Way to Russia Talk Lounge

sarah733 · Just Starting Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 1

Hi,

I am traveling to Russia in a couple of weeks and i am a bit confused about what currency i should take with me as some places say take US Dollars, some say take Euros and others say takes Roubles.

I want to take a mixture of cash, travellers cheques and to use my card but i want to avoid paying commission to change my money if i can help it.

Can anyone help?!

Thanks
Sarah

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

forget about taking traveler's cheques

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

Bring cash--USD, EUR, or of you can get a good rate, RUR.

EUR seems to retain it's value. the USD has been falling against the RUR.

Garfield · Frequent Guest Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 11

Just use the ATMs

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Moscow

Bring about $100 USD cash and an ATM card. Keep the cash for unforseen emergencies and withdraw Russian rubles from trustworthy ATM machines.

You will find that exchanging cash is more expensive than the minimal fees charged by your bank for withdrawing foreign currency. Changing money anywhere is expensive. Avoid it.

darthvader · WayToRussified Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 378

Generation P · Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 10:11 pm Post subject:

Sarah, it might not be such a good isea to change big amount of your country's currency into roubles in your home country, because in exchange you wont get as many roubles as you would get in Russia. For instance in my home country the exhange rate at Forex is 31 roubles for one euro where as in Russia one euro would be worth of 34 roubles or more. Last time I was in Russia, it was last summer in Saint Petersburg and commission fees were usually from 10 to 25 roubles, surely at the heart of the city there were places, were commission fees were about 30 or 35 roubles, but it was easy to avoid them. Usually the commission fee is announced at the wall or at the notice board of a currency exchange office, so you can do survey on prices of commission fees if you want to! Wink

Maybe travel cheques aren't the best solution, you'll be fine with credit or debit card, atleast visa and visa electron are widely accepted.

It might be wise to exhange small amount of money before going to Russia, say 15-25 EUR / USD into roubles to pay for small shopping you might do to buy metro ticket, pay for taxi or to buy a newspaper during the first day of your travel. Afterwards you can spend time searching for currency exchange office or cash machine.

To know how expensive it is to use your credit or debit card in Russia you should consult your bank. Different banks have different ratios, I usually don't use my credit card too mush when I'm in Russia, because my bank charges me too heavily (i.e 2,5 euros and 2% of the amount each time).

camarks · Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 9:35 pm Post subject:

Although ATM fees have certainly been on the increase over the past five years, ATMs are still more convenient and as cheap as any other way. What Expat says is the way to go (don't waste you effort on travelers cheques). I have gotten so comfortable with this that I have been with only $10-20 in my pocket on my last few trips. There is an ATM in the bagage claim area where I have gotten money while waiting for my lugage. I have been able to get money from more than 90% of the ATMs I have tried in Moscow, Petersburg, Samara, Barnaul, Murmansk, and many smaller places. Make sure you have more than one card that you can use, and do tell your bank companies that you will be using the cards in Russia before you go. Most of the problems I have had over the years have been from the charges being blocked on this end. Good Luck,

dovdmeer · Just Starting Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 2

Now I never take any cash, always use the ATM. Even in the small village that i go, there are several atm's... Smile

In case you do take cash...take euro's and make sure the paper looks new...When i did have cash with me they did not take all money, as the paper was not perfect..

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 438

I tried to cash U.S. Dollar American Express travelers checks at 3 different brand-name banks in Khimki. Each time, the bank teller would shake her head side to side and say," Nyet ". Khimki is not some small village out in the middle of nowhere in Russia. Khimki is a small city next to Moscow. Had to take a bus to Moscow to find a bank that would cash the travelers checks.

Daria · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:19 pm Post subject:

I would say, take five twenty dollars bills and the rest of your money should be in plastic.

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

euros might be better to use than dollars...and travelers checks...nobody uses those anymore...not with ATMs

wavetossed · WayToRussified Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 337

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 438

HomesoulUS · Frequent Guest Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 22

Should the dollars or euros be brand new and crisp?