Hello all! This June I'm going to Saint Petersburg to visit a woman I met on fiance.com.
Tomorrow I'm going to the Russian consulate to pick up my visa. I hope getting it goes smoothly.
Now I'm trying to book a hotel. This is turning out to be an adventure in itself!
My dilemma: The hotel that sent me an invitation and will be named on my visa doesn't have a room for me! Does anyone know if I'll have a problem getting my visa stamped by a different hotel? I include this question in e-mails to hotels, but I haven't received replys yet.
I'll be heading over June 22 for my third visit. Each time I've used one of those online companies that get you a visa and provide the invitation for you for a fee. Each time I stay with my lady and not in a hotel....a little problem because I enter with a tourist visa.
My first time we had a friend of hers that worked at the Inturist hotel stamp it for 2 days stay....for a small sum of money. Turned out to be a problem as I was stopped at the small airport leaving her city, and "fined" for improper documents...but only cost me a US 20 dollar bill...into the pocket of the police man. Funny, but I had no problems in the airport in Moscow when leaving for the US.
Last time I registered at the OVIR office in her town and it only cost a few dollars, if that, and had absolutely no problems. This time we will do the same at the OVIR. The visa company I use has offices in Moscow and St Petersburg and the will take care of all registration for me if I stay in one of those cities first.
Not quite about Russia - but about another FSU country. i was unaware of the importance of having proper documaentation showing where I had stayed on EXITING Moldova. My girl (the one I had a lot of trouble with) seemed adamant about it - but I just thought it was one of the many quirky things she was insistant of. She assembled the papers and I stuck them - somewhere - in my luggage. When approached by on officer on leaving - he asked for my papers, she told him in Russian that I had them - but it would have taken a while to find them. I used a technique that i do not recommend generally. While the officer was talking to someone else I walked in the direction of my baggage and then just kept on walking - away. Didn't produce my papers - didn't pay a fine (bribe), just walked away.
disastronaut. It doesnt matter what is stated in your invitation. When you get a visa, you can check in any hotel you want, not necessarily the one that sent you an invitation.
If you stay in a hotel-they put a stamp in your migration card and you will not need any further registrations.
If you would prefer to live in a provate apartment0you will have to go to local OVIR in three days after your arrival and get your registration there. If its a tourist visa-you will not have any problems registering it there.
I will, thanks.
Can any one tell me their experiences with public transportation? Is it expensive? Is there anything I should know? I plan on traveling to the outer city (where my friend lives), and back to the city center. She will be with me often, so I'd like to have an idea of how much $ I will be needing. (I'm on a budget, like the most of us).
DONT USE THE TRAINS !!
There are many warnings both on this forum and in other places about Trains in all FSU countries, it is ill advised to go on them unless you are Arnie S` and armed to the teeth !!!
Some buses are OK, some are not, but if you are not alone and your girl is with you, besides pick pockets you should be OK.
Never go out with large sums of cash on you, only take what you need for the time you are out, and that way if you get dipped you havnt lost the lot.
Taxis are usually the best way to travel, but again Never get in one on your own !!!
Your girl will withouth a second though, because she speaks the language and wont get any crap from the driver, but you could end up robbed beaten and dumped in the midle of nowhere. Another point, on all matters concerning money when prices are being discussed by your girl for something you want to buy her, unless the price is Cleraly marked on the item, then keep your mouth Shut !!
If you talk and the seller hears your voice, the price will suddenly get Much much more, if that happens, Walk away and look elsewhere for what you want, almost everything you can buy in the FSU can be found in another shop, or Bazzar, so dont get ripped off, there is no need for it :o))
"when prices are being discussed by your girl for something you want to buy her"
This rule goes fgor EVERY thing to do with buying, or paying for anything that doesnt have a Clear marked price on it,
Also for services such as Taxis.
Always let your girl flag down the taxi, and discuss the price with the driver, while you stand back and look like a lamp post :o) Once she has agreed a price for where you want to go, she will tell you its OK to get in.
This behaviour is not being a wimpy man, your girl will understand that you are standing back while she makes decisions and plans on these matters because she knows you cannot talk to the people concerned as she can, and she KNOWS you will be ripped off and wont want that to happen to you :o)
TimH makes excellent points as usual. I don't know about St. Petersburg yet, but I know in my girls town the buses cost 5.5 rubles (about 20 cents) and taxi buses...vans that carry 12 people and follow the same route as the buses..cost 10 rubles (about 35 cents). In Moscow we used the metro most of the time, and I don't remember exactly how much it cost, but we bought a card good for 10 rides, and I think it was just a few dollars for that card. A great deal. I never felt threatend, but was warned about pick pockets. The most difficult thing about the Moscow metro is that no signs are in English. If you are traveling alone, plan your route first, but better yet, always go with your girl!
