Travel to Russia

[eekee 182]

I have a dual entry business visa that was good for 2 90 day visits and I didn't need an HIV test.

Dual entry is not the same thing as multiple entry. I would call/email the consulate to check if I were applying for a business visa. It might also be something necessary for registration? The laws change constantly, so it's always good to check.

Edited June 30, 2009 by eekee

[johnj 0]

Time for me to weigh in here. I have been to Russia roughly 30 times in the past five years. The best site I have found for searching airfare prices is www.kayak.com; it is just a portal and sometimes the flights are sold out once you go to the member airline but it gives you an excellent feel for the options.

I have had tourist visas, business visas, multiple entry, etc. If you plan multiple trips, the business one year visa is the way to go; less hassle and less long term expense.

My last trip, I had a problem, first time, with my visa. I went through a broker and they put a Moscow hotel on my visa invitation and visa voucher. I spent my time in Sochi. When attempting to leave Sochi, the person in charge of allowing me past the security checkpoint flagged me for special treatment; you know, the single chair in a 12X12 room with a bright light on my face as they grilled me in Russian. Well I have been around the baseball diamond enough to act totally stupid. I know enough Russian to speak a tiny bit but I have found it best to act totally stupid, not hard for me. I repeated, I don't understand Russian, I do not speak Russian, etc. Never said a word of Russia other than "Da". They finally sent in a Russian with some command of English and he grilled me why my voucher said a Russia hotel but I stayed in Sochi. I explained I went through an agent and that is what they gave me. Soon, he passed me through.

Also, when in the company of a Russian official, never say you are visiting Russia for a bride, to visit your fiancee, for a MOB, etc. Some do not take to kindly to American (or any other countries men) coming to cherry pick there best single Russian women.

[clueless_in_usa 8]

I have a dual entry business visa that was good for 2 90 day visits and I didn't need an HIV test.

Last time I requested (and got granted) a Business visa (MAY/2009) I was not required any HIV test. I believe that they did away with this requirement.

[eekee 182]

I have a dual entry business visa that was good for 2 90 day visits and I didn't need an HIV test.

Last time I requested (and got granted) a Business visa (MAY/2009) I was not required any HIV test. I believe that they did away with this requirement.

You need them for student and work visas. You used to only need them to extend a visa past 90 days or whatever; now you present a test to the consulate in order to get a visa and then again when you extend the visa.

[slim 1,525]

Two weeks ago I had to call Delta, twice, and both times I spoke to a real human speaking "Indian English". Maybe it's just my luck.

They've probably outsourced since I last called, it's been a couple years.

[SMR 368]

As long as we're talking about travel ---- Did anyone see the article yesterday in the MoscowTimes regarding SVO3? Aeroflot claims to be committed to having it up and running before they begin their winter schedule this year. Of course, they have been promising this terminal since they first talked about joining SkyTeam back in 2002.

But man, what a wonderful change it will be to have this thing FINALLY open!! -- ALL Aeroflot international and domestic flights in ONE terminal, as well as all SkyTeam member flights (i.e., Delta). What will the poor taxi mafia do!?? -- no more $100 cab rides between Terminal 1 & 2. But what a wonderful thrill it will be to not have to endure Terminal 1 !! But this will now be the giant mark of distinction between us "old farts" and the "newbies". I can hear the discussion now, "Boy, you just don't know how good you've got it now! Back in my day, we had to drag our luggage 5 miles through the snow just to GET to the terminal! We considered ourselves lucky just to be able to SEE a chair in a terminal!"

Of course, something tells me that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to book a flight through SVO on the opening day!

This would be great. I specifically try to avoid transferring through Moscow for this very reason. I suppose you don't have much choice to transfer through Moscow if you are going somewhere besides St. Petersburg, but I can usually get to St. Petersburg for comparable rates without going through Moscow. Best options are transferring through Paris or Frankfurt.

There is a free bus that runs between SVO1 and SVO2 every half hour or so. It's kind of hard to find unless you ask someone though. Usually I just ask the taxi drivers when they start hounding me where the free bus stops. Sometimes they tell me, but at least they leave me alone.

