Not speaking Russian..

[tommyk]

Just wondered what you guy's opinions/experiences were of visiting FSU and not speaking any Russian?

[LAman]

Just wondered what you guy's opinions/experiences were of visiting FSU and not speaking any Russian?

Quite frustrating....

[Faux Pas]

Quite frustrating....

But doable

[Anotherkiwi]

Just wondered what you guy's opinions/experiences were of visiting FSU and not speaking any Russian?

I speak a little bit (literally "nimnoga"), but going to night school to learn even this much was the best thing I did prior to travelling.  I've written it before in several posts - at least learn the absolute basics.  It will honestly be appreciated by people that you come into contact with, and you will see a very rare sight - an FSU person SMILING in public!   
 
Yes, No, Please, Thank you, Hello, Goodbye and Where's the toilet? should cover most situations  .  "Pleased to meet you" (otchin preeyartna) will also be appreciated by anyone that you're meeting.  Also try to learn the alphabet - that, at least, is not nearly as hard as you think, and it's very useful if you get lost and are relying on street signs.
 
Good luck with your trip (if it happens).

[Ooooops]

Yes, No, Please, Thank you, Hello, Goodbye and Where's the toilet? should cover most situations  .

Yep.   I can say these in a dozen different languages, helps a lot.   

[ML]

I have been to FSU dozens of times for business and pleasure, and met hundreds of women and men.

I know maybe 50 Russian words and no sentences.

Had great times.  All business and pleasure meetings conducted in English.

I am still alive.

[Misha]

You will just end up paying more as you will have to use services for tourists as opposed to those for locals.

[Faux Pas]

My first time in Russia I knew maybe 10 phrases/40 words I am much better now but not even close to conversant. The basics are good and will generate some smiles and interest but don't let lack of any skills keep you from going. It's not the end of the world if you do not know any.

[Ooooops]

You will just end up paying more as you will have to use services for tourists as opposed to those for locals.

What kind of services you have in mind?   Food, lodging, entertainment?   Are there different prices on the menus etc if it's in English as in many other developing countries?   

[Misha]

What kind of services you have in mind?   Food, lodging, entertainment?   Are there different prices on the menus etc if it's in English as in many other developing countries?   

Lodging: it will be a bit harder to find the out-of-way places that are not marketed to tourists, aka the ones that will be cheaper.


Food: sure, the restaurants in the tourist zones will have menus with English, but good luck finding those if you venture off the beaten path.


In my experience, those restaurants and hotels that are most likely to have full service in English are the ones for foreign tourists and they tend to be a more expensive.


There will of course always be exceptions...

[Ooooops]

Dunno...   We travel all over Asia and don't speak the languages.    Yes, it limits the options, but it is doable and not necessarily much more expensive if you are willing to take some chances.      

[Misha]

Dunno...   We travel all over Asia and don't speak the languages.    Yes, it limits the options, but it is doable and not necessarily much more expensive if you are willing to take some chances.      

If you travel to a Chinese village, I am certain that a local will be able to find ways of spending less money to get a meal or rent a room. However, if you do not believe this is the case, we will have to agree to disagree 

[Boethius]

Speaking the language doesn't make a difference either.  One needs to know what everything costs in the local currency, and if you're traveling to a remote Chinese village, I doubt you would know that even with full fluency.  You will rely on locals giving you this advice, which is not always accurate.  Given price differentials, for the most part, if one pays $10 more for a cab, or for a meal, or a hotel room, is it really, in the grand scheme of things, important?

[Ooooops]

If you travel to a Chinese village, I am certain that a local will be able to find ways of spending less money to get a meal or rent a room.

I thought we were talking about speaking local language which is not the same as being local.      

[Ooooops]

Speaking the language doesn't make a difference either. 

Not so much for the price of the travel, no.   But it sure makes it easier and more interesting. 

[Boethius]

Absolutely, I agree.  But one shouldn't be hesitant in traveling just because one doesn't speak the language. 

[Ooooops]

But one shouldn't be hesitant in traveling just because one doesn't speak the language.

Of course not!   Need to be somewhat adventurous and definitely very open minded, that's all.   

[Misha]

I thought we were talking about speaking local language which is not the same as being local.   

Well, IMVHO, this is the sliding scale:


1. Knowing not a word of the local language and not wanting to take any risks: most expensive
2. Knowing nothing but willing to take risks, less expensive
3. Knowing a bit of the language and being adventurous, already much cheaper
4. Knowing the language well and being adventurous, good chance you will be able to find better deals
5. Knowing the language and having lived there months and years, definitely will be much cheaper
6. Being a local who of course speaks the language and whose second cousin twice removed will be able to find a great deal: cheapest options of all will certainly be ferreted out.


Sure, there will be exceptions, but generally speaking, the less you know of the language and the country, the more likely you will have to spend more money while traveling there.

[Noch1]

Considering most places you go are still cheaper than in western world, makes little difference.
Language helps, but you can't learn enough fast, it takes time.
Few basics is always good, hello, please, thank you, Etc.

[ghost of moon goddess]

Of course not!   Need to be somewhat adventurous and definitely very open minded, that's all.   

And never throw caution to the wind while driving over speed limits in Ukraine! 

Having broken the speed limit, these two "smart popka's" from Russia pretended to be English speaking foreigners, thus hoping to avoid a speeding fine...

Here is how it went:

[Ooooops]

Here is how it went

Welcome to Ukraine!   Brilliant!   

[Ooooops]

Well, IMVHO, this is the sliding scale:

Second cousin twice removed is the best case scenario, no argument there!        Unfortunately most people are not equipped with such large extended family that places cousins in each country, so we gotta do what we gotta do... 

[GQBlues]

Just wondered what you guy's opinions/experiences were of visiting FSU and not speaking any Russian?

My experience was actually fun and exciting and I didn't speak Russian. I did fairly well all things considered.


I'm not quite sure why everyone seem to equate this to money. The way I look at that is, I was prepared to spend roughly the same amount of money for a typical vacation/travel in Russia as I do anywhere else including in my home country.


You'll be fine. Just do it.

[Boethius]

I believe the only person who was concerned about money was Misha.

[Shadow]

Well, IMVHO, this is the sliding scale:


1. Knowing not a word of the local language and not wanting to take any risks: most expensive
2. Knowing nothing but willing to take risks, less expensive
3. Knowing a bit of the language and being adventurous, already much cheaper
4. Knowing the language well and being adventurous, good chance you will be able to find better deals
5. Knowing the language and having lived there months and years, definitely will be much cheaper
6. Being a local who of course speaks the language and whose second cousin twice removed will be able to find a great deal: cheapest options of all will certainly be ferreted out.


Sure, there will be exceptions, but generally speaking, the less you know of the language and the country, the more likely you will have to spend more money while traveling there.

You forget one thing in the list:
7. Being a foreigner but acting with enough confidence and blending to be taken for one who has the knowledge of a local: even cheaper as being a local at times.