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pozzo
Just Starting
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:23 pm Post subject: money |
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Are there problems taking US$ 2.500 in a money belt? I'm not sure credit cards will be accepted everywhere...
Am I supposed to declare it when I enter Russia?
Traveller cheques really work?
Thanks a lot
Renato |
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overseas_expat
VIP
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 620
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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Travelers cheques are a blow in Russia. Forget them.
$2,500 is legal, no problem. Better to bring Euros than dollars.
Credit cards are moderately useful and a medium liability. ATM cards are better. |
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camarks
Moderator
Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 274
Location: Richmond, VA USA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:34 am Post subject: Re: money |
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| pozzo wrote: | I'm not sure credit cards will be accepted everywhere...
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I endorse everything overseas says. Let us know where you are going and we might be able to give more specific advice. I've been reasonably far off of the beaten track in my seven trips to Russia over the past four years. I've always been able to find an ATM reasonably soon after I started looking for one. Most trips I've carried less than $100 in cash. I've always gotten my first rubles out of the ATM machine in the SVO2 baggage claim area while waiting to get my bags. |
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JosephZ
Frequent Guest
Joined: 31 May 2006
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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| What is the maximum amount you can get in one transaction from a Russian ATM machine? Is there a limit to how much you can get in a day? Thanks. |
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JosephZ
Frequent Guest
Joined: 31 May 2006
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Another question: if I am to bring large amount of American cash with me, what is the best way of cashing them in? I am talking about St. Petersburg particularly. Thank you. |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6996
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| go to a money exchange and they are every where...some offer a better rate than others so look around. But you'll have no problems exchanging money in St Pete. ATMs are every where too. Forget about traveler's checks and use your ATM card. Also there is Citi Bank in St Pete too. |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3436
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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| surfguy wrote: | | go to a money exchange and they are every where...some offer a better rate than others so look around. But you'll have no problems exchanging money in St Pete. ATMs are every where too. Forget about traveler's checks and use your ATM card. Also there is Citi Bank in St Pete too. |
A word of caution: I went to that Citibank on Nevsky Prospect thinking that this is the most reliable bank in St Petersburg to withdraw my money. Guess what? The software in the ATM got screwed up and it ate my bank card - they first time it ever happened to me anywhere. So, in my 1st day in St Petersburg I was without my one and only bank ATM card. Fortunately I was with a friend who could lend me money and had credit cards. But I would suggest using other large banks' ATMs just in case. |
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camarks
Moderator
Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 274
Location: Richmond, VA USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| JosephZ wrote: | | What is the maximum amount you can get in one transaction from a Russian ATM machine? Is there a limit to how much you can get in a day? Thanks. |
It is easy to get 6000 rubles in one transaction from the ATMs, sometimes more is available. I only remember trying to do more than a single large transaction in a day once. I had other reasons for wanting to use two different accounts, so I'm not sure how it would work on the same account. I suspect (and have a vague rccolection) that it is similar to home, where it would not be possible to do more than one large amount from the same account on the same day. I think the exact amount varries from bank to bank.
Be sure your bank and credit card companies are aware of your travel and planned use of your cards. Even calling ahead, I almost always had problems with one of my cards (Citi, as I recall) being denied simply because I was in Russia. |
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Xerox Man
Just Starting
Joined: 23 Jun 2006
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:29 pm Post subject: Foreign Exchange Bureau |
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I am bringing about $4000 American dollars with me to St. Petersburg. A lot of people on this discussion forum have mentioned that the foreign exchange bureaus offer better rates than the banks. Is this true? But don't the foreign exchange bureaus charge a hefty commission fee? Do the banks also charge a fee when changing foreign currency into Rubles?
If anyone has anything to say about this issue please speak up! Thank you.
I know some may recommend using ATM cards instead, but the fact is that I have already got the money with me and I am outside of the US so there's no turning back. |
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CTK
Frequent Guest
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 38
Location: St.Petersburg and UK
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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A couple of points on changing cash,
1. The comission charged to change is lower than in most western areas.
2. Always have your passport when you change your money as it will be asked for.
3. If you have a large amount then it may pay to shop around before changing.
4. In the Radisson hotel on Nevsky there is an automated machine where you put dollars in and roubles come out ... great.
5. Be wary carrying a large amount at once, my advice would be to change in chunks.
St.P is very safe but as with all major cities there are pickpockets in busy areas, metros etc. |
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Xerox Man
Just Starting
Joined: 23 Jun 2006
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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Clarification needed:
1)Exactly what would be a reasonable commission fee when changing money in Russia, particularly St. Pete? Do they usually charge a percentage of what you are changing, or do they charge a flat fee?
2)Does the automated machine in Radisson hotel on Nevsky charge a commission fee as well? Does it handle large amount of foreign currency? |
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Rick
Moderator
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 857
Location: Касабланка
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| Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:35 am Post subject: |
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| Another word of caution: Russian banks tend to be quite peculiar towards the 'quality' of your bank notes. If they are folded, or have even the tiniest hole in them they will not accept them or give you less in return. In case this happens I'd recommend to take those notes simply back home again. It'd be a waste of money to exchange them. |
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Ekaterina
Talk Show Host
Joined: 28 Sep 2005
Posts: 261
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:13 am Post subject: |
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| Xerox Man wrote: | Clarification needed:
1)Exactly what would be a reasonable commission fee when changing money in Russia, particularly St. Pete? Do they usually charge a percentage of what you are changing, or do they charge a flat fee?
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Most money exchanges don't charge any commission. Some of them charge 1 rouble.
Passports are asked just in banks or in places like Radisson and the rate is worse there.
You may get 20000 roubles at once in Sberbank's ATMs which are everywhere. If you need more you may repeat several times. |
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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| Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:46 am Post subject: |
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| One or two exchange place in St. Pete did charge about 15-20 rubles for the exchange last time I was there. |
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