$US - $CAN

[CanadaMan]

The American dollar keeps sinking and stinking (sic) in value, but does it still rule in the Russia?
I will be going to the bank shortly to take some cash for the trip.
Any sense in taking Canadian dollars?

Also how much cash for a one week stay in Russia is recommended?
Hotel bills will be paid by credit card.

 TIA

[JR]

The American dollar keeps sinking and stinking (sic) in value, but does it still rule in the Russia?
I will be going to the bank shortly to take some cash for the trip.
Any sense in taking Canadian dollars?

Also how much cash for a one week stay in Russia is recommended?
Hotel bills will be paid by credit card.

 TIA

Where in Russia are you going? Moscow, Piter and a few other major cities will cost more then the smaller ones.  How high on the hog do you want to live while there?

[I/O]

Good luck trying to exchange Canadian $, doable maybe but ya won't sell 'em easily. My question is, why on earth would you take cash anyway? ATM's (Bankomats) are everywhere. IMO carrying cash across borders is madness these days.

I've heard a bunch of people say the Euro has surpassed the USD as foreign currency of choice in Russia now. Recently I didn't see supporting evidence but to be fair I don't use either and simply draw RUR to use as I need to.

As for how much, how long is a piece of string?

[docetae]

The American dollar keeps sinking and stinking (sic) in value, but does it still rule in the Russia?
I will be going to the bank shortly to take some cash for the trip.
Any sense in taking Canadian dollars?

Also how much cash for a one week stay in Russia is recommended?
Hotel bills will be paid by credit card.

 TIA

on around 15 trips, I had one time CAD dollars, it took me 2 days and one embarrassing situation before being able to change them at less than the current rate (it was almost 1 too and exchange rate was 0.75..)

[Handycam72]

$US is the by far the best currency to take with you.

I will second what I/O said and use the ATMs, carrying a fistfull of cash through customs will be a huge pain.

[Dave13]

The ATM's are present in the large city's but I would take at least some cash, make sure the bills are like new. On the amount to take, depends on were your going and what you plan on doing.

Best of Luck.

Dave

[Faux Pas]

Also how much cash for a one week stay in Russia is recommended?
Hotel bills will be paid by credit card.

 TIA

Thats all contingent on where exactly is you are going, how long you are staying and what kind of habits you'll have while staying there. Rented apartments or flats are generally preferred by those who have done it before or made multiple trips for a variety of reasons. They are also usually cheaper than a hotel. As a rule of thumb I generally counted on total expense of about $250 USD a day and lived like a king. Much depends on how frugal you are.

[Lee08]

I always took a couple of thousand in cash with me to Moscow for spending money and credit cards but never needed the cards.
You won't have any problems taking cash through customs as long as it's not over $10000.00.
I took 5 grand with me one time with no problems.

[BillyB]

Don't rely on ATM's alone. There is a limit on how much cash you can take out per day. Some of the men here have a habit of hooking up with pro daters. Withdrawing and spending only $500 a day isn't going to keep her happy.

CanadaMan, the dollar is still very strong in the FSU. Russia took a big hit on their currency since the price per barrel on oil dropped.

[Handycam72]

Some of the men here have a habit of hooking up with pro daters. Withdrawing and spending only $500 a day isn't going to keep her happy.

Oh you are cruel..............But I like you 

[Chicagoguy]

I always call my credit card companies before I leave to say I will be in Russia. They sometimes have stops on their cards because of scams. They can also limit the number and $$ amount of transactions - especially at ATMs.

[Kunstkammer]

Russia took a big hit on their currency since the price per barrel on oil dropped.

They did take a big hit, but have since recovered and the RUB is now worth more than it did before that...

In Oct the exchange rate was like 32/33 RUB = 1 USD, Today when I was on Nevskey Prospekt I saw the exchange rate is 27 RUB = 1 USD.  

Seriously though, why bring cash?  If you can't live on 12000 RUB cash a day plus 5000 USD daily limit on a debit card plus your credit card limit...

[Misha]

Any sense in taking Canadian dollars?

You can exchange Canadian dollars in Russia, but the exchange rate won't be very good Rates for American dollars in Moscow, for example, are much more competitive. I agree with Kunstkammer that you are better off simply using your debit card. You will pay a few extra dollars for the withdrawal, but you will get a much, much better exchange rate.

