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Trip to Russia
Topic Started: Mar 7 2008, 03:49 PM (414 Views)
Jeffrey
Senior Carp
We are planning a trip to Russia in about 2 months. Any ideas, tips, warnings, advice?

TIA - Jeffrey
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Radu
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...........
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"Whenever I hear of culture... I release the safety-catch of my Browning!"
The modern media has made cretins out of so many people that they're not interested in reality any more, unless it's reality TV (Jean D'eaux)
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Frank_W
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Renauda will be able to help you on this. :thumb:
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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Renauda
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HOLY CARP!!!
Jeffery, where in Russia do you plan to go? For how long?

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Jeffrey
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Renauda - 2 full weeks, end of May, standard Moscow-St. Petersburg route.

Few questions: (1) Is it worth a stopover in Novgorod? (2) Are the "Ring" cities worth a stopover or just a Moscow daytrip? (3) Do we need to get train tickets between Moscow-St P-Novgorod ahead of time (as a guidebook said) or can we safely get them there? (4) How much time in each place (easy would be one week each, maybe 6 days each if we spend 2 in Novgorod). (5) Since we have some time, what is suggested other than the major Churches, Hermitage, Moscow Metro, etc.?

Thanks. We plan to learn the Russian alphabet so we can sound signs out.
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Renauda
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Jeffery, before I answer your questions are you there with a tour group? On your own? Do you know anybody in Moscow or St Pete's? Is the wee Jeffery going to be with you and your wife?

In any case it is an excellent time to be there. The weather should be warm and the daylight hours will be long- in fact in St Pete's you'll almost be experiencing the famous White Nights. One word of caution though is that in Moscow that time of year you may have to suffer the snowstorms of poplar cotton. I hope you and your family are free of allergies.
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Jeffrey
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Renauda - Just me and Mrs. Jeffrey. Wee Jeffrey will be with the grandparents. We are going on our own (tour groups make us claustrophobic). We do not know anybody there. We can take allergy medicine, now that we know. :) The best route for us (fly into Moscow and out of St Pete) is serviced by Aeroflot, which seems to be Western standards now with regard to safety.
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bachophile
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HOLY CARP!!!
We are planning a trip to Russia in about 2 months. Any ideas, tips, warnings, advice?


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"I don't know much about classical music. For years I thought the Goldberg Variations were something Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg did on their wedding night." Woody Allen
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Renauda
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HOLY CARP!!!
You may be okay the last part of May for the poplar cotton but beware if your stay extends into June. It all depends on what kind of spring they get.

Going without the little guy makes it easier. Although Russians absolutely adore kids, the infrastructure over there is not at all conducive to the * immediate needs* of toddlers.

My experience with Aeroflot international flights is very good. You should have no problems. In fact even during Soviet times Aeroflot was hands down better than any Pan Am or Delta flight I flew.

On your own? Well for starters the cab fare from Sheremetevo Airport to downtown Moscow will cost a minimum of 150 USD cash (no credit card). An acceptable no frills hotel room there a minimum of 300 USD per night. But without a booking agent you'll have a problem getting a room anywhere...

I think you had better PM me with the details of what you and Mrs. Jeffery want. As stifling as a tour may seem, if you don't speak Russian or do not have a local to meet you at the airport and watch after you during your stay you are setting yourself up for a most unpleasant and very expensive vacation.

EDIT: The water in Moscow is fine; just don't drink it in St. Pete's.
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Radu
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Jeffrey
Mar 8 2008, 04:13 AM
We are going on our own (tour groups make us claustrophobic). We do not know anybody there.

Bad idea. You should know that there is the very ugly Moscow - for unguided tourists - and the very beautiful Moscow - for the tour groups. And I know former USSR citizen that took guided tours when they visited Moscow and St. Petersburg. Gorgeus picture they brought back. Very different than those we see on the Russian TV stations.

Also it might please you to learn that Moscow (as well as other places in the Great Russia) is a very dangerous place to walk.

Enjoy your "survival" trip !
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"Whenever I hear of culture... I release the safety-catch of my Browning!"
The modern media has made cretins out of so many people that they're not interested in reality any more, unless it's reality TV (Jean D'eaux)
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Renauda
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I disagree Radu. My wife and I were in Moscow the latter part of December and beginning of January. From what I could see it was a lot quieter on the streets than what I experienced back in the 90's when I lived and worked there.

