Travel Answers

How many hours I should plan for visiting Kolomenskoye? Does it fulfil a full day?

I have oportunity to visit Moscow( won the trip) but i only have limited choice of hotels.
There are 4 choices:

• Maxima Zarya ( Description)

The hotel is located in a quiet residential area north of Moscow's centre, within walking distance of Petrovsko-Razumovskaya metro station.The hotel enjoys vicinity with Estate Ostankino, Palace of Count Sheremetyev, All-Russian Exhibition Centre and magnificent Botanical Garden.

• Maxima Slavija ( Description )

The hotel is located in the VDNH area, just off a busy road leading to Moscow's centre. There is a shopping mall and supermarket open 24 hours a day only minutes from the hotel.Hotel is conveniently located on Yaroslavskoe shosse not far from the All-Russia Exhibition Centre (V.V.C.) and Ostankino television centre. You will see beautiful "Elk Island" ("Losiny Ostrov") national park out of your windows.

• Cosmos:( Discription)

Hotel Cosmos is located to the north of Moscow city centre on Prospekt Mira. It is situated adjacent to the exhibition centre VDNKh, and next to the metro station of the same name.

• Maxima Panorama

Maxima Panorama arrangement is one of the most important advantages of this hotel – just a few meters from metro station “Avtozavodskaya”, in a business part of Moscow: 4 Masterkova str., 115280, Moscow.

Flight is to and from Domodedjevo, in some istances is just over 60km away.
Any idea on transfer?
Last time i was in Moskva, was in 1987 and we stayed in Student Dorm.
I experianced Moskva Metro, and I am more than Ok using it.After all i lived in London for 4 years!
My question for you Moscovites it which of this hotels has easiest access to the Center, Kremljin, Sv Vasilij Church, Red Square....
I kept looking at the Metro Map, but what i see on the map is not the nessesary fastes and straitforward way getting to the center and I get totally confused.
Any help appriciated.

Is visiting Kremlin on sunday a good idea or will some of its attractions be closed due to church service?

I wish to take a Trans Mongolian Train Trip from Moscow to Beijing with stop overs in Irkutz and then Ulan Bator. I have had a previous bad experience (not Russia) of buying and paying for tickets on line which was never secured or my money refunded. I am also concerned about being charged at the whim of the vendor. On line I see Real Russia is recommended as an agency to buy these tickets from. Please assist. I need to secure with reputable suppliers for accommodation & transport in proof to apply for a Russian Visa here in South Africa.

How many days may I spend there to enjoy completely the city?

As Football fan I would be intrested to watch a Football game during my visit. Unfortunately during my stay there will be no match in Moscow's Stadium, but there will be one in Khimki. CSKA Moscow will face Kuban Krasnodar.

I figured out, that it takes about 1 1/2 hour by public Transport to get from Moscow centre to Arena Khimki by taking Metro Nr. 2 and shared taxi Nr. 345. Is this true? Do I need special tickets for the shared taxi?

And what about the tickets for the match? I suppose that the match won't be sold out, so can I buy them right in front of the stadium? Or are there selling Points in Moscow? I realize, that they are sold online (ticket.pfc-cska.com/actionLi..., but as I do not speak Russian and a Registration is necessary, I'd prefer to buy the tickets in situ.

Hi folks,
Funny I should be the one to ask, but does anybody know a sensible way to Yasnaya Polyana from Moscow?
I mean sensible, that is, safe and not exhaustible, because all the ways I know are not:
1) Car is out – no license; and would not drive even if I had one, don’t find our highways particularly safe
2) Long-haul coach – out for the same reason
3) Train to Tula – basically OK. But what it comes with – definitely not: from the railway station by trolleybus #5, then change to bus #114, or 117, or 280, and then – 10 minutes walk (country road); all that - with luggage, because one cannot possibly do all that route in one day
4) Of course, there are taxies – a plane to Europe and back will be cheaper, I guess
Well, brainstorming, anyone - to help me visit Old Leo and get back in good health and mind?

Regarding my guide, we have to register, if we stay more than 3 days. But our host told me, that we will not have to register up to five days, if we have tickets of the arrival and departure. So which information is correct?