[Rob_Lesya 4]

This would be great. I specifically try to avoid transferring through Moscow for this very reason. I suppose you don't have much choice to transfer through Moscow if you are going somewhere besides St. Petersburg, but I can usually get to St. Petersburg for comparable rates without going through Moscow. Best options are transferring through Paris or Frankfurt.

There is a free bus that runs between SVO1 and SVO2 every half hour or so. It's kind of hard to find unless you ask someone though. Usually I just ask the taxi drivers when they start hounding me where the free bus stops. Sometimes they tell me, but at least they leave me alone.

Of course, there ARE other options when transiting through Moscow -- Domodedovo being the most popular one. However, for most domestic destinations, transiting through DME cuts down on the number of options for connecting flights. But there are quite a variety of interesting carriers that fly the domestic routes through DME... flying on some of them can be quite an "adventure!" I'll never forget wondering why everyone who boarded my Ural Airlines flight did so with a bottle of vodka in their hand and began drinking the instant they sat down. 15 minutes into the flight, I understood why! We were flying in an old TU-134 that obviously hadn't been well maintained and felt like it was going to fly apart any second. 30 minutes into the flight I wished that I was also passed out! 45 minutes into the flight--- I was!!

Hmmmmm.... I've never had any trouble finding the transit bus, the only trouble has been finding room ON the transit bus! But I very rarely use it. Usually when I go through Moscow, I stay for a day or two to visit friends or have meetings, etc before heading on to my domestic destination.

Edited July 1, 2009 by Rob_Lesya

[Neonred 3,569]

I remember my first flight on a Russian domestic airlines. It also was an old TU-134 with bald tires but a fresh coat of paint in the cabin, obviously applied with a poor quality brush. Certainly the scariest ride I have ever been on. And I never imagined they could stuff so many seats so close together.

[slim 1,525]

Reminds me of seeing Aeroflot fotos of the woman sitting next to the chicken cages and dogs, boxes, etc. - in the cargo hold!

[bobb 0]

I remember a flight from Kiev to Donetsk, in January 2005. There was an actual center area in the plane that had a table! And I was sitting at it. No joke - it was like we were in our own cabin area with another couple.

[slim 1,525]

That would be pretty cool!

[johnj 0]

I remember one of my puddle jump flights (2 hrs) in a Russian plane, it was setup like a bus with open over bins, seats super close together, gang boarding, no safety presentation and folks milling around during take-off and landing.

[Steve S 2]

My first Aeroflot flight, I made the mistake of keeping my overcoat on, then I was jammed in the window seat with a bag under my legs, overheated, and only a couple of inches of free space to move my legs.

I was also surprised that Russians don't queue up to board the plane in any sort of organized fashion. Instead, there is a mad dash from the shuttlebus to the steps where everyone pushes past each other to get out of the cold and snow, and to claim overhead bid space.

As others commented, I also noticed many people breaking out the liquor or beer once they settled in their seats.

[AKguy 1]

I remember old women with bags can hurt... I was to fly into E-Burg on a Czech flight and our flight was delayed in Prague. While waiting in the terminal someone figured out how to hot wire the water vending machine and before you know it there were 50 people standing in line to get their free water. They were laughing and giggling and passing out water bottles to everyone.

An announcement came out that the plane was ready and everyone made a mad dash for the door. No line, just a hoard of people jockeying to get in first. A old woman side swiped my shin with what felt like a lead bar, took all I had not to drop my bags. Once we were in the air, yes, the vodka was flowing. People were wandering all over the place and for almost the entire last hour of the flight a very drunk guy decided to sit in my row and stare at me periodically. I was just waiting for him to say something as he rocked back in forth in his drunken stupor. He finally realized he was in the wrong seat and moved directly behind me.

[Thorum 0]

W have been most happy and impressed with the prices and service my wife and I have received from Sokol Tours. We have worked with Artour Yatchenko (Director of Sokol) and he is excellent!! Highly recommended!! http://sokoltours.com/

Edited July 7, 2009 by Thorum