Ds

Hello People.


Good news, bad news. Bad news. Got outscourced from my job (lost it).
GOod news. Have a small window of time to do some travleing for the
first time in my life (outside the USA). So i have some general,
maybe dumb questions.

1.) Im applying for my passport tomorrow, i finally got all the
paperwork. I guess that typically takes up to 6 weeks or so?

2.) lets say, for arguments sake i went to Paris. But i wanted to go
over to Russia and the Ukraine also. Now, would i be able to just go
their as long as i had a passport? I mean, could i just hop a train(s)
and a bus(s) and go their? what potiential problems lie in my path?

Becuase i would like to go over to the Ukraine and Russia. But I would
also like to travel all around those parts. but since i never did it..
i dont know what might prevent me from doing it.

If anyone has been to Russia and Ukraine that is from the USA. How
much money would i be looking at to spend a day for basic lodging and
food? Would it be hard to get there not knowing the native language?
The thing is, im not going to have a whole lot of money for this.

And lastley. Whens a good time to exchage money for the native money?
I mean, if im going to be traveling through so many differnt countries
and all....

ANyhow, guess thats is. The problem is that ai dont know enough to ask
the right questions. So i would be happy for any kinds of input
whether it has to do with my questions or not. Thanks!!!!!!

Hal

Juliana L Holm

Many places (Ukrane, Russia, but not Western Europe) require Visas. If
you want to go there, do the research or find a good travel agent to help you
get the appropriate Visas.

Julie

ds <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Hello People.


    > Good news, bad news. Bad news. Got outscourced from my job (lost it).
    > GOod news. Have a small window of time to do some travleing for the
    > first time in my life (outside the USA). So i have some general,
    > maybe dumb questions.

    > 1.) Im applying for my passport tomorrow, i finally got all the
    > paperwork. I guess that typically takes up to 6 weeks or so?

    > 2.) lets say, for arguments sake i went to Paris. But i wanted to go
    > over to Russia and the Ukraine also. Now, would i be able to just go
    > their as long as i had a passport? I mean, could i just hop a train(s)
    > and a bus(s) and go their? what potiential problems lie in my path?

    > Becuase i would like to go over to the Ukraine and Russia. But I would
    > also like to travel all around those parts. but since i never did it..
    > i dont know what might prevent me from doing it.

    > If anyone has been to Russia and Ukraine that is from the USA. How
    > much money would i be looking at to spend a day for basic lodging and
    > food? Would it be hard to get there not knowing the native language?
    > The thing is, im not going to have a whole lot of money for this.

    > And lastley. Whens a good time to exchage money for the native money?
    > I mean, if im going to be traveling through so many differnt countries
    > and all....

    > ANyhow, guess thats is. The problem is that ai dont know enough to ask
    > the right questions. So i would be happy for any kinds of input
    > whether it has to do with my questions or not. Thanks!!!!!!

    > Hal

--
Julie
**********
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

Charles Hawtrey

[email protected] (ds) crawled to the nearest keyboard and summoned
the courage to write:

    >Good news, bad news. Bad news. Got outscourced from my job (lost it).
    >GOod news. Have a small window of time to do some travleing for the
    >first time in my life (outside the USA). So i have some general,
    >maybe dumb questions.

I commend your attitude, making lemonade from lemons.

    >1.) Im applying for my passport tomorrow, i finally got all the
    >paperwork. I guess that typically takes up to 6 weeks or so?

"Typically" is the key word. Sometimes it takes a good while longer,
for no apparent reason. You just can't tell.

    >2.) lets say, for arguments sake i went to Paris. But i wanted to go
    >over to Russia and the Ukraine also. Now, would i be able to just go
    >their as long as i had a passport? I mean, could i just hop a train(s)
    >and a bus(s) and go their? what potiential problems lie in my path?

You could go there but they might not let you in. Both countries
require that you apply for a visa and pay them some money. The State
Dept has a site telling you what the requirements are to enter each
country, at http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html

    >And lastley. Whens a good time to exchage money for the native money?
    >I mean, if im going to be traveling through so many differnt countries
    >and all....

In most of the world your best course is to withdraw money from your
bank account using a local ATM at your destination (but avoid using
the ATM for a credit card cash advance). The exchange rates for an
ATM transaction are almost always much better that at banks and
exchange kiosks. I've never been to Russia or Ukraine so I don't know
specifically whether this is an option in those countries.

