Sochi, Russia – The former main Olympic Village in Sochi has been transformed into the Imeretinskiy Resort & Apartment complex, and has begun welcoming winter visitors eager to enjoy a holiday that uniquely combines sea and ski.
Built by the Moscow-based industrial group Basic Element and located on the Black Sea coast in the Imeretinskiy Valley, Imeretinskiy Resort & Apartments complex is just a 40-minute ride from Sochi’s ski facilities in Krasnaya Polyana. Packages being offered this winter include Christmas and New Year holiday programs at the 4-star Ayvazovsky hotel adjacent to the complex, and special packages for avid skiers who can combine accommodation on the Black Sea coast with skiing and snowboarding at the Rosa Khutor resort in Krasnaya Polyana.
A Get Skis On program is available from Dec. 28 through Feb. 28 and includes a three-day ski pass to Rosa Khutor, transfer from the Ayvazovsky Hotel to Krasnaya Polyana and back, as well as storage and drying of ski equipment. A five-day Get Skis On package costs US$560 for two in the hotel, of $370 in the Imeretinskiy condos converted from the Olympic athletes’ suites.
Another option, Winter Holiday, offers accommodation in the Imeretinskiy condos for $38 per night double occupancy, including round-trip daily ground transfer to Krasnaya Polyana. Winter Holiday does not include a ski pass.
A New Year package starting from Dec. 30 offers a New Year’s Eve dinner, a brunch on Jan. 1 to ring in 2015, free access to the gym and a 20 percent discount on the resort’s spa. The price for three days single occupancy is US$227. An Orthodox Christmas package starts on Jan. 2 and includes a dinner on Jan. 7, the Orthodox Christmas, as a free gym and a 20% spa discount. The price for an eight-day single occupancy is US$366.
In addition to ski passes, guests may purchase tickets to Sochi Park, an amusement center adjacent to the Olympic Park. Imeretinskiy yacht port also offers yachts for rent, open sea and pier fishing. For those dreaming about skippering boats, Imeretinskiy yacht port boasts sailing classes in Captains School. The graduates receive International Yacht Training (IYT) certificate and a license.