Cabs in Russia
Mar 4th, 2008, 12:39 PM
#2
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We were in St. Petersburg last year and declined to get rubles because of the official exchange rate compared to market rates.
We used Euros for cabs, and had no trouble negotiating prices in that currency. (No one wanted dollars.) But, if you are going to be outside of a city center, there may be a different reaction to the lack of rubles.
We found no cabs that took credit cards. Frankly, I would be uncomfortable using a credit card outside of a hotel or large restaurant.
BTW, if you do not inform your credit card company that you will be using a credit card in Russia and the dates that you will be doing that, usage will result in an immediate freeze of your account.
We used Euros for cabs, and had no trouble negotiating prices in that currency. (No one wanted dollars.) But, if you are going to be outside of a city center, there may be a different reaction to the lack of rubles.
We found no cabs that took credit cards. Frankly, I would be uncomfortable using a credit card outside of a hotel or large restaurant.
BTW, if you do not inform your credit card company that you will be using a credit card in Russia and the dates that you will be doing that, usage will result in an immediate freeze of your account.
Mar 5th, 2008, 09:51 AM
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I one checks on XE.com you can get a bank rate for exchange of funds. A credit card rate will be similar and it is a good guide for the cost of exchange from Dollars to Euro, for example.
But, the change bureaus in Russia were ridiculously out of line with those rates. (I was told you could get better rates around any corner, but that would entail a level of risk that I found unacceptable.)
Also, as there is no good market for rubles in other countries, one would have to exchange any excess back to Euro with an exchange bureau and pay another high fee. They appear to make a lot of money on repurchasing what they have sold.
It appears that the rates are set at the central bank and there seemed virtually no variation among the various banks and bureau.
But, the change bureaus in Russia were ridiculously out of line with those rates. (I was told you could get better rates around any corner, but that would entail a level of risk that I found unacceptable.)
Also, as there is no good market for rubles in other countries, one would have to exchange any excess back to Euro with an exchange bureau and pay another high fee. They appear to make a lot of money on repurchasing what they have sold.
It appears that the rates are set at the central bank and there seemed virtually no variation among the various banks and bureau.
