clevelandbrown

I have a (perhaps dated) guidebook that says that Russians can accept payment only in rubles, but that some stores and hotels will take a credit card. It seems to say that they convert the bill to dollars at their own rate. If so, then I think the credit card processors will add their own 1 percent (as they do when you are a victim of dynamic currency exchange).

My practice overseas is to have the card charged in the local currency, and take advantage of the good exchange rates the credit card processors get.

So can I have the card charged in rubles in Russia, or should I go back to the cash basis of thirty years ago?

Also, I usually bring back a little of the local currency as it is handy to have some for one's next trip. But the guidebook says the Russian government won't let you take any rubles with you when you leave. Is this so? Is there some nominal amount you can take home with you safely?

patandhank

We used our credit card while in St. Petersburg last summer. Because we used a Capitol One, there were not any foreign transaction fees. When it comes to FTF, you need to check with the issuer of the card you're thinking of using to find out the percentage. The restaurant we used our card at filled in the amount in rubles exactly at the menu prices we read. Sorry, I can't answer your question on bringing rubles home because we didn't. We had gotten rubles from the local ATM and ensured we used all.

nytraveler

You can use credit cards - and yes the price should be in rubles at upscale hotels and restaurants and tourist shops. If you go to a small local kiosk or market they will want to see cash. For modest hotels or apartments you need to determine in advance what forms of payment they want.

Percy

The Russian Government really does not want you to take their local currency out of the country

Also , they restrict foreign currency and use of credit cards, although the upscale places will use credit cards...as nytraveler has said ( above).

You never know just where your credit card will not be accepted.!

I managed in St.Petersburg with a Credit Card only...no Rubles.( Although I had to sweet talk in a few places!!)

I did not bring back any Rubles, nor did I want to , because they are only good in Russia.....I do not know if I could have even exchanged them when I got back home !

In the Hermitage Restaurant, they did not take US$ or euros at all !!

( Hi patandhank)

thursdaysd

"In the Hermitage Restaurant, they did not take US$ or euros at all !!" - why on earth should they? It's in Russia, isn't it? How many places in the US would take euros?

I do have a few rubles stashed in my desk drawer, and no-one seemed interested in whether I was taking them out (but I left by train, don't know if it would be different at an airport). It used to be you had to document all the money you took in, and all the money you took out, but that was changed in '04 to only apply to amounts over $3,000.

djkbooks

When we were in Russia many shops in heavily touristed areas and some other places posted prices in US Dollars, but things may have changed because that was back when the USD/Euro were about the same. The rate of exchange was always clearly posted, too, and was very close to the interbank rate - no huge markup. And, many street vendors accepted US Dollars, particularly for things like postcards and souvenir type items. And, we paid in US Dollars at many museum shops. Otherwise, prices are in rubles.

But, always look for the credit card logos in the windows and shops. Many places accepted cash only. But, ATMs were not difficult to find. Note, however, that ATMs dispense large bills which were often difficult to use as many places are very short on "change". So, try to use the large bills wherever you can. Even the subway station and some museums would not accept larger bills.

Be careful, though, of DCC when paying your hotel bill.

Percy

But they took euros at the Gift Shop at the Church of the Spilled Blood !!!!

Why did they ?? The Church of the Spilled Blood is in Russia!!!

And they did not want a credit card or euros or US$ at Peterhof.
I did not buy anything at Peterhof, but my friend did.

Like I said , you never know exactly where your credit card may not be accepted.

The information I passed on is from my St.Petersburg Tour Guide, who I think is much more informed than any of us tourist.

Our excellent tour guide tried to tell us ahead of time,what curency may be accepted ,other than Rubles ,in certain places

I try not to "Rock the Boat" when I am tourist,especially in Russia !

Every country would like to receive its own currency, but let us face it , euros and US$ are accepted in many countries.