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wsaebo
Just Starting
Joined: 05 Oct 2010
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:02 am Post subject: My first time to Russia |
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Hello!
I will be traveling to Moscow at the end of this month (as a birthday present to my self hehe) and I will be staying at Godzillas Hostel (which I have seen have good reviews). The thing is my Aeroflot flight from Oslo will arrive at 19:25 and as we all know that's after dark. I am in no way a very unexperinced traveller and I know common sense, but I've heard wandering around in the centre of Moscow and the metro can be unsafe at those times. Would I be better of having a taxi pickup for 2000R or is the Aeroexpress/metro better to use even if it's after dark? Is it easy for a non Russian speaker to get a ticket for instance? I managed that in Prague and Istanbul on Czech/Turkish only machines, but as I said the safety is my main concern at that time. |
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overseas_expat
VIP
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 741
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:13 am Post subject: |
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I have 2 questions:
Do you speak or read Russian at all?
Which airport are you flying into? Moscow has 3 major airports. |
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overseas_expat
VIP
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 741
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:24 am Post subject: |
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Nevermind my post above^^^
If you are flying Aeroflot you'll be arriving at Sheremyetovo. You said you are a non-Russian speaker. 
There is a taxi mafia that runs out of SVO. They will charge you possibly 2,000 to 3,000 rubles for a trip to the center. That's $80-$100. They are pirahna.
If you were able to speak or read a minimum of Russian you could take the train from the airport and then connect to the Metro downtown. This would cost you a few dollars. Without any Russian, you're travel toast. Just buckle up and pay the money, I don't know what else you can do. Maybe arrange with Godzilla to have a particular taxi waiting at the airport to pick you up? That could save you nearly half of the taxi mafia rate. Talk to them.
In general, Moscow is relatively safe. The biggest issues are the ripoff problems. Tourists are targeted for every kind of con and money lifting scheme.
Good luck. |
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ligett
Just Starting
Joined: 07 Oct 2010
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 11:29 am Post subject: |
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Public transport is a must for travelling from airports.
Stick to Aeroexpress + subway. Check the schedule though, those aren't too frequent.
As to the buying tickets, you should be alright. Use gestures and/or learn to say numbers in Russian. Otherwise it's as hard as buying tickets somewhere in France without speaking French )
Good luck |
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overseas_expat
VIP
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 741
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 12:20 am Post subject: |
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How can the OP possibly navigate the Moscow subway? All the signage is in Russian only
And besides, he never came back to to his post anyway. |
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ligett
Just Starting
Joined: 07 Oct 2010
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| overseas_expat wrote: | How can the OP possibly navigate the Moscow subway? All the signage is in Russian only
And besides, he never came back to to his post anyway. |
I thought the map is both in Russian and English in the cars. Also I assume most of people arrive with a map or guide. Even the shortest one would have a map of subway.
Other than that what are the alternatives? I guess there isnt any. Taxis are too unsafe for the first comer.
All in all I agree - navigating in the Moscow subway is not easy, one should have a guide!  |
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overseas_expat
VIP
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 741
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:55 am Post subject: |
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"I thought the map is both in Russian and English"
What map?
All layouts of the Moscow Metro IN RUSSIA are in Russian. One may find translated Metro maps online yes, or even printed maps in other countries.....but when you are actually in the Moscow Metro there is not one single word of English or any other language to be found. The Moscow Metro is signed wholly and completely in Russian only.
" Also I assume most of people arrive with a map or guide."
They may do. But whatever language that map or guide has been translated into--French or German or English....
.....does not exist in actual reality in Russia Even though one may be able to find translations of all kinds of things in Russia--once you get there--everything in Russia IS IN RUSSIAN ONLY. Period.
Ligett, have you ever been to Russia? I'm starting to wonder.
Because I have. And my experience over the years in Russia is that: everything in Russia and everything about Russia and every type of contract or map or address or menu or transportation is in Russian Cyrillic ONLY.
In Russia if you do not read Cyrillic and you do not speak any kind of Russian you are shite, fcuked, skrewed.
Russia was/is the empire. Outsiders there either learned Russian or died on the vine.
The Russians don't give a damn either way. |
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wsaebo
Just Starting
Joined: 05 Oct 2010
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| So what you're actually saying is that non Russian speakers should avoid Russia totally. I will of course buy a phrasebook because I know about that problem. Cyrillic letters are not that hard to learn, it's not Chinese or Japanese after all. And I am not suprised that the metro is in Russian only, the same applies for France, UK, Poland etc etc, yup basically everywhere. However I think I'll arrange with the hostel to send a cab due to my late arrival time at SVO. It's safer overall and exploring the public transport can be done during daylight hours. |
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romdur
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 197
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| Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, wsaebo:
The first time I visited Russia, I didn't know 10 words of the language ... but I did have a very kind escort who guided me into town. My thoughts:
1. DO learn the alphabet. It isn't very difficult, and is really, really helpful.
2. By law, Russian shops and businesses can only accept payment in rubles, though non-official tourist business (souvenir stands, taxi drivers, etc.) will accept Euros or dollars. To use the train or metro, you would need to bring rubles with you, or buy some at the airport (airport exchange rates are usually terrible, but about 20 dollars worth is more than enough to get into the center).
3. The Aeroexpress trains (that connect each of the 3 airports to the metro) are great, and I wouldn't worry about safety of using them.
4. You can find good Moscow metro maps online, and print one that has both latin and Cyrillic (I have found several) to bring with you. In fact, the biggest and clearest metro map I found online is on the Godzilla's website!
5. I was a little surprised last summer to notice signage in both alphabets all over the Saint Petersburg metro. Some signs that are not place names are not only in latin letters, but also in the English language.
6. All told, I think you're better off taking the taxi when you arrive. It is no joke lugging baggage -- you must first board the Aeroexpress train, then connect to the metro, then change trains in the metro, and finally it is (as I recall) at least a couple of blocks between the station and Godzilla's. Quite possibly, with wet snow blowing in your face And in point of fact, it is rather difficult to deal with the train tickets and the metro if you don't speak the language.
Russia is a fascinating country, I wish you an excellent trip! |
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NiKita
Just Starting
Joined: 28 Jun 2012
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:58 am Post subject: |
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| Airport pick up in Moscow, private city tours, any help in Moscow. Text me: triff88@mail.ru |
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AdamsAnnie
Just Starting
Joined: 26 Jul 2012
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 10:15 am Post subject: |
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| I have just shifted to russia and I am finding it very difficult to understand the language.I want to learn this language. Can any one help me in finding out the language class? Help will be appreciated. |
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