I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with backpacking in
Russia, Ukraine, and any other former USSR countries. I have travelled
extensively throughout eastern europe but never made it any further east
than Romania. My wife is from Romania and when we were there visiting
family a few years ago a friend of mine and I wanted to slip across the
border into the Ukraine, but the Romanians said it was suicide to go
there unless you know someone there and have a place to stay. Apparently
crime is reaching staggering proportions there, particularly towards
western tourists.

Anyone have any stories? You can post it or email me directly at:

(NOSPAM)[email protected] (drop the (NOSPAM) - obvious reasons)

Thanks in advance,

~Simon~

From personal experience, Ukraine (let alone Russia) is much safer
country than Romania and Moldova.

Arpad

Simon <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<S%[email protected] nk.net>...
    > I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with backpacking in
    > Russia, Ukraine, and any other former USSR countries. I have travelled
    > extensively throughout eastern europe but never made it any further east
    > than Romania. My wife is from Romania and when we were there visiting
    > family a few years ago a friend of mine and I wanted to slip across the
    > border into the Ukraine, but the Romanians said it was suicide to go
    > there unless you know someone there and have a place to stay. Apparently
    > crime is reaching staggering proportions there, particularly towards
    > western tourists.
    >
    > Anyone have any stories? You can post it or email me directly at:
    >
    > (NOSPAM)[email protected] (drop the (NOSPAM) - obvious reasons)
    >
    > Thanks in advance,
    >
    > ~Simon~

Simon <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<S%[email protected] nk.net>...
    > I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with backpacking in
    > Russia, Ukraine, and any other former USSR countries. I have travelled
    > extensively throughout eastern europe but never made it any further east
    > than Romania.

Be aware of the visa rules. If you have a tourist visa, you need to
book your accomondation and have the hotels to fax you the documents
that confirm your booing before you apply for a visa. You have to
stick to your prebooked accomondation. With a business visa you don't
need to prebook any accommondation, but you need an invitation. You
will have to pay in order to get a proper invitation, but it is not
neccessary to be in Russia on business to get a business visa.

Read the visa and red tape chapter of Lonely Planet or another
traveling guide carefully before you go. It is probably wise to use a
travel agency to do your paperwork if you travel for the first time.
Be aware of that you need a multi-entry visa to travel back and forth
between Russia and Ukrain.

Once you arrive in Russia you have to register your visa. Accept the
register service on your hotel, even if they charge you a small amount
of money in order to register the visa for you. You are not
interested, in doing the job on your own.

    > My wife is from Romania and when we were there visiting
    > family a few years ago a friend of mine and I wanted to slip across the
    > border into the Ukraine,

She probably speak decent Russian. If so, you will find that very
useful. It is very important to learn the cyrillic alphabet before you
go. Even if your wife speaks Russian, reading the metrostation names,
steetnames and menus without asking your wife, will be convinient.

    > but the Romanians said it was suicide to go
    > there unless you know someone there and have a place to stay.

If they talking about the visa rules, they have a point. Prebook a
hotel at a travel agency if you go for the first time. Forget about
doing the job yourself. Even if you mange to fill out all the necesary
forms yourself, it is very useful to use an agency that knows how to
handl unforeseen problems that eventually occurs.

    > Apparently crime is reaching staggering proportions there, particularly
    > towards western tourists.

Never, ever change money on the street, don't drink the water, don't
fall asleep on a train with noone to look after your luggage, always
keep you passport and visa on you at a "pick-pocket-safe" place and
don't buy kiosk spirits.

best regards,

Jan.