galr

I just came back from my 6th visit to Moscow over the last 4 years.
It's absolutely safe, people are mostly very nice and like the tourists.
The Metro (subway) is one of the best in the world (if not the best), I don't think you will ever wait more than 1 minute between trains. Really fast and the routes are very logical. Yes, not all of them speak English but you can always find young Russian who usually do speak it. Prices are cheap if you don't go just for the tourists places. Even the police men I encountered were polite. I'm sure there are bad people there and it's not all pink but isn't it the case everywhere? I mean.. In San Francisco we didn't feel very safe in some places and got some bad comments in buses. Overall Moscow is just amazing and after visiting in Barcelona, Rome, Berlin , Prague and some others lately..Moscow is my favorite city (well... Moscow and Prague. Prague is wonderful). Go , have fun. Don't believe the Russian-Bashing western media. You'll have a great time! May is amazing and New-Years is breath-taking.

itspat

Random question... I'm interested in Romanov history (the execution of the family, Rasputin) - is anyone aware of any tours that focus on this in particular? Side trips to any particular locations, etc.? Or is it something that is not really discussed openly in present-day Russia? I only ask because, when we visited China, our tour guide told us that there were certain aspects of recent Chinese history that they were not allowed to talk about, and I'm wondering if Russia has any similar things they prefer to keep more hush hush.

Sergey1183

to "itspart"
I've sent you several links via the forum's moderator

janisj

Sergey1183: if you want to give itspat links, you need to post them HERE on the thread. ( as long as they are not advertising)

The moderators don't forward messages.

Sergey1183

OK, janisj. The links might be considered as advertisement and to be cut by moderator.
to "itspart":
http://www.peterswalk.com/rasputin.html
http://www.guide-guru.com/destinatio...s-palace-tour/
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/nicholas.htm
http://en.advisor.travel/poi/Church-...terinburg-6176
You may discuss ANY question, no limitations.

Pegontheroad

I have arranged for a four-day stay in St. Petersburg in June, but I now AMOST regret it on account of the political situation there. I don't like the idea of financially supporting a regime like that of Putin.

I sort of fell into this visit without thinking it through. I had been to Russia on a tour in 1967 when I was not very politically engaged. It was the height of the Cold War, but that didn't seem to bother me at the time.

When we went to St.Petersburg, I was sick, so I stayed in the hotel the entire time and saw nothing of the Hermitage or the city as a whole. I've always regretted that I saw nothing of Leningrad/St.Petersburg on that trip.

This year I decided to go to the Baltics, and when I saw how close Tallinin, Estonia, is to St.Petersburg, I jumped at the chance to go. When I think about it now, I am second-guessing myself, but I've gone through a major hassle and some serious expense getting the visa and paying for the hotel, and I'm not about to cancel now. Besides I REALLY want to see the Hermitage.

I'm not at all worried by the idea of hostile Russians. It has never been my experience in 50 years of international travel that people are unfriendly or rude. Except for a couple of times in London.

janisj

>>The links might be considered as advertisement and to be cut by moderator.
to "itspart": <<

Links are not considered advertising . . . <i><u>Unless</u></i> one works for/owns the company or is asked to post the links by the company. Links are posted every day = no problem. It is when someone registers just to post links that it looks suspicious to the moderators.

Sergey1183

Thank you, "janisj" for clarification.

ochaye

Although it's not as obvious as many other countries, propaganda is all over our western screens. It's tabloid tv when we only hear of only about shocking incidents, or bad elements of any country. Positive news seems to have disappeared for the most part, which certainly does not help give a fair view. That element of distrust is all that remains.. but, as an example, does the number of deaths in New York every single day prevent would-be tourists from visiting it? Of course not. As long as they know where to go, go by the countries rules, and act cautiously and sensibly.

