Russia - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

slcblade · 12-06-2004, 07:26 PM

i am an american going to Russia in about a week, i just wanted to know if anyone has beenthere recently and can give me some good tips on hostels, sights and anything else

**worldwidemike** · 12-07-2004, 02:38 AM

I've only been to St. Petersburg, and that was really cool. Lots of historic sights and amazingly decorated churches. Can't help you much on places to stay as I was on a cruise!

I found it reasonably easy to get around St. Pete with my guidebook maps, and so on. Enough people I ran into spoke English that I could get by. Of course, once you get beyond St. Pete or Moscow, it might be a whole different story.

Are you going just to travel, or is this a work or student thing?

worldwidemike

slcblade · 12-07-2004, 11:15 AM

i am just travelling around for a month. thanks for the tip

**worldwidemike** · 12-08-2004, 06:18 AM

Wow, that's great! Keep us posted...

worldwidemike

slcblade · 12-16-2005, 12:40 PM

i am finally updating how my trip was, one year after my return. Russia was awesome! i would recommend it. the Metro in Moscow is the best transportation i have ever had in a city, the longest i ever waited was 4 minutes. I went to Petersurg as well. the building are a lot nicer than Moscow, but Moscow was a lot more fun. in st Peter, go to a club call metro, it is pretty cool. i stayed at some hostel in Peter, but i don't remember the name, it was not that great. i found a private appartment in Moscow for $450 for one month. Watch out for your wallet on the subway, especially in St. Petersburg. I also went to a city called Nizny Novgorod, it was very nice, and it was good to get away from big ass Moscow. my favorite part was the beautiful women, cheap beer and the cheap communist memorabilia. oh and also Lenin. i want to go back during summer. need tips hit me up.
ciao

**worldwidemike** · 12-18-2005, 09:11 AM

Great to hear back from you, blade! Got any pics you'd like to post???

Oh, and was Novgorod a historic town -- I seem to vaguely remember bits of it from my late Medieval Russian history...?

yaa...cheap women, beautiful beer...er, oops, other way around!

worldwidemike

**aliz** · 02-20-2006, 02:03 AM

I know this is an old post but on the subject of Russia, did you guys need a visa to go to Russia, or have any trouble getting one? a travel agent told me that tourists aren't allowed into russia without an invitation, and that the only way to go there was to go on a package tour.... sure sounded like she was trying to sell those package tours to me...

**tumblezweedz** · 02-20-2006, 02:42 AM

You definitely DO NOT have to go on a packaged tour! I believe you do need an invitation, but there are hostels that will issue them. Haven't done this myself (my trips to Russia were back in the bad ol' USSR days, and things have changed considerably since then) but you'll get some feedback from more recent travellers who'll be able to give you the scoop. Well worth the hassle, if you can take some time there.

JeanB · 02-23-2006, 08:48 AM

you need a visa. i suggest using russia direct. They are not cheap but the only other alternative is queueing up outside the embassy, and yuo will still have to pay fees. If you are going to live there do this.......otherwise use russia direct

slcblade · 03-12-2006, 11:48 AM

i paid a visa company out of Salt Lake City, it cost me $230 but i got the visa in a week. i also had to register and pay another $30 when i got to Russia. the places to register were giving me the run around and it took me a few days to find a place where i could actually register.

slcblade · 03-12-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by slcblade@Mar 12 2006, 12:48 PM
i paid a visa company out of Salt Lake City, it cost me $230 but i got the visa in a week.* i also had to register and pay another $30 when i got to Russia.* the places to register were giving me the run around and it took me a few days to find a place where i could actually register. it sounds like that travel agent is full of shit.* when you pay a visa company they get the invitation for you then you register with them when you arrive.* as for tours, i am skeptical about tour companies and the experience you get as opposed to discovering* the land by yourself.

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JeanB · 03-12-2006, 12:14 PM

I registered once. It cost me money and yes it was a fuck around. If you stay at a hostel or hotel then registration is normally included in the price. I advise never registering, since they never say anything on your way out of the country if you dont. The only worry you have is the moscow police who will want a bribe if they find you without registration. A small price to pay i reckon.....

slcblade · 03-12-2006, 12:30 PM

i was only stopped but the police once for the whole month i was there. it was my first night there so i was not registered, luckily i was with some Russian friends so there was not a problem. as for registering, i can't advise whether to do it or not.