places to have rest.
1. Such a cottage/house or a countryside hotel usually stands close to a lake. Being located right on a lake shore is actually a kind of standard for Karelia. This can be one of two largest lakes: Ladoga and Onego, or one of thousands smaller lakes the amount of which is really great here.
2. All the buildings are usually made of wood: pine logs and/or other wooden materials.
A lake near the place where you stay will give you good additional opportunities for rest and entertainment such as fishing, boating or sailing and other things like that without wasting time and money.
Wood is actually one of the most ecological materials, it is usually considered absolutely harmless and sometimes even useful for health. Solid wood doesn't contain and desorb any harmful substances so it won't contaminate air inside the building. Furthermore, pure wooden materials allow the air to circulate better between the inside and the outside of the building.
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| A wooden cottage made of pine logs, in Karelia |
Now let's try to classify all these countryside accommodations (at least how they can be categorized in Karelia).
1. Guest houses. Obviously, means "house for guests", more detailed explanation of the meaning will be given below.
2. Separate house/cottage. That means only one house or cottage for rent at that place. It can be situated in or near a village or even just be surrounded by forest.
3. Several or more cottages or small hotels - this variant most usually should be called "a lodge". Such a lodge also can be situated near a village or be surrounded by forest and lake.
A real guest house means that its owners live in the same house too, or they live in a separate house but located very close to this one. Furthermore, the owners render at least a part of services for their guests themselves. A good guest house also means that you'll have some homemade products such as milk and dairy products, meat, some fresh vegetables in your meals.
The second variant of accommodation means that you'll live in the house or cottage on your own. You'll prepare meals yourself (though, of course, it's possible to order cook services additionally). The whole house with its surroundings will usually be fully at your disposal.
As for the third variant of accommodation, such a lodge in Karelia usually consists of several cottages. Such a cottage can be divided into two or more parts with separate entrances. You can rent a part of a cottage or the whole cottage.
The lodges usually have got one or more restaurants/cafes and offer great amount of additional services including various equipment rentals, guides for fishing and other activities, excursions, etc.
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| View of a countryside lodge in Karelia |
Be aware that even if the lodge has got a cafe or restaurant this fact doesn't mean that you can just come there at any moment during your stay and have meals. Very often meals should be ordered beforehand so, most probably, that will be on the moment when you book your accommodation and your holidays. Though, of course, there are some lodges with restaurants which you can decide to visit at any moment and where you can have meals with good choice of dishes.
One more essential feature of the countryside rest in Karelia (though not only in Karelia) is sauna. That will usually be russian sauna but finnish sauna, smoke sauna and different variants are also more or less possible. Sauna may be included and not included into the rental price, and in the second case it may be rather costly.
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| Inside russian sauna at one of the lodges |
A big sauna will be located in a separate building and used by all guests. A smaller sauna can be joined to the house and used only by those who stay in it, though that's not the rule sometimes.
Cleaning services also may be included and not included into the price, the rental price often includes cleaning one time a week.
Though shower is a usual thing here some guest houses (probably even most of the guest houses) and cottages have no shower, they have sauna and that's considered enough for a comfortable stay. So, pay your attention to that item if shower is anyhow necessary for you.
To sum it up, it's necessary to pay your attention to these specific features of a place where you're going to stay and to decide what you necessarily need to make this stay comfortable. That will help you to spend an unforgettable time in beautiful karelian countryside, time that can bring a significant experience to your discovery of Russia.