[I/O]

Never had a problem drawing cash ......................anywhere.

[viking]

Faux Pas

Maybe you are bigger spender than me but $250 is a LOT of money on a daily basis. But then I dont know were you were. I just took a trip to Belarus. $700-800 for eight days including a great flat, food ( eat in) , some gifts, a few dinners in resturants, drinks ( more than a few),  trains, taxis and more. And we both had a great time. And I was not trying to save money. Just could not places to spend it.  I only took a few hundred with me and used the ATMs when I was there.

[CanadaMan]

Never had a problem drawing cash ......................anywhere.

I figure this is as good a place as any to jump back in here.
Thanks all for the great tips!

I have had problems withdrawing cash and it's one of the reasons that I asked the question in the first place.
I had a bad experience in China a year and a half ago with ATM machines.
All of a sudden they refused to give me cash!
It was on my credit card no less.
I went to more than ten machines. I was locked out.
I could still use the card to pay for hotels, but cash wasn't happening.

Since then I've been a little paranoid with my cards. I don't want a repeat of that.
So I'll be taking two credit cards and a debit card.

I guess I'll take some American bills when I leave. The Ruskies seem to prefer their greenback to ours. And I'll make sure they're as crisp as apple strudel. 

[Misha]

I have had problems withdrawing cash and it's one of the reasons that I asked the question in the first place.
I had a bad experience in China a year and a half ago with ATM machines.

My wife was in a small city in Russia a few months ago. Had not problem withdrawing money from our account in rubles.

[tfcrew]

Greenbacks have metal strip threads in them don't they?
Too many and they set off the alarm at the gate?
Subjecting one to great scrutiny?   

[UTRO]

I've never had any issues with ATM's in Russia.
I gave my wife a Canadian Bank Card, Citizensbank.ca, and she uses it weekly. She's never experienced any problems either.
The account I have is a No Fee Chequing Account, which includes no fees for Plus System withdrawls worldwide. There are never any fees charged, just exchange.
I used to use my RBC Card and was dinged $5 for every withdrawl

[CanadaMan]

I've never had any issues with ATM's in Russia. ...I used to use my RBC Card and was dinged $5 for every withdrawl

Thanks Utro for this info!
I have a bank card too (not a debit card as I mentioned) and it's a TD Canada Trust card.
It needs to see the Plus System too and I'm sure it will ding me $5 per withdrawal too.
But it's better than getting no cash when you're in a tight spot and you need it.

[Ade]

I usually take 500 to 1000 Euros for emergency cash but rely on ATMs with a Mastercard. Unless you're going to be in the Siberian wilderness I'd be surprised if you couldn't get an ATM to work with a Visa or Mastercard. If you don't have one, get one. If you can't afford the charges on one, you should think hard about whether you should be doing this in the first place.

Once I was called by Mastercard to check that a transaction was kosher when I bought a new cooker for my MIL as a Christmas present. Other than that, my cards have never been blocked even though I've never informed them where I'll be; it's probably a good idea to do that though especially for you Yankees.  

Oh yeah, and don't forget your pin code or you're buggered.

[docetae]

Thanks Utro for this info!
I have a bank card too (not a debit card as I mentioned) and it's a TD Canada Trust card.
It needs to see the Plus System too and I'm sure it will ding me $5 per withdrawal too.
But it's better than getting no cash when you're in a tight spot and you need it.

take a prepaid mastercard as safety wheel... Keep it not with your wallet but another place. cost almost nothing and can save you from a lot of trouble.

[SteveOR]

And I'll make sure they're as crisp as apple strudel. 

I tried to get new US dollars before my trip in June and was told by my bank and credit union that they had to be special ordered.  From my experience banks typically only have circulated dollars from random series.  I was told that to get new dollars from the current series I would have to order them 5 to 7 days in advance.  Not sure what this means if you're trying to get new US dollars from a Canadian bank but I thought it might help to know. . .

 

[Misha]

I'm sure it will ding me $5 per withdrawal too.

Keep in mind that if you were to be robbed, the $5 fees would pale in comparison to all your cash being taken from you.

[docetae]

$ can be old but should not have pen marks on them or tears. This is the only limitation I have met.