| |
|
 |
Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States are still undergoing great changes, and keeping track of the latest information can sometimes be difficult.
Frequently material of more than a week old is out of date. We have offices and representatives in Moscow, St Petersburg, Central Asia and a number of other cities, and are therefore able to keep informed of most of these changes and will be happy to respond to any of your queries.
Passports/Visas
Your passport must be valid for longer than 6 months.
Travel Russia will provide you with a Russian Visa Invitation.
A visa is required for all non Russian Nationals.
Your visa should be obtained in advance and will be valid only for the given dates of your trip.
We will send this to you within 48 hours of receiving the following information.
- Full name (as in the passport)
- Passport Number
- Date of birth
- Sex & Nationality
This invitation combined with whatever documents your embassy or consular service
requires, will get you a Russian Visa.
Arrival in Russia
a) Immigration
Your visa and passport are examined.Your holiday voucher can also be checked.
b) Baggage Hall
Claim your luggage off the conveyor belts.
Trolleys are available, and cost around $3 (in roubles).
A bank (not always open), toilets and a duty-free shop are located in this hall.
c) Customs
You ARE to complete two currency declaration forms (which you
will either be given on the aircraft or will have to personally pick up
in the baggage hall).
Fill in both forms entering how much cash you have but answering NIL to all other questions.
Proceed through to customs inspection. It is very important that your customs declaration forms are presented to a customs officer, who must stamp them and return one or both of them to you. There is a choice of red and green channels, and we recommend that you exit through the red channel, as you are more likely to find customs officers here! You must ensure that the form you retain is stamped.
Keep this carefully; you will be required to present it when you leave the country, as well as completing a new form showing how much money you are taking out of the country.
If for any reason you lose the stamped, completed customs entry declaration form, you may be banned from taking any hard currency out of the country because you will not be able to prove that you brought it into the country with you!
d) A member of Travel Russia's staff will be waiting outside the customs hall with a sign.
e) To avoid the queue on arrival you may book VIP procedure through Travel Russia, which means that you are met at the plane by airport representative, pass quickly passport control and customs area, helped with the luggage by porter.
Money
We recommend that you take hard currency with you, in dollars cash.
Prices in Russia can be confusing. The rate of exchange changes, and is about 31 roubles per dollar now. In major cities the exchange offices are numerous.
Legally you may only pay for services in Roubles or by Credit Card (where possible), even though prices at many hotels will be listed in dollars. In the markets or small private shops you may pay in dollars.
When exchanging foreign currency, most currencies are easily exchanged, although cash dollars are still preferred; due to widespread counterfeiting, only clean, reasonably new bills are accepted.
Traveller's cheques are accepted, but only in major cities and in few banks.
Please note that Moscow is now officially designated the fourth most expensive city in the world and St Petersburg follows close behind. Hotels, restaurants and taxis are not cheap.
Restaurants
The major cities now have a wide range of restaurants. It is important to reserve tables and to discuss payment methods before arriving. Check what kind of payment they will accept.
Travel Russia will provide the list of recommended restaurants for you and our guide will help you to make reservation. In major good restaurants you will find the menus in English.
Time
Moscow and St Petersburg are three hours ahead of GMT and usually revert to
Daylight Saving Time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
Transport
Taxi To hail a taxi, stand on the side of the road with your arm held out. The official cabs have a yellow light illuminated with the word "Taksi" if they are free. It is essential to negotiate a price before starting the journey. Private individuals will stop equally often and act as taxis.
Metro The metro is not only clean, efficient and punctual but the architecture and decoration are quite outstanding. Wonderful mosaics, arches, statues and paintings in 1930s style Art Deco make the Metro well worth a visit. Purchase a token at the station and try to read the Cyrillic alphabet before embarking, otherwise it is easy to get lost.
