I checked this link and it said that for UK citizens applying for a tourist visa, you need to provide:
- Current passport which should be valid for a minimum of six months after visa's expiration date and has at least 2 blank pages.
- Visa application form filled in and printed out from this website only.
- One recent passport size photo glued to the indicated space on the application form.
- Original Tourist Voucher from a Russian (British) travel agency stamped and signed by an authorized person. [I'm confused about this - is this the voucher I have to ask the hotel to provide? - NorthOrSouth]
- Tourists on board large cruise Ships should have the right to stay in the Russian Federation without a visa during 72 hours. They have the right to leave the ship and come back on board the ship only as part of an organized tourist group as per the list. In case a tourist wants to leave the ship alone, he needs a visa.
- Bank statements for the last three months showing self-employed or unemployed applicants have minimum £100 per day for duration of visit. [Really - I have to provide this? - NorthOrSouth]

Then under 'General Requirements', it says '- A tourist contract - tourist voucher and tourist acceptance confirmation of a Russian tourist agency, which should have its reference number.' So I get the tourist voucher from the hotel or somewhere else? And what then is the tourist acceptance voucher.

I'm really confused. Can someone help me with what the steps for what I should do for an independent visit with flights booked independently (Austrian Airlines if it matters) and award stay at the Marriott Royal Aurora.

When should I apply? I'm going in early July? We have time to go to the visa centre to submit and collect our passports and documentation but we have a couple of short breaks planned elsewhere so I'm trying to plan when we should apply for the Russian tourist visas.

Thanks in advance for any help. I want to get this right.