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Planning the Trip
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Posted by: blucatz

Ok, the decision has been made, the date has been set. I am off to Omsk the 2nd week of May for about 2 weeks. A few questions I need answered from you veterans who have traveled afar to Russia, I know someone has to have gone to Omsk. Do I get my Visa before or after I book my flight over there? Has anyone used a Visa service before, such as "GoToRussia" to obtain your visa? Did you have any problems with them? Does anyone have any recommendations on apartments they have used while in Omsk that they have had good service with? Any problems with luggage following you from the US to Omsk without loosing their way?

I think thats enuf questions for now, I am sure I will have more as the time gets near. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I have not traveled outside the US in 25 years, I am a little bit nervous about it since things have changed so much. I am really nervous about going thru Moscow and all the customs protocols which I will probably mess up at some point.

Posted by: solstice

I think you'll find that traveling outside of the US these days alot different than 25 years ago, I know I did. But hey congratulations on taking a big step I'm sure you're going to have a great time. In the past I got my visa after I made my travel arrangements. I have used go to Russia but it looks like their prices have gone up, if you shop around you can probably find something a little less expensive. I think I'm paying about $170 for my trip coming up in April. I think they also tell you not to apply for a visa more than 90 days out. Don't forget to get yourself some travel insurance, I've used Travelex lite in past and decided to use them again this time, I think the cost was around $79. I'm sure you'll be getting alot more info from the guys on here. You're on your way to an adventure, enjoy it.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by blucatz

Ok, the decision has been made, the date has been set. I am off to Omsk the 2nd week of May for about 2 weeks. A few questions I need answered from you veterans who have traveled afar to Russia, I know someone has to have gone to Omsk. Do I get my Visa before or after I book my flight over there? Has anyone used a Visa service before, such as "GoToRussia" to obtain your visa? Did you have any problems with them? Does anyone have any recommendations on apartments they have used while in Omsk that they have had good service with? Any problems with luggage following you from the US to Omsk without loosing their way?

I think thats enuf questions for now, I am sure I will have more as the time gets near. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I have not traveled outside the US in 25 years, I am a little bit nervous about it since things have changed so much. I am really nervous about going thru Moscow and all the customs protocols which I will probably mess up at some point.

What happened to Costa Rica!!!???

Get your visa first then buy your tickets if you can. Never used GoToRussia but I've only heard good things about them. I always went through my travel agent but they are more expensive, didn't know this until it was too late.

Never been to Omsk, but don't worry about Russia. Just stay with the crowd or your girl. Use your front pockets not your back or jacket pockets. Register your passport within 3 days, this is a must.

Yes the Moscow airport is not the best. There is a free bus if you have to go to the National Airport. There is also a blue bus outside to the right all the way to end of the sidewalk. I think it costs $3 - $5. If it isn't there just wait, bring Rubles. The taxi drivers will be on you like white on rice when you exit your arrival gate and into the main lobby, just say nyet and they will leave you alone.

I never lost my luggage, what airline you taking? I usually flew United or Delta.

You have plenty of time to get ready. Good luck and enjoy!

Posted by: blucatz

She has to use her savings to buy another flat, the one she was renting, the owner decided not to rent it anymore. The flat she owns, her mother is living in, so she is thinking of just buying another one because the values of real estate is expected to go up. So, she can't swing getting the ticket to Costa Rica at this time and I am not paying for her's since I have yet to meet her. So, it's off to Omsk I go.

Posted by: Jerico

Quote:

Get your visa first then buy your tickets if you can.

I dont no about this route because if you did get a visa it will be probably single entry so you must pick a date. then from that date you have 30 days in the country.
If you had a hard time getting airfare you would be out the visa witch cost about 165 no i believe.

I looked for airfare first to find cheap fares.
Then purchased the airfare online.
Then got the visa for time of flight to russia.
No problems at all.

First trip to Russia i used REDSTAR Travel which is online agency.
I did everything thru them : airfare,visa,permission letter,hotel accomodations.
When they all came in they sent them to my address all together in one envelope and it worked out nicely.They were very helpful Too!!
Actually they were the cheapest i could find.

