Way to Russia Community and Forum

engine · Frequent Guest Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 11

Me and a friend fly into HEL on the afternoon 27th of December. We are planning on bussing to St. Pete the next day. Will it be possible to do this without booking? We don't want to be stuck in Helsinki for another night and we are really worried since we do not have any concrete transport from there booked.

Also, does anyone have any other ideas for (cheap) transport for Helsink -> St. Pete. ?

Thanks,
Natasha

steve7871 · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:32 pm Post subject:

I'm pretty sure the bus is the cheapest way to StP from Helsinki.

Why don't you try to book something online, then you don't need to worry about it.

You can also go by train quite cheaply.

engine · Frequent Guest Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 11

The problem being I don't seem to be able to book anything online, otherwise I would have.
Do you know of some way to book the buses online?

Groobs · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:33 pm Post subject:

I don't know how you can book the bus online, (and my guess is that there would probably be no problem in just turning up without pre-booking, but I can't be sure having never done it) but you can telephone the station booking office and book the train tickets. I have done this before, and for a small extra fee you can collect the ticket from the conductor on the train, its a great system!

http://www.vr.fi/heo/eng/ita/fpalvelu.htm

This website has all the details, and its in English and Russian as well - learn a lesson, Russian railways!

engine · Frequent Guest Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 11

We were going to do as you have said (and pick them up from the conductor), but I prefer to not disclose my credit card details to someone in another country over phone or email. It's not anything against the fins, I'm just a cautious type. That being said, I very well may take that road, if I am unsure of bussing it out of Helsinki.
Is it difficult to get from HEL to the train station? Do you have any accommodation to suggest? We were just going to go EuroHostel.

Groobs · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 2:18 pm Post subject:

I take your point about the credit card. What I did when I started coming to Russia was to get my bank to give me another Visa debit card (not credit card) that I use only for online and telephone purchases. It has no overdraft facility - I specifically told the bank that it will only ever operate up to the limit of the money standing as credit balance - and so I transfer small sums to it from my other account and then use it - not perfect, but limits exposure. I never give out details of my other account card.

From HEL airport to train station is very easy - take the Finnair express bus - cost (a month or 2 ago when i last did it) 5.20 Euros. It goes from outside the domestic and the International terminal, there are info signs everywhere, very easy to find. If money is tight, there are local buses which are maybe a Euro or two cheaper, but I don't know the numbers. They go from the airport bus stands too, but the Finnair is a big blue bus that you just can't miss, so I always get that - and it only stops one place (some hotel I forget the name) on the way.

engine · Frequent Guest Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 11

Thanks for your advice.
Speaking of credit (I also operate on a visa debit card) how accepted is credit in Russia?

Generation-P · Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:12 am Post subject:

Hello! This comes sort of late, but still, some additional information. You can't book bus tickets online in Finland. You can't even book them by phone - I've tried! Mad

The only way to buy your ticket is straight from the Helsinki bus station situated under the ground in Kamppi. Information about the buses (in english): http://www.matkahuolto.info/index.jsp?lang=en At least in summer the bus ticket to St Pete cost 43 euros. btw- according to information in the web site you should buy your bus ticket for St.Pete bus in advance from the ticket office at the bus station - they won't be selling any tickets at the bus.

Local bus from the Airport to City centre (Railway Station, City Square) cost's 3,60 euros (prices going higher again Evil or Very Mad

can't stand it!!). The bus route's number is 615 or 615T.
More details for prices inside Helsinki (airport is not actually in Helsinki - and that's the reason for high bus ticket price - inside the town a ticket for bus,tram or metro costs 2,20 euros), journey planner to look for details of timetables and routes of public transport and city map as well. http://www.helsinki.fi/en/index.shtml

Have nice time in Helsinki!
Smile

engine · Frequent Guest Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 11

Thanks for the comprehensive advice, it's a great help! Doing a search, it appears it is possible that we can catch a bus to St. Pete that night, but I assume that the ticket office closes at 5?
Looks like we're staying the night then, but all the hostels appear to be booked.

danbrew · Just Starting Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Posts: 9

Just a word of caution here...

Debit cards are not credit cards and most do not offer the same type of protection as a credit card. If somebody gets your debit card number and withdraws money from the account, you don't have the same ability to dispute the charge - the money is gone.

I understand that some banks may offer the same protection, but certainly not all. Also, having a preset limit (or just so much money on the card) isn't a safe strategy either - what happens when somebody writes down the number and then uses the number - six weeks later - when you've put more money on the account?

If you've got a great realtionship with your bank and know they won't fight you on this, great. But if not...? I would much rather tell my bank "it was a credit card - it was a fradulent transaction. I'm not paying it. The law is on my side" instead of "It was a debit card - I didn't withdraw the money. I don't know who did. Please give me my money back."

fwiw, one who has had a bad debit card experience with one of the largest banks in the US.

danbrew

engine · Frequent Guest Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 11

So, basically I did just hop on the 615 bus to get to the city then walked to Kammpi. I had, however, reserved tickets by email. The lady had arranged for me to pay the driver, but we managed to arrive early enough to make it in time for them to still be open.
When I got there however.. they informed me that the bus was full and they had noone by our names on the reservation list. Great.... so basically we waited around for the bus to come and bluffed our way on .. it didn't end up being full (there were exactly two spaces left). Suffice to say, from the line I saw at the outgoing border, I think I'll be catching the train back!

Generation-P · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:28 pm Post subject:

nyc10009 · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:39 pm Post subject:

<< if you happen to know some basic Russian you can really save money and catch a Russian tourist bus at the Gostinitsa Oktyabrskaya. Buses leave about 9 p.m, if you get there early enough, you'll have a seat. The price is something from 10 to 15 euros. Usually they accept euros only>>

I'm traveling to Piter via Helsinki in June and really appreciate this list! Great stuff here. I can get the 615 local bus from HEL, which I believe takes me to the square near the railroad station, right? Is this near "Gostinitsa Oktyabrskaya" and how do I find these inexpensive busses and how often do they run? I expect to arrive at the square about 5pm.

Thanks
-Will

Generation-P · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:18 pm Post subject:

nyc10009

Thanks, yes I am a bit confused, but I do know that the #615 is a local bus from Vantaa to the center of Helsinki... that's the easy part. Once in Helsinki, how and where do I get these "Tourist Buses" to StPete? If I'm arriving at 5pm and they leave at 11am, that's not possible?

What is next cheapest option (bus or train: how much???) and can I get one from (leaving) Helsinki at 5pm? A hotel is not in the budget, nor do I want to spend prescious travel time in Helsinki....

Coming back should be easy, as I'm staying with a Russian. She can help me get a ticket from StPete back to Helsinki.

Thanks!
-Will

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