9 tips for foreigners traveling to Russia

We have compiled a list of tips that can be useful to those who are going to Russia for a long time or for a couple of days.

1. Take your passport with youwherever you go. It is usually required to purchase SIM phone cards, to enter a business center or a university, and even to return goods to the store. Residents of Russia carry passports with them everywhere, and in order to make your trip calm, do the same (or carry at least a copy of your passport with you).

2. Documentation - this is sacred. If you buy a ticket, make sure that you use the correct passport and the correct spelling of the name, since one letter written incorrectly, or the wrong passport used for the purchase, may mean that someone will not get on the plane. Never abbreviate a name - for example, do not write “Sasha” instead of “Alexander” in a document.

3. Some tourists are surprised by the huge roaming phone bills between cities of Russia. Review your fare and subscribe to some special to minimize the cost of telephony during the trip.

4. Network - it's not always a network, as in the understanding of residents of other countries. A store can sell the same products and offer similar services, like another store with the same name, but this does not mean that the stores are merged with each other. For example, if you buy a bonus card, make sure that it can be used where you need it: do not assume that it will be valid everywhere. Banks must belong to Russian owners, so a commission for using a Citibank ATM will be withdrawn from a customer, even if they have an account with this bank at home. One citizen of the Netherlands interviewed by us asked the bank to send him a new card to Moscow after they moved from St. Petersburg. The bank refused and insisted that the client come to St. Petersburg and take his card.

5. Opening bank account A foreigner can be a daunting procedure. Sometimes different departments have the opposite policy. In general, the simplest banks in terms of servicing for foreigners are Citibank (for American citizens) and Raiffeisen (for citizens of European countries).

6. Foreign bank cards. Some foreigners (especially Americans) have problems using foreign bank cards, since most ATMs in Russia accept them only with a PIN code. Get a PIN-code for your credit card in advance, if you do not have it. Also, some foreign banks reject online purchases at certain Russian sites - be prepared to go in person for your purchase or call your bank and ask them to confirm the transaction. In addition, holders of foreign cards are limited to renting money through an ATM (usually 7500 rubles or 162 dollars) - Russians, as a rule, are allowed to withdraw more.

7. Check in. Foreigners must register their visa within seven working days after arrival in Russia, excluding holidays and weekends, otherwise they may be fined or deported. This law was changed in the 2011 year (previously, the registration period was 72 hours).

However, there are ambiguities. According to how the text of the law is written, it seems that you can not register at all if the traveler does not spend seven days in a row in one city. However, it is recommended to register as soon as you arrive in Russia, as well as in each subsequent city of your trip.

Hotels must register you automatically. If you are staying in a private apartment, then the landlord must go to the local police department or to the post office in order to register you. If you have a work visa, then your employer will take care of this. If you are traveling on a tourist visa, then you should be assisted by the travel agency that sent your invitation.

8. Although in theory all hotels must register foreigners, some don't. You should always call the hotel when booking and ask if they register if it is not written on their website.

9. Boundaries. Rules for crossing Russian borders for Russian citizens and foreigners are different. It is better to clarify in advance if you are going to travel to the border area, especially sensitive area - for example, with North Korea. Always bring your passport and registration with you.

One American also told us the story of a bus carrier who refused to sell them a ticket to Finland, as previously there were problems with crossing the border from citizens of some countries. The same thing happens to foreigners who travel to China by bus from the Far East. Check in advance if you are going to use a private carrier to cross the border.

Read also on ForumDaily:

5 best applications to save in travel

Top weekend getaways in the United States

7 best ideas for traveling the US

Best vacation ideas for every month of 2016 of the year

Go to the page ForumDaily on Facebook to keep abreast of the latest news and comment material.