Hey TimH, Neonred: Thanks for the heads-up! I will try to be cautious. I don't plan on traveling the city alone. I think the only times I will, is when I am going back to the hotel at night ( I can't assume that I will be having an overnight guest at this time ;0). In this case I'll have my girl handle the arrangement with a taxi. I guess that doesn't ensure my safety, because after the taxi pulls away, I'm fair game.
SO... Maybe I should have her go to the hotel with me, and then she can take the taxi back home. This may be dangerous for her though. Is is safe for the girl to travel alone in a taxi?
It's a shame that people in the world still act like predators to innocent tourists. I know it's everywhere, but I think here in New York, and most of the USA, people are more willing to be helpful and kind to tourists. And in London too ;)
So, on a lighter, more positive note:
1)Is there any places in St. Pete's that I should definitely visit?
From the pictures that I see, the city has many beautiful sights.
2)I'll be in the Moscow airport for about 3 1/2 hours. Is the airport in Moscow nice/ safe? I do appreciate your input and wisdom. Cheers
"Is is safe for the girl to travel alone in a taxi?"
Much safer than for you mate, she knows the routes, the prices, and the language, if he treis anything on with her she can have him arrested and charged, whereas you wouldnt even be able to explain to the police what had happened to you !!
"And in London too ;)"
Dont kid yourself !! London is the mugging capital of teh planet !! Its a very dangerous place to go without being cautious !! There is at least one incident involving guns in Londone every single day now, Yes I know ther are far more in NY but guns are illegal here, there is, or should be less opportunity for people to have one, let alone use it !!!
Pickpockets work the tube trains like its their regular 9 to 5 and on Oxford st you ahd best have your hand on ly money at all times or you wil likely lose it !!
Do Not be complacent in London, its Not as safe as it should be or used to be any more !!
"I'll be in the Moscow airport for about 3 1/2 hours. Is the airport in Moscow nice/ safe?"
NO and NO, in that order !!
You wil arrive at Terminal 2, you then must get to Terminal 1 for internal flights, there is a FREE buss, DO NOT take a taxi, it will cost you an arm and a leg !!! Keep your money safe at all times, and try not to get into a crowd of jostling peoiple as thats when you will get dipped !!
Stick to the busy areas, and stay INSIDE the terminal buildings, there are police all around the terminlas so you are a lot safer inside than out.
I dont want to make it sound like daeth ona stick, it isnt, but you must be aware that there are many thieving bstards around and they dont need much of an opportunity to take advantage.
Oh one last thing, Take a Pen !! There are never any around at the cutoms forms desks and you MUST fill in the papers or you could end up being harrassed and delayed, maybe even fined !!
Tim
Director of the "keepin it real" department ;o))
"Is is safe for the girl to travel alone in a taxi?"
Much safer than for you mate, she knows the routes, the prices, and the language, if he tries anything on with her she can have him arrested and charged, whereas you wouldn't even be able to explain to the police what had happened to you !!
"And in London too ;)"
Don't kid yourself !! London is the mugging capital of the planet !! Its a very dangerous place to go without being cautious !! There is at least one incident (often many more) involving guns in London every single day now, Yes I know there are far more in NY but guns are illegal here, there is, or should be less opportunity for people to have one, let alone use it !!!
Pickpockets work the tube trains like its their regular 9 to 5 and on Oxford st you had best have your hand on your money at all times or you will likely lose it !!
Do Not be complacent in London, its Not as safe as it should be or used to be any more !!
"I'll be in the Moscow airport for about 3 1/2 hours. Is the airport in Moscow nice/ safe?"
NO and NO, in that order !!
You will arrive at Terminal 2, you then must get to Terminal 1 for internal flights, there is a FREE buss, DO NOT take a taxi, it will cost you an arm and a leg !!! Keep your money safe at all times, and try not to get into a crowd of jostling people as thats when you will get dipped !!
Stick to the busy areas, and stay INSIDE the terminal buildings, there are police all around the terminals so you are a lot safer inside than out.
I don't want to make it sound like death on a stick, it isn't, but you must be aware that there are many thieving bstards around and they don't need much of an opportunity to take advantage.
Oh one last thing, Take a Pen !! There are never any around at the cutoms forms desks and you MUST fill in the papers or you could end up being harassed and delayed, maybe even fined !!
Tim
Director of the "keepin it real" department ;o))