Other trips though I just bought airfare on orbitz, then hotel on other sites and visa buy itself.

I would check local travel agencys now if i went back.
They seem reasonable and now how to stretch out the flight times between international and domestic flights.

If you travel to other city than Moscow the online agencys seem to make your local flight to close to your international flight arrival time at SVO (Moscow). They dont take into consideration of passport control, luggage,etc.
Which usually means you miss your second flight. Been there done that ,twice.
Jerry

Posted by: Raspberry

Let me know how things go in Omsk.....I may end up going there in May.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

If you get tickets first and then you can't get a visa, you are out $1000+. Get your visa first if you can. My travel agent said I needed my tickets first so she could show the Russian embassy when I would be in Russia. Then a visa was issued for 30 days, because my invitation was for 30 days.

Don't worry about the invitation if you go though GoToRussia or other similar agency. If you go though a travel agent only, you will need an invitation from Russia. I always got one from my girl but if you stay in a hotel, they will usually send one for free. Your girl can buy an invitation from a travel agency in her city.

Be sure to register your passport. The hotel will do this for you or just visit the local police station ... but be prepared to wait.

Best of luck!

Posted by: BluesTraveler

Word of caution. My friends from Germany just applied for a Russian visa and they said some of the rules have changed ~ although I can't verify it.
First they said the visa application form has changed for 2008. Not sure if the form for US citizens has changed. Check with the consulate or embassy.
The other thing they said was that Russia is now only issuing visas 55 days in advance of arrival, instead of the 90 days that they normally do.

You can register your visa through the post office now instead of the OVIR office. If you look on the Russian embassy website they list 3 travel agencies for obtaining the invitation letter.

Posted by: blucatz

One thing I am having a problem with is accomodations, I spent 3 hours searching online for an apartment to rent in Omsk or even a hotel. I guess Omsk is not a very touristy city in Russia because I am having no luck at all. I am having my lady look into it for me, I hope she has better luck than I do because staying with her and her family in the house is really not an option unless she buys or rents another apartment between now and May.

I think I am going to go ahead and use a Visa service to obtain the visa, less complicated and at least they know what they are doing as far as making sure the forms are filled in correctly and providing the invite letter (that is if I can find a place to stay first...LOL).

Posted by: GoingToRussia

When I went to Moldovaa, my girl found me a hotel. She even went to check it out ... not only the hotel but the actual room!!! She gave me a number to call, an e-mail address, a person's name, and which room to get!!!

So yes have your girl check out the apartment or hotel you will use. Maybe get a phone number you can call and the name of a person that speaks English.

Good luck!

Posted by: Ade

Quote:

Originally Posted by blucatz

One thing I am having a problem with is accomodations, I spent 3 hours searching online for an apartment to rent in Omsk or even a hotel. I guess Omsk is not a very touristy city in Russia because I am having no luck at all. I am having my lady look into it for me, I hope she has better luck than I do because staying with her and her family in the house is really not an option unless she buys or rents another apartment between now and May.

I think I am going to go ahead and use a Visa service to obtain the visa, less complicated and at least they know what they are doing as far as making sure the forms are filled in correctly and providing the invite letter (that is if I can find a place to stay first...LOL).

Bizarre, because I just googled 'Omsk' and 'hotel' and got plenty of results for hotels in Omsk.

They are there, don't know how you missed them

Posted by: AkMike

Ade is right. Google is our friend.
I did a quick search on hotels in Tanya's town and got several easily.

Posted by: stevo

You should tell your ladyfriend that somebody recommended you try to see a soccer match with the famous "Gaz-Myas Omsk". Although if she doesn't watch the hugely popular "Nasha Rasha" comedy series then the joke may fall completely flat.

(Gaz-Myas are named "Gas-Meat" after their two main sponsors. They are terrible; their manager beats the living daylights out of them at half time, then tries to bribe the referee, and so on.)