No more than a decade ago the Armenian New Year celebration was a predictable family affair kept at home with local or Russian television as entertainment.

But time and circumstances have changed and so, too, are traditions.

“The number of people wishing to spend New Year abroad goes up with each year,” says Anna Gabrielyan, travel consultant from Levon Travel agency. “I think the tendency is because people changed their perception of holidays and vacation. For example many couples prefer now a wedding trip abroad instead of having a big wedding. We met a couple who married in fall, but waited for New Year to go abroad for the honey moon.”

And if some years ago, a New Year vacation was an indication of a family’s wealth, the same may now be said about those who are paying prices previously-shocking prices to spent their holiday in Armenian resorts.

For example: One day in Egypt in a 4 star hotel will cost a tourist $150 while staying 60 kilometers from Yerevan in the Kecharis hotel of Tsakhadzor costs about the same. If a couple has the money for travel (in this case about $1000-$1500 (one week for two people) roundtrip to Egypt), they are likely to find that accommodations in exotic locales are no more expensive than at home.

Other popular destinations for Armenians are Turkey and United Arabian Emirats, and while Turkey’s trips are less expensive than Egypt’s, (and the packages are “all included”) the middle price in UAE is $170 per day (in a 3 star hotel with the breakfast only.)

Travel agents say economy level reservations (around $50 per day) in Armenia’s most popular resort towns such as Tsakhkadzor, Aghveran, Dilijan and Jermuk were already sold out early October ( with some clients made reservations in September) and that only “deluxe” class rooms remained in December. An agent from “National Geographic” Travel Agency told ArmeniaNow by mid October the offers were sold in hotels like Zvartnots (five-day package for $354) or “Splendid” in Tsakhkadzor, “Arturs” in Aghveran and others.

The average price (for one day) in the skiing resort Tsakhkadzor (Kotayk province) is 17,000 dram ($54), (according to Tsahkadzor municipality), the town offers 3,500 beds (in high or middle class hotels) and another 3000 of lower class (with an average price of about $16 a day).

Anush Gevorgyan’s family of 4 last year went to Egypt for the New Year. They paid $7,200 for the 14 days trip. Gevorgyan says they saved in order to afford the trip last year and that this year they wanted to find something cheaper in Armenia, but did not find a suitable offer.

She says when they learned about the prices in Armenia they regretted their decision to celebrate New Year in Armenia. She explains that they wanted to stay in a high quality hotel.

“We envisaged $2000 and wanted to have a 10 days vacation. But it turned out that we found no appropriate offer. For 10 day a family of 4 should have at least $3,000-$3,500. We did not want to pay even a lesser amount because we’ve had such experiences (in Armenia) when either the food is bad, or hot water is not available. But neither did we want to pay as much as we pay when going for the trip abroad. We paid a lot to get to Egypt, but we saw a new country, enjoyed sun, sea, walks in the city, entertainment. What can be offered in winter in Armenia? Skiing? We are not fond of skiing. Several years ago we were in Dilijan in winter. It was so cold outside, that we could go out of the hotel for short walks at noon.”

Still those who are ready to spend money and celebrate New Year in Armenia can visit for example the Multi rest house, in Tsakhkadzor (owned, as is Kecharis, by Armenian MP Gagik Tsarukyan) one of the most expensive hotels in the resort town, offering cottages for six persons at a cost of $2,300 for five days.

Starting this year the price for skiing in Tsakhkadzor has increased from 7,000 ($22) to 10,000 ($32), reflecting improvements on the slopes, such as rescue service and a new ski lift.

In Dilijan – Armenia’s “Little Switzerland” – Impulse hotel offers a New Year package deal of about $350 for five days plus $80 per person for the New Year banquet. According to agent from Delta travel agency the this is one of the cheapest offer, which was sold out by October.

The agents say, comparing to last year, the prices have grown an average of 20 percent. Last year, some hotels were charging $60 for their December 31 banquet ( he sum is not included in package offers); this year the cost is $80.

A manager of Anahit hotel in Stepanavan (Lori province) says in September they envisaged to offer for the New Year 5 day packages for 90,000 drams, (about $290). In October they increased the prices of the package to 100,000 (about $325). The manager explains that the artists who were invited to perform for a December 31 show sharply increased their honorarium and the management was forced to change the prices.

For Yerevantsis who stay close to home for the big night many restaurants are offering celebrations dinners that average about $100.

But the prices in restaurants do not scare away the clients. By mid December almost all places in those restaurants which offer banquets are sold. A manager of Armenia-Marriott’s Cucina hall says all 75 places were sold by early December and they were forced to refurnish the hall, opening more space near the bar, to add another 25 places. Cucina invites guests at 9 p.m for a New Year party for 20,500 drams (about $66) and will serve several main courses as well as live music.

The same picture is in the Mexican restaurant Cactus. Manager David Gabrielyan says last year the restaurant was full and there was no one empty table. This year Cactus offer for 25,000 (about $80) on December 31 a show with interactive games, live music, some appetizer and drinks.

Generally, the managers of the restaurants says the tendency of spending New Year out of home comes mostly from women, who initiate the family visits in restaurants, to make them free from home preparations. Gayane Sargsyan is one of them. She works for an international organization and this year her family (with 2 children) will join the banquet in “Golden Fork” restaurant.

“I’m married for 12 year and each year the last days of December became a marathon race. Each year on December 31 I hardly find half an hour to make my hair and get dressed, because the rest of the day is filled with table preparations. This year will be different. After all we forget that New Year is a holiday, not a home work.”