Any further clarification on this before I book a same day turnaround?

Glen
.

Here I am again, late for the festival! I'll be there mid Oct. Will be avidly following this thread to pick up tips (will be traveling solo). Darn- would be much more fun with someone to talk to!
(and if I tried to take the time off now my boss would freak!)

Have Fun!

Nice looking boutique hotel. Menu looks decent at the Apple bar and restaurant.

I'm booked at the Holiday Inn Sokolinki 4/25-4/29 on the 2for1 times 2.
I got the first 2 nights at 7670ru all in. Shortly after (isn't that always how it goes), I found this on their local website....

Weekend special offer

Valid from March 12 till August 30, 2009

One night stay in a single or double room
Delicious buffet breakfast in the restaurant "Moskva"
Welcome bottle of champagne
Late check-out till 6 p.m.
Free fitness centre: swimming pool, gym, sauna
3333 RUB per room (including VAT)
The price is effective from Thursday to Sunday for minimum 2 night stay, upon availability.

For details please contact our reservations department:
Tel.: +7 (495) 786 7373 / Fax: +7 (495) 786 7374
E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.hi-sokolniki.ru/arrangements

I hope that helps someone else. It seems like 3 nice extras for less at 6666 all in.

Tina

For about $100 a night w breakfast, is pretty cheap. Best I've seen. If I go for another run there, I may check it out. Thanks for the link!

Just booked this morning-

LGA UA Flight 7872 - IAD (April 18)
IAD UA Flight 964 - DME (April 18 +1)

DME LH Flight 3181 - FRA (April 20)
FRA UA Flight 933 - IAD (April 20)


No hotel or visa yet. Contemplating Hostel or hotel.
Count me in for any FT fun.
First trip to Russia.

Oh, how I wish I could join you guys and gals!!! But not traveling to Moscow this Spring, unfortunately. Have fun, everyone, I am completely envious!

Leaving in about 5 days. Anyone else going to be around April 3-5th?

Hi Mates,

Pls pls pls. Do not fly to DME or SVO without a proper Russian Single Entry visa. There is no such thing as a transit visa if you do not hold a confirmed tkt to another destination other than your point of origin. So in other words you can not have a transit visa if for example say you start in the US and go to RUS and come back to US. This is 1000% confirmed.

Also all these russian websites that arrange the so called visa's are fake and s*r*w your CC. Your best source for a proper russian visa is either the Russian Consulate in your country or your freindly neighbourhood travel agent.

Spasiba

Udacha na vash Rosiski potichestve.

I agree with EGTRAVELLER. The Russian transfer agents there DONT deal with exceptions very well and will stick to the No visa rule No transit in all circumstances. Pls get your visas.

I hope to do 2-3 of these US-DME trips in the next month since I was lucky to have a Multi Entry Visa already when this promo flared up. Hope to bump into some of you.

Счастливо

On hold until tonight.

Please add me to the list: AMRivlin +1
April 21 - LAX-IAD-DME UA $415.61 (somehow cheaper than IAD-DME alone)
April 29 - DME-IAD-LAX

Can people talk me through the visa situation, either here or PM?
I am in Los Angeles so the Consulate is a bit out of the way.

"1000% confirmed" by WHOM please? I like to see a written source for such blanket statements of 'FACT'.

You are new to FT and here we like to see a written comment from some official source - one way or the other.

I believe less than 24 hours in Russia is fine if you do not leave the transit area, if you do not have checked baggage, and if you have a valid onward ticket to somewhere you clearly are permitted to enter - whether that is the USA or anywhere else.

OK .. AFAIK here are the OFFICIAL rules!

Hope this assists others in future as these appear quite clear.

http://www.delta.com/planning_reserv...t_information/

This service is what all the airlines use FROM the USA to determine if you will be admitted or not to Russia with no Visa.

If any Russian speaker might be so kind as to email the relevant part in RUSSIAN writing it may save me some grief if I get a tough official!