    >ANyhow, guess thats is. The problem is that ai dont know enough to ask
    >the right questions. So i would be happy for any kinds of input
    >whether it has to do with my questions or not. Thanks!!!!!!

Hope you enjoy your trip.



--
Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
you mad. (Aldous Huxley)

Bb

On 10 Mar 2004 20:10:12 -0800, ds wrote:

    > 1.) Im applying for my passport tomorrow, i finally got all the
    > paperwork. I guess that typically takes up to 6 weeks or so?

Check http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html. It will tell you
what you need to bring to apply, and how you can expedite it (for $60
extra). There are a lot of websites that advertise 24-hour passports but I
don't know what the story is there.

My wife and daughter got their passport renewed last year. The new ones
arrived in something like a week or two. Maybe they're getting better?
Maybe travel being down helps in this aspect, too.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

Hatunen

On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 04:47:54 GMT, [email protected] (Charles
Hawtrey) wrote:

    >[email protected] (ds) crawled to the nearest keyboard and summoned
    >the courage to write:

    >>1.) Im applying for my passport tomorrow, i finally got all the
    >>paperwork. I guess that typically takes up to 6 weeks or so?
    >"Typically" is the key word. Sometimes it takes a good while longer,
    >for no apparent reason. You just can't tell.

If you live near or in the right cities you can get a passport
across the counter at a passport office.


************* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

Miguel Cruz

ds <[email protected]> wrote:
    > 1.) Im applying for my passport tomorrow, i finally got all the
    > paperwork. I guess that typically takes up to 6 weeks or so?

Yes, sometimes as little as two weeks. Depends on their workload, and I
think that new passports take longer than renewals.

    > 2.) lets say, for arguments sake i went to Paris. But i wanted to go
    > over to Russia and the Ukraine also. Now, would i be able to just go
    > their as long as i had a passport? I mean, could i just hop a train(s)
    > and a bus(s) and go their? what potiential problems lie in my path?

Mainly the fact that you won't be allowed in. Russia and Ukraine require
visas of US passport-holders. Russia is one of the harder countries to get a
visa for (not because you won't get it, but because they make you jump
through so many hoops).

    > And lastley. Whens a good time to exchage money for the native money?

The best time is whenever you notice your wallet is empty. Then find the
nearest ATM and withdraw some more.

miguel
--
Hundreds of travel photos from around the world: http://travel.u.nu/

Joan McGalliard

ds <[email protected]> wrote:

    > If anyone has been to Russia and Ukraine that is from the USA. How
    > much money would i be looking at to spend a day for basic lodging and
    > food? Would it be hard to get there not knowing the native language?
    > The thing is, im not going to have a whole lot of money for this.

First thing to do is a little basic research. Go to your library, and
set up camp at the travel section. Leaf through lots of books, read the
"how to get there" sections. I think you should look at Rough Guide and
Lonely Planet books, but read them all. Just start to get a feel for
what you can do.

As for Russia, I don't think it's right for you this trip. The visa
requires an invitation, which can come from a hotel, tour guide or
resident. So you have to book your travel, accomodation and then get a
faxed invitation which you have to take to the embassy. When in Russia
you have to surrender your passport. Travel in the countryside is
complicated enough that the local (UK) bookstore had no Russian travel
guides, just St P. and Moscow ones.

Russia is a great place to visit, but for this trip on a budget and
wanting to "bum around", then there is plenty to see in Western Europe.
Save Russia for a later trip.

joan
--
Joan McGalliard, UK http://www.mcgalliard.org

?Ystein

[email protected] (ds) wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > Hello People.

    > 2.) lets say, for arguments sake i went to Paris. But i wanted to go
    > over to Russia and the Ukraine also. Now, would i be able to just go
    > their as long as i had a passport? I mean, could i just hop a train(s)
    > and a bus(s) and go their? what potiential problems lie in my path?

