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First time to Moscow
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Posted by: spamer

This is my first time to Moscow (Thursday) and the dreaded SVO airport. Any tips on how to get through customs fast?
From what I have read so far I should,

1. push my way through like I'm fighting for a 100.00 bill.
2. understand nobody likes there job and doesn't smile.
3. carry little cash on me. (maybe $40.00 in rubles)
5. use ATM cards.
6. fill out my forms on the plane. ask for them if I don't get them.

am I missing anything?

Posted by: ConnerVT

Having passed through SVO a few times now, I can say SVO is not a bad little airport at all. It is actually pretty small for an international airport for the capital of the largest country in the world. But then, the former USSR didn't really encourage international travel.

Most of these generalizations you've made are false. I'll address each one:

1. push my way through like I'm fighting for a 100.00 bill.
There is no reason to be rude or fight in lines. The last thing you really want to do is stand out in a crowd, especially before the person who is responsible for admitting you into the country looks at your passport! Russians do not seem to notice the 'subtleties’ or posturing in line that Americans seem to do. In Russia, you sometimes need to wait. Nothing seems to move as fast as in the West. Enjoy it.

Also, when waiting at passport control, the big line you will be waiting in has very few Russians in it. Anyone with a Russian passport will be in their own, separate line to the left. Most of the rude, complaining people you will be standing with will be American.

2. understand nobody likes there job and doesn't smile.
Who does enjoy their job at the airport? Generally, Russians do not smile at strangers. Once they get to know someone, they can have the biggest, happiest smile you ever have experienced.

3. carry little cash on me. (maybe $40.00 in rubles)
5. use ATM cards.
I’ll take 3 and 5 together (where is 4?). On my first trip to Russia (I was outside Moscow), there was four days that the ATM network was down. I ended up borrowing money from my interpreter. Very embarrassing! Since then, I am a firm believer that cash is king!. Just use the common sense that you would use in any large city – don’t carry it all in one place, keep it out of your wallet in your back pocket, if you drink alcohol, drink responsibly. Technically, you need to report if you bring more than $1500 USD into the country, and when you leave, they will check you are not leaving with more than this amount. I have never declared that I have had more money than this (I have), and have never been checked entering or leaving the country on any of several trips (less passing my bags through x-ray scanners).

6. fill out my forms on the plane. ask for them if I don't get them.
This is the only really sound advice you’ve been given. Ask for both the Immigrations form and Customs form on the airplane. Bring a pen with you on the plane (no one ever seems to have one). Fill both out, but I usually just keep the customs form in my pocket, just in case I need it (never yet). If you don’t get the immigrations form on the plane, there is a little table at the bottom of the stairs (before Passport Control) that usually has them. But there will be 170+ people who got off the plane, and one 4’ table.

Hope this gives you a little more insight to what to expect. Travel can be stressful, but you’re visiting Russia, not invading it! In June, I made it from exiting the airplane to my baby’s arms in about 15 minutes. Try that at JFK or LAX!

Posted by: golek

Anyone who has entered the US through Atlanta since 9-11 will agree that getting through customs at SVO is quick and hassle free.

General rule of thumb: avoid entering the US at the Atlanta port of entry at all costs. Because of asinine airport security procedures and the layout of the international concourse, it routinely takes 1.5 hours to get through customs and to connecting flights or the terminal (especially if you arrive in the afternoon when most European flights get in). It's the same for everyone, American citizens included. If you enter the US in Atlanta and have connecting flights, you need to schedule a minimum 2.5 hour layover if you want to have a chance to make the connection. Just go through JFK!

Posted by: Emetsky

First time I went to Moscow to meet my first Russian girlfriend was back in May of 2002. I arrived on a Wednesday and it was terrible at passport control. Long lines were really not the problem but the lack of it. There was also some shoving and pushing as I got close to the officers booth. It was like being a sardine in a sardine can.

It took me almost 4 hours to get through passport control. Customs was fast though. The guy who was supposed to pick me up left so I had to take a cab.

