Trip to Russia in 2009?

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Imelda

Hi - I went to Russia for Christmas 2005, and while the weather was FREEZING - I thought this was a lovely time to visit as I'd always thought of Russia as a "cold" place, not a "hot" summer place (it IS hot during summer) - and the scenery was spectacular. (We saw whole frozen lakes and rivers, it was incredible).
You need to know what dates you will be entering and departing Russia (exactly) before they will issue you a visa - you also need to know where you'll be staying and the dates. (as in, hotels etc). You can go to the Russian Embassy, or alternatively a travel agent can organise it for you. I think from memory, it cost me around £80?
I just got money out of the cash points there, however it might be a good idea to take a smaller amount of currency for when you first arrive (airport transfers & similar). I went to Moscow (Red Square, Kremlin, Lenin's Tomb all must sees, as well as a large market - I can't remember what it is called, but you have to pay a small fee to go in, it is not in the city centre - Vernisazh market I think?) also Gorky Park, St. Basil's Cathedral, and weirdly, just travelling the tube stations is amazing - they're incredibly decorated. For shopping, the GUM (near Red Square) and Novy Arbat. (like London's Oxford St for Russians!) We also went to the ballet - kind of a Russian thing - to see Swan Lake.
St. Petersburgh was equally as interesting, and between the two is Russia's oldest city, Novgorod - we saw some interesting traditional Russian housing here. See the Hermitage, and the Church of the Spilled Blood.
I think Moscow was the most interesting as far as sights go - it is also quite a tough city to negotiate - more people use the tube in Moscow in one day that London + New York combined! It is hectic!
Definitely worth the visit, and I'd recommend the Lonely Planet guide to Russia and Belarus - loads of good tips, esp regarding the corruption of the police around Red Square and other tourist areas.
Enjoy - Russia is quite an experience!

vdv_desantnik

Visas are available from the embassy of the Russian Federation, 13 Kensington palace Gardens, London. they cost £30 standard or £80 for a one day service. Summer is the best time to go, foreigners do not handle the winter so well!

Try to take around £100 per day you will be there and keep another £100 on top of that. Take some Roubles, and some Dollars but while you are there only change money in a bank or a currency change office. Do not under any circumstances change money from people on the street. They either steal your money or give you older notes which are out of use, or forged notes. Many shops will give you a better rate of exchange for dollars or sterling but wait for them to ask rather than offering as this is illegal unless you are in a Beriozka shop!

Have a good trip!

everest

Hi

Russia is very nice, especially St Petersburg. (if you want to see everything you will need at least a week!) Have you thought of taking the Trans-Siberian ?(look at at my website www.isabellearoundtheworld.com, please find details of St Petersburg and Moscow).
You will need a visa to go to Russia, for latest update look at the website of the Russian embassy (as it might have change since I went), if you are not based in London, go through a visa agency such as Travcour.
They will ask you for a letter of inviation that you should get from your travel agent.
Please allow enought time to apply for your visa, getting one at the last minute is very expensive.
I went in September, the weather was fine. Obviously avoid winter months as it is freezing. July is the best as there is no nights in St Petersburg (due to its northern location), but the city is very busy.
Do you want to go on with a organised tour, or independant? I went with www.imaginative-traveller.com. Who provoded good value for money.

St Petersburg: you should spend a minimum of 3-4 nights at the very least. Not to be missed is the Hermitage Museum
In Moscow 3 nights will be enought. Depending what you like to do.
Officially you will need Roubles to change in Russia, under the table they will accept Euros or Dollars $. But small shops will only take the local currency.
But there is few scams to avoid, such as counting your money when you leave the counter as you might have a few surprises...
for info please look at my web site (www.isabellearoundtheworld.com)
I hope that I helped you.

Vladimir ILL

I am English with a British passport, i understand that i will still need a visa to visit Russia, how do i get this and how much will it cost?

Get it through a specialized trave agency such as INEXCO Voyages

When is the best time of year to go?

May is gorgeous - nobody there - only Russians

How much money do i take? Will i be best off taking US dollars to change out there?

Take your credit card ( Visa is the best one )

Any good hotels/hostels in either city?

In Piter Neptun = excellent in Moscow Ismailovo Hotels the
more affordable

Is there anywhere asides from the above mentioned places that you think i should see? Any recomendations?

in Moskow take the suburb train to Abramtsevo - very nice open air Museum - was the meeting point of russian painters
end of XIX th -
in Moscow don't miss Monasteries - at least the one where Tolstoi is buried - forgot the name not far from Sportivnaia Metro

and attend religious office at the main Cathedral close to Muzei Pushkina - you'll never ever hear more splendid choirs and voices for free ;o))
Religious offices in Russia are always great, and whatever your religion, you're welcome - I'm there each morning
( nearly )

seabhcan

Visa: you need an invitation and a visa. The invite can be gotten through a hotel - but if you are traveling to two cities, this is inconvenient, as a hotel can only invite you for your stay in that hotel. Best is to buy the invite on visatorussia.com or visahouse.ru

when you get to Russia, you are supposed to register with the police in each city if you intend to stay more than 3 days. This can be a real pain. The invite company can usually do this for you, for extra money. Check with them ahead of time.

