planning a trip to moscow

[steste1122]

I was going to wait till closer to summer to take a trip to the fsu, but im getting burned out with my job and need a vacation (havent had one in years). I been talking to a girl for about 2 months and we had been talking about meeting anyway, so i thought what the hay, why not go early. I am starting the tourist visa process using a service someone recommended (cant remember the name). My questions are what is the easiest airport to use, and if anyone has any recommendations for good places to stay in Moscow.  Ive been reading the trip reports, but many are a little dated and just wanted to see if anyone had some updated info and advice to give. This will be my first trip, and my russian is virtually non existent at this point (i can sort of speak about 30-40 words). Any advice or tips would be appreciated

Thanks
Steve

[Gator]

My advice, just go.  There is much to do and see in Moscow.  Either the SVO or DME airport is fine.  SVO was difficult years ago; however, I went through there a few months ago and it was a piece of cake. 
 
In selecting flights, you shoulld consider Delta and Aeroflot (SVO) and United (DME).  Also flying into DME from both JFK and MIA is Transaero.  I mention it because Transaero will not show on any travel search function such as Priceline or Expedia.
 
Is your woman from Moscow?  If so, she will know what to do in Moscow  She should take train to the airport and meet you there.   
 
Apartments are well advertised.  Years ago Rick's was great.  Now?
 
I am not suppose to laugh, but I could not help myself when seeing  "steste" as your RWD name.   Moving the "s" to the end describes most men who venture to the FSU.

[steste1122]

Lol, yeah i guess it is a series of testes. Its actualy what my niece started calling me when she was a baby. It kinda stuck with me. Good news is women think its cute so it works for me.

[steste1122]

My advice, just go.  There is much to do and see in Moscow.  Either the SVO or DME airport is fine.  SVO was difficult years ago; however, I went through there a few months ago and it was a piece of cake. 
 
In selecting flights, you shoulld consider Delta and Aeroflot (SVO) and United (DME).  Also flying into DME from both JFK and MIA is Transaero.  I mention it because Transaero will not show on any travel search function such as Priceline or Expedia.
 
Is your woman from Moscow?  If so, she will know what to do in Moscow  She should take train to the airport and meet you there.   
 
Apartments are well advertised.  Years ago Rick's was great.  Now?
 
I am not suppose to laugh, but I could not help myself when seeing  "steste" as your RWD name.   Moving the "s" to the end describes most men who venture to the FSU.

I am definitely going, but it now looks like I will mostly be solo this trip.  My woman wants me to come, but she has to work--which I knew and expected--and does not feel she will be able to give me the attention much attention.  But this was as much for getting me away from the stress of my own job as it is to see her so if I am solo it will be no big deal, I am used to it after all.  Already got a ticket through Delta, got a pretty good deal for a single stop and 14/18 hours total each way, and I think Im gonna use Ricks since he comes highly recommended.  Also letting GOTORUSSIA handle the visa stuff so hopefully that takes care of the hard stuff.

[Gator]

Sounds good.  There is much to see in Moscow during the day.  In the evening hopefully your friend is available. 
 
You may want to PM Chivo, an American expat who lives in Moscow.  He is a cool and smart dude. 
 
When you say "solo" does that mean you will contact other women?

[Avis]

Hi Steste1122,


Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo are okay that's right, although Domodedovo is my personal preference
I am not sure where rick's apartment is, if you give me the area i will tell you what you can do on your own time while your lady is working.
Are you going in april?

[steste1122]

By solo I mean just me . I know some guys like to line up several meetings per trip, but this is as much a vacation as it is a meeting for me.  I just want to relax a little and have some fun.  If I happen to meet a lady while hanging around, that would be ok too.

Avis, I will be staying near Pushkin Square on Tverskaya Street.  I believe it is pretty close to the center of the city, with metro stations nearby. And yes, I will be going March 30-April 8.

[Chicagoguy]

I have used Moscow Rick many times. You will be in a good location. Delta arrives at DME. Have Rick arrange a driver or take shuttle train to a railroad station and then a metro if you are up for an adventure and to save some $. Avoid taxis at the airport. Most taxi drivers in Moscow are bandits.
Stop by any nice hotel and get Where tourist magazine. If they stop you at the door just tell them you want to see concierge. It has tourist info but best of all an English/Russian Metro map. It is all I ever use. You can call Rick for advice.
You will have a blast.

[Avis]

Chicagoguy that's a little bit exaggerated that all of the taxi drivers are bandits.. It is overpriced, yes, but that's the case in many other international airports around the world. There are taxi stands in DME, I recall they are yellow/red coloured, you'll see Taxi sign there. The rates would be around 100-150 dollars. I understand the lady is working, but isn't she going to pick you at the airport Steste?


Pushkinskaya is a nice place, a lot of shops, cafes and things to do around, like museums if you are interested. Red Square is only 20 minutes walk (it's very close Moscow terms). Yes it is not cheap there, but there's no cheap places in Moscow ) At lunch time most of restaurants offer good deals for lunch (it's called business lunch literally). Coffee shops are excessively presented in that area and could be a good alternative to restaurants. Nothing too exciting though on their menu


End of March should be quite warm, better than right now at least. Still best time to go to Moscow in my opinion is May and September (7 years of living in Moscow here)

[Gator]

I thought Delta landed at SVO, not DME.  Has this changed?
It is not easy to negotiate with the airport taxis.  And the prices are very expensive. 

[steste1122]

It lands at SVO, thats what my intinerary says.  Delta/Comair

[Faux Pas]

I thought Delta landed at SVO, not DME.  Has this changed?
It is not easy to negotiate with the airport taxis.  And the prices are very expensive.