    > Becuase i would like to go over to the Ukraine and Russia. But I would
    > also like to travel all around those parts. but since i never did it..
    > i dont know what might prevent me from doing it.
    >
    > If anyone has been to Russia and Ukraine that is from the USA. How
    > much money would i be looking at to spend a day for basic lodging and
    > food? Would it be hard to get there not knowing the native language?
    > The thing is, im not going to have a whole lot of money for this.
    >
    > And lastley. Whens a good time to exchage money for the native money?
    > I mean, if im going to be traveling through so many differnt countries
    > and all....
    >
    > ANyhow, guess thats is. The problem is that ai dont know enough to ask
    > the right questions. So i would be happy for any kinds of input
    > whether it has to do with my questions or not. Thanks!!!!!!
    >
    > Hal

The first thing you must do is to prioritize what you want to do. It
is not a good idea to combine Paris, Russia and Ukrain. First, because
on all kind of trips it is important to choose what you not are going
to include on the trip. It is a classical mistake to don't experience
anything because you are constantly on the run to see the next thing.
Choose either France or Russia.

Secound, this is espesially true for Russia, because special
preperations are needed. Visa is mentioned. If traveling on a tourist
visa you have to register in the visa what hotels you are going to
stay on, meaning you must book acomandation before you apply for a
visa. If you don't speak Russian you need a travel agency that
specializes on Russia to arrange this for you. Second you will need
help to register your visa once your in Russia. If you don't speak
Russian you must pay your hotel to do this for you (take my word for
it, don't even think of doing it yourself). Be aware of that you can
only cross the border 2 times (in and out of Russia) on a normal
tourist visa. If you want to visit both Russia and Ukrain this means
you can't go back and forth.

If you don't speak Russian you must stick to the big cities as St
Petersburg and Moskva. People working with tourists and some others
speak English, most people don't. It is important that you learn the
cyrillic alphabet. This is essential in order to read the street signs
to find the streets on your map, get off at the right metrostation and
read the menu on restaurants and bars. It isn't that complicated -
good luck!

You need to be prepared well prepared before you go. Lonely planets
Russia edition and a travel agency is an exellent way to go through
red tape, what to see, avoidances and dangers, where to stay. When you
finally get there you will see it was worth the preperations. I advice
you to study the travel guide and ask travel agencys first, then come
back with "the right questions". See you then!

Jan

Tom Bellhouse

"ds" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hello People.
    > Good news, bad news. Bad news. Got outscourced
from my job (lost it).
    > GOod news. Have a small window of time to do
some travleing for the
    > first time in my life (outside the USA). So i
have some general,
    > maybe dumb questions.
    > 1.) Im applying for my passport tomorrow, i
finally got all the
    > paperwork. I guess that typically takes up to 6
weeks or so?
    > 2.) lets say, for arguments sake i went to
Paris. But i wanted to go
    > over to Russia and the Ukraine also. Now, would
i be able to just go
    > their as long as i had a passport? I mean, could
i just hop a train(s)
    > and a bus(s) and go their? what potiential
problems lie in my path?
    > Becuase i would like to go over to the Ukraine
and Russia. But I would
    > also like to travel all around those parts. but
since i never did it..
    > i dont know what might prevent me from doing it.
    > If anyone has been to Russia and Ukraine that is
from the USA. How
    > much money would i be looking at to spend a day
for basic lodging and
    > food? Would it be hard to get there not knowing
the native language?
    > The thing is, im not going to have a whole lot
of money for this.
    > And lastley. Whens a good time to exchage money
for the native money?
    > I mean, if im going to be traveling through so
many differnt countries
    > and all....
    > ANyhow, guess thats is. The problem is that ai
dont know enough to ask
    > the right questions. So i would be happy for any
kinds of input
    > whether it has to do with my questions or not.
Thanks!!!!!!
    > Hal

Hal,

Maybe you should travel to India and get your job
back!

You didn't mention how long your "window of
opportunity" will last, and that's important. If
I were in your shoes and had the time and money,
I'd head for western Europe, see a little of
France and Germany, head south to Spain and
Portugal, then hook a "left" eastward and work my
way toward Turkey, and then double back and
figure out how to get home. Or not.

Have fun!

