In mid august I'm taking a two week trip to Siberia. I'm going to be staying with a friend but I've been told that in order to get a visa I need to stay at a hotel for the intire time that I'm there. I really don't want to do this and i heard that you can get away with staying only a night at a hotel then go on your merry way. Is this true and how am I able to do this. This is really my first trip anywhere so any info. will be a great help. Thanks.

Have a look at: <BR>http://www.lonelyplanet.com/letters/eur/rus_pc.htm <BR>

If you friend lives in Russia, she/he can send You an invitation, and than you do not need hotel to send you visa support. Your friend needs to go to local OVIR office and ask for IZVESHCHENIE. After it's done friend needs to send you the Original OVIR permission - IZVESHCHENIE, so you can attache it to your application for Russian Visa - process is about 30 days. <BR>Once in Russia you have to register in Ovir. If you choose hotel they do it for You, if friend You have to do it together within 24hrs. If You drop hotel, they they may inform local Ovir about it, and you may have problems leaving. You can drop one hotel to pick up another, since than you are within Tourist Visa, but do not think you could drop the hotel to stay with friend (homestay visa). In practice once the first hotel registers you you are golden, and in most cases no one checks, but you are taking a chance. <BR> <BR>Check Russian Embassy page for more info: http://www.russianembassy.org/

I will traveling to Siberia for two weeks in August, and I can not find any information on what the weather will be like there. I was wondering what the climate was like when you were there and what I should be prepared for clothing wise. Any information would be gretaly appreciated.

Once you have your invitation, is it difficult to get a tourist visa, or is it just about guaranteed? It seems every consulate has rules that are just a bit different.

1. Weather in Siberia: Where in Siberia? It is larger than the U.S. and non-Russian Europe combined! <BR> <BR>2. Rejection of visa: in practice it is unlikely that you will be rejected. Those more "at risk" are former citizens of Russia/USSR, but even then it is extremely rare that the consulate denies applications.

You are right; it is rather large. I will be in Krasnoyarsk which is about 400 miles north of Mongolia.

What happens if I arrive two days earlier than my visa takes affect? Will they let me in the country?

Erica: You will probably be permitted to enter, but also might be fined some amount (could be as much as $200!). Better to get it amended. Also, they same can happen upon exit if you overextend your visa (even if due to aircraft problems. <BR> <BR>According to Yahoo's comprehensive weather site, in August the average highs are 68/72° F, avereage lows 49/53° F, and 2.8/2.9 in of rain (pretty low).