Thankfully well known cities such as Moscow feed on tourism.
Tripadvisor (Im not advertising-honest) is another reasonable source to find out about tourists from all over the world and most recent experiences of places of interest or stay with plenty of reviews, and there are plenty of recent american tourist reviews of late if you search. Some of it has been mentioned from other users above, but here's someone's general writeup on what to watch out for in terms of safety

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2...w.Nowdays.html

Another source that people forget about for a travellers experiences, is youtube-although seeing everything through someone's camera or smartphone might spoil their visit, there are plenty of european tourists videoing their journey. The only downside is that with all the current Russian related news, news videos tend to hog your initial search results, which won't exactly be what you want-all negative. Putin supporters stamping on US flags on the street etc, but you have to remember that nationalist right wing thugs with nothing else to do, are in every single country, and even though Putin may have won over many in Russia, those that act like this are still a minority, that not everyone agrees with.

canadian visit 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ7j1cRJM7Q
general, including long stay american view
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFWF6KF8SaE

random: a russian supermarket!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzmZxiIv8mA

LidaH

Russia is a beautiful country. However, when I am in Rome or Athens, New York on Miami - I have to be careful and avoid certain areas. Keep your money, credit cards and passport - under your clothes. AAA has everything you need for this. Also, do not be disrespectful, respect their customs, like in any other country you visit. And please, before you say something you not sure about - look in the mirror and see if you can tell this the person you see there, and if not - keep it to your self. And please, make sure you ride the subway, especially in Saint Petersburg and Moscow, it is absolutely beautiful.

BigBlue77

Wow! AmericanVet I think you watch too many movies, or get caught up in all the propoganda of the MSM.

Yes Russia has rules, and Yes Russia enforces these rules. I do not feel that they have ever targeted me for being "American" in any of my visits to Russia and I have been there 4 times and to several different locations...Moscow, Siberia, Russian farms, etc. The people are wonderful and have been very hospitable to me during my visits.

You should though be aware they are very strict about the VISAs and Passport rules. Several things I would be aware of:

- Register your presence within:

janisj

BigBlue77: >>Wow! AmericanVet I think you watch too many movies, or get caught up in all the propoganda of the MSM.<<

AmericanVet won't see your post . . .he registered, posted that one time and never returned. Possibly like you and LidaH, and the 9 or 10 other one timers on this thread before you.

BigBlue77

Wow! AmericanVet I think you watch too many movies, or get caught up in all the propoganda of the MSM.

Yes Russia has rules, and Yes Russia enforces these rules. I do not feel that they have ever targeted me for being "American" in any of my visits to Russia and I have been there 4 times and to several different locations...Moscow, Siberia, Russian farms, etc. The people are wonderful and have been very hospitable to me during my visits.

You should though be aware they are very strict about the VISAs and Passport rules. Several things I would be aware of:

- Register your presence with the local police within:
-three days of arriving in country
-three days of arriving in each city you visit

- ALWAYS carry your passport on you, even around the hotel as the local police may ask you for it

-NEVER overstay your VISA

Registering is often performed by the hotel you are staying at. They often will ask you to leave your Passport at the front desk, where a qualified person will stamp your VISA, therefor registering your presence. Most Americans will not leave their Passport, but keep in mind IF you do NOT get it stamped and the police catch you, there will be problems. You cannot leave the hotel WITHOUT the stamp. If you do not wish to be separated from your Passport, then you'd better be prepared to wait in the lobby for quite sometime until the qualified person arrives to stamp it as they do the registrations in a batch format. If you miss them you have to wait again and cannot leave the hotel.

Also you must register BOTH within 3 days of arrival into Russia, and within 3 days of each city you travel to. I almost got in trouble with this as I spent two days in three different towns and then tried to take a flight to my final destination. I figured that since I wasn't in any place longer than 3 days I did not have to register. At the airport security I had issues and almost found myself detained for not registering. Remember to register.

The overstay is self-explanatory. I guess in Western society we just get used to open doors. Overstay...no problem. I have never seen such relaxed attitude towards security it's insane! In Russia, they operate differently, no doubt. But it is not to harass you, it is all about security. They control the movement of people from one zone to the other, this is why they require you register at each destination. They can restrict the flow of people from combative regions and they can track visitors better. Keep in mind the vast amount of space that they control and the diversity of the people from the far eastern regions to the middle eastern to the European neighbors, sometime ruling with said "iron fist" provides more security and safety then allowing the regional conflicts to rule.