I had 1,200 US dollars in my pocket and American travellers checks worth $500. When I left Moscow after only 5 days, the Custom officer asked me how much cash I had and I said "$100." He said, "that's it, that's all you have." Then he told me that I could go.

On my 2nd trip last month (Aug.) to meet my 2nd GF, I arrived on a Sunday and it took me only 30 minutes to get through passport control. Customs was also no problem.

When I got back to LA, the line was very long but there's no pushing and shoving.

('sorry, I made a mistake. It was in 2002 and not 1992

Posted by: golek

Keep in mind that May 1992 was a tumultuous time in Moscow and all over FSU. It was less than a year after the failed coup by communist hard-liners in August 1991 and four months after the disintegration of the Soviet Union itself in Jan 1992. Imagine the confusion. Quite an interesting time to be in Moscow Emetsky!

Posted by: spamer

ConnerVT, please don't let these generalizations get to you. I pick all these rules up on this web site and group them together.

#1 I was trying to ad some humor. (of course I wouldn't do this)

Nobody has made a post that this airport was "nice" so I used the word "dreaded" (everybody seems to complain about it. even the travel company I'm using...lol)

The doesn't smile part came from a post saying if you don't want to look like a tourist, look mad and don't smile.

Maybe being new to this message board is a "bad" thing and I misunderstand what the other posters are saying.
Sorry, I won't trouble you kind people again.

Posted by: ConnerVT

No trouble, spamer. The problem with making tongue-in-cheek comments on the Internet is it's really hard to see someone's tongue (or cheek, for that matter!

).

As for not looking like a tourist? Trust me, there is little most of us can do to avoid that. More than just a smile or frown is going to give away our 'secret identities'.

In June, I visited Red Square with my fiancee. Sitting and watching the tourists (in their natural environment

), even I began to tell the Russians from the non-Russians. On the several occasions I heard people speaking English, I could tell right off they were probably European, and not American. How? By the way their family/travel group interacted. Nothing specific, I just knew.

My fiancee knew this right off, also. But she used a different method: She looks at their shoes.

Posted by: golek

Yes, shoes are a dead giveaway. Whenever I am in Europe or Russia, I'm always shopping for shoes. I look a little strange when I wear them in the US, but when I'm traveling I don't stand out as much. Besides, I like the styling. You can also get your girl to take you to a street market that sells clothes, coats, etc. They are found all over Moscow. There for not so much money you can buy a coat, shirt and maybe a hat like Russians wear. Look around to see what others have on. Before buying something, check all the zippers to make sure they are metal and well made. Cheap Russian zippers will break if you breathe on them the wrong way. I bought some clothes on my last trip and left them at my fiancee's flat. That way they will be there whenever I return with her for a visit. I wouldn't wear them back in the US anyway.

Posted by: ConnerVT

It's funny, as for my first two trips to Russia, I tried to follow everyone's suggestions, and chose clothing that would help me "blend in" with the locals (darker colors, no team sweatshirts, Nikes, etc.). My fiancee didn't like my look, as she said she prefers me in light colored clothing instead. Sometimes I think it is easy for us to overthink things.

Another observation, is that probably close to half of the Russian men I see, the standard outfit is a Nike/Reebok sweatsuit. A half liter bottle of piva is optional equipment.

I too have bought several clothing items while in Russia. Unlike golek, I do wear them in the States (dress shirts and sport jacket). I have a pair of square toe dress shoes I bought in Russia, but I leave them there. One thing I refuse to wear are those pointy toed elf shoes!

Posted by: golek

Those are the most ridiculous looking shoes I've ever seen! Is this style only in Russia, or is it spreading?

Posted by: j_c

Hi Guys

Yes the pointy shoes thing!!! This made me laugh when I read this post! I found them quite funny , but I must admit , did not see any male shoes like this just the females wore them from what I could see..

My irina had a nice pair of blue ones , I thought they looked good on her !. I tried explaining what they looked like to my sister , and she thought I was joking!

I'm sure Irina described them as "cossack" shoes but I would have to check. And no have not seen anywhere else with shoes like this.

Regards

JC