I'm quite sure Delta lands at SVO. United and AA hubbed at DME. DME is my preferred airport. Mostly because of the long lay over required on my trips and the O'briens Pub on the lower floor. steste, you can catch the metro from DME if you choose. The taxi drivers are expensive but, find one with a little English ability and negotiate. $100 (2500-3000 RUB) bucks to Moscow city center from DME as Avis points out is pricey but, isn't unreasonable especially depending on the time of day

[Anotherkiwi]

Whichever airport the plane lands at doesn't really matter, but why is everyone talking about taxis to the centre of town?  Do you really want to scare off the OP by subjecting him to Moscow driving the minute he lands? 
 
Get the Airport Express train into the city, THEN worry about taxis.  You have a beautifully comfortable 35 (SVO) or 45 (DME) minute ride, from which you get a good view of the city as an introduction.  If you know exactly where you are going, and are willing to risk an adventure by using the Metro on your first day (as I did), it's fun!  If you've had a crappy flight and are feeling like death warmed up, however, then maybe a taxi to the front door of your apartment is a better bet.

[LAman]

maybe some good info on moscow airports........
http://see-you-in-moscow.com/blog/moscow_airoports/2010-01-08-20
click on svo airport, then click on mustard colored boxes for different ways to/from airport
parking box has nice layout of svo airport
 
http://www.aroundmoscow.com/moscow-taxi/prices.php
not sure about company..a friend used one time....

[BarryIRE]

One bit of advice I'll give is that if you plan on using the Subway while in Moscow (which is cheap and I found much better than the taxi option) it's best to have your destination stops written out before hand in Cyrillic. All the maps, subway signs i saw in the stations were in Cyrillic script which made it a guessing game the first day.

[Faux Pas]

One bit of advice I'll give is that if you plan on using the Subway while in Moscow (which is cheap and I found much better than the taxi option) it's best to have your destination stops written out before hand in Cyrillic. All the maps, subway signs i saw in the stations were in Cyrillic script which made it a guessing game the first day.

Hi Barry, welcome to RWD! Did you use the metro on your first visit and were you already familiar with a subway system? My first trip was to St Petersburg a number of years ago and the first time ever for me riding a subway. It was quite an experience but I made out okay with both the city map in cyrillic and english and a metro map in cyrillic. I was in London last year and couldn't for the life of me figure out the metro. Finally gave in and grabbed a cab  I have since ridden a few others with no problem.

I would expect there are quite a few inexperienced as myself with a metro then, add in the fact it's in a foreign language find one for the first time in Russia.

[SANDRO43]

I was in London last year and couldn't for the life of me figure out the metro.

You were stumped by those station signs in a foreign language ?

[Faux Pas]

You were stumped by those station signs in a foreign language ?

Oh the irony huh? 

I was riding a city bus doing some sight-seeing and at 4:00 p.m. the bus stopped and the driver said everybody gets off here and pointed to the metro. I was another 4 hours getting back to the hotel which wasn't really that far from where the bus stopped.

I didn't mind so much but, if I had to be somewhere, I'd have been late. I didn't find the kiosk attendants to awfully helpful. They were much more interested in riders following the established protocol for approaching the window. Seriously, I found it much easier in St Pete unable to speak or read the language. Go figure 

[Daveman]

One bit of advice I'll give is that if you plan on using the Subway while in Moscow (which is cheap and I found much better than the taxi option) it's best to have your destination stops written out before hand in Cyrillic. All the maps, subway signs i saw in the stations were in Cyrillic script which made it a guessing game the first day.

Yes, agreed.. and also just take a little time to learn the Cyrillic alphabet.. it's easy and there are quite a number of English words (and useful ones at that) which have been adopted into Russian that you'll know right off the bat when you sound them out with the funky letters... 

[Daveman]

...
I was in London last year and couldn't for the life of me figure out the metro. Finally gave in and grabbed a cab  I have since ridden a few others with no problem.
...

You were stumped by those station signs in a foreign language ?

 




I've heard the London subway is sort of Mongolian in nature...

[Doll]

steste1122, if it is March 30, then you'll arrive on Saturday. Ask the girl to meet you in SVO, and yes- I do recommend the train from SVO to the city.
Check the weather, it is actually still winter there, so have a coat.

[Anotherkiwi]

One bit of advice I'll give is that if you plan on using the Subway while in Moscow (which is cheap and I found much better than the taxi option) it's best to have your destination stops written out before hand in Cyrillic. All the maps, subway signs i saw in the stations were in Cyrillic script which made it a guessing game the first day.

Lots of the signs when I was last there were in English, and the maps in the newer cars all have the English names.  I'm sure that Chivo and mendeleyev can provide totally up-to-date info here.

[Doll]

[SANDRO43]

I've heard the London subway is sort of Mongolian in nature...

A Central Line train at Lancaster Gate

Because they call it "The Tube", given the rounded shape of its cars? I lived in London for a year, and found it quite easy to navigate, also considering those quaint and unforgettable station names - I still remember that Cockfosters is the terminal of the District Line .

[BarryIRE]

Hi Faux,
Well i was at a disadvantage as Ireland doesn't have a subway/metro system but between trips abroad at least it wasn't my first. Yes i used it straight off as i had been 'warned' that Taxi drivers were inclined to add a 'foreigner tax' (btw Moscow/Russia isn't alone in the world for that kinda thing) so i figured i'd give it a go. I hadn't planned ahead like yourself so the first day i worked off the method, with mixed results, that 5 cyrillic letters would equal 5 english letters and i kinda bluffed my way through. Worked out ok as on the first day i just went to see the Kremlin etc and discovered that my hotel was just a 30 minute walk so i strolled back that evening.