Way to Russia Talk Lounge

oswald57 · Just Starting Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

Hi,

I will be going to Moscow in October for 8 days and 2 days in Ivanovo. I have applied for a tourist Visa and got the tourist invitation and voucher through WayToRussia.net. I have a hotel reservation in both Moscow and Ivanovo. I am meeting someone at the airport and I will have a taxi waiting for us (ordering taxi online, $9-13/hr). The taxi from online is my friend's idea. And my friend lives in Ivanovo.

I don't exactly know what size luggage I'll be bringing. I want to buy a coat and hat in Russia so something that would fit my original clothes and the additional stuff I buy which is one of the reason for the taxi. Also, my friend says there's a lot of traffic there...and we'll be going to Izmailovo Vega Hotel and trains/buses don't handle luggage very well.

I have been reading a lot of stories about arriving to the airport, having both long and minimal delays. This will be my first time and I don't know any Russian except for "Da".

There is a service you can get for $85 for someone to meet you at the bottom of the stairs in front of the passport control and help you through the passport control area. My questions are:

1) Has anyone used this Fast Track service before? Or what do you think about this service?
http://www.waytorussia.net/Services/Car/FastTrack.html

2) Does this service also help you at the customs area?

3) Customs say that you can bring a limited amount of perfurme for personal use. I want to bring some as a gift and since I'm a man, technically, it would not be personal use for me. Would this be an issue?

I'm sorry but every new thing to me makes me paranoid.

Thanks.

Jim

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

I've been through SVO2 customs many times. Including the first time, when I'd never heard a word of Russian before. You don't really need it. The person in the passport control booth just checks your documents, grimaces at you several times, stamps everything, and off you go.

The Fast Track idea could be a good one if the escort is able to whiz you to the front of the line. Because if several large planes land at the same time disgorging hundreds of passengers all at once (seen it), it takes hours to get through the line. Still $85 seems pretty high priced just to get to the front of the line.

Once through passport control and inside the baggage pickup area all the signs are in Russian and English. You can read those yourself. You collect your stuff, look like you know what you're doing, and just head out the green channel, Nothing To Declare. Once outside the control area your driver will probably be waiting with a sign that has your name on it. You don't need an escort for any of that.

A pre-arranged taxis is a very good idea. Well done there. If you don't have rubles to pay the driver he may take dollars or euro. The current exchange rate is 25.35 rubles to the dollar. Make it easy and just round off to 25. Bring a pocket calculator so that you don't get ripped off every time you turn around. So $9 would be 300 rubles.

Luggage limits are determined by the airline. Find out what the limit is for the airline you're using. And they're all getting really sticky about overweight oversized luggage. Stay within the limit.

Yes you can bring perfume as a gift.

Don't be paranoid. Everything will be fine.

StephenB. · VIP Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 810

oswald57 · Just Starting Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

overseas_expat,

Thank you for the detailed instructions, expectations and vote of confidence of what should happen during arrival. It has settled my nerves about the ordeal.

As for the rubles for the taxi, I'll get some at the ATM/Currency Exchange. I heard it won't have the greatest rate but I should at least get some to start out with.

Jim

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

According to WTR you may transfer on the shuttle from SVO1 and SVO2 thusly: http://www.waytorussia.net/Moscow/ArrivalDeparture.html

StephenB. · VIP Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 810