Russia - 24-hr Russian Visit a Possibility

Good thing I'm a member here with you FTers because sometimes I come up with some rather mad ideas too. Perhaps only you guys would truly understand why....or maybe not....

Anyway, I'll be in Europe later this year and am having to fly LHR to WAW on 7th August. But now I was thinking of popping over to Moscow on August 6th for a night, and then flying to WAW the following morning, to meet up with the start of some tour I'm going to go on (two completely separate things btw).

I don't speak one word of Russian except for "Niet", just so you know. I'm thinking of merely staying in an airport hotel near SVO, either the "Atlanta Sheremetyevo Hotel" or the "Hotel V Express". Has anyone stayed in these hotels before, what have you to say about them? In fact, come to think of it, what do you think of my ridiculous plan? I've not much intention of going into the city, but then again maybe I will I'm not sure.

I intend to go back properly one day, this is just a wacky little "dip of the feet".

I'm still thinking this over, it's probably mainly be a question of cost (yes, I already understand flights aren't overly cheap).

I'm an Australian citizen with an Aussie passport. Will I need a visa (most likely, I assume) and if so, what would be the approximate cost?

Anything more you think I should know what also be much appreciated. Thanks!

There are several issues that make your proposed trip completely not worth it:

1. Russian visas are a pain to get, and expensive.

2. Staying near SVO means you will see nothing of Moscow unless you take a long and expensive cab ride, or a shorter and still expensive cab ride plus a long and cheap metro ride, into the center (which is quite far from SVO).

If, as you say, you don't want to go into Moscow at all, then what is the point of this trip? Just to get a stamp in your passport and spend way too much to fly back and forth, stay in a shabby hotel, and not do anything? Is there something here I am missing?

There are several issues that make your proposed trip completely not worth it:

1. Russian visas are a pain to get, and expensive.

2. Staying near SVO means you will see nothing of Moscow unless you take a long and expensive cab ride, or a shorter and still expensive cab ride plus a long and cheap metro ride, into the center (which is quite far from SVO).

If, as you say, you don't want to go into Moscow at all, then what is the point of this trip? Just to get a stamp in your passport and spend way too much to fly back and forth, stay in a shabby hotel, and not do anything? Is there something here I am missing?

1. Russian visas are no more expensive than the comparable US or UK visas and not that much pain if done in advance and/or through the travel agency. $110 for a single entry for Australians, provided there is no need for a hotel invitation and if applying at least 7 days in advance. Extra if "invitation" is needed or for a travel agency fee.
Details here : http://www.australia.mid.ru/11_e.html

2. No need for a long and expensive cab ride - just take Aeroexpress train for $9 and 35 minutes to the center of the city, Belorusskiy railroad station.

3. Interestingly, Atlanta Sheremyetyevo is sold out for the night of August 6. Your other suggested hotel - V Express - is a so called airport "capsule" hotel. I guess, not unlike those ones first pioneered by the Japanese? You get a tiny room and can pay for a certain amount of time. Never stayed at the one like that but maybe there is some novelty attraction in this. The hotel is right at the Aeroexpress station. There are more details on the Russian version site: http://www.eng.v-exp.ru/

4. I would strongly suggest, if you are going to splurge for a visa, to go into the city and at least try to see SOMETHING except for the airport hotel (e.g. Red Square, Kremlin, etc.) Summer time is wonderful in Russia with nights being lighter than in Europe or US. However, hotel prices are higher during this high season, e.g. there is a somewhat tired hotel - Radisson Slavyanskaya at Belorusskiy railroad station (where the express train from the airport deposits you) - ~$200/night. About the same price for Park Inn hotel at Sheremetyevo airport for the night of August 6. Conceivably, you can drop off your bags at the luggage hold at the airport, go to the city by train, see what you can and then return to the airport by the last train (about midnight) to stay in the capsule hotel.

5. I don't think 24 hours mad dash to Russia is that crazy (I've stayed in London for less than 24 hours in transit from US to Russia to catch a West End show) but going to Moscow to see the airport hotel is definitely not quite rational, especially considering the costs of visa and an overnight hotel. Better, make it at least two days. ;)

1. Russian visas are no more expensive than the comparable US or UK visas and not that much pain if done in advance and/or through the travel agency. $110 for a single entry for Australians, provided there is no need for a hotel invitation and if applying at least 7 days in advance.Paying $110 for a visa for a one-day trip in which you don't actually do or see anything seems like a lot to me. Filling in the visa application IS a pain, as is supplying a photo and dealing with the whole invitation nonsense. I am not trying to make any comparisons with getting visas for other countries, so I'm not sure why you would mention that.
2. No need for a long and expensive cab ride - just take Aeroexpress train for $9 and 35 minutes to the center of the city, Belorusskiy railroad station.This is true. I forgot that this is now operating.

If you really do want to do this, I would strongly recommend taking the Aeroexpress train into the city and then walking around a bit. If you're really thinking of just staying at SVO, it's not worth it. There is nothing out by the airport. Go to Warsaw a day early and see more there.

is the visa really 110$?

in japan to get a transit visa for westerner at ruskie embassy is 4500yen.
free for japanese

i am planning to do same 24hr stay thing in august^can you advise what there is to do in moscow for 24hrs(with 3 little kids)

There is a lot to see/do in Moscow. If I had 24 hours and had never been there before I'd try to see these things (in no particular order):
See Red Square and GUM. Comrade Lenin is right there and is also quite interesting (if he's accepting visitors the day you are there).
Ride the Metr:p and see some of the beautiful stations.
Go to the Kremlin. You can spend an entire day there alone
Gorky Park is nice to walk in, and kids always love the rides!
Izmaylovo Market -- a short ride out of downtown. Has an AMAZING selection of things to see/buy.


I could go on...

http://www.sydneyrussianconsulate.com/Visa.html#q3


There are the official visa requirements.

thanks xyzzy..
any other sights let me know!
where would be a good place to stay?
my flight is at 8pm so presume hotels can hold bags even after ck out?

(or if you are on a 24hr transit do bags stay at airport in transit)

I think there are bag-hold things at the airports, where you can pay a few dollars (or rubles really, being Russia) and they'll look after your bag for you for a while. Then you come back to collect it again, much like the cloak lockers at museums and what not.

thanks-will the luggage be safe-ive heard bad things bout moscow airport..
also with the bomb problems recently wont they be extra strict on this-wonder if they are still doing it/