armenia
Throughout Armenia, you can find B&B that
are pleasant and will provide you a true taste of Armenian
culture. In Yerevan, there are a couple of hostels.
Outside Yerevan,
there are a few main recreational areas that offer very
reasonable accommodations, but you will be required to live
without some conveniences. At the high end are some hotels on
Lake Sevan and in Northern Lori Marz (50 kilometers from the
Georgian border). Here you will miss nothing, but pay Western
prices for the accommodations. Around Lake Sevan, there are
numerous types of cottages and hotels. Prices are reasonable for
a cottage with electricity and within walking distance from Lake
Sevan. The city of Sevan, due to its proximity to Yerevan, is
the most popular place on Lake Sevan but the history, culture
and non-Western feel of the accommodations change as you go
south on Lake Sevan.
Tavush Marz is a
wonderful place to summer. Dilijan and Ijevan are wonderful
towns in which to be based, with day trips to the many ancient
churches that pepper this remote region. Costs are very
reasonable and Dilijan is known for its sanatoriums from the
Soviet era. Do not expect hot water all hours of the day, but
you can have a lovely room that will accommodate a family,
including food for about $20 a day. Take another $20 to hire a
car for the day to visit the surrounding historical sites.
Lori Marz is the
second most beautiful region after Vayots Dzor. It has many
health resort areas such as Stepanavan, Dendropark (Sojut) next
to village Gyulagarak. Lori is considered to be the Armenian
Switzerland. It has numerous churches, monasteries, medieval
bridges and monuments. The Stepanavan area is great for hiking,
tasting fresh diary products, etc. Small hotels and B&Bs are
available in the area of Stepanavan, Odzun, Tumanian, etc.