,,, but then again we both speak the language and know what not to do.
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Radu
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Renauda
Mar 8 2008, 09:10 AM
My wife and I were in Moscow the latter part of December and beginning of January. From what I could see it was a lot quieter on the streets

... because it was colder ? :unsure: A Vodka shortage perhaps ?
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"Whenever I hear of culture... I release the safety-catch of my Browning!"
The modern media has made cretins out of so many people that they're not interested in reality any more, unless it's reality TV (Jean D'eaux)
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Renauda
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Actually I have never seen such an abundance of everything in Moscow.

Same (at much lower prices) in Kazakhstan where we spent two months.
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Jeffrey
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Renauda, Radu - Hmmm... we expected somewhat above London prices for everything. This is within our budget. It seemed that Holiday Inn Moscow was about 250 a night, with good reviews on Tripadvisor. Why can't I just book with them, or something similar? We have walked around Naples and Beijing. In what way is Moscow worse traffic-wise? Our guidebooks did tell us not to drink the St Pete water. We assumed we would get a car service from the hotel for the airport and some daytrips (a normal thing in other countries). Is this not possible or safe? (The cost is not an issue.)
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apple
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my sister in law was mugged thrice while on an extended business stay.. that with the utmost precaution.
it behooves me to behold
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
I have wanted to go to Russia forever - especially when it was the USSR and there was such a lack of information available.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Renauda
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Jeffrey
Mar 8 2008, 07:13 AM
It seemed that Holiday Inn Moscow was about 250 a night, with good reviews on Tripadvisor. Why can't I just book with them, or something similar? We have walked around Naples and Beijing. In what way is Moscow worse traffic-wise? .... We assumed we would get a car service from the hotel for the airport and some daytrips (a normal thing in other countries). Is this not possible or safe? (The cost is not an issue.)

Which Holiday Inn? There are 3- one is out in the country and the other 2 are not all that central although there are Metro stations very close and neither is under $300. I hate to say it but anything under 300 US will probably be an unsafe bordello.

Moscow and St Pete traffic is not that bad- just use common sense when crossing the street and never assume drivers will yield to pedestrians.

You can book cars for daytrips through hotel concierges although it is very expensive. The concierges can also advise on scheduled tours, theatre tickets, concerts etc..

Being that you are not on a tour group, how do you plan to obtain visas? You need visa support (invitation) to travel to Russia. Without it- no visa.


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Jeffrey
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Renauda - You can give me negative information. I haven't bought tickets yet. I was posting looking for problems to avoid (or to not go if I have overlooked something).

(1) We are used to using a Metro. A Holiday Inn that isn't central but near a metro would be ok. Is the Metro safe, or like Mexico City (which we used to get around, but probably should not have given what we have read since). We will have about 6-7 days in Moscow, so time won't be so rushed. We are ok with 300-350 a night for a hotel, though would prefer to pay less.

(2) The guidebooks said that the hotel you have a reservation with helps with your visa invitation. There is also a visa expediting service here in NYC that also specializes in such things and would help us for a small fee (once got a passport same day). We were told it takes about a month, though with the expediter it might take less.

(3) I assumed a private car and semi-English speaking driver through a reputable hotel would be about 400-450 dollars or so a day. Does this seem correct? We would only be doing this for a few days, to see the Ring cities or something. Metro is fine with us normally.

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Renauda
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HOLY CARP!!!
In my experience the Moscow Metro is very safe. It is also very easy to use.

To be honest I don't know what the day rate for a car and driver is now. I don't think 450 USD would be too far off the mark- I could be wrong.

I wouldn't hold my breath on the hotel providing visa support. Probably best to go through an expediting service.

Ideally you should have a local meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel as well be available to assist during your stay. For a modest fee you might be able to get a university student to be your personal guide. If you want I can make a few calls to people I know in Moscow to see what options there are in that regard.
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Jeffrey
Senior Carp
Renauda - "For a modest fee you might be able to get a university student to be your personal guide. "

Yes, this is the sort of thing we would happily do/pay for. It's worked well for us in all sorts of places. You are correct about the Holiday Inn, I called. The "cheap" online rate I saw would not get us a reserved non-smoking room, just any old place, having to change between hotels at their choice etc. It seems to get a place Western travelers would be used to it is 300 or more like 400-450 a night (e.g. Sovietsky Hotel, number 2 choice on Tripadvisor).

We will research more. Do you have any other warnings? What about Novgorod, getting train reservations ahead of time, scams, etc?
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Renauda
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HOLY CARP!!!
Whenever I've travelled on the train I have just gone to train station and bought tickets. I wouldn't advise that in your case. Better to do it through the hotel or with the assistance of a local.

Scams? You'll encounter a scammer at every corner particulary if it involves ground transportation services.
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