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Thatotherguy
Just Starting
Joined: 03 Apr 2009
Posts: 8
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 Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:17 pm Post subject: How much money should be enough for 3 weeks in Russia? |
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Hi there,
is 75000 Roubles enough for 3 weeks in Russia? Thats 1 week in SPB, a few days in Moscow and then up to Murmansk and a few other places.
Im just trying to work out a budget and I cant find up to date prices on goods in Russia.
Could anybody help please? |
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gaijin
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
Posts: 155
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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Let's see, that's 2300 dollars, just under 110 dollars per day.
Take out 100 dollars for the trains from Moscow to SPB and the same from SPB to Murmansk and back.
You have 100 dollars left per day. In Moscow I don't know any accomodation under 80 dollars, except youth hostels. Oh and yes, renting a room 15 dollars to random people who might decide to take all your money while you sleep and beat you if you think about going to the police.
For say 3 days in Moscow 600 dollars would be a very reasonable amount, possible if you rent a very cheap appartment (google "moscow apartments", you'll find some around 80 dollars).
Then a week in Piter ? Piter isn't cheap either but 150 dollars per day should be possible (I'm assuming that to eat you'll buy most food at the supermarket, that makes renting an apartment much cheaper than a hotel not equipped for cooking), so that's about 1100 dollars. Even when cooking for yourself museums etc are expensive for foreigners...
You then have 2300-200-600-1100=400 dollars left to spend in Murmansk in 10 days. I haven't been there but from comparable cities, I assume you could get a hotel room at 40 dollars, although the site ... says prices start at 2300 rubles. You might want to start your search for cheaper at...
In short : You might consider either chipping in another 200-300 dollars, making the whole trip a few days shorter, spend 5 days only in SPB (enough to see a lot), or a combination of all that. If you're OK with youth hostels, your whole plan might be possible (count around 50 dollars per day in Moscow and 40 in SPB if I remember well, check reviews before going to those youth hostels).
The only part I don't know is " a few other places". If you mean palaces around Piter, cheap buses go there so it's nothing. I you mean going to the Golden Ring, that's different. Although if you have a choice, Golden Ring towns are probably a lot more interesting than the arctic city, and very affordable.
PS: Sorry I had to take down the 2 URLs, it's considered as spam... |
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Thatotherguy
Just Starting
Joined: 03 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Gaijin,
thanks for the advice, I did forget to mention that I will be staying at a friends place in Piter for a week or so, so that covers the expense of hostels etc. in Piter.
As for the rest of the journey I'd be couchsurfing my way around and only be needing to stay at hotels or youth hostels on the rare occasion.
With accomodation sorted in that regard and only needing a few nights here and there in a hotel, do you still think that I have enough money? |
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Thatotherguy
Just Starting
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Posts: 8
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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If I think about it, I would really be spending a few nights here and there in youth hostels, I really dont mind them as Im just backpacking about.
So I'll be in Piter for say 10 days visiting and sightseeing with a friend (accomodation sorted), Moscow for 3 days, and the remaining 4 days I'll have to spend wherever I see fit. So all in all that makes 4 days possibly in a backpackers in Moscow and 3 days in a small town like Novgorod.
With that amount of time, what would anybody recommend I do with 3 days in that region? Would you say Novgorod or possibly Suzdal for beautifull photography?
All assistance is welcome and very much appreciated.
Peace be the journey. |
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gaijin
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
Posts: 155
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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In that case you have nothing to worry about,you definitely have enough money and can offer a couple nice dinners to your friends to thank them.
If I could do the trip you're about to do, I would do the trip between Moscow and Piter with several stops: Novgorod would be on top of the list, and Tver is next, one night in both. Of course buying 3 train tickets instead of one make that trip slightly more expensive but nothing critical.
You can also consider a loop, with a starting point in Moscow or Piter :
Piter-Novgorod (1night) - Tver (1 night) -Moscow - Golden Ring (night train, then one night in the Golden Ring) - Piter (night train).
You can start with Moscow, and go the other way. About the Golden Ring : a night train to the Golden Ring is a short night. To Kostroma is about OK : 6.30 hours.
I suggest you go from Moscow to Kostroma, sleep in Kostroma (40 dollars can get you a decent room, don't expect youth hostels there), then take a bus to Yaroslavl, visit Yarik, then the night train to Piter (plenty of time to sleep). This way you save 2 hotel nights. You can pick other towns and go the other way of course, but check the train schedule and availability of buses before you pick something else. |
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gaijin
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
Posts: 155
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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What was this idea about Murmansk ?
Oh and Russia is big, it's not only Piter, Moscow, the Golden Ring... and Murmansk. Even on your short time you could hop to Pyatigorsk region(airport MRV), from which you can see the Caucasus (but going really to the Caucasus will take another 2-4 hour bus ride, depending where you go). The rest of Russia (at least beautiful parts like Ural, Kamchatka...) are a bit far or expensive. For example don't think about seeing the Baykal in August with your budget, it will barely pay the flight from Moscow. |
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Thatotherguy
Just Starting
Joined: 03 Apr 2009
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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Ive just done some research on the trip suggestions you made, I think I like that route and towns involved. Thank you. This is my first trip to Russia and I think Im going to love it and want to see more the next time around
As for Murmansk, that idea stems originally from me wanting to see the northern lights and get out a bit and see more of the snowy counrtyside/tundra. I am from South Africa and there is no natural phenomenon spectacular enough to match the northern lights on this side of the world (unless I go to Antarctica).... so I guess I need to go and see them 
Do you by any chance know of another place to view them from? I dont mind negating smaller more historical towns if I could get the oppurtunity to go to a northern lights viewing point and actually see them -everything happens to be a negotiation of sorts thses days. |
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gaijin
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
Posts: 155
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| Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:19 am Post subject: |
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Hi,
you're talking about aurora borealis right ? Well I've never seen them from Piter. You certainly have more chance to see them from Murmansk, but it doesn't depend on the proximity to the geographical north pole. It's related to a magnetic phenomenon, and the magnetic pole is somewhere in the north of Canada, so Iceland is a better place to see it.
Also it's not like the show is on every night. You have better chances in September-October or March April.
I guess that's because the visibility is good enough (you can't see it in summer with the sun shining all the time) and when the sun is closer (perihelion was last week), as opposed to January when the sun is too far.
You're very likely to be disappointed if you spend even one week there in August.
Also the sun has an eleven year cycle, and the next maximum of solar activity should be in 2010 or 2011, and you have more aurorae during solar maxima, so this year is not so great for that. If you're really excited about it, you might want to plan a trip to Norway, Iceland or Canada (also possible in Scotland or Alaska) in March, April, September or October of 2010 or 2011.
Even if you spend in Murmansk a week in september and see it once, you'll miss the majesty of the Caucasus, the nice historical towns of the Golden Ring etc.
By the way aurora australis is sometimes visible from the north of Cape Town (you have to go away from city lights).
Tough choice. |
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Thatotherguy
Just Starting
Joined: 03 Apr 2009
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:15 am Post subject: |
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Howzit,
so yeah thats the one I was talking about. I have done some research on it and youre on the right track although I was wiling to take my chances to see them. Maybe a trip to Norway next year would be in order then, my brother says its great there for the outdoors.
With regards to seeing the aurora borealis form the north of Cape Town Id have to say thats its near impossible to see what you see in Cananda or Iceland as I am from Cape Town and Ive done my fair share of 'trying' to find the aurora borealis but to no avail.
Gaijin, thanks for your help and suggestions, I appreciate it alot. Now I just need to organize my invitation letter and get my visa in the next three months.
Take care and see you on other posts.
Thatotherguy. |
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