Train Travel Russia recommends the trains for the journey between Moscow and St Petersburg or on the Trans-Siberian route. First-class sleeper compartments have side-by-side lower berths and are quite comfortable. The bed is made up and towels are provided, and bathrooms (with toilet and wash basin) are located at either end of the carriage. Snack meals are provided, but are unappetising and small! For the overnight Moscow-St Petersburg train, you should aim to have dinner before departure, and have breakfast at your hotel on arrival. The Trans-Siberian has a dining car.
NB - To guarantee single occupancy of a cabin, for single travellers, you need to pay double the twinshare cost; otherwise, there is a strong possibility that you will have to share your twin cabin with a stranger.
Air Travel Russia can book air tickets for internal travel as well as for some international sectors.
Care should be taken as many of the newly opened airlines have old aircraft with poor service records. We will be happy to advise on and book the more reputable airlines who have schedules that work and access to petrol which is in short supply in many parts of the CIS.
Electricity
Russian electricity is 220 volts delivered via twin round-pin plugs.
Health Information
Please inform your clients to read the health requirements and/or recommendations given by their Doctor and their Government Health Office carefully and to discuss health precautions for their exact travel itinerary with their doctor at least 4/6 weeks before their departure.
You should be aware that requirements and recommendations can change, sometimes on short notice. It is important that you check with a qualified health professional for the most current information concerning your exact travel itinerary and taking into account your personal health history. It is suggested that a travellers medical kit would be appropriate for a specific destination bearing in mind the length of the trip and your general health. Doctors can advise on specific items to be included. The kit should always contain an adequate supply of any prescribed medications which the traveller may be taking.
Prescription medicines must always be carried as hand luggage in original, labelled containers.
Weather
The immense geographic area of the Russian Federation has a variety of seasonal weather conditions. April through to October is considered by many to be the best overall time to visit, and June and September are the busiest tourist months. However, the winter months also have appeal. St Petersburg is always a few degrees cooler than Moscow and often has a breeze blowing in from the Gulf of Finland.
Clothing and Accessories
A travel wardrobe must be planned according to the places you will visiting and the time of travel. For daytime sightseeing and leisure activities in Russia, informal dress is appropriate. To maximise the versatility of a travel wardrobe, it is recommended to pack lightweight clothes that can be worn in layers. Clothing made of "breathable" natural fabrics is generally the most comfortable.
However, do note that in the winter, while it can be very cold outside, the buildings are still well heated inside, and you will need to take your coat off. In this climate, it is better to take a good, really warm coat so that you can wear normal clothes underneath.
All restaurants require visitors to take their coats off on arrival, and it is generally considered rude not to do so.
It may also be wise to consider the following items: a supply of personal toiletries, toilet tissue, a travel alarm clock, facial tissues, lip balm, moisturising lotion, and a supply of additional batteries for cameras/torches etc.
While most of these accessories can be bought in the major cities, they can still be hard to come by in smaller cities, so take ample supplies with you.
Shopping
Please check with your guide before purchasing any paintings or icons in Russia to be sure that your intended purchase is of an exportable type. This applies to both purchases made in stores and on the streets. In general, a store receipt is necessary for exportation, and purchases without appropriate receipts are confiscated.
Photography
It is now possible to buy camera films in all major cities. Some of your film should be of a higher speed if you plan to photograph the interiors of buildings (example - churches), where a flash is not permitted. It is also suggested that you check the working order of your camera and have your equipment insured before departure. In the majority of sights one should pay for the special permission for taking pictures on the territory. It is usually prohibited to take pictures inside cathedrals or museums.
Gratuities
Many travellers view tipping as a difficult subject, though this need not be the case. There are no fixed amounts and it is entirely up to the individual to decide if it is even necessary. However, set out below is a rough guide:
For two passengers travelling on a three to four day itinerary in Russia, $50.00 (per couple) for the guide would be considered a good tip. A smaller tip to the driver would also be in order.
Waiters, doormen, porters etc. may be tipped depending upon the service.
|
| | 
Top |
|
info@travelrussia.net