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MothballsWallet's guide to Russia, anyone?

As I'm MSE's resident Rusophile, would anyone be interested in a guide to travelling to Russia?

I was thinking with the World Cup being hosted there in 2018, it might be helpful for MSErs going to the games, or to visit out of curiosity as a tourist.

Comments

  • zagfles
    zagfles Posts: 21,686 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Chutzpah Haggler
    Are you on the Tripadvisor forums? Might be better there and you'll get a lot more people who are specifically interested in Russia reading it. I always go there for destination specific advice, MSE mainly for general or financial aspects of travelling.
  • mgdavid
    mgdavid Posts: 6,711 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Interested !
    just 'to' Russia or 'in and around' Russia?
    The questions that get the best answers are the questions that give most detail....
  • dickydonkin
    dickydonkin Posts: 3,055 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    The way things are going, there is a possibility that some countries may boycott the World Cup - hopefully the current situation won't escalate.

    Furthermore, for us Brits, obtaining a visa is now a cumbersome process that I believe now requires a visit to a Russian Embassy.

    That said, I had a long weekend in Moscow last summer and can recommend the city and with a favourable exchange rate, now is a good time to visit Russia.

    The down side of the trip was the people who can be 'hard work' at times.

    Zagfles suggestion is worth considering as I suspect you would get a broader audience as people visit Tripadvisor for specifically travel orientated topics.
  • Crikey, I've just checked and yes you do need to visit the "Visa Application Centre" (the visa process is outsourced) in person to apply.

    I have been to Russia several times (but not since 2010) and am keen to take another trip at some point, but having to apply in person is rather annoying. I did so back in either 1999 or 2000, but for more recent trips it's all been done by post and/or online (though even when done online form and passport still had to be sent in for them to stick the visa in the passport).
  • ljonski
    ljonski Posts: 3,337 Forumite
    edited 11 February 2015 at 5:19PM
    what information are you likely to put-in your guide ? ;)
    "if the state cannot find within itself a place for those who peacefully refuse to worship at its temples, then it’s the state that’s become extreme".Revd Dr Giles Fraser on Radio 4 2017
  • blindman
    blindman Posts: 5,697 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 19 April 2015 at 11:44AM
    Hi

    Question:

    Going to Moscow and St Peterburgh independantly in June.

    Staying at 3 different hotels

    Looks like I need 3 separate "Support letters" (one from each hotel) however the Visa form only has space for ONE reference.

    How do I get around this without paying an ageny $30 for a form that covers all locations?
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