With all that being said, if you understand the rules and abide by said rules you should not have any issues travelling to Russia. The people and the culture are awesome. Yes we are different, VERY different but they are not the cold-hearted spies that our Western media portrays them to be. In fact, during my visits I have never felt a more hospitable group of people. Tables upon tables of food and drink. They never ask for gift, and often won't accept one yet they will bring out the best cognac for a guest.

Furthermore, the way MSM portrays the Russians is that they are in a breadline. That might have been true 30-40 years ago, but not today. I know a lot of people there and they are living a quality just as good as Western society. Don't let media paint your opinion of another country, observe for yourself. Understand your differences and RESPECT your differences. Appreciate those differences!

Like I said previously, in my opinion and experience travel to Russia is safe. Just understand the laws and abide by them, if you do you will have a great visit. The rest is common sense, things such as avoiding conflict areas (would you travel to gangland in the USA?), do not get political (remember their society has differing opinions on various topics, this is not the time nor the place for a political stance, it is part of being respectful to your host), avoid anything that would appear illegal, and make sure you travel with someone credible (a guide, friend or family member) who has real knowledge of the laws.

I know the political situation in Russia has been worrisome the bast 2-3 years, but you really need to look at BOTH sides. Western media paints Russia to be this invading force, to the point that we have a military force (NATO) established just to deter them.

Let me ask you this, honestly....as Americans how would we feel if Russia funded and directed a military alliance with Mexico, Cuba and all the other Central American countries and built an army along our Mexican border, and then called the Americans the aggressors of the world? Would we not have concerns about the security of our own country? But yet this is no problem doing it to Russia? The irony I find is that Germany was the one invading each country in WWII, yet somehow in the end we need NATO to prevent Russian aggression?

The Soviet Union collapsed in the early 90's and since then Russia has struggled to find its identity. It tried the Western way, but unfortunately the President to usher in democracy (Boris Yeltsin) was a corrupt drunk and really did not do anything to renew the Russian citizen's faith in government. Putin may bot be as Western as we all like, but he has been a leader to this country and the Russian people. Anyways, that was a tangent, and even though it is easy to get political, it is not something you want to engage in while you are visiting. Just understand the background and leave the political opinions at home.

BigBlue77

"galr" - I agree the Mero is a great way of travel, but a word of note for anyone travelling with Children ALWAYS carry them on, do not let them walk on. My daughter who was 5 got her foot stuck in the door (we were on the outside), it was the scariest thing but I was amazed at how quickly strangers came to help us pry the door open and get her out. But it was scary nonetheless and not something I would want to experience again.

DARK_MAGIC

I realize that nothing is 100% safe, but I wanted to go to Russia and felt the same way as the OP. If there is a place I want to go but am a little nervous about it, I feel a cruise ship is a good way to see that particular place. I saw St. Petersburg for a few days on a cruise. You might not get as "in depth" as you would if you went independently, but at least you get a taste of it, which to me is better than nothing!

SanchesS80

"- Register your presence with the local police within:
-three days of arriving in country
-three days of arriving in each city you visit
"

limit is 7 working days. Hotel stuff will register you for a free and they don't need your passport (copy of passport is enough for that)

am_expat

Interesting thread. It is telling that the ones who never visited, like "AmericanVet" and a few others are predictably very negative about something, a very big something as the largest country on earth, that they know nothing about. It shows how serious propaganda has replaced reason and facts in the west. It is one thing to hold personal opinions based on thin air but to tell others to believe in the same mythology is a sickness