Tom

Rick S

I have been to Ukraine twice, the last time five years ago ( I married
a Ukrainian). Very few people speak English there. You will probably
not be able to just get around by yourself without a working knowledge
of Russian or a guide/companion. Things were not very Westernized
although this is changing. I see there are now some ATMs listed in
Odessa. You will need a visa although it is becoming easier to get
and there is discussion of dropping the requirement or making it
available on the spot in places like Odessa. My info is not very up
to date. A good place to look for current info is the travel BB on
brama.com


[email protected] (ds) wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > Hello People.
    >
    >
    > Good news, bad news. Bad news. Got outscourced from my job (lost it).
    > GOod news. Have a small window of time to do some travleing for the
    > first time in my life (outside the USA). So i have some general,
    > maybe dumb questions.
    >
    > 1.) Im applying for my passport tomorrow, i finally got all the
    > paperwork. I guess that typically takes up to 6 weeks or so?
    >
    > 2.) lets say, for arguments sake i went to Paris. But i wanted to go
    > over to Russia and the Ukraine also. Now, would i be able to just go
    > their as long as i had a passport? I mean, could i just hop a train(s)
    > and a bus(s) and go their? what potiential problems lie in my path?
    >
    > Becuase i would like to go over to the Ukraine and Russia. But I would
    > also like to travel all around those parts. but since i never did it..
    > i dont know what might prevent me from doing it.
    >
    > If anyone has been to Russia and Ukraine that is from the USA. How
    > much money would i be looking at to spend a day for basic lodging and
    > food? Would it be hard to get there not knowing the native language?
    > The thing is, im not going to have a whole lot of money for this.
    >
    > And lastley. Whens a good time to exchage money for the native money?
    > I mean, if im going to be traveling through so many differnt countries
    > and all....
    >
    > ANyhow, guess thats is. The problem is that ai dont know enough to ask
    > the right questions. So i would be happy for any kinds of input
    > whether it has to do with my questions or not. Thanks!!!!!!
    >
    > Hal

Voyager

Most of Europe can be visited for up to 6 months without needing a visa.
Russia and Ukraine are quite a different story. Both require visas and both
have made the processes slow, laborious and relatively expensive. To begin
with, you need to procure an "invitation". Many hotels and a lot of travel
agencies can arrange this for you. Some hotels provide this as a free
service but most will charge feels ranging from US$25-60. I believe a
single entry visa to Russia is about $60.00 and can take from 2 weeks to 2
months to get. I'm not sure of Ukraine fees. I like to travel
spontaneously so personally I found the requirement to state exact entry and
exit dates and to be limited to a single entry (multiple entry visas are
available at significantly higher rates) were more problematic than jumping
through the hoops to get the visa. Neither Russia or Ukraine has a well
developed tourist infrastructure. English speakers are difficult to find
and the Cyrillic alphabet can be confusing. My point here is that it can be
a difficult place to visit even for experienced travelers. St. Petersburg is
the only place in Russia I've had the pleasure of visiting for any
significant period of time (so far) but I suspect you'll find similar prices
and issues in any major city in either country. In St.Petersburg, we found
that costs for food and lodging were all over the place. A western style
hotel near Newsy Prospect (the main avenue in St. Petersburg) will usually
run from US$160-400 per night for somewhat less than grand accommodations.
A dinner at a mainstream restaurant in the same area will average US$30-40
per person. If you're more into the "backpacker" lifestyle, there are
several hostels in central St.Petersburg that run from US$11-30/night. As
you move away from the city center and away from the tourist friendly
places, the prices drop exponentially. On our trip, we hired a private
guide for about US$50/day. This allowed us the flexibility to eat in small
restaurants that had never seen a tourist. We had a number of absolutely
fantastic meals and the most expensive was only about US$15 (total for 3 of
us). We found great accommodations in a small (11 room) "boutique style"
hotel about a 20 minute walk from the Hermitage for less than US$100/night.

If these things haven't intimidated you yet I'm sure you'll love Russia (and
especially St. Petersburg). After 20+ trips to Europe I will say my 2002
visit to St. Petersburg was one of the best and most worthwhile trips I have
ever taken. Many of the Russian people still distrust foreigners and
they're just now learning how to deal with tourism. Through our
guide/translator we interacted with a number of the local folks. Overall we
found that they were as curious about us and life in the USA as we were
about them. This led to a new appreciation for the Russian people and
several new friendships.

On a more general note, use of credit cards and ATMs make life in Europe
easy. ATMs are everywhere throughout western Europe and are becoming more
popular in Russia. Note that many credit card companies charge foreign
conversion fees so it's wise to shop around and find a card that does not.
Get your cash from ATMs only as needed. It's not a wise idea to carry more
cash than you can afford to lose. Like credit cards, research ATM fees and
select the card that fits your lifestyle best.

