Most foreign travelers arrive in Moscow at Sheremetyevo 2Airport. The airport was built for the 1980 Olympics, and for a city of 8 million-plus, it's relatively small . The airport does not have the best reputation, prowled by cigarette smoke, aggressive taxi drivers and long lines at the customs. On and all, once you are at the airport you will definitely know you have arrived in Russia, and there is something of a charm to that.

Once you got your stamp in the passport and clutched you bags, you will emerge in a horde of taxi drivers tripping over themselves trying to offer you a ride into the city. Bargaining skills come in handy when it comes to Taxi drivers. If you don't speak the language and don't bargain, be prepared to pay $40 minimum. An alternative to being whisked away by strong Russian taxi men , there is a taxi desk in the center of the arrivals hall , for a higher price, of course. Another convenient option for many travlers is arranging a transfer through a Travel Agency/ With prices compatible to Taxi Fare, you will be met at the airport with a welcome board and transported to your exact address. The taxi ride to or from the city center should run about a half an hour to 45 minutes, depending on traffic.

The majority of travelers stay at the hotels during their stay in Russia. Moscow and St. Petersburg has become favorite tourist destination in the past couple of years and with this tourist boom the prices for hotel accommodations have gone up drastically. Finding a decent hotel below $100 has become almost impossible. Your best bet is booking hotel through a travel agency that specializes in Russian destination and have contracts with the hotels in Russia. You will find that their prices are very compatible and in most cases much cheaper than booking through a hotel directly and you need not bother with the hassle of booking the hotel yourself.

Traveling to a country without the knowledge of the language could be a scary thought. Take a deep breath. Even with the vocabulary of Da and Net, you should be able to get around town without any difficulties . Hotels, tourist agencies, museums and most of the younger Russian population speak English and most of the time will gladly assist you . In smaller, more isolated cities English speakers are much harder to find so learning a couple of Cyrillic words is a good idea. It's worth taking some time to familiarize yourself with the Cyrillic alphabet , regardless. Being able to read signs on the street and in the metro will make your trip much more enjoyable.

Carrying a lot of cash at all times is never a good idea, especially if you're a tourist. Always be aware of the pick pocketers and carry your wallets and purses close to you. Russian prices are considerably lower than those in more developed countries, but if you don't speak Russian and want to live as a Westerner, Moscow can be a very expensive city. The easiest way to get rubles is to change U.S. dollars is using your ATM cards. ATMs are widely available in Moscow and St. Petersburg and to a lesser extent in other big cities. You can also exchange the currency at exchange booths that are also available on every other corner.

Prices at restaurants and shops are often listed in U.S. dollars but in most places payment is acceptable in Russian rubles. Credit cards are not as commonly used and are mostly acceptable at Western hotels, high-end restaurants and some shops .

Russia has a continental climate where the winters are viciously cold and the summers can get scorching. The swings are most extreme in southern and central Siberia, but even in Moscow temperatures can range from -20 to 100 Fahrenheit.

Late spring, early summer and the fall are good times to visit. The end of may and beginning of June is a perfect time to visit St.Petersburg and Moscow and experience the splendor of white nights . Early Fall is also a great time for a visit, in the beginning of September the ballets and the operas start their seasons . (The performing arts season runs from about September to May, although there are occasional shows in the summer, especially during St. Petersburg's White Nights Festival in June.)

The first real cold hits Moscow and St. Petersburg sometime in November and there's usually snow on the ground from December through April. Russian winters with long, snowy days definitely live up to the Russian Winter stereotypes , There is nothing as mysterious and breathtaking like the domes of Russian churches under the blanket of snow.

Phone numbers you need to know :
U.S. embassy
Novinsky Boulevard 19/23
Tel (095) 728 50 00
Fax ( 095) 728 5090