Thread: Travel to Russia
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01-08-13 16:31 #10
Posts: 608Originally Posted by Stravinsky [View Original Post]
There is no escape: they can see your bank account.
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01-08-13 11:59 #9
Posts: 2306Originally Posted by EastGoing [View Original Post]
The best answer to your post is this brilliant piece of writing of Borderland:
Originally Posted by Borderland [View Original Post]
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01-08-13 01:12 #8
Posts: 582Hi guys,
I start by saying that I have never been to Russia personally, but I got some friends who did. One just came back yesterday. I have been "trying" more than once in the past, last time being around 2005, but I always gave up due to troubles with visa, accommodations, obligation to declare all details of your movements to officers, prices getting bigger and bigger, etc. My desire would have roughly been something like one week in Moscow and one in St. Petersburg in a single trip, but the obstacles always made me quit: I don't want to spend a fortune, I don't know anyone to invite me (my friends had girls or company providing invitation) and I would like to change place if I don't like it without having to get crazy over searches, officers, laws I don't know, etc. I happened to read this thread today because I wanted to try again after the return of my friend. I spent the evening on.
www.booking.com
Looking for accommodations, the only affordable ones are hostels, most with toilet in common, some of them stating they won't be of help with the visa! Not to talk about the complications of flying to an airport and coming back from another one, plus the internal flight! For this last problem I can sort out by going to only one of the 2 cities, but the other disadvantages still remain. I think I'll end up choosing easier destinations, as usual! Also standards, costs and the ratio with an average salary will probably kill my desire to add Russia to my Risiko collection, also Cuba underwent this destiny: how can can I fork out tens, hundreds of dollars over there when even teachers and doctors live on. 3? 5? 10 dollars a month? In Russia, if I'm not mistaken, the lower salary now is 130 euros. 10 years ago was about 20 dollars, anyway maybe now I'm too late for my standards, budgets and opinions, but still I hope some day I'll put my feet up there.
However I wouldn't say that in Russia there is not sexual tourism, I'd reckon more correct to say that there is going to be less than before, maybe less and less, especially compared to the past. I think there must have been some from 1989 until some years ago, because life and (more important) girls were cheap and easy: you could get many girls, beautiful or stunning, for little money, this being common in all FSU countries. Problem was just the visa.
Time passing by, prices have gone higher and higher (also referred to girls) , Moscow is now one of the most expensive cities on earth, in spite of its inhabitants' average income and conditions of life, and visa and related rules are still a problem, probably nowadays these factors put together keep the average monger away. I would add that there are many Russian girls "working" abroad, so you don't need to travel there to get one, especially if they're going to charge you as much or more than what they charge you out of Russia!
If I'm saying bullshit I'll be pleased to read corrections and proper infos and advices.
Cheers
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01-07-13 17:16 #7
Posts: 2306Originally Posted by Stravinsky [View Original Post]
You are right, the 75% tax on the salaries above 1 million / year, it has been delayed by the Conseil Constitutionel, but as it is one of the highlight of the new president's programm, no doubt that it will happen. Not that I care a lot, as I am (unfortunatly) not concerned (sigh).
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01-07-13 17:02 #6
Posts: 1454Originally Posted by Prosal [View Original Post]
The 13% income tax rate is a definite attraction, but when you add the 18% VAT, the effective tax rate ends up being much higher. Although, it's still less than the U.S. Plus, my understanding is that the 75% rate in France is still not law, and it may not be. In that case, the joke's on Messr. Depardieu.
Also, not sure how cozy I'd want to get with a man (Putin) who can have you incarcerated in a moment's notice on nothing more than a whim. But, as long as Gerard stays out of politics, he should be safe.
Seems to me, the only problem he has now is: can he get a visa to enter France?
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01-07-13 13:03 #5
Posts: 2306And in the meanwhile, for us, Mr Average, we have to wait three weeks for mere one month tourist visa. (deep sigh)
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01-07-13 12:41 #4
Posts: 2306How to get a Russian passport in 48 hours
Be a french actor popular in Russia and be friend with Putin.
http://englishrussia.com/2013/01/07/...comes-russian/
Accessorily, you will then pay only 13% taxes in Russia, instead of 75% in France.
He has was offered a position of Minister of Culture of the Mordovia federal republic. Plus a house.
Lucky guy.
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12-14-12 17:06 #3
Posts: 1454Prosal,
The Russian consulates and embassy here in the U.S. stopped accepting direct visa apps 3 or 4 years ago. All visa apps must be submitted through a separate travel agency (chosen by the Russian government, of course). This increases the cost, because the agency has to make something for itself and also the processing time, but 300 Euro and 15 days is definitely too much. But then, it's their football. . .
Putin is a little conflicted about tourism: on the one hand, he understands that he can't rely on selling natural resources forever and he wants to open up the Russian economy to foreign investment, but then, in almost the same breath, he takes the old Soviet position that Russia must protect itself from foreign influence and foreign agents.
I'm not sure if this new law is universal, or just reciprocity for the U.S. The U.S. embassy is granting 2 year visas to Russians now who visit the U.S. It will be interesting to see if the consulates in Europe will also change their visa policies. It sounds as if Paris is still issuing the old 30 day visa.
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12-13-12 18:40 #2
Posts: 2306Originally Posted by Stravinsky [View Original Post]
Russian visa is a pain in the ass, but the harder they make it to visit the better for those who insist. Russia is still free of sex-tourists, and that is good like that.
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12-13-12 17:32 #1
Posts: 1454Travel to Russia
I created a new thread for Travel to Russia. The idea is to have a place where we can collect information specifically about travel to Russia. So, information about things like; obtaining a visa, when and how to register after you arrive, airlines, flights and air fares, and also info about how to travel within Russia. Also, info about where to stay; apartments and hotels. Discussions about where to find girl-friendly hotels should stay in the regular threads.