Please let me know (remove the mystery meat to reply) if you have any
specific questions.

regards,

--
[email protected]
(Remove the mystery meat to reply!)






"ds" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hello People.
    > Good news, bad news. Bad news. Got outscourced from my job (lost it).
    > GOod news. Have a small window of time to do some travleing for the
    > first time in my life (outside the USA). So i have some general,
    > maybe dumb questions.
    > 1.) Im applying for my passport tomorrow, i finally got all the
    > paperwork. I guess that typically takes up to 6 weeks or so?
    > 2.) lets say, for arguments sake i went to Paris. But i wanted to go
    > over to Russia and the Ukraine also. Now, would i be able to just go
    > their as long as i had a passport? I mean, could i just hop a train(s)
    > and a bus(s) and go their? what potiential problems lie in my path?
    > Becuase i would like to go over to the Ukraine and Russia. But I would
    > also like to travel all around those parts. but since i never did it..
    > i dont know what might prevent me from doing it.
    > If anyone has been to Russia and Ukraine that is from the USA. How
    > much money would i be looking at to spend a day for basic lodging and
    > food? Would it be hard to get there not knowing the native language?
    > The thing is, im not going to have a whole lot of money for this.
    > And lastley. Whens a good time to exchage money for the native money?
    > I mean, if im going to be traveling through so many differnt countries
    > and all....
    > ANyhow, guess thats is. The problem is that ai dont know enough to ask
    > the right questions. So i would be happy for any kinds of input
    > whether it has to do with my questions or not. Thanks!!!!!!
    > Hal

Janie

jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au (Joan McGalliard) wrote in message news:<1gahamq.1cqhlx0t8n73wN%jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au>...
    > ds <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > If anyone has been to Russia and Ukraine that is from the USA. How
    > > much money would i be looking at to spend a day for basic lodging and
    > > food? Would it be hard to get there not knowing the native language?
    > > The thing is, im not going to have a whole lot of money for this.
    >
    > First thing to do is a little basic research. Go to your library, and
    > set up camp at the travel section. Leaf through lots of books, read the
    > "how to get there" sections. I think you should look at Rough Guide and
    > Lonely Planet books, but read them all. Just start to get a feel for
    > what you can do.
    >
    > As for Russia, I don't think it's right for you this trip. The visa
    > requires an invitation, which can come from a hotel, tour guide or
    > resident. So you have to book your travel, accomodation and then get a
    > faxed invitation which you have to take to the embassy. When in Russia
    > you have to surrender your passport. Travel in the countryside is
    > complicated enough that the local (UK) bookstore had no Russian travel
    > guides, just St P. and Moscow ones.
    >
    > Russia is a great place to visit, but for this trip on a budget and
    > wanting to "bum around", then there is plenty to see in Western Europe.
    > Save Russia for a later trip.
    >
    > joan

Hello,
I am from Russia. I was born in St.Petersburg and lived there for
almost 30 years. For the last 15 I enjoy living in USA.
Do not go there alone. if you have a lot of money and looking for a
way to spend it buy a tour and enjoy the St.Petersburg for a week.

Bjorn Olsson

jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au (Joan McGalliard) wrote in message news:<1gahamq.1cqhlx0t8n73wN%jem*NO-SPAM*@netspace.net.au>...
    > ds <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > If anyone has been to Russia and Ukraine that is from the USA. How
    > > much money would i be looking at to spend a day for basic lodging and
    > > food? Would it be hard to get there not knowing the native language?
    > > The thing is, im not going to have a whole lot of money for this.
    >
    > First thing to do is a little basic research. Go to your library, and
    > set up camp at the travel section. Leaf through lots of books, read the
    > "how to get there" sections. I think you should look at Rough Guide and
    > Lonely Planet books, but read them all. Just start to get a feel for
    > what you can do.
    >
    > As for Russia, I don't think it's right for you this trip. The visa
    > requires an invitation, which can come from a hotel, tour guide or
    > resident. So you have to book your travel, accomodation and then get a
    > faxed invitation which you have to take to the embassy. When in Russia
    > you have to surrender your passport.

"Surrender"? You simply have to let the hotel borrow it for about half
a day to get your paperwork done for you.