I am an American who visited many time and living full time for 15 years. Few expats would want to live anywhere else, the culture, fun and ease of living is addicting. I am surrounded by highly educated people, as Russia is the most educated country on earth and I live in the most educated city on earth. It is a wonderful, beautiful city with more culture and history than just about any one city anywhere. It is far safer to walk the streets in any neighborhood than in my home prior to coming to St Petersburg, the San Francisco Bay Area. When visitors would come to that area I needed to warn them about some areas it was too dangerous to visit by curiosity or accident, especially after dark. Here, when first arriving all assume it is dangerous and ask if they should only stay in tourist areas. I have to laugh, the only place to be wary is right around the most crowded tourist attractions, which attract the seasonal pickpockets. Even the rare pocket picks, are not dangerous, they are stealthy and the victim does not even know their wallet is gone until hours later when they go to make a purchase. It is easy to foil pickpockets. They look for distracted dazed tourists who are absent minded. A bulging wallet in a hip pocket is a target, or a purse loosely hung over the same side shoulder are likely targets. A wallet in the front pocket is safe, not worth the risk to a professional pickpocket.
You do not have to be overly cautious, just be a little less easy target than someone else nearby.. Like the old joke, of how to outrun a hungry lion who is twice as fast as a human? Simple just run faster than the slowest guy.
Russians in larger cities are very social, particularly St Petersburg, well traveled and well educated, polite and fun loving. What is not to like about this place. People don't often talk about politics, not because there is some taboo but because it is not interesting, the focus is on family, friends, hobbies, the arts, travel, social and cultural events. Compared, politics is boring and does nothing to impact ones life. With 87% of the population firmly pleased with Putin as the person who turned the country around and brought great growth until the sanctions, but even that has a silver lining of a big growth in home grown production and agriculture expansion instead of importing everything. Within 5 years Russia will be the largest supplier of organic non-GMO food in the world exporting to many countries it has been importing food from for 20 years. Russia used to be the biggest importer of chicken from Arkansa and other ag states but since the sanctions has become a net exporter of free range chicken. They are moving into beef production with unlimited fertile grass lands and ample fresh water it is a natural fit that only dawned on people after Putin questioned why Russia imported most of its meat when they had unlimited unpolluted land. Suddenly young people from cities with high educations started raising money for cattle ranches, got free land grants and imported prime cattle.

Russians tend to leave other people alone and do not tell others what to do, it not part of their culture to be outraged by someone having an opinion they disagree with. The most of a rise you will get out of a typical Russia when you say something the fully disagree with is "The is an interesting opinion, I never viewed it that way before" and leave it at that. A friend could say the most disagreeable thing and they would not be judged. So don't expect Russians to make a big deal about the US government and hostility shown toward Russians. They assume you are smarter then that. If you want to debate using facts and verifiable data, be prepared to sit down early, almost everyone you meet from a shop keeper to waitress has a university degree in some field. It is rare to run into someone who is not highly educated and broadly educated, it is a very high priority for the whole culture. They will likely know more artists and authors from your country than you do. They know the composers poets and dancers, regardless of whether they are an engineer or doctor. Education is not that related to career however. The waitress might have a degree in mathematics but likes the social aspects of being out in public and interacting with people. She also probably owns her own home free of any debt. If she makes $1000 a month, she can afford fine clothes and travel and have no debt. She gets lots of free time and uses it well, and probably does not watch TV at all because there is way too many exciting real things to participate in rather than passively watching. There are a lot of reasons why after spending some time here, they just don't want to go home to the boring routine of work, bills and TV. To be 22 and a recent grad in the US and another recent grad from Russia, means entirely different quality of life and security. 40 years ago the roles were reversed but the Russian young adult has a MUCH better life than an American kid of the same age unless they are wealthy. Wealth equalizes the advantages. That is one reason the crime rate is so low, and why more Russians are leaving the US to return here than going, reversing a trend that existed for 25 years. There are thousands of American students going to university here in St Petersburg. It is cheap and earns a well respected degree. If you are into computer science and have a degree from St Petersburg University, you have a leg up on the competition for a job in Europe or US. Those from MIT or Stanford are not as highly sought.

Visit if you want but listen to no person who has not spent time here because they really know less than nothing.

kleeblatt

I just have come back from a week's visit to St. Petersburg. Lovely city and we felt amazingly safe. The visa process was a pain in the neck but we once at the airport, everything went smoother than an arrival at a US airport.

bilboburgler

am_e
I see the trolls are feeding...

generations of not wanting to speak about politics comes from a survivalists strategy...

knowledge of Russia's latent agricultural capacity is taught in schools, it didn't need Putin to do anything apart from destabalise Ukraine and shoot down a jet with his little green men.

A country of faux democracy and faux free media has a few problems

CarolA

I read horror stories last year.

We then spent a few days in St. Petersburg. Absolutely no issues.