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Artemsi
Just Starting
Joined: 05 Jun 2005
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:20 pm Post subject: Taking roubles into Russia |
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I am going to St Petersburg for a few weeks. It makes sense to me to take some roubles into Russia, just for expenses in the first few days. I have been watching the exchange rate and can choose the best time to buy them here. In Australia I don't pay a commission on buying foreign currency if I buy through the Post Office. A lot of the advice about currency in the forums suggests we take Euros or US dollars, but is that because most people assume that we come from America or Europe? I read in an old travel guide that you can't take Roubles into Russia. Is that true or is that in the old days? I would like to take some roubles, some travellers cheques and then just use an ATM.
Can anyone advise me whether
1. I am allowed to take Roubles into Russia
2. Either way, whether I still need Euros or US dollars if I am going to use ATMS and cash traveller's cheques? |
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zenith
Just Starting
Joined: 26 Sep 2004
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
from my experience nobody will ask you or check if you have any roubles with you, so it shouldn't be any problem if you bring some for a first need.
USD or Euros are widely accepted by all exchange offices, so if you will bring some cash maybe it's best to have either Euros or USD. |
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Intourist
Talk Show Host
Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 245
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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I'd concur with Zenith. I don't know if it's technically allowed or not, but I've left and gone several times with rubles in my pocket and never had a problem. I really don't think anyone's concerned with a few hundred bucks in rubles.
But, if you're really concerned, you won't have any problems whatsoever coming in with USD or EUR. You don't even need to declare amounts under 10,000 unless you plan on taking more than 5,000 out. Or something like that. Whatever it is, it's definitely more than enough for a tourist to go through Green customs channels.
I'd be surprised if you could get a good exchange rate in Australia, but who knows. RUR to USD rate (*not* Australian dollars) that I exchanged at this morning (July 26th) was 28.72 if that's any help.
Regards,
Intourist |
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UsualSuspect
WayToRussified
Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 324
Location: The Land of Oz
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:00 am Post subject: The dosh.... |
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Hi,
I've always taken roubles out and brought them back in. If you don't tell, no-one asks or really cares. You will have difficulty getting them from an Exchange in Oz as they are not supposed to be available outside Russia.
If you have an ATM card of the MAESTRO/CIRRUS variety (Commonwealth e.g.) you can use that in most ATM's over there and withdraw in either PYB or USD. Take some *pristine* USD or Euro notes and you can change them at the airport or use them when you need them.
Visa travel money is also a good option.
Shop til ya drop
Usualsuspect |
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Artemsi
Just Starting
Joined: 05 Jun 2005
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:37 pm Post subject: ATMs |
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Usual Suspect- I'd like a reply from you if possible- as I realised you're an Aussie so you may be able to give me more suitable information- also from scanning your other posts, you obviously have lots of experience in Russia. But everyone else- if you're inclined to reply- that would be helpful too.
I want an opinion on whether it's cheaper to use an ATM card or to take Euros or USD or traveller's cheques and exchange them.
1. On the traveller's cheque site there was a list of banks in SPB that they said exchanged the cheques for no commission- free. I rang the traveller's cheque company and checked- she looked at the same list and said I could exchange cheques there for free. So what is the general opinion on using traveller's cheques? Do you reckon I can get them exchanged for free?
2. By the way Usual Suspect, I have a NAB Mastercard- do you think that's OK to use? And is it better to get some kind of separate limited debit card instead in case my card gets stolen and thieves try to access all my connected accounts?
3. And- will it be obvious which buttons to press on the ATM - will it look the same as our ATM keypads or is it all in Cyrillic and confusing? :roll: |
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cyndy22
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 15 Oct 2004
Posts: 1076
Location: massachusetts
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't bother taking travelers checks. They are difficult to cash in. Best to use your ATM. |
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UsualSuspect
WayToRussified
Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 324
Location: The Land of Oz
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:04 pm Post subject: The folding green |
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Artemsi,
Travellers cheques are just a pain if you want to travel a bit. USD and Euro can be exchanged more easily. You will be paying a commission anyway you look at it. When you buy the money in whatever form, the sale price to you is always in favour of the seller.
If you take notes, they must be in pristine condition. If you get any with ink stains, drawings, tears then throw them back and ask for better notes. Most places in Russia will flouroscope every note anyway..... and you'll get a receipt as well. All you need is your passport for ID.
You have the NAB credit card, but I meant any old ATM card that has the cirrus/maestro logo can be used. I used my commbank one and never touched the Credit card. A seperate debit card is a good idea, and it saves carrying a wallet crammed with roubles. From memory it's a small fee slug every time you use it.
I generally get off the plane and withdraw roubles at the nearest ATM or change $100 US to get me started. From there, it is whatever is convenient. Nowadays I only travel with USD and my ATM card and keep the credit card for emergency use only.
Most ATM's have the English option, just press that and it's pretty much the same! Just remember if withdrawing in roubles, divide by 20 to convert to South Pacific Peso's, or think of 50AUS and that equals about 1000 PYB.
Enjoy
Usualsuspect |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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Take with you the following:
1) Credit card (Visa or MasterCard), find out how much it charges for foreign exchange. Some charge 3%, some charge only 1%.
2) Debit card
3) cash (dollars or euros)
Leave all other payment methods home. |
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e
VIP
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 654
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Bring in Roubles as well as Euros and Dollars but exhange your dollars and Euros in Russia right away. The use of Dollars and Euros in Russia is technicaly illegal and somewhat highly discouraged. |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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Why would he exchange the dollars right away when the exchange rate fluctuates and one can exchange dollars and euros virtually everywhere? The use of dollars or euros is not illegal. One has to pay in rubles, of course. There are currency exchange offices all over. Most ATMs, at least in large cities, can give money in rubles or dollars.
Unless you were in russia before and have some rubles left over, don't exchange your currency into rubles in your country. You are likely to get a bad exchange rate. |
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e
VIP
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 654
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Anya
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, it is illegal. Though you know the Russians' attitude to the law. For informal transactions, I mean, like who cares.
In shops, restaurants etc. you should pay in rubles only. Even if they may display their prices in dollars, euros or 'u.e.' ('conditional units'--be careful, ask them what their conversion rate is. as the name says, it is 'conditional'!)
It is possible to exchange euros/usd to rubles outside Russia, and you can bring them in, but usually the rates suck. You'll get a far better deal if you change your money in Russia. Sberbank offers good rates, you can give them a try if their counter for currency exchange is open and it isn't crowded. Otherwise ATMs are most convenient and you can draw money in Rubles.
ATMs as far as I know all have an English language options and displays alongside Russian, and usually have English labels. (Rest are numbers... hope you know how to read them  ) |
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martin3030
Frequent Guest
Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:01 am Post subject: |
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Agree with all the advice here.Use the atm machines and make sure the notes if changing are clean.................we got stung for more commission as they said our English notes were not new !!!!
Suprisingly enough the best exchange rate I have seen is on the ground floor of the Shermitievo airport floor.
Its a little kiosk.
We found them to be about 6% better.
The Atms in Moscow are taling Visa Visa electron,solo,maestro switch mastercard and american express.
I found it the best way mu bank charged me 1.75% from home.
Just watch the upper limit for withdrawels as some machines have a ceiling.
Martun |
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Anya
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:37 am Post subject: |
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| Forgot to mention... while you can bring rubles in, you not supposed to bring them out! Of course if it's a small amount; just left over stuff in your wallet, they might overlook it. |
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martin3030
Frequent Guest
Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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Been told that at the moment the Dollar and the pound are pretty weak in Russia.
So using the ATMs are still the best option.
Reading some of the posts here |
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