Thanks so much

ozstamps at gmail.com


=================


/ 29MAR09 / 1906 UTC

National Australia (AU) (Same wording below applies to USA citizens)

Transit Russian Federation (RU)/Destination U.S.A. (US)

ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW


Russian Federation (RU)


TWOV (Transit Without Visa):
Visa required, except for Those continuing their journey
within 24 hours without leaving the airside (international)
transit area:

- if continuing by a domestic flight (also including Belarus)
or if the airport of arrival is different from the airport
of departure within the same Russian city (e.g. arriving at
Sheremetyevo-2 and departing from Sheremetyevo-1 airport in
Moscow) then a transit visa is required, as one is entering
territory of the Russian Federation.

Additional Information:

- Passengers are required to hold return/onward tickets and

documents required for the next destination.

- Valid visas in expired passports or other expired travel
documents are not accepted.

Warning:

- Non-compliance with entry or transit regulations may result
in fines for carrier For details, click here


FOR U.S.A. (US)


Passport required.
- Nationals of Australia may enter with passports valid for
period of intended stay.

Passport Exemptions:

- Holders of a valid on arrival Form I-512 ( Authorization for

Parole of an Alien into the United States").
- Holders of a Temporary or Emergency passports.

Visa required, except for Those entitled to travel under the

U.S. Visa Waiver Permanent Program (V.W.P.P.), travelling on
holiday, business or for transit purposes only, and stay does
not exceed 90 days (see V.W.P.P conditions below):

As I understand the process; based on
New York: http://www.ruscon.org/visa_dep_ENG.html#touristvisa
San Francisco: http://www.consulrussia.org/eng/visadepartment.html
Seattle: http://www.netconsul.org/touristvisa/
DC: Does not accept mail in visa requests

In this order:
1 -Fee (Money Order)
The Visa Fee is $131 for 6-10 day service, or $150 for 3-5 day service

2 -Passport,
valid 6 months yadda yadda

3 -Letter of Permission
One needs a letter of permission from your hotel (Free) or from a service ($30)
example: http://www.netconsul.org/docs/tur.jpg

4 -Cover Letter
State your bidness in visiting our great nuclear power state IE:
applicant's name or alphabetical list of the group of participants;
passport number and its expiration date;
dates and points of arrival in and departure from Russia as well as means of transportation
cities to be visited in Russia;

5a -Application http://www.consulrussia.org/docs/Vis...eng_letter.pdf
The application is straight forward

5b -Attach 1 photo per instructions

6 -Color Copy of passport vital page

7 -Addressed and Paid envelope
Mail via Fedex and have post paid return envelope (2day costs $20-30 return)

Worst case turn around window. Departing April 21 (16 working days)
Ship 2day each way + 10 day service = 14 working days (too tight)
Ship 2day each way + 5 day service = 9 working days (decent)
And with average luck both would work, but it appears that the expedite fee of 19 is necessary, as is 2day fedex, which maybe you can push through D.'s mail centre

Total cost: $131+Fees (19rush+30letter+30shipping) Max $210
Here is what 210 will buy you: http://www.rusonline.com/images/misc/Visa-Russian.jpg
If we pick a hotel, and can get a letter within 1-2 days we can skip the 30 fee.

Most of their draconian visa requirements and fees are a direct punishment (aka reciprocity) for what USA charges russians
A ... question is "List all countries you have visited in the last ten years and indicate
the year of visit" and they give you 2 lines.

38. Транзитная виза выдается иностранному гражданину в целях транзитного проезда через территорию Российской Федерации либо в целях эвакуации иностранного гражданина, прибывшего в Российскую Федерацию в порядке, не требующем получения визы (пассажирам круизных судов, гражданам стран, с которыми Российская Федерация имеет соглашения о безвизовом въезде, и пассажирам, совершающим безвизовый транзит до 24 часов). Транзитная виза выдается на срок до 10 дней.

http://www.center-migracia.ru/law/resolution_335.htm