Four of us, two father son setups are leaving Sweden through Finland and into Russia for a few days: http://goo.gl/maps/oDU7O Hotels have been arranged in Kandalaksha and Murmansk. And having never been to Russia before I have a few questions. Maps? Can you get decent maps at gas stations? Or any other source? Language, how far will english get you? At gas stations? Restaurants? Any suggestions on roads in the region? Foods to try? And how do you say a few words in russian? Hi = ? Bye = ? Beer = ? Vodka = ? (just kidding) Thank you = ? Sure I have plenty more questions also but will bring them later. /Johan
Also how is the power situation? 220V? Will a EU-plug work? Or is it something special? All help is greatly appreciated! /Johan
You know that you need a visa, right? Hello = привет (privet) Goodbye = до свидания (do svidaniya) Beer = пиво (pee-vah) Thank you = спасибо (spasibo) Please = пожалуйста (pozhaluysta)
Thanks you ... or should is say spasibo? Yes Visa applications are all ready and will be sent today. Glad to see beer is similar to the czech word pivo (probably spelled different) =) Was my dad who for some reason said lets go to murmansk last summer he thought it would be a lot simpler just go to border and enter. But we looked into it and paperwork with visas and stuff made it impossible to do last summer so we will try now and see if we can make it happen. /Johan
You can check my ride report "beyond arctic circle" (see my signature) regarding road conditions and more. English is not a common language there, and even more so in small villages. Electricity is 220V of course, but more common older soviet time connectors have smaller diameter pins so your euro plug may not fit - using (alot of) force may solve this problem though
See responses below IN CAPS You should also understand how gas stations work in Russia--usually you have to go the window, tell them what pump, what kind of fuel, and how much, and leave enough money to pay (you'll get change back if you leave too much). To fill up the tank is "do polnovo". Good luck, have fun.
Hello folks, Can anyone give me any hints on tackling a trip to Odessa? I'm planning to go in the first week in August, and I can't even find out if I need a VISA, or if they'll just let me in? I've looked at the Embassy website, and that just confused things even more!!! Rab
Odessa is Ukraine, not Russia, you realised this before planning a trip I hope? Why not call to Ukrainian embassy or your own ministery of foreign affairs to find out? It shouldn't be too difficult to find a phone number after all...
I live in Russia in the Arkhangelsk region Kotlas if you do not pass away from me, I can help meet let live, xv1600 @ rambler. Ru
@tribsa-rab: no, you do not need a visa. Some borderpasses have even a line for EU-members into the country. It took us about 45 minutes each toll to get in and out. Bikes are also vawed in front of the queue if lucky. Question about the bordering to russia via Finland. Somebody can tell how long time it takes to border to russia nowadays? @DirtyADV: I´m sure you will have a nice ride......so, have a nice trip!
uh, it would help to know what country you're a citizen of? And then google "[your country] ukraine visa" and you should have an answer in about 2 minutes...
hope you post how you get on! im planning a trip for two into russia, probably next year, though thinking about going from the baltic. never ridden there before pelmeni, little dumpling things, are simple but good
That is good to know. Dont think we will venture that far into russia we will spend 2 nights in Kandalaksha so do a daytrip in that region. More food suggestions are welcome =) Thanks for the replies! Meet a lady living in Sweden last night at the festival that was in town, she was a friends friend didnt know much about the region we will be traveling through. But she did try to help me learn a word for "take care" that could be polite to use but I have forgotten it (a few beers yesterday did not improve my already poor memory). Has....something anyone that can help out? /Johan
Some more words like. Yes = ? No = ? Is there any strangness with the headmovment? Nodding equals yes? And shaking mean no? Know its reversed in parts of eastern europe and parts of asia? /Johan
Thanks again, another question will there be any problem using a normal VISA card to get cash out of ATMs? /Johan
generally should be OK, but you should bring a second card issued by a different bank, etc. just in case you have a problem with one.
Thanks again. Used to have a backup card with me when traveling alone, but this time its 4 of us so several cards to choose from. Not sure but sounded like one of the guys was going to bring a little cash also. We will meet up tomorrow evening to try to finalize the travel plans. And cause of trouble with the wrong information on the vouchers from the russian hotels the visas are delayed to the point we have to get a guy flying them up from stockholm to be here in time. Lets just hope the russian embassy have it all worked out by the time we are promised. /Johan
It could be easier to exchange your money before your trip and not to count on ATM-s. Its much faster to pay cash usually.
Not so sure, I don't like to carry thousands of dollars around on me. Bring a few hundred dollars/euros cash, but there is really no shortage of ATMs in any Russian city. Out in the villages/countryside they are much rarer, if not non-existent.
