Way to Russia Talk Lounge

vitalsigns · Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784

No comments...

Чебурашка · Talk Show Host Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 218

*faint*

Camrade · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:25 pm Post subject:

2vitalsigns

LOL ))

tanch · Just Starting Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 4

to all who contributed,
thanks for your info, but No thanks, Vitalsigns, though you quite funny! Confused

)

I am disappointed with many of the Russian hotels that I had called up to enquire about simple matters such as visa support.

Many do not provide visa support eg. tourist voucher, with Foreign Ministry Departmt stamp, for Singapore! but only to certain countries, like US, Canada, Japan only!! Why the discrimination, anybody out there know anything about this?

i then called this 4star hotel, Iris COngress, which one staff told me they do provide. Only to be bitterly disappointed when they sent me a hotel reservation confirmation which was not acknowledged what the RUssian Embassy here in Singapore. Later, when I double checked with them again, they told me they do not have the rights to provide Visa Support (Tourist Voucher with Ref #, and neccessary stamp & reference number). I sure do not understand about these "rights" things! Can somebody out there explain?

Anyway, I had to cancel my flights(tickets already collected), thereby suffering cancellation charges, cancelled my hotel bookings...... Crying or Very sad

BUT that will not stop me from visiting Moscow, one place where i surely want to visit in my lifetime, because of its rich and enigmatic history.

SO, after all the replies, Is it true that the Russian Mafia HQ is near to Ismailov hotel?? Is it a building by itself or what??

Also, what's happening in Moscow that is causing all flights to be fully booked towards the end of the Month till 7Nov05?

Чебурашка · Talk Show Host Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 218

That's because of the Mafia. They have their holiday season then. They have a preference for Asian countries, also because of international expansion of their 'business'. In the summer they're too busy in Russia shaking out tourists to take the time off.

They don't have an office building of their own: they just rent a couple of floors in an office building that is shared with some other respected organisations. Being an extremely hierarchical, paternalistic organisation, the Mafia has no need for an incredible overhead, unlike official Russian institutions.

vitalsigns · Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784

No comments...

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

I realise....

Tanch you are asking all the wrong questions. You are coming as a tourist, not a high-roller or businessman. The Mafia is not interested in you.

And with that...

Confirmation of hotel booking or even a tourist voucher will not be an invitation of sorts that the embassy will accept. You need to get a TOURIST INVITATION from a tour agency or other firm that does visa support.

And please read this carefully http://www.singapore.mid.ru/en/questions.html

What you should do now is call the Russian Embassy. They have a contact that will provide you with a tourist invitation/voucher/support. They may be a bit expensive, but the Embassy will accept it, and they process it quite fast. The Embassy staff is quite helpful. If you are having problems, ask to speak with the first secretary (counsular) I think his name is Dmitry Subbotin.

Don't only check Aeroflot for flights. Transearo does direct flights. Emirates flies to Moscow with one transfer in Dubai. Others you can try are KLM, Swissair, British Airways and Luftansa.

The best is to try to get hold of a tour agency to book your flight, as airlines give prioity booking for them.

You can also try WTR visa support. I am sure the Russian embassy will accept the tourist invitations http://www.waytorussia.net/Services/VisaSupport/Tourist.html

vorteks · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 10:47 pm Post subject:

Tanch just made me feel like visiting Singapore. People seem to have an unusual but very communicative sense of humour there Very Happy

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

errrr... what?

vorteks · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:24 pm Post subject:

Pleaze excuze my terrible accent, Missiz Mediashark Very Happy