| Author |
Message |
Kellie
Just Starting
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 2
Location: Perth, Australia
|
 Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:03 am Post subject: A few questions from a first-time solo traveller... |
 |
|
Hi, I'll be in St Petersburg for 2 weeks this September, and I have a few questions... Sorry if they're alittle odd :S
* Ok, ATM scams are everywhere, and I was just wondering, are there any in SP considered to be safest? I read somewhere that hotel lobbys would be best, but I'll be at the Sky Hotel, which is kind of tiny, so not sure they would even warrant their own ATM.
Also, are ATMs in Russian, or is there an English option, too?
* Clothing - Girls, any cute little shops about for cheapish clothing?
* Also, hidden treasures, souvenirs that are fantastic, maybe could be missed in a guide book?
* Any general tips and tricks?
* Supermarkets - I want something close by my hotel, I was looking on Google Earth, and there's these symbols of shopping baskets, and it says 'prodovol'stvennyy magazin' Is that a supermarket??
* Good taxis who may be more likely to speak English, or not likely?
* Also, for any other Australians/Kiwis who have travelled to Russia, how'd you go with the plug adapters? I bought one off Ebay, looks right, but the Australian plug won't go in all the way. Normal or should I look elsewhere?
Once again, sorry for the weird questions, it's my first time travelling anyhwere outside of New Zealand and Australia.
Thank you for any help!
OH! Finish this sentence for me:
"I would not leave St Petersburg without seeing/doing..." |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
gaijin
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
Posts: 155
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
That's a lot of questions, here's a few answers:
Never been worried about ATMs. Sberbank has, as far as I can tell, the lowest rate. Look for their green logo scattered everywhere in the city.
If your bank is international, they might have their own ATM here. Also see the list of banks that are partners of your bank.
For shopping any modern commercial center has nice shops with western brands. Right now the prices seem cheaper than in the west, but usually it's the opposite, still prices shouldn't increase a lot until next month. I don't think that you would call thise shops cheap anyway. A nice summer dress can be found at just over 100ˆ. A year ago the same quality was 200ˆ (yeah since it costs 10ˆ to produce they can still go down). Boutiques on Nevskiy or Bolshoy Prospekt generally offer much higher prices.
Taxis in English ? Sorry, but you'll get ripped off and pay 3 times the price. The best would be to have a friend who could call for you a taxi company (007 is a decent one) each time you need.
The company Taxi Blues is more expensive but still with acceptable prices, and might have english speaking operators.
In general, just take public transports. They are very good here, provided you're not disabled. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
romdur
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 189
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:00 pm Post subject: Groceries, Updated |
|
|
Groceries: There are many small shops that are like convenience stores in the West, with a rather small selection of foods, and lots of drinks. They invariably have a sign that reads ÏÐÎÄÓÊÒÛ (groceries) or ÓÍÈÂÅÐÑÀÌ, and about half also say 24 ×ÀÑÀ (24 hours). From your hotel, it is difficult to walk 2 or 3 blocks in any direction without passing one of these: there is a good chance that you will have one within one block.
At 48 Nevskiy Prospect (within 15 minutes' walk from your hotel, across from the southern end of Gostinny Dvor) is a larger shop that has at least a little of just about everything. It has a big sign reading ÑÓÏÅÐ ÌÀÐÊÅÒ (super market, English words but Cyrillic alphabet). When you walk in the entrance, go down the steps to enter the grocery.
A little farther afield, but still a very reasonable walk, is Sennaya Ploschad (Senate Square) which has a large market (ÐÛÍÎÊ) area nearby. There is an indoor food market where you can find a wonderful variety of fresh produce, fish, meat etc. There are also many small shops and vendors selling clothes (seems to me some at very reasonable prices) and many other goods.
P.S. When you come out the front of Sky Hotel, turn left (away from Nevskiy) and walk to the end of the street, take the (oblique) left across the canal (Reka Moika), and you should see on the left side a stand, where a lady sells nice fresh fruit  If you go past the stand and left onto Millionaya, you will find one of the convenience shops that is open 24 hours. This is about one half mile from your hotel.
