With the fall of communist regime in former Soviet Union some years back, the so-called iron curtain over Russia was lifted. Now travel to Russia is easier. The places are open and people are friendly. But before starting your journey, make sure that you have completed all formalities like arranging visa, accommodation in Russia, and arranging other necessary documents. If you are confused about these formalities or want to know better about these, online help for the travelers to Russia is available. It is better to seek the service of a travel agency experienced in sending visitors to Russia for a smooth travel. There are some internet resources, which are also of great help when visiting Russia.

Russia is a land of magnificent buildings, warm and friendly people, and strict authorities. The person who wants to travel to the country must obtain a visa. The language spoken in the country is Russian and very few people will be able to understand English. There are some areas in Russia and nearby countries like Chechnya and Ossetia, where occasionally wars and fights break out. So it is better to avoid these places from your travel program. There are plenty of other beautiful places in Russia.
There are some practical aspects all Russian visitors must keep in mind. The plug points on the electricity lines in Russia are not the same as that in other countries in Europe. So a converter between the two modes is an essential item. The currency of Russia is Ruble. Currency exchange centers are quite common. But it is almost impossible to get money from a traveler’s check. Most banks do not honor them. But credit card companies like Visa and MasterCard are becoming increasingly popular. So credit cards should work. Only doubt is when using the credit cards of American Express. It is not that much known in this part of the world.
One of the expensive things in Russia even now is to make a telephone call. It is better to use a telephone card provided by some big international companies. It is always better to carry the kind of medicine you will need. The same kind of medicine may not be available and even if it is available, the language problems make buying medicines extremely difficult. Also, the quality of the water and food in Russia is not reliable. Some people say it is excellent. An equal number of people, if not more, say the quality of the water is of extremely poor quality. The accommodation in Russia ideally should be booked well in advance. There are online resources, which you can use for this purpose.
There are plenty of things in Russia to make the trip unforgettable. These include Hermitage, Kizhi, Kremlin, and Lapland Biosphere Research. The ideal time to visit the country is July and August. The months of May-June and September-October are good time for tour across the country. But it should be noted that all Russian guests must avoid the months of February to April.

anastasiak :: Aug.20.2008 :: Travel Guide :: No Comments »

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