SaskiaZhi

Hello first of all I'd apreciate A LOT if someone can instruct me or advise me in the following things:
I'm going for and exchange to St. Petersburg, Russia in january and my dad is kind of nervous about all, most specifically the money thing, I've searching in this and another forums and seems like people only carry their cash to buy their things.. I'm not very sure about this and I don't like the idea of carying or saving all my money on a safe box, I'd prefer to use a prepaid credit card, most specifacally a prepaid mastercard but I'm not sure if it is accepted in there I read in other post about London and Ireland but not sure if I can use it in Russia on ATM, if someone can please tell me iso or any other advises I'd be thankful! Looking forward!!

Michael

I was in Russia before they had ATMs, but if others report that using ATMs are no problem, do not bother with a pre-paid card. Just establish a new account wherever you reside and deposit your money there, to be withdrawn as necessary from an ATM in Russia. If you live in the States, check to see if you local credit union will let you withdraw money from a checking account charging only the 1% that Visa charges for being the middleman. Banks like BofA charge 3% of the amount withdrawn plus a flat $5 fee.

amyb

ATMs worked fine when I was there in 2010.

michelhuebeli

In St. Peteresburg you can deal with money just like you can in other cities - ATMs for small spending money, credit cards for purchases, no different.

Get a checking account with Schwab or Capital One, making sure that it is the kind of account that reimburses your ATM fees. I'm with Schwab and I get a credit back for the three dollars or whatever it is whenever I use an ATM, no matter what country I'm in. I heard about Capital One (and maybe others?) doing the same, have no personal experience with them.

Then make sure your account is topped up, make sure that you have a high per-withdrawal limit per day (in case you need a lot of cash for an emergency), and withdraw spending money not in tiny amount all the time but in a reasonable amount. Keep your money safe on your person - that is an art form you have to learn no matter where you travel these days.

Pick your device that suits you best, from those available at www.magellans.com, ww.ricksteves.com, and others. Some like a money belt, some like a pouch that hangs from a belt loop inside your pants and you can just pull it up and out when needed, others have other preferences. As long as it's not a wallet in a pocket that can be reached by long-fingered specialists. Don't pull out a wallet when you pay for something, that's showing the whole world where you keep your stuff. Loose cash in a chest pocket works.

Then use a credit card for any serious purchases.

ATMs give the best exchange rate, (only use ATMs in secure locations like hotel lobbies and inside of banks etc., like you would anywhere in the world) and when you get reimbursed for the few dollars it costs to use the ATM, you're OK.

michele_d

We had no problems at all with the ATMs in St Petes last year. Used them several times.

Gretchen

Ummmm. You are an exchange student. Get good information about how to handle money from your administrative group. They will give you the proper use.
If you have an ATM, so be it.

lanejohann

no probs using ATMS.. we were there in 2009

accommodation was super expensive but food and transport cheap cheap cheap!
love russia and will return!
have a wonderful time!

michele_d

We found a great B&B in St Petes. From the outside of the building it looked like a outright rat trap,(and I was rather nervous and disappointed when we arrived) but inside was one of the nicest places we have ever stayed. Absolutely wonderful. You definitely do not need to pay a lot to get a good place. Do a bit of research. Agree, food and transport were very reasonable.

lanejohann

yes michele_d
even the expensive apartments ( im talking 412 AUD per night) look dreadful and can smell ever so strange but the rooms themselves can be quite done up!
we had such an experience in st petes...the lift looked like it couldnt crank itself up to save it itself but the interior of the apartment was one of the most luxurious weve stayed in..
bidet and all!

michelhuebeli

The street numbering can be confusing. An entire long block's worth of buildings may have only one or two entrance(s) from the street - that's one number. Then once inside the square or courtyard, you have many entrances leading into many stairways, that's another number. Off those stairs you usually have two apartments on each floor, a left and a right - that may be another number or a letter.

Wait til you get there and you'll see what I mean.

Gretchen

I hope he sees that he needs to establish an ATM account--not trying to use a prepaid credit card--which are a ripoff in the first place.

michele_d

<Wait til you get there and you'll see what I mean.>

Boy, are you right! We could not find the entrance to our B&B in St Pete's to save our lives. We had detailed directions but no luck. We circled the block, dragging our suitcases for an hour before finally giving up and staying put. What is it you are told as a child: if lost stay put and they will find you!

We approached a young man, and with the address and phone number of the owner, asked him if he knew where it was. He was so very very kind. He looked and couldn't find it either. He then called the owner and led us right to it: a little door with a teeny tiny number that blended into the wall. He was so sweet. Great introduction to St. Petes.

Once inside, the hallways went to the left, to the right and up. All with different numbers. It was at this point I was starting to get that icky feeling in the pit of my stomach that I had made a terrible mistake in booking this place. The hallway looked like it hadn't seen a broom or paint in a hundred years. Boy, was I worried. But onward we trudged up three flights of stairs till we found the B&B door. Once the owner opened the door, it was sort of like the Wizard of Oz, when it goes from black and white to technicolor. Just beautiful. It just goes to show: don't judge a book by its cover.

SaskiaZhi

THAAAAANKS!! I've read all of your comments and hopefuly everything will go as I plan! Thank you very very very much again for your responses

Odin

<<I was in Russia before they had ATMs>> That must have been pre-1991. I lived in Russia for an entire year between 1997-1998 and ATMs were abundant even then (in Moscow & St Pete). Even before 1991 it was always easy for foreigners to exchange currency for roubles, much easier than it is in the US even today.
I did not do any of things advised on this thread, I had same bank account that I have had for years, I used ATMs in the street, never ever owned a money belt. Its too much paranoia.

As for private addresses in Russia, apartment blocks will be numbered rather than named. The outside of apartments and especially entrances are no indication of how it will be inside. Alot of apartments were built during the times of Stalin or Khrushchev and have specific style for that era.

And many Russians are much more well off than you can possibly imagine.

Michael

<i>That must have been pre-1991.</i>

I was there in 1995. We must have been in areas where ATMs were not readily seen. But Traveler's Checks worked in those days, and any hotel would cash them.