Money: US dollars are not the best option. Best is Euro cash, travelers checks or just a credit card. ATMs work too. If you bring UK pounds in cash you will be able to change them to Roubles, but its slightly more difficult than for euros.

Make sure to budget carefully. Moscow is non cheap. Expect London prices or more.

Hostels: There is a bit of a shortage of hotels in both Moscow and St Peter. Its best to book ahead, especially if you are travelling in peak times.

Sights: You should try go to some of the Golden Ring towns, such as Suzdel and Sergiv Posade. The have some extraordinary monestaries.

Little Witchy Girl

Traveling to Russia in 2009 is great. You will see many awesome places and thing in Moscow and St. Pete. The best time I suggest you going is in June. Because it will give you a unique opportunity to go and see the city of Velikiy Novgorod, which is conveniently situated right between Moscow and St. Petersburgh. This is a life-time opportunity to go because Veliky Novgorod Hansa days are taking place on June 18-21, 2009 when the city is celebrating its 1150th anniversary. Representatives of more than 100 European cities are gathering together for a few days in Veliky Novgorod to present their traditions in music, arts and crafts, national cuisine, dancing, songs and rites and find possibilities of cooperation in economics, politics and culture. This will be a great even for the whole Russia.
Check this out: http://eng.tourism.velikiynovgorod.ru/index.php?mmm=hanza

Belka

the best time to go to St.Petersburg is in May or June. or you can go in last july's Saturday or Sunday. There is parade. i don't know about accomodation but food there is pretty cheap. you need about 5 $ to have dinner. i know that museum visits are 3 times more expensive than that for Russians. Better take euro.In Petersburg visit Hermitage, Pavlovsk and Zarskoe Selo.

jamesbuhls

Peter and Moscow are some great sights, I can't wait to see them myself. I'm a little worried about the stories I'm told, the level of crime - maybe somebody can say if it's true or not? To get your visa, you'll need to go through a travel agency which can issue you an извишения, or an invitation. It's a must, and it has to be issued to you by someone there. You can get Russian visas quite easily (as long as you pay) at such webistes as GoToRussia.com, or RussianVisa.com. Do a Yahoo search, you'll turn up more. The cost will be determined by how long you plan on staying and if you want single or multiple entries. The best time to go is open to interpretation. I'm not sure about the prettiest time to visit, but I know that the peak travel seasons are generally August and earlier and November and later. September is usually a cheap time to travel. I think it's also cheap to travel before summer, before March?? You'll have to keep checking the ticketing agencies, see when the prices are lowest. Or you could just ask them. There's so much to see between the two cities, each one could take its own trip. If I made a trip, I would spend my time in Peter. I'd visit the summer palace and the Hermitage. Moscow and Peter are both becoming very western, which isn't entirely bad, but if you want to see majesty, you should go to Peter. Spend a few days at the Hermitage (you could easily spend a week), and spend a few days at the summer palace. I haven't been there, but I plan on going. As far as your expenses, that's largely up to you. You'll probably spend a lot more on your visa and flight than you will on your living accomodations. Visa fees will probably cost you less than a eighty pounds, and if you're flying from the UK... I don't know. 1-way from New York usually runs less than $900, so from the UK, you could expect to spend less than 700 pounds. It's an estimate, so you'd have to check it yourself. You can spend as much or as little as you want on your living accommodations and day trips; it's up to you to control those expenses. If you don't speak Russian fluently, you can get a tour group to show you around. If I were you, I'd try and cross-check any tour agency and phone call the hotel where I'd be staying. Ask them about the accomodations, this way you'll be sure you're not staying on a cot used by soldiers in Afghanistan thirty years ago. Were I you, because the American dollar is weak, I'd travel with British pounds or even Euros. Just check the exchange rate before you leave. Anyway, I hope this helped. I haven't traveled to Russia before, but I certainly plan on it and I've done some research. Good luck, enjoy your travels.

MHnurseC

I dont know how to go about a visa, but I was there in 1997 and it was absolutely amazing! I grew up in the 1980's in the closing days of the cold war and I never thought that I would be standing in the middle of Red Square.
There has to be some way of determining what the exchange rate is. When I was there, it was 6000 rubles to one US dollar.
I stayed at the Hotel Polkovskya in St Petersburg and the Hotel Russia while in Moscow (across the street from Red Square).

anna l

Hello,

about getting Russian visa in UK you could see all details at official website http://www.rusemblon.org/ , I think there would be some changes before 2009))
But it`s better to get an invitation before - there are many travel agencies in StPetersburg could do it for you (about 40$)

Best time : I`m native of this city, so I could say there are 2 best time to visit Piter - in June for the white nights and in January (for New Year). City`s so different but very beautiful

US dollars are not in favor in Russia any more, but may be it would be in 2009. But I think it`s better to take you card and receive cash in rubles

I was working in tourism for 4 years (with French tourists) so I could advice to book room in mini-hotel or to stay in apartment (there are many good variants in center) . Hostels are not at top, and prices of hotels are incredible

thequietone2005

you like to plan ahead dont you

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