Bjorn

Bjorn Olsson

[email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote in message news:<[email protected]> ...
    > ds <[email protected]> wrote:
    > > 1.) Im applying for my passport tomorrow, i finally got all the
    > > paperwork. I guess that typically takes up to 6 weeks or so?
    >
    > Yes, sometimes as little as two weeks. Depends on their workload, and I
    > think that new passports take longer than renewals.
    >
    > > 2.) lets say, for arguments sake i went to Paris. But i wanted to go
    > > over to Russia and the Ukraine also. Now, would i be able to just go
    > > their as long as i had a passport? I mean, could i just hop a train(s)
    > > and a bus(s) and go their? what potiential problems lie in my path?
    >
    > Mainly the fact that you won't be allowed in. Russia and Ukraine require
    > visas of US passport-holders. Russia is one of the harder countries to get a
    > visa for (not because you won't get it, but because they make you jump
    > through so many hoops).

The hoops are real simple to jump through, though. You book a hotel,
for example through www.tourintel.ru. They send you an invitation
letter. You present the invitation letter together with your visa
application to the embassy. You get your visa.

Bjorn

Bjorn Olsson

[email protected] (?ystein) wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > [email protected] (ds) wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > > Hello People.
    >
    > > 2.) lets say, for arguments sake i went to Paris. But i wanted to go
    > > over to Russia and the Ukraine also. Now, would i be able to just go
    > > their as long as i had a passport? I mean, could i just hop a train(s)
    > > and a bus(s) and go their? what potiential problems lie in my path?
    >
    > > Becuase i would like to go over to the Ukraine and Russia. But I would
    > > also like to travel all around those parts. but since i never did it..
    > > i dont know what might prevent me from doing it.
    > >
    > > If anyone has been to Russia and Ukraine that is from the USA. How
    > > much money would i be looking at to spend a day for basic lodging and
    > > food? Would it be hard to get there not knowing the native language?
    > > The thing is, im not going to have a whole lot of money for this.
    > >
    > > And lastley. Whens a good time to exchage money for the native money?
    > > I mean, if im going to be traveling through so many differnt countries
    > > and all....
    > >
    > > ANyhow, guess thats is. The problem is that ai dont know enough to ask
    > > the right questions. So i would be happy for any kinds of input
    > > whether it has to do with my questions or not. Thanks!!!!!!
    > >
    > > Hal
    >
    > The first thing you must do is to prioritize what you want to do. It
    > is not a good idea to combine Paris, Russia and Ukrain. First, because
    > on all kind of trips it is important to choose what you not are going
    > to include on the trip. It is a classical mistake to don't experience
    > anything because you are constantly on the run to see the next thing.
    > Choose either France or Russia.
    >
    > Secound, this is espesially true for Russia, because special
    > preperations are needed. Visa is mentioned. If traveling on a tourist
    > visa you have to register in the visa what hotels you are going to
    > stay on, meaning you must book acomandation before you apply for a
    > visa. If you don't speak Russian you need a travel agency that
    > specializes on Russia to arrange this for you.

That can be done through www.tourintel.ru.

    > Second you will need
    > help to register your visa once your in Russia. If you don't speak
    > Russian you must pay your hotel to do this for you (take my word for
    > it, don't even think of doing it yourself).

The hotel may or may not charge for it. If there is a charge, it will
be normally be a rather modest sum.

    > Be aware of that you can
    > only cross the border 2 times (in and out of Russia) on a normal
    > tourist visa. If you want to visit both Russia and Ukrain this means
    > you can't go back and forth.
    >
    > If you don't speak Russian you must stick to the big cities as St
    > Petersburg and Moskva. People working with tourists and some others
    > speak English, most people don't. It is important that you learn the
    > cyrillic alphabet. This is essential in order to read the street signs
    > to find the streets on your map, get off at the right metrostation and
    > read the menu on restaurants and bars. It isn't that complicated -
    > good luck!
    >
    > You need to be prepared well prepared before you go. Lonely planets
    > Russia edition and a travel agency is an exellent way to go through
    > red tape, what to see, avoidances and dangers, where to stay.

I would carefully check the publication date of the LP guide. Until
recently, their Russia edition was very much out of date, but they
seem to have come out with a better updated edition recently.

    > When you
    > finally get there you will see it was worth the preperations.

Yup.

Bjorn