 Europe Travel Tips
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Helpful Tips for Travel in Russia
Helpful Travel Tips, Suggestions and Information.
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All foreigners visiting Russia need visas. There are different types of visas; a Tourist visa is a small document listing your entry and exits dates, your Passport number, place of issue and any children that are traveling with you (when applicable). According to Russian law, you must register your Tourist visa within 3 working days upon arrival to Russia. (On Alpventures® Tours, we will provide you with the proper Tourist visa forms / instructions and we will register your Tourist visa for you). Registration can be done either in the hotel where you stay or in the police station. If you plan to stay in a hotel, your registration will be completed by the hotel and the fee is usually included in the cost of the room. The visa serves as your exit document, too, so always keep it in a safe place when traveling.
Upon entering Russia, fill out the Declaration Form and make sure the Customs Officer stamps it. You can bring as much money to Russia as you want; however, if you plan to take any money (i.e., USD, Euros, Pounds etc.) out of Russia you must have a proof of origin of the money. For Tourists, your stamped declaration form serves as proof of origin. (The Customs Officer has the right to confiscate the money you have if you do not have proof of origin). Other proof of origin of money is a "Spravka" from the bank, which states that you cashed your credit card or received the money by other means. It is forbidden to take works of art such as paintings, sculptures or antiques painted/made before 1950. Only 2 cans of Caviar and 1 Liter (usually 2 bottles of Vodka) of Liquor are officially allowed to out of the country per Person. No one is permitted to take Rouble Banknotes out of Russia.
Weight limitation. Officially there is a weight limit on luggage for foreign travelers. The duty free limit is 50 kg (100 lbs.) per person; however, if a traveler has only two suitcases with him the luggage is usually not weighed.
In case you decide to go somewhere by yourself you can use the Metro (subway) or taxi. Subways operate from 5:30 am until 1:00 am. Taxis are your best bet – as all the subway signs are in the Cyrillic alphabet. You can order a taxi through your hotel; although it is always cheaper to catch a cab from the street. Russian cabs usually do not have meters; so it’s advisable to set the fee with the driver before taking the ride. Almost any car in Russia can be a taxi. The common rule is not to take a cab or a car if there is someone else inside except the driver. General precautions should be taken to escape unpleasant situations. Do not leave valuables in your hotel room - use hotel safes, avoid dark areas and parks at night, avoid talking to strange people, be discrete when counting your cash and carry cash in your inside pockets. In case you decide to go somewhere by yourself we recommend you inform your roommate or the tour leader where you are going and approximately the time when you are planning to be back. Be very careful when crossing streets because the cars in Russia do not wait for pedestrians.
A good 1st or 2nd class berth on a Russian sleeper train could prove more civilized than one in Western Europe, as they’re often larger and more comfortable. They also have a remarkable on-time record. The regular, long-distance service is a fast train (skoyry poezd). It stops more often than the typical intercity train in the West and rarely gets up enough speed really to merit the ‘fast’ label. The best skoryy trains often have names. The name trains (firmennye poezdy) generally have cleaner cars, more polite attendants and mor convenient schedules. They also often have fewer stops, more 1st class accommodation or functioning restaurants. With a train reservation, your ticket will normally have the numbers of your carriage (vagon) and seat (mesto).
| Russian Currency / Getting Money |
The official currency in Russia is the Rouble. There are 100 Kopecks in one Rouble. There is an exchange office in each hotel; although the rate of exchange in hotels is usually much lower than those found in exchange offices ouside the hotel. You must show your Passport to exchange money. You cannot use foreign currency in shops or restaurants; although shopping at Izmailovo fleamarket or Arbat Street Dollars and Euro are accepted illegally. Credit cards are accepted in many places but this is usually a feature of an expensive place. We recommend you bring new, crisp banknotes. Some banks and exchange offices (especially outside the big cities) will not accept marked, damaged or soiled notes. When tipping in restaurants; a normal tip in restaurants is 7-10%. Porterage tips in hotels is usually $1 per bag or suitcase.
The electric current in Russia is 220 volts. Sockets normally take Continental-type pins; electric razors and hairdryers need a plug adapter. You can buy adapters and adapter travel kits at Radio Shack and other electronics and travel stores.
 Travel protection while traveling abroad is highly recommended. Alpventures® partner insurance professionals, insuremytrip.com, offer a different packages to suit your needs from over 40 vendors, covering delayed/lost luggage to personal injury and even death while traveling away from home. Our vendors have also increased their services to provide coverage for delays and cancellations due to acts of terrorism. Protect your trip investment and travel with peace of mind. For an online quote in minutes or more information and details click on the logo below.
| Calling Home / Global Cell Phone Rentals |
Your loved ones here at home (and your important business concerns) are only a phone call away while you are traveling with a global cellular phone rental. Leave the hassle of being reached only in your hotel room behind and have a cell phone with you all the time. For less than $30 a week, you can have the comfort of knowing you can be reached at any time while you are away from home. In addition, whether it’s an emergency or you just want to let a friend know how much fun you’re having, you can call the U.S. for the lowest rates in the industry. Have the cell phone delivered to your door before you depart, and provide your friends and family with your number in advance. For more information, current rates and to reserve your phone online, click here.
Plan Ahead:
Remember, when calling the U.S. from Europe, there is a difference in time zones. In order to prevent calling your party at an inconvenient time, plan your call. Germany, Austria, Italy and Belgium are located in the CET (Central European Time) zone, and are ahead of the U.S. Early morning in Central Europe means nighttime in America (the night before). In Germany, we will be 6 hours ahead of the East Coast, 7 hours ahead of the Midwest, 8 hours ahead of the Rockies and 9 hours ahead of the West Coast. Europeans also use the 24-hour, or Military Clock. Here are a few examples to help:
| Pacific |
Mountain |
Central |
Eastern |
CET |
| 2100 Mon |
2200 (10 p.m.) |
2300 (11 p.m.) |
2400 (Midnight) |
0600 Tues |
| 0300 Tues |
0400 (4 a.m.) |
0500 (5 a.m.) |
0600 (6 a.m.) |
1200 Tues |
| 0900 Tues |
1000 (10 a.m.) |
1100 (11 a.m.) |
1200 (Noon) |
1800 Tues |
| 1500 Tues |
1600 (4 p.m.) |
1700 (5 p.m.) |
1800 (6 p.m.) |
2400 Tu-We |
Take a look at how the U.S. Dollar is doing in the foreign exchange before you travel abroad. Our Currency Converter is easy to use: Enter an amount, select the currencies to be converted, and click the 'Convert' button. Your converted currency will be displayed in the same window. Currency Converter
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Alpventures® World War II Tours to Europe
Alpventures® World War II Tours are packed with History, Fun and Adventure. Small personal groups, wonderful hotels, great transportation, meals and more! More Information
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