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Gannon
Just Starting
Joined: 25 Jun 2009
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject: Planning a trip to Moscow need help |
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| Ok I'm 17 years old male and next year after graduation I really wanted to visit Russia cause of pictures and things I have heard about it. I was wondering first what all do I need to get to Russia. Then what are some places I need to see before I leave. I thank all who post. |
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romdur
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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This is a really big question - you are talking about the biggest country in the world! Anyway, a few starting points:
1. Learn as much as you can about Russia. This website is not a bad place to start!
2. If you don't have a passport, get one soon (everything can cost a lot more if you leave it late). If you have a passport, and it expires before 2011, get it renewed.
3. Think about your budget. Some of the expenses are hard to control. For example, getting the visa you need to enter Russia now costs about $130, if you do everything yourself, including two trips to a Russian consulate; if the nearest consulate would be a big trip, a visa processing company can help you, and the price gets close to $200 (depending where you live, the nearest consulate could be several hundred miles).
4. In northern Russia, winter is a pretty big deal. If you don't plan to stay only in the south of the country, and want to experience mild to warm temperatures, you'll want to plan your trip no later than late May through early September.
5. On your first trip, you'll be able to stay a maximum of 30 days.
6. If you are determined to visit Russia, start learning the language today. If you only learn the alphabet, it will enrich your experience. If you learn 10 words, this is better than knowing none. If you can learn 100 or 1000, so much the better!
7. Be aware that some places in Russia (NOT the typical tourist destinations) are dangerous. If you are not white, learn about racial issues in Russia - typically not a problem, but something to educate yourself about.
8. Plan your trip well in advance. You can save all sorts of money by having a NASA-style countdown, and getting things rolling months before your departure date.
9. As you work on your plan, come back to this forum and ask questions!
OK, I suppose that most people who frequent this forum will agree with most of what I wrote above. Going on to a matter of personal taste and opinion: if you can visit only one place in Russia, make sure that it is Sankt Peterburg, and go during the White Nights (roughly, 1 June to 15 July). |
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Gannon
Just Starting
Joined: 25 Jun 2009
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks 4 that answer. I really am not a big fan of the cold weather.I understand russia is in the north so it is cold but what are you summer months there. Would it be durring the US's winter months of like December? |
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romdur
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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Whoa, Gannon!
First, my post already said, "you'll want to plan your trip no later than late May through early September." Please read with care!
But more important, I learned in school about the seasons, and how they are opposite between the northern and southern hemispheres. Russia and the U.S. are both in the northern hemisphere, yes?
I don't mean to criticize you! It's only that travel is a lot more fun (and more practical) to people who know something beforehand, especially basic stuff like geography. Since you DIDN'T learn this in school (and there has been lots of publicity about schools not teaching geography these days), I hope you will start your education now!
And for heaven's sake, find a globe (better for your purposes than a flat map) and spend a good hour studying it! This will not be wasted time, I promise you. Stretch a string from LA to Moscow. If a plane flew direct, what would be its path?
Since you're still in school, talk to your best teacher, and tell him/her you want to learn more outside of school. I'll bet you can get some good guidance on how to start.
I'm 51, and I learn new things (or relearn old things I've forgotten) every day. I hope that in my last year of life, I will still be learning. |
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YellowMelon
Frequent Guest
Joined: 28 Nov 2008
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:37 am Post subject: Re: Planning a trip to Moscow need help |
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| Gannon wrote: | | Ok I'm 17 years old male and next year after graduation I really wanted to visit Russia cause of pictures and things I have heard about it. I was wondering first what all do I need to get to Russia. Then what are some places I need to see before I leave. I thank all who post. |
You know, there's not only this forum on WTR, right? |
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