Can anyone recommend a good place (rather nature, lake or small picturesque village) to visit in the area around Moscow. In my country, Bulgaria, people who have been to Moscow say that the surround area (Подмосковье - Podmoskovye) is amazing with its lakes, forests, the typical Russian churches, pine trees, etc.

I would be very thankful if you can tell me the name of the area and how to get there most easily, preferably by public transport.

Many thanks in advance!

ps. I promise to post pictures afterwards for you to enjoy!

Which of Moscow's quarters you'd recommend to stay for a short visit? It is important, that we can reach all major sights by public transport (so a nearby metro station would be required). As we want to go out for a few beers at night, we'd prefer some district with pubs/nightlife, but it is not necessary to be directly next to the hippest nightclub and most expensive bars, we'd be content with some lively neighboorhood.

Hi, we are family 3 adults and 1 child ( 3 years). Our idea is to rent a car with driver in Moscow and to go to Sergijev Posad and Suzdal for 2 days. Does somebody know any Moscow travel agencies or any company who rent car with driver for normal price?
Package cost around 500 USD for 1 person for 2 days, it is not normal:-)

Thank you very much

vous avez qeulque bons hotel et resto a des prix corect ?? mercie

CAN YOU HELP ME FOR HOTELS IN MOSCOU BUT ON GOOD PRICES PLEASE THANKS ELVIRA

I much prefer reccomendations from people who have actually stayed there to the lists..

Anyone have especially good experiences in Hotels in either or both places?

Thank-you !

Uk citizen entering Moscow vis Estonia allowed on a tourist visa?

i want to join my friend in Tallinn before entering Moscow . I will be flying will it cause any trouble at the passport/visa section in Moscow?

Dear all, I am planning to go to Russia end of March for the first time. I have therefore to apply for a visa at the embassy. The whole process is a bit stupid because I have to make bookings for a flight and accommodation and paying with no guarantee that I'll get the visa but I guess it's more or less the same for any other country. I wanted to ask for any secure websites where I can book a bus ticket from St. Petersburg to Moscow and return. It might be also in Russian. Do they accept credit cards? How secure is it to have a place booked. Will the embassy recognise it as an accommodation if I book a night bus? Many thanks in advance!

Is the Muslim niqab legal to wear in Moscow? In Russia? Have any previous visitors or citizens seen veiled women in the country?

Hi, I'm a 23 year old female from Scotland hoping to travel from Moscow to Beijing using the Trans-Mongolian train route with stop offs in Irkutsk and Ulan Bator along the way. I've done a fair amount of research and plan to do much more before setting off (August 2013) but the advice I'm looking for is, am I mad to do this route alone? I'm a confident girl and would like to think I've a good head on my shoulders and have had experience, although not extensive, travelling around europe but always in a group. This trip is one I've wanted to do for a long time and one which does not interest any of my friends. Saying that, I am excited about travelling alone but as I have never been to Russia/Mongolia/China I don't know if I am being naive and should reconsider or if it is perfectly sane to assume by being smart and conscious of my safety I could likely have a danger free trip! I speak only English, no Russian, I don't know how difficult this could make things. I would be very grateful for all and any advice, thank you!

Hello all Planning my first ever trip to Moscow and am curious about how many monuments, museums and memorials to the Great Patriotic War, Cold War, Afghanistan etc that I may find there? I know Kubinka museum is a couple of hours from Moscow but i'd imagine it's a damn tough place to get to or to get into the museum. Anyone here been to that museum? If anyone could recommend unusual stuff like this, i'd love to hear about it. Thank you all! I'm going to be putting a similar post in the Veiliky Novgorod and St P sections so it might appear to be a trible post. Cheers guys! DG

I know from what I hear that Moscow is a very expensive city as its hotels are very expensive especially in center.Is it possible to find a decent hotel outside center..NO SHARED BATHROOMS for no more than 50 Euros for a single room? If so please send me recs!! Many thxs!

