I'm really curious about how the requirement for hotel reservations works, also.

On my trip last spring, I had arrangements for maybe half the stay made before arriving in Russia. For my (possible) trip this spring, I'm thinking about bringing my own tent and camping on Elbrus for several days. No hotel invite there!

I understand that the old invitaions that were provided by the visa services will no longer be adequate, but do any of the services provide an application back-up that will be acceptable?

Do the new rules require that all the possible stay be accounted for in hotel reservations? How does this affect application for the 3 year visa?

Also very confused,
JimS