Organise your own Russian Holiday

Organise your own Russian Holiday

Organize your own holiday in Russia

Update 28th September 2005)

I have just returned from another holiday in Russia. I have at last cashed the American Express travellers cheques (in Syzran in the heart of Russia) which I purchased in February 2003. Martex taxis are still highly recommended by me after speaking in English to one of their operators when we were in Moscow. This time we stayed just one night in Moscow as the fight arrived too late to catch the train so we stayed in a cheap hotel GAMMA which proved to be extremely good value www.izmailovo.ru/eng/.

Money to take to Russia (28th September 2005)

When I first travelled to Russia in February 2003 I followed the advice found on the internet at that time and took cash in dollars for spending in Moscow and travellers cheques to convert when I travelled into the centre regions of Russia. I had been advised that my Visa card would not be usable outside of Moscow. But when I was there I found it impossible to cash those travellers cheques in Syzran, a large town with several banks. I was able to use my Visa debit card with no problem and even back then in 2003 the bank in Syzran asked me to type in my PIN number to verify the transaction BUT they would not cash the travellers cheques. (I then made the mistake of keeping the travellers cheques for my next holiday - I eventually cashed them in Russia two years later loosing 100 pounds due to the fall in the dollar).

Since that first holiday we have gained considerable experience of travel from the UK to Russia and within Russia. It is just as safe to travel in Russia as in the UK which means that you must take reasonable care of your money.

You cannot get Roubles outside of Russia so your first problem on arriving at Moscow airport is how to pay for the taxi ride to your hotel. You can pay the driver in dollars or Roubles so either change some money at the airport or take a small sum in dollars. (The taxi should cost no more than 40 dollars, 30 to 35 being what we usually pay but if you have not arranged to be picked up be prepared to haggle down from 100 dollars.) We usually pay the return taxi at the end of the holiday in Roubles.

So the best plan when travelling from the UK to Russia is to take between 100 and 500 pounds in cash, take 50 dollars for the taxi, and take your Visa card (Visa debit card has the lowest charges). I pay for our Moscow hotel on the internet before we leave and pay cash to the unbooked hotels that we visit outside of Moscow.

In Russia Dollars, Euro and Pounds are all acceptable currencies for easily changing into Roubles. I have seen it written many times that Pounds can be difficult to exchange or have an unfavourable rate but I have never had these problems. Dollars are accepted by most taxis in Moscow. Hotel bills not prepaid and all other bills must be paid in Roubles. You are unlikely to be able to pay directly with your Visa card other than at large establishments in Moscow.

Exchange rate

1st October 2005 - one Pound = 50.29 Roubles (= 1.7641 US Dollar = 1.4680 Euro)
26th August 2005 - one Pound = 51.34 Roubles (= 1.8026 US Dollar = 1.4661 Euro)
27th June 2005 - one Pound = 52.26 Roubles (= 1.824 US Dollar = 1.509 Euro)
30th May 2005 - one Pound = 51.05 Roubles (= 1.8224 US Dollars = 1.4514 Euro)
5th May 2005 - one Pound = 52.86 Roubles (= 1.9020 US Dollars = 1.4696 Euro)
18th June 2004 - one Pound = 53.3 Roubles (= 1.837 US Dollar = 1.522 Euro)

You can expect to receive about 5% less than the exchange rate when you change Pounds to Roubles and again when you change your remaining Roubles back to Pounds.

Immigration Card

All foreigners must register within 3 days of entering Russia. In practice this is no problem if you are staying in hotels. You will be offered an immigration card on the aeroplane which you must fill in before you reach passport control. Most of it is obvious - always remember that the simple truth gets the right result. The Russian authorities are not trying to find reasons to prevent you entering their country but like most people in authority they are very sensitive to lies. On the card you must fill in the name and address of the people who have invited you. I have always written 'Russian Gateway' and never had a problem.

The immigration card will be stamped by passport control in Moscow. Keep it in your passport and each hotel you stay at will automatically take care of the registration. I have seen it written that some small hotels will not do this but I have not had that problem. The Ukraine hotel in Moscow with its 1000 rooms does it and so does the small Seagull hotel in Syzran in the centre of Russia. I have never had to ask.

Language

The first time I travelled to Russia I spoke no Russian. I did not even know 'yes' and 'no'. I had not booked a taxi to meet me so I had to arrange my own taxi to get from the airport to the Ukraine hotel. I knew that the taxi should cost 30 dollars and that was how much I paid after considerable dialog to several people who were offering me a taxi. (That was in February 2003. Now the lowest you can hope to pay is about 35 dollars.)

As you will gather from this it is possible to manage in Moscow if you only speak English. But if you want to travel onward into Russia you will need someone who can speak Russian to buy the train ticket and to help you onto the train. I now speak a few words of Russian and this has proved to be very useful.

Links which we have used

www.russiangateway.co.uk. I have used Russian Gateway 4 times to get my Russian visa. The first time my visa arrived on the 10th day exactly as stated on their web site. The next two times caused me considerable heart ache. The third time my visa arrived just 20 hours before I set out yet according to their website I had ordered my visa with 6 days in hand. In spite of this Russian Gateway is the best way to get your Russian visa if you live in the UK but you should allow 3 weeks rather than their stated 10 days (now they have changed it to 12 days). Set your return date as 30 days after your start date even if you are going for a week - this is no problem if Russian Gateway organise the visa. You can also leave your itinerary open to variations.

www.waytorussia.net This is the web site to organise the taxis to transfer you from Moscow airport to your hotel and back again at the end of your stay. I am most impressed with the service. It is totally reliable and very safe for your loved ones.

www.zz.ru This is the web site of the Moscow Taxi firm (Taxi Martex) who I have used. You can use this link to email them directly or you can telephone them when in you are in Moscow (someone in their office speaks good English)..... (095) 778-88-22, 314-00-55, 315-51-88. From outside Russia dial +7 095 then one of the three numbers listed.

www.opodo.co.uk This is the best web site I have found to organise your flight. You can use opodo.com to orgainise a flight from any city and with any Airline. I flew to Moscow the first time with BA (booking with www.ba.com) and then twice with Aeroflot (booking with www.opdo.com). I found little to pick between the two airlines except that I prefer the Russian food served on the Aeroflot flight, and I am familiar with the northern Moscow airport which is where Aeroflot flies to.

www.ba.com This may be the best site to organise your flight to Russia. If your journey includes onward travel from Moscow to other parts of Russia then you will find the BA flight times much more convenient than Aeroflot.

www.totalstay.com I have used this site to book the hotel for three of my stays in Moscow. My choice of hotel has three times been the Ukraina. It is a good value hotel and it is a perfect experience of Russian hospitality.

April 2006 Update..... When I first booked with www.totalstay.com in February 2003 they offered the best prices but now better prices are given by booking directly with the Ukraina Hotel www.ukraina-hotel.ru. When you are on their website click on ENGLISH at the top right of the web page.

If you want a good low cost hotel use www.izmailovo.ru/eng/ but for best experience at reasonable cost use the Ukraina Hotel.

www.ukraina-hotel.ru Use this link to visit the hotel Ukraina's web site. If you have never been to Russian before you will love this famous Moscow building, and just think you can stay in it while you are in Moscow and at a reasonable price.

www.bolshoi.ru If you stay in Moscow you MUST visit the Bolshoi theater. You can use this link to book your seats before you travel to Moscow. (Note:- at this moment the main hall of the theater is being repaired and will be closed for many months).

apartments-rentals.fabrussia.com These people offer short term apartment rentals in Moscow and St Petersburg. I have never booked with them but their web site looks impressive.