I have got some choices. I hope to find one with easy access location (ie choices of food, near metro, and even better if close to the Kremlin for good night scene). Could you give me some comments/advice? Thank you. 1. Ohostel: hostelworld.com/hosteldetail... Add: Ul. Malaya Ordynka, 19, 3rd floor, Moscow, Russia 2. HomefromHome Hostel: http://home-fromhome.com/booking/ Add: Russian Federation, 119002, Moscow, Arbat street, 49, entrance № 2 (metro: Smolenskaya (dark blue line). 3. HM Hostel Moscow : www.hostel-moscow.com Add: 4/F M.AFANSYEVSKIY SIDE-STREET 1/33 (Meto:ARBATSKAYA) 4. suharevka hotel: suharevkahotel.ru/contact.ht... add: 107045, Moscow (Metro: Suharevskaya (orange line 5. Artel Hotel: http://artelhotel.ru/rooms.htm Add: Teatralniy Proezd, 3 (metro: Kuznetskiy Most) 6. Fresh Hostel: freshhostel.ru/en/rooms-km.h... Add: Sretenka str. 26/1, 3 entrance, 3rd floor) 7. Fresh Hostel: Kuznetsky most

moscow.info/theaters/opera-a... I'd like to see Swan Lake during my stay in Russia but can't find any playing between 1-11 Oct. I have checked the above website and visited the individual theaters' websites. As some of them do not have English version, I might have misundertood the google translation. Please if someone knows where the ballet show is playing in Oct so I won't miss by mistake? Thanks.

i'm interested to visit Russian in September, 2012. However, I found it's confusing to obtain a Russian visa. Russian Embassy of United State's webisite directs me to fill out online application for tourist visa, and require me to provide travel agency's name, confirmation, iternery details. I'd like to travel to Russia on a self-guided trip instead of joining tour group, is that possible? i'm from U.S.

I will stay in Moscow with a package for 3 nights. Would VTers advise which hotel is more convenient to get around? Thanks. 1.Maxima Zarya Address 4/9 Gostinichnaya str., Moscow 127106, Russia Website www.maximahotels.com/zarya.htm 2. Park Inn by Radisson Sadu Moscow Address 17, Bolshaya Polyanka street, bld.1 - 119180 Moscow, Russia Website www.parkinn.com/hotelsadu-moscow 3. Holiday Inn Moscow Suschevsky Address Suschevsky Val 74, Moscow, 129272, Russia Website www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/moscow/mowss/hoteldetail The price for (1) is about USD170 cheaper than (2) or (3) for 3 nights.

My wife and myself, both pensioners, will be staying at Holiday Inn Suschevsky for two nights later this month. Are there any supermarkets nearby ? Opening hours ? Do they take credit cards ? Any nice restaurants where staff speak English ? Any other helpful hints ?

Hi all! I will be off to Mosсow and St. Petersburg at the end of February and would like to hear some first-hand advice. Yes, we've arranged for the visa and the accomodation (I hope ;-) ), so no urgent questions about that, but I would like to hear the tips and tricks for the two cities: where (not) to go, what (not) to do, etc. I love markets, especially the colourful food-kind (but shopping and buying souvenirs is also welcome). Would also like to hear about nice restaurants that do not cost a fortune. I hear some former-Sovjet kitchens are great, while others are best given a miss... any ideas? Would it be possible to do a boat tour in either of these places or will everything be frozen solid? And talking about cold: what are your tips to beat it? How much walking around will you do when it's -15C ? Thanks very much in advance!

Dear all, We will be in Moscow for 3 days (17-20 July 2012), before taking the transiberian way to Beijing. We really would like to visit the "city of starts" - cosmonautic centre outside Moscow. Since it's impossible to go indipendently, we asked to a travel agency about prices, here the reply "the minimal size of the group is 10 persones. it means,if you are going to get this excursion you should pay fee equal fee for 10 pax the prices are following: excursion: eur 470 transportation (private car): eur 160 interpreter service(English): eur 50" We are 2 people... anyone interested to join us? Best, Marta

My wife and I will be visiting Moscow for the first time for 3 days in July. Can anyone recommend personal tour guides to give us a 4 - 6 hrs tour of the city. This is often a great way to see the city before choosing where to spend more time later. We then plan to take the train to St. Petersburg to do the same thing. Thank you ! Chris

As I am planning my trip through Europe with my family this summer, I am wondering if it is possible to obtain a Russian tourist visa (for a 4 day visit to Moscow) at a Russian consulate or embassy in Italy (as I will be in Italy for the next few months). If I have all the proper requirement including US passport, Invitation (hotel confirmation), should I be alright? Or must I obtain the visa in the US? Thanks in advance

Has anyone rode this train? Is there any wifi hot spots at station along the way?