Thanks for that, is the exchange okay via Visa or Mastercard? How will it compare with the likes of www.xe.com s rate that day? Regards Ian.

That's what I am planning on doing ... ATM at DME.

There are a couple of ATMs right behind the immigration booths at DME.

The Airports usually give a lower rate of exchange than most other banks. If you're leaving the airport and going into Moscow, plan on exchanging most of your money in Moscow. Better yet use your credit card. Credit cards offer the Moscow Bank exchange rate which is higher as no money actually changes hands. Todays bank rate is 33.2615 RUB to the USD.

Depending on how much you will spend, a 1 or 2 RUB difference per dollar adds up

If we're talking about ATMs at airports, these give exactly the same rate all other ATMs of said bank do.

Some data FIY:

Central bank rate: 33.4095
Best retail rate for today (under $1000) : 33.20
Worst retail rate for today (ditto) : 32.65 (notice the difference is nowhere near 1-2 RUB to the $)

Now everybody just call your bank and ask them how much they'd charge you if you withdrew say $1000 in Russian roubles in Russia, conversion and withdrawal fees and all, and what the rate would be. Then do the math

(I don't really know if it's your US bank or the local Russian bank whose ATM you use that sets the exchange rate. If it's the latter, the bank I use here, for instance, gives 32.85 for the dollar)

RIP OFF $ to RUB
 

I called the exchange place at the airport at Washington DC yesterday, they quoted 28 RUB to $, RIP OFF merchants.

Yeah, that was a fun stop. ;) Kind of a "welcome to Russia" thing.

I found the guy working security at the front door to be actually friendly and helpful. Heck, he even smiled when he saw me. They you go the visa room (just a couple couriers there -- nothing like the mad house I've encountered at the nearby China consulate), and it's a bit freaky. There's a modern hi-def TV playing Russia Today. When it's your turn, you go up to a bulletproof glass window (are consulate officials often attacked, even after a metal detector check at the door?). There, an unsmiling, relatively young woman leafed through my paperwork. When she was satisfied, she picked up this 70s era intercom phone and I could talk to her through the glass, like we were in prison. She mumbled something about being able to pick up my passport in 10 days, and then passed a claim check through the little window that said the same thing.

I get the feeling Russia is going to be a bit different. :)

Ahhh, funny! Sounds like it is the EXACT same occurrence daily there! Although, when we walked in there was noone sitting by the metal detector. So we walked right thru. Nobody came running at us. When we left the security guy was back in the chair and just smiled at us. ... I also went thru the China visa thing two years ago (got there before the Olympics). Yes, much different at the Russian consulate.

[QUOTE=apoivre;11530530]If we're talking about ATMs at airports, these give exactly the same rate all other ATMs of said bank do.

Some data FIY:

Central bank rate: 33.4095
Best retail rate for today (under $1000) : 33.20
Worst retail rate for today (ditto) : 32.65 (notice the difference is nowhere near 1-2 RUB to the $)

Now everybody just call your bank and ask them how much they'd charge you if you withdrew say $1000 in Russian roubles in Russia, conversion and withdrawal fees and all, and what the rate would be. Then do the math

(I don't really know if it's your US bank or the local Russian bank whose ATM you use that sets the exchange rate. If it's the latter, the bank I use here, for instance, gives 32.85 for the dollar)[/QUOTE

ATM cards in USA have started charging 3% for "bank" rates and 2% if processed through VISA, on Foreign transactions. I have never used an ATM in the airport, so I stand corrected, thanks. Todays CB of Moscow is 33.4095 and worst retail is 32.105 which is a 1.3 rate difference.

You, living in Moscow would know better all the inside info. I merely was expressing my experience of finding better rates in Moscow vs Airport. I mostly travel through Moscow onward to Kurgan where we have family. My Capitalone doesn't charge me a fee and thus I lose sight sometime that other cards do charge.... Thanks for your insight & corrections.

FWIW, like xyzzy, I used www.Russia-visa.com full service option

It was $189.95 (I paid an extra fee for second day service so I could get shipping signatures on both ends).

The process is very easy: fill out web fields and it produces a .pdf that you print out and ship to them along with your passport and a photo. Paid online with credit card.

My passport was only out of my hands for a total of 8 days including shipping, which was pretty key to me since I tend to get twitchy when my passport is not in my bag! :)

Anyway, I'm sure most of the visa services are basically the same, but if you don't feel like dealing with any paperwork hassle other than what I describe above, I do recommend their service.

I ordered an invitation from russia-visa.com and then called them to ask what to put for "institution or organizaton being visited" and "name and reference no. of tourist group" and they told me. I also dropped off my application at the DC consulate but they gave me a specific date that it would be ready (6 business days later). The issue date on my visa is the same date that I dropped off the application!

Was this at the Embassy in Washington? Because that's exactly how the Embassy is set up. Even as to the flat-screen TV playing Russia Today. I was up there on Monday for the first time.
The guy in front of me had a giant box of applications (at least a dozen), and the box wouldn't fit through the door, so the woman came around outside (from behind the bulletproof, soundproof glass) and took it. The woman rifled through my papers multiple times, then gave me a little card and told me in English over the intercom that I could pick up my passport on the 9th. (I payed for 3-5 day service for the extra $19 because I've heard it's more reliable than the other service that can sometimes take two or more weeks and I leave in about a month.) Since I live in North Carolina, I wanted my friend to pick it up and mail it to me, so I started to ask, "Можно мой друг..." She interrupted me and told me in Russian that he could with the yellow card.

Visa
 

FWIW... obtaining my visa experience

I started by going to the SF Russian Consulate website, and looking at their requirements.

http://www.consulrussia.org/eng/visatype.html

I booked my hotel, HI Sokolniski, and immediately requested from them any information I would need for my visa. Within 2 hours, they had sent me a form to fill out, and I returned via email for my voucher. I received the voucher within 24 hours.

I completed all the documents, requirements for the visa, and sent Fedex 3day on March 27th. It was signed for on the 30th (early). Enclosed a prepaid Fedex 2 day, which mailed on 4/7, received today (4/9) with my passport/visa, and a page explaining the visa.

Total cost: $160.
Total time from hotel booked: 2 weeks
Total time consulate had passport: 6 business days

Thankfully, there wasn't any issues. That said, I did notice that there was not an invitation number listed on my visa. Wonder if that will be an issue later????

The San Francisco consulate still accepts applications by mail? How odd! If they do it, and they're not picky about that you need to live in their territory, maybe we can all start mailing our applications there.

FYI, I went in person to the New York Consulate to hand in my paperwork. It's an absolute disaster there... there's no line, it's totally disorganized, there are several windows and the same people keep popping up at different windows so you have no idea what window you're supposed to wait for. You need to be on alert and make sure people who came after you don't get to the windows in front of you.

I was there for about 100 minutes. Once I got to the window, it was very smooth and took about 10 minutes. I guess all my paperwork was in order (cashiers check in the exact amount, all the visa support letters from hotels, etc.), because other people were getting rejected and arguing with them over all sorts of technicalities. I'm told that it will be ready 6 business days after I dropped it off. I had paid the $131 minimum price.

The best part is that when you're done, you're trapped in the building and can't get out. You have to find the one guy who has the key, and he has to open the door and let you out. Talk about a fire hazard.