DL: ORD-SVO $314 IAH-SVO $335 (~10800 V Class)
Jan 5, 2015, 9:42 pm
#31
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,958
SFO-LED - $357 (lower YR than western european destinations).
many other european destinations for $650 from SFO
Lots of choices - from Kiev to Lisbon
Dates are 01/12/15-03/12/15 and 4/20-5/15
many other european destinations for $650 from SFO
Lots of choices - from Kiev to Lisbon
Dates are 01/12/15-03/12/15 and 4/20-5/15
Jan 6, 2015, 1:40 am
#33
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA & Bangkok (Home)/Lawrenceville & Switzerland (Boarding School)/Baltimore, MD (College)
Programs: DL DM, AL MVPG 75K, SQ Gold, BA Silver, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Plat, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 599
I've tried making sense of the Russian visa rules, but I'm struggling with it.
You can get a tourist visa...but it says you need a hotel reservation and a receipt from a Russian based tour company. Has anyone done this recently? The hotel reservation isn't an issue...but I have no idea where to start on the tour company side of things. And if I do this trip, I'd just like to wander around...is that even possible?
You can get a tourist visa...but it says you need a hotel reservation and a receipt from a Russian based tour company. Has anyone done this recently? The hotel reservation isn't an issue...but I have no idea where to start on the tour company side of things. And if I do this trip, I'd just like to wander around...is that even possible?
Jan 6, 2015, 1:42 am
#34
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,958
I just did this on December 2nd. It is annoying, but you can email your hotel once res. is confirmed and they will provide you with the certification of stay thingy(forget what its actually called) I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott and could PM you the form if you are interested. Just know that even if your hotel res is refundable they will charge your credit card a fee for certification if you do not stay at hotel, if you stay it is free.
Jan 6, 2015, 1:49 am
#35
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: PIT
Programs: Delta SkyMiles Silver
Posts: 62
I just did this on December 2nd. It is annoying, but you can email your hotel once res. is confirmed and they will provide you with the certification of stay thingy(forget what its actually called) I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott and could PM you the form if you are interested. Just know that even if your hotel res is refundable they will charge your credit card a fee for certification if you do not stay at hotel, if you stay it is free.
Thanks for the help.
Jan 6, 2015, 2:46 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: midwest
Programs: DL DM, UA Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat blah blah
Posts: 79
You need a visa, and in order to get a tourist visa you need any invitation. Invitation (and visa sponsorship) can be obtained for a fee from multiple different tourist companies/groups out there or a hotel itself (unless you know someone who lives in Russia who would be willing to invite you ). If you are visiting russia and are not staying in a hotel, you are required to register with the local police precinct wherever you are staying/traveling.
Be aware that obtaining a Russian visa is not the simplest of tasks--it costs some $ and is a buerocratic process--not always the easiest of things... having just gone through the process myself last year. Allot yourself at least 3 months to make sure the visa and all documents can be processed in time
Be aware that obtaining a Russian visa is not the simplest of tasks--it costs some $ and is a buerocratic process--not always the easiest of things... having just gone through the process myself last year. Allot yourself at least 3 months to make sure the visa and all documents can be processed in time
Jan 6, 2015, 2:49 am
#37
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: PIT
Programs: Delta SkyMiles Silver
Posts: 62
You need a visa, and in order to get a tourist visa you need any invitation. Invitation (and visa sponsorship) can be obtained for a fee from multiple different tourist companies/groups out there or a hotel itself (unless you know someone who lives in Russia who would be willing to invite you ). If you are visiting russia and are not staying in a hotel, you are required to register with the local police precinct wherever you are staying/traveling.
Be aware that obtaining a Russian visa is not the simplest of tasks--it costs some $ and is a buerocratic process--not always the easiest of things... having just gone through the process myself last year. Allot yourself at least 3 months to make sure the visa and all documents can be processed in time
Be aware that obtaining a Russian visa is not the simplest of tasks--it costs some $ and is a buerocratic process--not always the easiest of things... having just gone through the process myself last year. Allot yourself at least 3 months to make sure the visa and all documents can be processed in time
Seems like the best way to go might be spending a little more on the ticket to do a straight mileage run. I found some for $450-500 and with just a few hours on the ground in Moscow. That would mean never leaving the airport, and within 24 hours, it sounds like it would be visa free.
Jan 6, 2015, 5:24 am
#39
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond AMB
Posts: 1,756
Jan 6, 2015, 9:19 am
#40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: SPG Plt, Hyatt Diamond, DL
Posts: 369
From cibtvisas.com
Visa exempt for a stay of up to 24 hours. The traveller must:
Not be traveling to or from Belarus
Not be transitting through Krasnodar, Khabarovsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk or Vladivostok
Transit within the same airport
Hold a passport valid for period of intended stay with one blank visa page
Hold proof of sufficient funds
Hold proof of onward/return flights
Hold all documents required for the next destination
Hold visa for next country where applicable
Confirm with their airline that boarding will be permitted without a visa
Should the traveller not meet the above criteria, a visa may be required. Please contact CIBTvisas for further advice at 800-929-2428
Visa exempt for a stay of up to 24 hours. The traveller must:
Not be traveling to or from Belarus
Not be transitting through Krasnodar, Khabarovsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk or Vladivostok
Transit within the same airport
Hold a passport valid for period of intended stay with one blank visa page
Hold proof of sufficient funds
Hold proof of onward/return flights
Hold all documents required for the next destination
Hold visa for next country where applicable
Confirm with their airline that boarding will be permitted without a visa
Should the traveller not meet the above criteria, a visa may be required. Please contact CIBTvisas for further advice at 800-929-2428
Jan 6, 2015, 9:57 am
#41
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 352
Found a good fare that works IAH-AMS-SVO, returning LED-AMS-IAH. To do this out of, say, PHX, I would have to purchase separate positioning flights PHX-IAH-PHX, right? There's no way to fold those in to the price? Those flights to IAH are about as much as the IAH-Russia flights!
Jan 6, 2015, 11:08 am
#42
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 104
I'm seeing pretty good fares (as low as $568) ex-SEA as well, connecting through SFO and AMS.
Visa costs (plus potential economic instability & Putin's Russia) make me a bit wary. OTOH, a tanked ruble should mean the USD would be stretched pretty far.
Visa costs (plus potential economic instability & Putin's Russia) make me a bit wary. OTOH, a tanked ruble should mean the USD would be stretched pretty far.
Jan 6, 2015, 3:19 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Sky
Posts: 240
Thanks for the confirmation! Looks like it will be easier and less expensive to apply for an HKSAR passport than a Russian visa. There should be no problem applying for an HKSAR passport in the US without visiting Hong Kong?