Last edited by romdur on Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Peter80
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Posts: 97
Location: St-Petersburg
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
* Just use ATMs in good public places, like shopping centres or banks. I think you can use quite ok ATMs at subway stations and places like such(well, at daytime at least), but that's up to you.
* Pick any shopping centre, there are always discounts. Better not use Gostini Dvor, prices might be too high. There are two decent malls(Peak and Sennoi) at "Sennaya" subway station, it's one station away from Nevsky Prospect.
* You can try flea market, like the one at "Unona" market, but that's quite a journey.
http://maps.google.ru/?ie=UTF8&ll=59.862596,30.208755&spn=0.009782,0.038581&z=15
The market is large area in the centre. Flea market works on weekends.
* Yes, "prodovol'stvennyy magazin" means supermarket. But not exactly, sometimes it's a small store.
* As said above, it's a good way to order taxi on the phone, and better know prices beforehand. You can try also just stop any car in the street(which is cheaper) or a taxi, also better know prices beforehand(ask somebody). The general rule is that supply outnumbers
demand, so there are plenty of cars ready to pick you up, so don't pay more than needed and bargain. Taxis which are on duty on Nevsky Prospect, close to subway stations and other profitable places, will charge a lot. And they can cheat you at the end.
I would not leave St Petersburg without seeing Petrodvorets(going there by boat), Pavlovsk and Pushkin suburbs. And walking round historical center of the city. If you got time, you can also travel to port Kronshtadt. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
stanj
Frequent Guest
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 41
Location: St Petersburg Russia
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Your hotel is a tiny "mini-hotel" in a great location, a grocery store is right across the street. There are also a few resources in the neighborhood, for example a nice hang for Oz types called "The Other Sde", a cafe/bar with live music. say Hi to Doug, the long time US expat owner. Anyplace that has a lot of young people has English speakers. You will have NO problem that way, have a newly met friend show you around, how to hail a "private" taxi, use the metro, get a SIM card for you mobile phone(you will need it) and where the bargains are.
ATM rip off's that I've heard about are all legal ones involving high Foreign ATM charges by your own bank for using ATMs outside their system. The best way to deal with that is to bring cash and exchange that at the many exchange banks for a better exchange rate.
You are right in the middle of everything so there is no need for taxis. A 5 minute walk to Nevsky pr will find buses every couple minute or so. The nearest metro is Nevsky Prospect Metro only a couple blocks away.
There is a lot of night life in that neighborhood also, clubs, restaurants, dozens of sushi restaurants etc. Despite how much is going on in the neighborhood it is not noisy.
Bargains? Not many but if you go to the open air flea markets you can find some bargains on new Turkish and Chinese clothing.
Have fun
Stan |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Peter80
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Posts: 97
Location: St-Petersburg
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 5:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
| stanj wrote: | | Your hotel is a tiny "mini-hotel" in a great location |
It's a good place, inside real estate "golden triangle". You can just walk to any point of interest from there. Couple of my favourite routes:
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BrianR
Frequent Guest
Joined: 12 Nov 2006
Posts: 58
Location: Sydney, Australia
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 5:22 am Post subject: Re: A few questions from a first-time solo traveller... |
|
|
| Kellie wrote: | * Also, for any other Australians/Kiwis who have travelled to Russia, how'd you go with the plug adapters? I bought one off Ebay, looks right, but the Australian plug won't go in all the way. Normal or should I look elsewhere?
(snip)
OH! Finish this sentence for me:
"I would not leave St Petersburg without seeing/doing..." |
You need a Euro adapter, and yes, your Aussie plug should go in all the way. Maybe buy one in a shop, so you can return it if there is any problem. I've had no problems with the normal euro adapters with my aussie stuff when I've been in SPb.
I would not leave St Petersburg without seeing ... The Hermitage |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
