Russia (A) - places

[pineapple stu]

Post all info on places, bases and local transport in Russia in here. I'll try keep a summary of the main links in this thread.

Other links -

Accommodation (hotels to campsites) (http://foot.ie/threads/131561-Russia-(A)-accommodation)
Flights (or other means of getting there) (http://foot.ie/threads/131560-Russia-(A)-flights)
Charter travel (incl tour operator bookings, charter buses, taxis, etc) (http://foot.ie/threads/131562-Russia-(A)-charter-travel)
The game (match tickets, kick off time, directions to the ground, etc) (http://foot.ie/threads/131563-Russia-(A)-the-game)
Pubs (things to do, other chat) (http://foot.ie/threads/131565-Russia-(A)-pubs)
General (things to do, other chat) (http://foot.ie/threads/131555-Russia-(A)-general)

[aidz1]

I didnt go on to Mosocw in '02 but considering it for next years.
Heard a few horror stories, but then again i think 7k travelled that time, so you'd expect some bad stories when the crowds are that large.

Based on last time, is Moscow expensive (accomadation/drink/cabs etc.). Is it worth going to or not worth the hassle?? (think its eur60 for a visa!!). prob will only be able to go for a 48hr stay.

would appreciate views of those who've been to moscow

[gspain]

I didnt go on to Mosocw in '02 but considering it for next years.
Heard a few horror stories, but then again i think 7k travelled that time, so you'd expect some bad stories when the crowds are that large.

Based on last time, is Moscow expensive (accomadation/drink/cabs etc.). Is it worth going to or not worth the hassle?? (think its eur60 for a visa!!). prob will only be able to go for a 48hr stay.

would appreciate views of those who've been to moscow

If you are going to miss 1 away trip in this campaign then this is the one.

However I'd still recommend going. 48 hours is long enough. Red Square is nice but
I find Moscow to be a hassle and a rip off.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Not to mention it's downright dangerous, with too many local crazed loons on the loose.

[mypost]

However I'd still recommend going. 48 hours is long enough. Red Square is nice but
I find Moscow to be a hassle and a rip off.

48 hours is enough if it's a football trip. If you want more than the game, 48 hours is the tip of the iceberg.

Mind you, this trip makes the Slovakia issues look a minor inconvenience.

[brendy_éire]

The visa is a hassle, but it's worth it, IMO. It's a great city to visit for a few days, albeit very expensive.

I have to say that I didn't find it in the least bit dodgy, probably because there are police everywhere.
If you haven't been before, you might as well allow yourself a few days extra to have a look around. There's loads to do, plenty of sights and museums. Or you could just spend all day on the metro :-)

[shep]

If i just go ahead and book flights for this,and reserve a hotel on booking.com using my credit card,will this be enough to get the visa from the russian embassy closer to the date

[pineapple stu]

I'd say that's a question for the Russian Embassy (not trying to be smart!)

[shep]

Tried them...impossible to get through...was hoping someone who travelled to russia recently may have had a quick answer

[Dodge]

No, the hotel will need to send you a letter of invitation (standard form really)

[pineapple stu]

Tried them...impossible to get through...was hoping someone who travelled to russia recently may have had a quick answer
Fair enough!

Last Embassy I tried to contact was the Swiss one (long story!), but it was only open mornings. Don't know is that the case here?

But I'd be very careful about booking first and getting the visa second.

[jbyrne]

If i just go ahead and book flights for this,and reserve a hotel on booking.com using my credit card,will this be enough to get the visa from the russian embassy closer to the date

i would go ahead and book. the visa isnt that hard to get sorted, just a bit time consuming. i am not sure that you still require a letter of invitation from the hotel though

[EAFC_rdfl]

http://dublin.rusembassy.org/
http://www.ireland.mid.ru/
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055249700&highlight=russian+visa

I have them bookmarked from trip to st petersburg last summer. you need an invite letter from the hotel you are booked to stay in, when applying for the visa.
the embassy is only open in the morning AFAIK but we just posted up the documentation and got it all back in around 10 days.
BTW you can 'buy' an invite on some websites i think, without having to book accomodation. probably about 25 euro or something like that. I suppose it would be one way of having a visa before booking flights/accom

[Junior]

I used one of the Agencies online to do it for me rather than try and get the hotel to issue me with a letter of invitation. As post above states it was something like £20-£25. I wanted to do it myself to avoid this cost but by the time you have faffed around with the hotel directly, worked out the correct forms to complete, where to send them, with which documents and then sent them off in registered££ post with SAE registered££ post envelopes and various other admin tasks - it just wasnt worth the hassle. Unfortunately, I dont have reference to which one I used.

[Spudulika]

If anyone has any questions on visas etc I can answer and point to a very good agency who will send on the invite asap (I use them for longer term visas and they're always fast and cheap). Also you can get your visa done while you wait, though don't leave it until the last second or it'll be a nightmare, also it's expensive to do it very quickly. A week would be enough.

[gspain]

If anyone has any questions on visas etc I can answer and point to a very good agency who will send on the invite asap (I use them for longer term visas and they're always fast and cheap). Also you can get your visa done while you wait, though don't leave it until the last second or it'll be a nightmare, also it's expensive to do it very quickly. A week would be enough.

Can you just post the info here? I'm sure the mods won't mind.

[gspain]

Iyt seems you also hav eto register your visa on arrival too or you'll be fined when leaving. More money more red tape.

Nightmare country to get into and out of.

[EAFC_rdfl]

only if you are there for more than 3 week days. if you are there for less than 3 days during the week you dont need to register. even if you do need to register, either your hotel will help with it, or you just need to go to the police station, not that much hassle.
flying in id say is a bit of a nightmare, re getting visa stamped etc. we took the train so it was all done on board while travelling

[mypost]

Iyt seems you also hav eto register your visa on arrival too or you'll be fined when leaving. More money more red tape.

Nightmare country to get into and out of.

Which is why it'll mostly be a tour package job.

[Spudulika]

If you stay in a hotel, or rent an apartment, you don't need to register as it'll be done by the hotel or renter. It's automatic. Also if you're less than 72 hours in the country you're clear. On a bad day I've been 30minutes waiting in line to get through passport control, just fill in your double sided immigration card on the plane (they're handed out). In all the years I've been coming to Russia the only real hassle I had was when I had my passport stolen and twice when trying to book into hotels without my registration card - this was when I was already registered in Moscow. Ultimately it all proved straightforward.

I don't know if I can post up the details regarding the agency, is this okay? I don't earn anything from it, I just trust them for myself and my colleagues/clients.