Wintering abroad: where Ukrainians most often go because of the cold and blackouts

While Ukraine is experiencing severe frosts, power outages, and temperatures close to freezing in many apartments, more and more people are choosing to temporarily relocate to warmer countries.We spoke with Ukrainians who decided to wait out the cold weather abroad and representatives of travel agencies that offer such services. How much does it cost to wait out the Ukrainian winter in warmer climes? Which countries are the most popular and why? Where do some IT companies relocate their employees for the winter? Workation by the seaYulia, a soldier's wife, says that when they saw the weather forecast for the next 10 days in January (down to -20 degrees Celsius during the day), they decided to go somewhere warm, especially since they had no heating at home."20 days – that's the period of frosts we wanted to spend in the warmth. Spoiler: we're returning to -19, but tanned."The weather in Egypt on January 20th was like our May weather: a little windy, but you don't need to bring jackets, cardigans or tracksuits are enough. Over time, you get used to the weather, and in the evening you can easily walk around in summer dresses and sundresses."It starts to get warmer here in February, the winds become less frequent, and the sun begins to shine. We mostly relaxed the whole time, but also worked remotely when necessary."Olena from Kyiv, after a week in a cold apartment, also went to Egypt for two weeks with her mother and two children.Initially, the family considered renting a house near Kyiv, with prices starting from $3,000 per month. A tour to Egypt with airfare from Chisinau and all-inclusive meals cost $1,500 for two adults and two children."Our whole family was very happy about the snow on New Year's Day at first. But then there were long unscheduled power outages, later the heating was turned off, and periodically there was no water. When the children's school holidays were extended, I decided that we would spend the money for our summer vacation now. We booked a hotel in Egypt for two weeks. To be able to work remotely, I invited my mother to come with us, who helps with the children. Here you don't have to think about electricity, heating, internet, or even food." "It was a wonderful workation experience – a combination of work and vacation. I'm seriously considering making this a tradition for every winter," she says.Travel agents are hearing such requests more and more often.According to Natalia Yakymenko, director of the travel agency "I'll Fly Wherever I Want!", demand for Egypt has skyrocketed since the beginning of January."Over the past three weeks, we have sold over 70 tours to Egypt. For the first time in our practice, there have been many bookings for 19–20 nights. Usually, people fly for 7–10 nights, less often for 14. For comparison: last year, we sold this number of tours to Egypt in two months—in January–February 2025. This means that the demand is now approximately twice as high," says Yakymenko.She adds that the low season makes long trips financially possible, as accommodation prices are lower now.The tour operator Join UP! confirms that there were requests for long tours in January-February, although the overall sales dynamics remain stable at last year's level.Temporary business relocationThe trend for long trips has also affected the corporate segment. Travel agencies are recording requests from companies that are considering temporary accommodation for teams in warm countries. Calculating the costs of constant operation of generators and other alternative power sources and having no forecast for improvement of the situation, some companies have begun to think about a "plan B" for relocation."For the first time, we received a corporate request from an IT company to calculate the cost of a month-long stay in a hotel in Egypt for a team of about 40 people. Usually, corporate clients book short MICE trips lasting up to a week," says Natalia Yakymenko, director of the travel agency.Other warm destinationsThe geography of such trips is not limited to Egypt. Tourists go to Spain, Portugal, the south of France, Bali, and the UAE."I had dreamed of this trip to India, but I hesitated. But when I finally decided, I realized how right a decision it was. January and February are always difficult for me in Ukraine because of the cold and lack of sun. And this year even more so.It's very comfortable in India right now – the air temperature is around 28 degrees. The body relaxes so much in these conditions that even 5-6 hours of sleep are enough to feel well-rested. At home, I can't sleep without magnesium and melatonin, but here I go to bed late and wake up with the sun.Here comes the realization that you don't have to be in winter if you have the opportunity and desire. I met a family that has been going away for 3-4 months every winter with their child for 5 years now. The child is already a teenager and studies online. They rent a simple guesthouse to reduce costs, but for a long period, to skip the Ukrainian cold. There are many Ukrainians and Europeans in Goa who "winter" there.In Anna's group, one of the tourists adapted so well to the new rhythm that she decided to return her return ticket and stay in India to work remotely.Parallel trend: booking a flightIn parallel with the "escape to the warmth" trend, travel agencies are noting another trend: early booking of summer holidays. Ukrainians are already reserving hotels for July–August.The reasons are practical: fixing the price at the current exchange rate, the possibility of paying in installments (sometimes 10% is enough for booking), and a much better selection of hotels than during peak season.But there is also a psychological aspect. "People say that a booked vacation helps them mentally cope. The thought of the sea and summer really warms them up in this cold winter," say travel agents.Today, winter travel for Ukrainians is about conserving resources. For some, it's a way to work in comfortable conditions; for others, it's an opportunity to give their children warmth and stability without the nightly sirens; for still others, it's simply a chance to breathe.Read also"I stopped sleeping because of the fear of 'Shaheds': how to make a bomb shelter at home and how much it costs"

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